News
Chandigarh girl becomes first South Asian to become immigration commissioner in US
Kudrat Dutta Chaudhary, a young lawyer who hails from Chandigarh, has been appointed the Commissioner of Immigrants Rights at San Francisco. She is the first South Asian to get this position.Kudrat will deal with asylum seekers seeking asylum on the basis of gender-based violence or persecution they have suffered in their home countries.As a Commissioner, her job would be to advice the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors on immigrant issues in the city and county of SF.
The process of becoming a Commissioners requires an application, shortlisting of candidates and then the nominated candidates are given an opportunity to present their candidature to the Rules Committee. The Rules committee then makes final candidature recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and they then vote on it.
Chaudhary earned a unanimous vote from the Board of Supervisors for her position.After graduating from the Army Institute of Law, Kudrat Dutta Chaudhary studied at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and graduated with an LL.M in International Laws.
While in graduate school, Chaudhary focussed on Gender Analysis in International law and went on to work as a Gender Rights Specialist at the Law Office of Robert B. Jobe in August 2019.
In San Francisco, she has been very active in advocacy. She heads the women’s march San Francisco and is the first South Asian Commissioner on the Immigrant Rights Commission for the city and county of San Francisco.
The Indian Express spoke to Kudrat about her early years in Chandigarh and her motivation for pursuing law.
The Chandigarh connect
I did my primary schooling at Sacred Heart and high school from Vivek. Subsequently, I joined the law programme at the Army Institute of Law. Following my graduation in law, I pursued LL.M from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.
What made you take up Law?
I am a very justice oriented person and believe that law is a strong agent to bring societal change. Hence, it wasn’t a tough choice.
What do you like the most about Chandigarh?
As an expat, I believe I have the privilege of only remembering and rejoicing in the best things about Chandigarh and hence I love how green it is, its culture, how small it is (which is also why I love San Francisco) and all the memories that I built in the city.
What do you dislike about Chandigarh?
If I have to choose one thing I dislike, I’d probably say how small Chandigarh is. That is because knowing everyone can sometimes lead to less opportunities for privacy and making choices that one wants to make personally as opposed to what is expected.
Secret of your success
There is no secret per se. I continue to work towards becoming the best version of myself with the understanding that my life’s purpose is to advocate for those who can’t do it for themselves. Lots of water, good sleep and walks with my dog. (Indian Express)
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business3 days agoDialog and UnionPay International Join Forces to Elevate Sri Lanka’s Digital Payment Landscape
-
News3 days agoSajith: Ashoka Chakra replaces Dharmachakra in Buddhism textbook
-
Features3 days agoThe Paradox of Trump Power: Contested Authoritarian at Home, Uncontested Bully Abroad
-
Features3 days agoSubject:Whatever happened to (my) three million dollars?
-
News3 days agoLevel I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended
-
News3 days ago65 withdrawn cases re-filed by Govt, PM tells Parliament
-
News3 days agoNational Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion (SBCC) has been launched. – PM
-
Opinion5 days agoThe minstrel monk and Rafiki, the old mandrill in The Lion King – II