ORLANDO, Fla. — As the political debate over immigration continues in the United States, a report from the Migration Policy Institute shows Indian migrants are achieving U.S. residency less than other migrant groups. 

In one case, a local immigrant’s normal challenges of achieving residency were compounded by a tragedy that changed her life forever.

What You Need To Know

  • A report from the Migration Policy Institute shows Indian migrants are achieving U.S. residency less than other migrant groups

  • Sunayana Dumala's husband, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, was murdered in 2017 at a Kansas bar by someone targeting him and his friend over their immigration status

  • Dumala says she struggled for years to achieve permanent U.S. residency after losing her husband's work visa status

  • She now works through a nonprofit, Forever Welcome, to educate others about inclusion and immigration struggles

Her Hinduism guiding her daily life, Sunayana Dumala starts each day with a prayer.

“It teaches you the good ways to lead life, and not to hurt anybody or harm anybody but to support one another,” she said.

She says faith has helped carry her forward since a dark day back in February 2017, when police showed up at her front door to let her know someone had murdered her husband, Srinivas Kuchibhotla.

“For me, it felt like the earth beneath my feet was taken away,” said Dumala.

Dumala later found out the killer walked into a bar in the Kansas town the couple was living in and targeted her husband and his friend because of what they looked like, and because they were from another country. That made her question whether she belonged here in this country.

“The words he used —  ‘Get out of my country’ — that’s when I made up my mind, no, I’m going to stay here because Srinu did not deserve a death like this,” said Dumala.

Dumala says she not only had to deal with grief but also the real fact she might have to leave the country for good. When her husband was killed, she lost her immigration status through his work visa. She says instead of focusing on grieving, she had to pivot straight to residency survival.

“He was literally my 911 — anything — I’d call Srinu this, Srinu that, Srinu what do I do,” said Dumala.  “And to not have that person, and to not be able to grieve for that person, that made it more painful.”

Dumala says a temporary federal humanitarian visa bought her some extra time, but even after attorneys with her work tried for several years to help get her permanent residency, her applications kept getting rejected.

“It’s a long, stressful and painful journey,” said Dumala.

Finally, more than four years later, she got her green card — permanent residency. The struggle she went through to get it is something she wants to share with those who see someone like her as a threat. 

“That these people are taking over your jobs, or whatever right,” said Dumala.  “But if they see how hard it is for us to get a job, or maintain the legal status in the country or to get your permanent residency and all of that — that’s what will change the perception toward immigrants.”

Dumala moved to Orlando for a fresh start, and she leads a group called Forever Welcome, which encourages inclusiveness and promotes education about the struggles and journeys of immigrants.

She says she gets renewed strength every day by praying in front of a home alter her husband built.

“It just takes me closer to that spiritual connection, and helps me to continue to move on,” said Dumala.

She’s moving on with a mission that she hopes could prevent someone else from suffering her husband’s fate.

Migration Policy Institute data shows 80% of Indian immigrant adults have at least a bachelor’s degree and their median household incomes are more than double those of all immigrants.