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The first time I got on a plane was for a flight from Delhi, India to JFK Airport in New York. I came to the United States as a student, first to the University of Illinois, and after earning my master’s degree, to California, where I’ve lived ever since. I’ve built businesses, hired people and created a life here.

By Venkates Swaminathan

Special for CalMatters

Opinion

My story is the story of countless others who came to America to study, work and build. My roommate in graduate school, Arvind Krishna, is now the CEO of IBM. Millions of others have come to California and gone on to create lives and opportunities.

To be sure, international students aren’t the only — or biggest — immigrant community.

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