The articles mention how the U.S. government tends to generalize immigrants into basic ethnic groups and fail to recognize the diversity within these groups. This is a result of America’s lack of understanding of the newer yet increasingly prominent immigrant groups such as the South Asians. This lack of understanding makes it difficult for the federal government to meet the needs of these immigrants and, as a result, these immigrants have a harder time thriving in the city. Here, we can ask the question of whether the government is actually making an attempt to understand them.  If they are, perhaps they lack the resources to be able to do so.

However, we see that within these communities immigrants form their own organizations (such as Chhaya CDC) in an attempt to better the conditions immigrants face when attempting to live in the United States. These organizations have a much better understanding of the diversity and culture of the ethnic groups. They are more efficient than the government consensus at obtaining data that accurately reflects the condition of the community. They are more in touch with the culture and traditions of these ethnic groups and much more inclined to help these groups for the sake of bettering their lives. They also work for representation in the government for these minority ethnic groups so that the needs of these groups can be met and actually provided for by the government.

In my opinion, the forming of institutions and organizations within ethnic communities is a result of a need for protection, support, and representation. These organizations help bring the voices of the community together and permit them to be heard by the government. Where the U.S. government will not or cannot efficiently provide for the needs of these ethnic communities, the organizations will step in and attempt to resolve the problem or attempt to pressure the government to do something about it.