Over the years, the Government Relations Committee (GRC) of IAM has been actively involved in building relationships with elected officials in the state of Minnesota at the federal, state, and local levels. GRC maintains these relationships by inviting officials to IAM events such as Connect India and IndiaFest, creating opportunities for community members to engage directly with policymakers.

GRC also collaborates with other Asian organizations in the Twin Cities—including CAAL, CAPM, and CAPI—to advocate for Asian Indian causes while supporting the broader Asian American community in Minnesota.

Over the last two years, IAM has been actively involved in advocacy efforts for legal immigrants from India who are part of the U.S. visa-holding workforce and face extreme Green Card backlogs due to immigration policies established in 1952. These per-country caps disproportionately impact Indian nationals, often resulting in decades-long waits. It is currently estimated that nearly 400,000 Indian nationals may die before receiving a Green Card. GRC works with senators and legislators to urge Congress to pass the America’s Children Act (HR 3442 / S 1667) to protect aging-out children of visa holders and to explore expansions of programs such as DACA for documented immigrant children.

This year, GRC is actively working with elected officials to document and introduce an anti–Asian Indian hate resolution in the Minnesota state legislature. With the increase in racially motivated incidents impacting our community, this bipartisan resolution aims to formally recognize these challenges while strengthening protections at the state level.

GRC also plays a critical role in educating the community about changes in immigration policy and raising awareness about fundamental rights guaranteed under the United States Constitution.

Know Your Rights & Community Safety

IAM provides community safety education, multilingual Know Your Rights materials, and practical guidance for navigating interactions with law enforcement and federal agencies.

Visit Know Your Rights & Community Safety Page

GRC Charter & Mandate (Board Approved):

View Charter Document