Nisha Agarwal is an accomplished public interest lawyer and a leading voice in immigration reform at the local and national level. Her tenure as the Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs is marked by her entrepreneurial drive and proven record of enacting pro-immigrant legislation.
She led the development and implementation of IDNYC, the country's largest municipal identification program, ensuring that all New Yorkers can have the peace of mind and security that comes from recognized identification. Commissioner Agarwal received her B.A. summa cum laude from Harvard College and her J.D. from Harvard Law School and was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University.
Nisha currently lives in Brooklyn.
1) What is your current position?
Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
2) What are your proudest achievements?
Very proud of taking part in the design and launch of IDNYC, New York’s municipal identification card program, which is available to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status. Tremendous to see that more than 900,000 New Yorkers already participating in the program, less than two years after launch, and that it is making New York City more accessible to a broad range of its residents and serves as a symbol of inclusion and belonging.
3) What inspires you?
Community organizing & teamwork – in other words, when people come together to take action on issues they care about, on ways to make their lives and the lives of their neighbors better without causing harm to others. I find complaining and zero sum games to be dispiriting, and am inspired to be around others who, through collaboration, show that it’s possible to accomplish a bigger vision.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
I feel extremely grateful for the opportunities I have had in my career. As the oldest child of immigrants, though, I had to figure out how things worked at every step of the way. How do you apply to college? How do you get scholarships or figure out ways to pay for higher education? How do you get jobs in non-profits, in the law, in government? Every step took a bit of hustle, but I also think that hustle has been enormously helpful to me too – I feel comfortable being thrown into new situations and “figuring it out.” In fact, I would argue that’s one of the biggest assets I bring to my career.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
My parents. I certainly learned about hard work from them. But perhaps most of all they always, always, always encouraged me to do what I loved and what mattered to me, and they reassured me that I had the ability to reach those goals. Even now when I have questions or concerns about my life, including my professional life, I turn to them for advice and encouragement.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
My office is a bridge between NYC’s many diverse immigrant communities and city government, so I am regularly invited to join people in the community, hear their concerns and ideas about life in the city, and potentially play a role in supporting their success in NYC. Without a doubt the best aspect of the job.
7) And the worst?
I have to wear suits or business attire a lot.
8) What are your long term goals?
I plan to stay in public service and social justice work.
9) If you were the President of the US, what one aspect would you change?
Of course our immigration policies – we need humane immigration reform at the federal level.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
This is probably a really obvious answer, but Mahatma Gandhi – what an incredible & brilliant agent for social change.
