GOP rep bringing widow of slain Indian immigrant to State of the Union

Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) on Saturday said he’s bringing the widow of an Indian immigrant killed in a hate crime shooting as his guest to the State of the Union address.

Sunayana Dumala will attend the address on Tuesday with Yoder, who said her attendance will send a message that “the United States is a nation of immigrants and they are welcome here.”

I asked Sunayana to be my guest as a recognition for her tireless efforts to promote peace, and as a message to the Indian community that the United States is a nation of immigrants and they are welcome here.

— Rep. Kevin Yoder (@RepKevinYoder) January 27, 2018

Dumala was married to Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was shot and killed last year while at a restaurant in Olathe, Kan.

{mosads}The India Association of Kansas City praised Yoder’s decision, saying it “further strengthens our belief and confidence in the Americans system and its Constitution.”

The suspected shooter reportedly hurled ethnic slurs and shouted “get out of my country” before shooting at Kuchibhotla and his friend, Alok Madasani. 

Madasani survived the attack, as did a third man who was injured while trying to intervene on behalf of the victims. 

The shooter, Adam Purinton, was indicted last summer on hate crime charges.

The White House condemned the shooting as an act of “racially motivated hatred.”

This year’s State of the Union will take place as lawmakers are working to agree on immigration reform legislation that would protect immigrants brought here illegally as children, and address additional funding for border security.