Asian American Alliance Newsletter

11/1/2025

1. Record Low Cap on U.S. Refugee Admissions
2. The Rising Popularity of Diwali
3. "New York Sari" Exhibition in the New York Historical

New Cap on Refugee Admissions to the U.S

The United States cap on refugee admissions has dropped to 7,500 refugees—a record low and a 94% drop from last year. Not only that, but the Trump Administration also reserved a majority of the slots specifically for white Afrikaner South Africans.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement was founded with the Refugee Act of 1980, accepting over 200,000 refugees. The refugee program is far from perfect, but it provides safe entry into the U.S. for thousands fleeing persecution. With the number of global refugees rising each year, the state of this program is significant; this year, thousands of people in need will be turned away.

Reserving slots for certain demographics only further harms the integrity of the program. It should prioritize need and vulnerability over ethnicity and origin. The Trump Administration has justified this policy by citing the alleged racial persecution Afrikaners face in South Africa—but evidence for this claim is limited. Instead, the administration’s decision raises concern about the future of refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, and other conflict zones, who may now find the U.S. closed to them.

Read more, here.

Diwali is Becoming More Popular in Western Countries

Diwali has become an official holiday now in California, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. As the Indian diaspora (the world’s largest diaspora) grows, so does popular interest in the festival—with many non-Hindus seen joining in on the celebrations this past Oct 20.

New York Times reporter Lauren Jackson emphasized the importance of this solidarity now, in the wake of Trump’s new H1-B visa fee, rising religious exclusivism from Christian right-wing groups, and the recent defacing of several Hindu temples. She notes that in times of growing division, these moments of collective celebration become all the more significant. Diwali serves as a time for everyone to come together in the spirit of light, renewal, and community.

Read more about what Lauren Jackson has to say, here. And read more about Diwali in California, here.

The Sari as Art and Political Statement

An exhibition entitled “New York Sari” is running at the New York Historical; it explores how the South Asian immigrant community impacted New York City’s shared culture.

Throughout the exhibition, the sari serves as a metaphor for expression and the balance between cultures. Dr. Salonee Bhaman, who curated the exhibits, describes the sari as flag-like and emblematic of the wearer’s identity. Through the fabric, color, and style it’s worn in, it reflects the individual’s engagement with tradition and their adjustment to life in NYC. Many of the pieces are made from handwoven fabrics as well, as a sign of protest against British colonialism and manufacturing.

The exhibition is open through April. Check out some of the pieces, here.