US First Lady Michelle Obama (L) and US President Barack Obama (2L) greet Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2R) and his wife Akie Abe (R) for a State Dinner at the White House. (AFP)
An undocumented Indian origin-immigrant has attended the State Dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama at the White House for visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Bupendra Ram, who came to the US at the age of two from Fiji, attended the dinner along with his partner Kamala Ram.
In fact, the list of guests indicated that Bupendra was the only Indian-origin person to have been invited for the most sought after dinner of the town.
The invitation by Obama to an undocumented immigrant came as he fights the Republican-controlled Congress for comprehensive immigration reforms.
With 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US, Obama's plan would let some 4.4 million who are parents of US citizens and legal permanent residents remain in the United States temporarily, without the threat of deportation.
According to some estimates, there are 4.5 illegal Indian immigrants in the US.
This was Obama's Administration's eighth State Dinner. Held in the East Room and of the White House, the State Dinner fused traditional American cuisine with a Japanese influence.
This event showcased the diversity of American food as well as the delicate spring produce grown by farmers from across the country.