Their Sacrifice Became My Purpose: The Story Behind Eye of An Immigrant

My story begins long before I was born. In 1984, following the anti-Sikh violence and genocide in India, my parents' generation was forced to navigate fear, uncertainty, and the difficult decision to leave behind everything they knew in search of safety and opportunity. As the daughter of Sikh immigrants, I grew up carrying the weight of those sacrifices while trying to understand my own identity as both American and Punjabi. In this presentation, I share my family's journey from Punjab to the United States, the challenges of growing up between two worlds, and how those experiences inspired me to found Eye of an Immigrant. Through storytelling, community building, and immigration support, Eye of an Immigrant works to ensure that immigrant families feel seen, valued, and welcomed. This is a story about resilience, belonging, and how the sacrifices of one generation can become the purpose of the next.

Komalpreet Kaur is the founder and executive director of Eye of An Immigrant (EOAI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping immigrant families overcome cultural barriers and achieve their American Dream. She founded EOAI as a junior in high school with a mission to elevate voices, fund pathways to citizenship, and foster a welcoming community. Through EOAI, she launched a storytelling campaign to highlight the immigrant experience and provide critical resources and financial assistance for immigrants seeking a legal pathway to citizenship.