McLean County Indian community feels 'seen and heard' by U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

Members of a South Asian association in McLean County gathered Saturday to celebrate India's 77th year as a republic, featuring a keynote address by U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for U.S. Senate from Illinois.

The McLean County India Association [MCIA] hosted the event at Illinois State University. Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, is the first South Asian American to lead a congressional committee.

Born in India, Krishnamoorthi's family immigrated to the U.S. when he was a child. Settling in Peoria after relocating from Buffalo, New York, he still recalls the very long car ride to Central Illinois, "Yeah, it was a U-Haul ride too, you know," he said.

And like the long road trip, he also remembers when the issue of race entered his consciousness.

Back then, there were only about 10 Indian families in the area, he said, "And so, when you go to school, you immediately notice, 'Hey, one of these people is not like the others.' And that happened to me."

There are over 5,500 people with Asian Indian ancestry in McLean County, according to Census data from 2023, the most of any downstate Illinois county and one of this county’s largest minority groups.

For MCIA member Krishna Balakrishnan, Krishnamoorthi represents "a seat at the table," and despite representing a different congressional district, "he's somebody who understands the challenges of growing up as an immigrant in this country."

Immigration policy

Challenges like immigration, Balakrishnan said, are a priority.

"Immigration is always No. 1 on everybody's mind. Questions related to the process and also help with USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services]," he said.

The Trump administration raised the price of visas for high-skilled workers from nearly $5,000 to $100,000, making it harder for American companies to hire foreign talent.

And while the policy change doesn't affect those already living in the U.S., it does deter companies from offering sponsorships to people wanting to switch employers, added MCIA committee member Nirmal Jain.

"So, indirectly, we are heavily impacted. Normally, companies have their immigration team, and they're up to date," said Jain, but hiring managers and human resources are not — and are scared away when they hear the word sponsorship.

"Even though we have the H-1B, companies don't know whether they will have to pay $100,000 now or in the future," said Jain, adding he hopes Krishnamoorthi will help address the visa complexities if he wins the Senate race.

For now, he lives in suspense: "Every day in the morning we wake up, 'Oh, my God, are we waking up with some surprise today or not?'"

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U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi talks to WGLT during a stop in Normal.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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MCIA members and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi at Saturday's event.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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Urmy Das, MCIA president.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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MCIA member and Normal Community High School student Shourya Jain with MCIA treasurer Nirmal Jain.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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MCIA member and Illinois Wesleyan University student Khel Gordhan.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

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MCIA members Krishna Balakrishnan and Uma Balakrishnan.

Emily Bollinger / WGLT

The next generation

Some younger members of MCIA said being represented in government inspires them to become involved in their community.

Illinois Wesleyan University senior Khel Gordhan said one issue confronting his generation is apathy. "They say, like, 'Oh, we can't afford anything, we can't do anything, we can't step in,' but I think now, especially with the midterms coming up, there's a chance for people like us to make a difference," he said

Krishnamoorthi, he added, is a role model.

"To have someone that dresses like you, talks like you, and has the same kind of culture, is really cool and inspiring," he said.

Indian American high school freshmen in the Twin Cities also are taking notice.

Rhea Balakrishnan, a student at University High School, and Shourya Jain, who attends Normal Community High School, said living between two worlds is a balancing act.

"A lot of Indian teens, or Indian Americans, are being misjudged. Like, we have a lot of stereotypes, and I'd like to see those stereotypes corrected," said Shourya, adding the stereotypes surrounded his extracurricular activities.

Rhea echoes a similar sentiment. "It was honestly a big struggle in middle school," she said about participating in sports and traditional Indian customs. To Indians, she was too American, but to Americans, she was too Indian. She said the turning point was making peace with herself.

"I think a really important piece is finding out who I was, and what I like, and not caring what other people think," she said, adding if people were curious about her culture, she'd explain, but she no longer feels the need to appease.

When asked about the pressure heaped upon South Asian immigrants to conform, Krishnamoorthi said he's most sensitive to people in the room who are "othered" because he's what he calls "a racial, ethnic, religious minority immigrant with 19 letters in my name."

"I gravitate towards those who are bullied, othered, and I feel most sensitive toward them because of that," he said, encouraging Indian American youth to do the same, "You do the same. You probably feel it, act on it. You'll grow leadership muscles as well."

A bright future ahead

Urmy Das, MCIA's president, said the organization was founded in 1979 by a group of about 50 Indian families, noting "today we have 250 families."

The nonprofit foments cultural and social development in the Bloomington-Normal area, and is able to keep their culture alive and do what she calls "home away from home" because they have support from the community.

Last year, MCIA hosted more than 20 events in the community, including many philanthropic activities, she said.

"We hosted events for youth, sporting events, and a food drive for Midwest Food Bank," said Das. "You have to give it your all to make it a success."

She said the goal of MCIA is to unite the Indian community: "We want all Indians to be under one umbrella, no matter their language."

For more information visit ourmcia.org.