Immigration & DACA w/Guest Saba Nafees, White House AAPI member

Tahmina Talks Immigration

On episode #35 of Immigration with Tahmina which aired on 7.12.16, I have the honor of chatting with Saba Nafees is a member of the White House Initiative for on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Saba is a recipient of DACA- (deferred action for childhood arrivals- a program created by President Obama for undocumented children in the US). She is one of the first applicants of the program and a national advocate for DACA.Nafees is currently pursuing a PhD with research focused in mathematical biology at Texas Tech University after graduating in May of 2014 with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics with Highest Honors. To graduate with this distinction, she wrote an original Honors Thesis on her research. As an undergraduate, she conducted research with Dr. Sean Rice, a theoretical evolutionary biologist, through the TTU Howard Hughes Medical Institute Program. In her undergrad, she had the pleasure of founding multiple student groups such as the Mathematics Ambassadors and the first ever Define American chapter inspired by Jose Antonio Vargas to encourage DACAmented youth in West Texas. She is also at the forefronts of entrepreneurship efforts at Tech and abroad, helping lead the Texas Tech Innovation Mentorship & Entrepreneurship program and is currently involved in implementing a business plan for Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal. During the past school year, she served as the Student Government Vice President for Graduate Affairs at Texas Tech along with continuing to serve as a One Young World Ambassador.Saba talks about why DACA has been important in her life and why it is important to all Desi folks. This is a great interview with someone is an example of what immigrants have to offer in America!