California governor blocks bill banning caste discrimination

California State Sen. Aisha Wahab, center, introduced the bill that would have banned caste in the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill Saturday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill  what would have been a precedent-setting law banning caste discrimination. 

SB 403, introduced by Sen. Aisha Wahab earlier this year, overwhelmingly passed the Assembly and State Senate earlier this year. It exposed deep divisions in California's South Asian communities.

Newsom, who was caught between Democratic progressives and civil rights advocates, and an influential conservative South Asians, said the proposed laws was "unnecessary" because existing law already prohibited discrimination.

“In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live,” Newsom said in a statement. “That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed.”

Newsom's veto was welcomed by Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation, who stated: "With the stroke of his pen, Governor Newsom has averted a civil rights and constitutional disaster that would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity, as well as create a slippery slope of facially discriminatory laws."

"We thank Governor Newsom for listening to the thousands of voices that contacted his office and seeing that SB-403 was premised on racist rhetoric, a baseless lawsuit, egregious Civil Rights Department misconduct, false claims about the Hindu religion and South Asian community at large, and the self-serving, methodologically flawed, caste survey by Equality Labs," continued the HAF statement.

Caste is an ancient, complex social system that regulates people's social status based on their birth. It's primarily associated with India and Hinduism, but caste-based divisions are also found in other faiths and countries.

Even though caste s illegal in India, the social construct is so embedded in South Asian culture, it still affects most aspects of life, including who one associates with, who one marries and employment opportunities. The immigrant workers brought to the US for their tech skills make up a significant number of employees in the high-tech industry. Members of the lower castes say the belief system also made the trip across the Pacific.

Caste issues have surfaced prominently in Silicon Valley, where Indian workers with bachelor’s degrees made up 27% of tech workers in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties in 2021, according to CalMatters. Wahab's district covers part of Silicon Valley in the State Senate.

The state filed a lawsuit against Cisco two years ago in behalf of an employee who accused managers of bias because of his lower caste status. He alleged that he received lower pay and was denied career opportunities. While the state has dropped charges against the managers, the suit against Cisco is still being litigated.

Althugh Cisco is the poster child of caste in California, is not alone in its awkward dealing with caste, which is not a protected class in California, unlike race, ethnicity and religion. Other Silicon Valley giants such as Google and Microsoft and other companies, who employ large numbers of H-1B visa holders, most of whom come from South Asia, have also come under scrutiny. 

If the bill had been signed by Newsom, California would have been the first state to ban the caste system. The cities of Seattle and Fressno, Calif. have instituted bans on caste.

Wahab's office did not immediately respond to Newsom's veto, but several of the bill's supporters did not hesitate to express their disappointment.

Amar Shergill, former chairperson of the California Democratic Party’s progressive caucus which backed the bill, was undeterred in his support. He noted that past civil rights bills also took many tries, and many years, before they passed.

“It is a testament to the righteous energy in this movement that we came so far, so fast,” Shergill wrote on X. “Caste discrimination is a scourge which we have brought to the top of public consciousness and that new fact will spare many people from suffering. I am confident that this issue will receive favorable outcomes when it is tested in Court because we have successfully educated the legal world and won them to our side.”

"The Sikh Coalition was proud to sponsor this legislation, because we know firsthand the pain and trauma that comes with being targeted by hate, and the Sikh faith explicitly condemns caste discrimination," said Harman Singh, Policy & Education Director, Sikh Coalition. "Accordingly, we joined more than 45 Sikh organizations and gurdwaras in California urging Gov. Newsom to sign this bill. While we are frustrated by this failure to take a meaningful step forward for the civil rights of all, we will continue to fight for legislation that protects all communities—including the Dalit community—from hate and discrimination."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the  blog Views From the Edge.

Anti-caste bill passes California Senate, 34-1

California's Senate Bill 403 brought out supporters and opponents during hearings.

The California Senate voted 34-1 May 11 in favor of legislation outlawing caste discrimination in the state. 

If Senate Bill 403 passes in the state Assembly and is enacted, California could become the first state in the nation to make caste bias illegal by adding it as a protected category in the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

“California reaffirms its commitment to stand against discrimination and I’m proud that this is a bipartisan effort amongst my colleagues, said State Sen. Aisha Wahab, who authored the bill. SB 403 is one of the most high-profile bills in the legislature this session, and brought out a record number of people to comment on the bill at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in April."

Senator Wahab, who has been working on this bill since November 2022, has received numerous threats, including death threats. The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with unanimous bipartisan support.

Of the legislation, Wahab says “this bill is about workers’ rights, women’s rights, and civil rights. This bill is about ensuring the American Dream is accessible to all those who pursue it.” SB403 is now headed to the Assembly, and must make its way through committees and a floor vote before it reaches Governor Newsom’s desk.

The bills is supported by ACLU, Bend the Arc, California Labor Federation, Alphabet Workers Union, MeToo International, and many others.

Opponents have maintained that the law will single out Hindus and people of Indian descent.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.

Indian American takes helm of Twitter as founder Jack Dorsey steps down

Parag Agrawal is Twitter's new CEO.

Another Indian American immigrant is taking the helm of a tech company. Parag Agrawal was named CEO of Twitter after serving as the social media company's Chief Technology Officer.

Agrawal's promotion was announced Tuesday after Jack Dorsey decided to step down as CEO of Twitter, a company he founded in 2006 in San Francisco.

"I've decided to leave Twitter because I believe the company is ready to move on from its founders. My trust in Parag as Twitter's CEO is deep. His work over the past 10 years has been transformational. I'm deeply grateful for his skill, heart, and soul. It's his time to lead," said Dorsey.

"I want to thank the Board for their confidence in my leadership and Jack for his continued mentorship, support, and partnership," said Agrawal. "I look forward to building on everything we have accomplished under Jack's leadership and I am incredibly energized by the opportunities ahead. By continuing to improve our execution, we will deliver tremendous value for our customers and shareholders as we reshape the future of public conversation."

Agrawal joins a cadre of Indian Americans leading high profile U.S. tech companies. including Sundar Pichai of Google parent Alphabet, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and IBM’s Arvind Krishna, Adobe's Shantanu Narayen and VMWare's Raghu Raghuram.

Dorsey's departure and Agrawal's promotion comes as Twitter is being questioned about its role in spreading falsehoods and acting as the medium for the spread of the lies of radical rightwingers, white supremacists and conspiracy theorists.

Twitter headquarters in San Francisco.

Upon the announcement of Agrawal's promotion conservatives began spreading tweet he sent in 2010 that read "If they are not gonna make a distinction between muslims and extremists, then why should I distinguish between white people racists."

As some Twitter users pointed out, the 11-year-old tweet was quoting a segment on “The Daily Show,” which was referencing the firing of Juan Williams, who made a comment about being nervous about Muslims on an airplane.

It didn't take long before the tweet went viral and people began trolling Agrawal. What people missed was that at the time of posting his tweet in 2010, Agrawal, 37, had already clarified his comments to a Twitter user. "I was quoting Asif Mandvi from The Daily Show. The article you are reading seems too deep for my current mental state," Agrawal said.

In a later tweet on the same thread from the timeline, the Twitter CEO had further said, "I am amused by people that pass judgement on people for passing judgement. I was attempting to do the same to amuse myself.”

The 37-year old Agrawal joined Twitter in 2011 and has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) since October 2017. As CTO, he has been responsible for the Company's technical strategy, leading work to improve development velocity while advancing the state of Machine Learning across the company. 

Prior to being appointed CTO, Parag had risen to be Twitter's first Distinguished Engineer due to his work across revenue and consumer engineering, including his impact on the re-acceleration of audience growth in 2016 and 2017. 

Parag holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

Pramila Jayapal says Republicans exposed her to COVID-19; asks for fines and ban on maskless Congress members

SCREEN CAPTURE / PBS

REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL

United States Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA, received a positive COVID-19 test result Monday after being locked down in a secured room at the U.S Capitol where numerous Republican lawmakers recklessly refused to wear masks in the moments after the attempted coup on January 6.

Dr. Brian Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress, advised representatives and Congressional staff on Sunday that those in the secured room could have, “been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection.” The duration in the room was multiple hours and several Republicans not only adamently refused to wear a mask but mocked colleagues and staff who offered them one.

“Too many Republicans have refused to take this pandemic and virus seriously, and in doing so, they endanger everyone around them. Only hours after President Trump incited a deadly assault on our Capitol, our country, and our democracy, many Republicans still refused to take the bare minimum COVID-19 precaution and simply wear a damn mask in a crowded room during a pandemic — creating a superspreader event on top of a domestic terrorist attack,” said Jayapal. 

Since it was learned that Jayapal had the coronavirus, two other members of Congress -- Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., and Bonnie Coleman, D-N.J. -- were found to have contracted the deadly virus that has claimed over 376,000 lives in the U.S. They believe they were exposed to COVID-19 while sheltering in locations secured from the rioters trying to disrupt Congress' certification of the Electoral College votes.

“It angers me when they (Republicans) refuse to adhere to the directions about keeping their masks on,” said the 75-year old Coleman in an interview. “It comes off to me as arrogance and defiance. And you can be both, but not at the expense of someone else.”

“While I am isolating per the Capitol Physician’s instructions, I will continue to work to the best of my ability because the deep urgency of our many crises is paramount. I share the outrage and anger of my constituents and those across this country who have watched Donald Trump fail to combat this raging pandemic and refuse to take care of Americans who are suffering, dying, and devastated. Now, we have also watched him openly fuel and incite these insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol and our democracy on January 6—so I will not rest until I do everything in my power to remove this President from office.”

“I am also calling for serious fines to be immediately levied on every single Member who refuses to wear a mask in the Capitol,” Jayapal said in a press release. “Additionally, any Member who refuses to wear a mask should be immediately removed from the floor by the Sergeant at Arms. This is not a joke. Our lives and our livelihoods are at risk, and anyone who refuses to wear a mask should be fully held accountable for endangering our lives because of their selfish idiocy.”

Jayapal began quarantining immediately after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, fearing and foreseeing exactly what would occur given the number of maskless lawmakers sitting in the same room as her and her colleagues. In an interview with The Cut on Thursday, she said, “I’m quarantining now because I am convinced that where we ended up, in the secured room — where there were over 100 people and many were Republicans not wearing masks — was a superspreader event.”

Asian immigrants seek a place in America: Streets in Queens, NYC reflecting their Asian neighborhoods

South Asians celebrated the renaming of streets in Little Punjab. in Queens, NYC.

As Japantowns and Chinatowns struggle to maintain their existence because of gentrification, rising rates and the coronavirus, new immigrants seek a place to call their own; as if to proclaim their existence in America.

Honoring the contributions of the South Asian American community, the borough of Queens, New York has named two streets Punjab Avenue and Gurdwara Street.

The area has carried the nickname "Little Punjab" for years because of the number of businesses run by Punjabis and the home of two active gurudwaras, Sikh houses of worship. About 150,000 Indian Americans live in Queens, one of the most diverse boroughs in one of the most diverse cities in the U.S.

Punjab is a region split into a province of eastern Pakistan and the northwestern state of Punjab in India.

Punjab Ave. and Gurdwara Street are segments of 101st Ave. and 97th Ave. respectively. The street sign desgnating Punjab Ave. were installed in October and the following month, Gurdwara Street was made official.

According to a CBS New York report, the initiative was a joint effort by several South Asian groups and City Councilmember Adrienne Adams.

“This community has been underserved, not really recognized,” Adams told the news website.

“Invisible, which is a travesty, knowing everything that all of our community brings to this wonderful district.”

The success of the South Asian community in identifying their neighborhoods with streets has given new hope for efforts to rename a portion of 97th Avenue "Little Manila," an effort launched last summer.

A petition asking for the street name change to Little Manila was established here.

This is what the Little Manila street name would look in the Woodside neighborhood of Queens.

The Little Manila neighborhood has been growing since the 1965 Immigration Reform Act and the need for nurses to staff New York Hospitals.

In the 1970s, New York hospitals faced nursing shortages and recruited from the Philippines, bringing many Filipino nurses and their families to Queens. Those who worked at Elmhurst Hospital settled in the surrounding neighborhoods, including Woodside, where the Filipino community has since thrived. By the 1990s, 72% of Philippine immigrants in New York were registered nurses.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Filipino community was severely impacted—not only were many working in the health care system, but Little Manila was physically situated on the front line of the city’s epicenter.

Presently, 54% of New York Filipinos live in Queens. In 2009, 13,000 of the 85,000 residents of Woodside are of Filipino descent, thus making up 15% of the neighborhood’s population. An estimated 86,000 Filipinos and Filipino Americans reside in NYC, making them the third-largest Asian group in New York today.

Unlike the racist zoning and redlining that helped form America's J-towns and Chinatowns, today's desire for street renamings is a physical symbol asserting the  presence of South Asians and Filipino Americans and their contributions to the United States.

After celebrating historic Biden-Harris victory, AAPI advocates gird themselves for next steps

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris proclaim their victory Saturday, Nov. 7.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders celebrated Joe Biden's triumph at the polls, but having Kamala Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants on the same ticket heightened the emotional and historic note to the history-making political victory.

Harris, whose mother is from India, "broke one of the highest glass ceilings today by becoming the first woman, first Asian American, and first African American Vice President-elect in our nation’s history," said a statement from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. 

"As the daughter of immigrants, she is a living example of the American Dream and a testament to millions of young girls across the nation that the sky is the limit." 

RELATED: AAPI celebrities overcome with joy

In a statement, the U.S. India Political Action Committee called Harris' election "one of the most inspirational days for young girls everywhere, especially Black and Indian girls. A victory for decency, class, truth, maturity and unity."

The U.S.-India Business Council e-mailed a statement to journalists congratulating  Harris and President-Elect Biden, calling their victory "truly a barrier breaking moment, and one that celebrates the diversity of America."

"America needed a leader who would be serious about solving the biggest health challenge of COVID and would set a positive tone in the nation and the world. Joe Biden is such a person and it is a big plus to have Kamala Harris as the vice-president to guide this nation towards the right direction,” said Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) and Founder of EcoSikh.

Many  members of the AAPI communities noted that the Democrats' win was even more special considering the current administration's policies hurt immigrants and people of color.

"The last four years have been tough for Asian Americans, communities of color, and countless Americans. Starting with the Muslim Ban, President Trump’s policies made the poorest among us choose between feeding our families and a chance at a green card.," stated the Asian American Federation. "His policies also cut off pathways that brought immigrant families together and stoked the fires of racism that hurt us and our Black and Brown sisters and brothers, particularly during the pandemic."

For many, it was the first time that they took an active part in a political campaign and from their comments, the Biden-Harris campaign may be the launching pad for greater political participation.

"While this is a victory, we will not lose sight of the fact that representation alone is not power and that institutional systems have not changed," warns the Asian American Advancing Justice-Los Angeles statement. "There is still work to be done on issues that are essential to our community. We will work together to address anti-discrimination, immigration, human rights, healthcare access, voting rights and fair representation,"  

"Our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander brothers, sisters, and siblings deserve equity, peace, and justice that are only achieved with true democracy ... Election 2020 fortifies our commitment to the individuals who need us. No matter what happens in the White House, we will not stop striving for civil and human rights for our people.”

Filipino Americans for Biden-Harris issued a statement Sunday: "As Filipino Americans and others are aware, the Biden victory marks not just the end of the campaign, but the beginning of the real challenge of uniting what has become a divided country. Filipino Americans will have a role to play in this effort as well, by supporting the work of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as they implement their plan to control the spread of the coronavirus, get supplies to front-line healthcare workers, revitalize the economy and provide parents, seniors, families and entire communities with the hope and resources they need to survive and thrive in the face of what has become a challenging world."

The National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, looking to the future and fearful that the conservative Supreme Court will rule against a woman's right to choose used the moment to look to the future and. asked Biden and Harris to balance the Supreme Court by adding new members.

"With the Supreme Court appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, Trump has created a supermajority on the court of justices who are opposed to our values and priorities," said the NAPAWF statement. "We’re done waiting for devastating decisions to come down that take away our ability to make decisions about the formation of our families, provide for our loved ones, and to even exist in this country without fear. It’s time to expand the courts.”

Stop AAPI Hate cautioned that despite the pending change of administrations, acts of hate agaginst Asian Americans continue to rise.

"Over the past eight months, Stop AAPI Hate has received reports revealing that Asian Americans have been the victims of thousands of racist attacks since COVID-19 began to spread in our country and continue to live in a climate of fear and discrimination that impacts their daily lives. These attacks have been exacerbated by anti-Asian American rhetoric pushed forward by elected officials, as well as by dozens of policies from the previous administration. 

"It’s vital that the incoming administration takes immediate responsibility for challenging and addressing the racist hate that is in danger of permeating our society and undoing the xenophobic policies that target the Asian American community,” continued the statement from Stop AAPI Hate.

"Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities have turned out in record numbers this election cycle to make their voices heard. And Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders have contributed greatly in their communities to make their voices heard in national politics, priorities and policies. In fact, our community turned out in historic numbers — by voting early, by mail or on Election Day," said the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum.

"The election of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris is a rebuke on the dangerous policies put forth by the Trump administration and will restore decency, productivity and progress to the White House," said the health advocates.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA, who released a video of her dancing on h"er front porch celebrating the Biden-Harris victory, stressed the importance of being active advocates of democracy.

“Today is so much bigger than these two individuals or one political party. Today is only possible because people across our state and throughout our country put aside cynicism, doubts and fears to step up, speak out and organize—not only for this election but for the past four years of the Trump presidency," she said.

 

“Our work is only beginning. Our task is to keep momentum high and to remember that without young people, people of color, progressives, working people and the most vulnerable turning out in record numbers and tipping us to victory in key states, we would not have won," said Jayapal. "We must now organize for people-first policies that make opportunity for all a reality, to finally reckon with white supremacy and anti-Blackness and to chart a course that never, ever leaves even one of us behind."

Democrats air ads directed at AAPI voters.

SCREEN CAPTURE / BIDEN CAMPAIGN

Filipino WWII veterans appear in the new video aimed at AAPI communities.

The Democratic Party's first 60-second ad directed at Asian American and Pacific Islander communities was released Wednesday (Oct. 21) titled "Standing Together."

The aggressive outreach effort comes after some Biden supporters raised concerns over the summer about the lack of outreach to the AAPI electorate.

The 2020 Asian American Voter Survey by APIA Data and AAPI Vote showed that a majority of Asian Americans (54%) surveyed planned to vote for Joe Biden compared to just 30% who planned to support Republican incumbent Donald Trump. 

The poll also shows that about half of all respondents were not contacted by either major party. With a higher than average response of voters who register themselves as independent, the Democratics outreach will be critical to cement votes from Asian American voters.

This Biden-Harris campaign ad targets the AAPI electorate.

Biden was strongly favored among all national origin groups surveyed, except Vietnamese Americans. Among Vietnamese registered voters, support is higher for Trump (48%) than Biden (36%). Indian Americans are the most inclined to vote for Biden among all Asian American groups (66%). At the same time, 14% of Asian American registered voters remained undecided about their presidential vote choice, with Chinese Americans (22%) exhibiting the highest proportion of voters who said they were “undecided.”

Political parties have yet to harness the power of the Asian American vote despite the fact that many remain persuadable. The 2020 Asian American Voter Survey shows that about half of all respondents were not contacted by either major party. With a higher than average response of voters who do not subscribe with either party, party outreach will be critical for Asian American voters.

The centerpiece of the program is a television commercial titled “Stand Together.” The ad features a narrator framing Biden’s Democratic ticket as a return to American values alongside photos of families, workers and veterans from different Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. Biden’s running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, who is the first Indian-American vice presidential candidate, is featured prominently in the 60-second clip.

“It’s time to go home to a place we once knew, a country of kindness and compassion, empathy and community, tolerance and generosity, integrity and hope,” the narrator says in the ad. “It’s time to stand together in a place called America, the place we all call home. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris know the way.”

The survey, which was released last month, showed Biden beating Trump in multiple segments of the community, except among Vietnamese-Americans. The survey also indicated the Indian-American and East Asian American communities where Biden has an advantage still have undecided voters, which makes the space a clear growth opportunity for the Democratic ticket. 

The campaign declined to say exactly how much is being spent on the advertising push. However, in August, Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon released a memo saying Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders would be among the “key constituencies” targeted through a massive $280 million advertising spend. In that memo, O’Malley Dillon cited the Democratic advantage with these communities and noted that targeting them “could increase the party’s margin of victory in closely contested battleground states.”

Harris also touted the Biden campaign’s effort to reach a diverse selection of voters during the vice presidential debate on Wednesday.

“Joe and I are particularly proud of the coalition we’ve built around our campaign,” she said. “We probably have one of the broadest coalitions of folks that you’ve ever seen in a presidential race.”

U.S.-India relations is the focus of this ad.

A second ad was released this week targeting Indian American voters who like other AAPI groups, with the exception of Vietnamese Americans, strongly favor the Democratic ticket. 

Not surprisingly, one of the key reasons South Asians have flocked to the Democratics is Biden's running mate -- Indian American Kamala Harris.

In earlier surveys of the largely immigrant community, the Democrats' selection of Harris  health care, affordable health care, immigration, economic opportunities and education have overridden concerns about India-U.S. foreign policies and trade, which the Republicans have emphasized in Trump's palling around with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With a new ad targeting the Indian American community, the Biden campaign wants to respond to those Indian Americans who still have strong ties with their country of origin by showing that India and its economic and security concerns will not be overlooked by a Democratic administration.

The one AAPI ethnic group that was leaning towards Trump, according to the survey, was the Vietnamese community.

Earlier this year, Democrats scored a historical first by airing a spot in Vietnamese attacking Michelle Steel, GOP candidate for the 45th Congressional District in Southern California.

Biden also wrote an oped for a Nevada ethnic newspaper that was translated and published in Vietnamese.

Other video English-speaking ads appearing in social media has Mandarin or Cantonese subtitles.

In Texas with its large South Asian American communityi, the Biden campaign has been airing radio commercials, conducting phone banks and Zoom meetups in various Indian languages. AAPIs for Biden coalition work with affinity groups like South Asians for Biden and their ethnic national councils, including Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans.

“AAPI voters are the fastest-growing bloc in the electorate but very few efforts were made to reach them in previous elections. There is more uptick in terms of outreach to subgroups this time,” Harini Krishnan, California co-state director for South Asians for Biden, said to NBC.

“The understanding of the lack of outreach in 2016 really helped us in this election cycle to ensure we work to increase desi voter turnout.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Updated Oct. 23, 10:30 a.m. to include new material and for clarification.

Issuance of H-1B visas suspended for the rest of the year

With Donald Trump's latest action further limiting the visas issued this year, it is clear that immigration will be the cornerstone of his reelection campaign.

Monday’s presidential proclamation temporarily blocks certain types of worker visas through the rest of 2020. The order applies to H-1B visas, H-2B visas, H-4 visas, L-1 visas and certain J-1 visas that apply to tech workers, seasonal workers, researchers and executives transferring to the US from positions abroad.

The measure largely closes loopholes in the president’s executive order that he signed in April that restricted green card access for certain immigrants trying to enter the country.

"We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens," said Trump in a statement.

The suspension will go into effect Wednesday, June 24. The restrictions will apply only to new work visas and not to existing holders who are already in the United States. Those visa holders who are outside the US when the order goes into effect will not be allowed to return to the US.

The proclamation will impact thousands of foreign workers in fields as wide-ranging from the high-tech workers in Silicon Valley to au pairs in the Hudson River Valley. The Migration Policy Institute, a think tank in Washington, DC, estimated that they would block 219,000 temporary workers.

Trump said that between February and April, more than 20 million American workers lost their jobs in key industries where employers are currently requesting H-1B and L workers to fill positions. 

The order exempts workers deemed "essential workers" in battling the pandemic. That includes healthcare professionals and agricultural workers who harvest the crops.

Sundar Pichai, the immigrant from India who is Chief Executive of Google and Alphabet said he was disappointed with Trump's latest attempt to  restrict immigration.

"Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today’s proclamation - we’ll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all," Pichai tweeted.

Silicon Valley’s tech companies for years have relied heavily on the H-1B, pushing for an expansion to the annual cap of 85,000 new visas and arguing that they need more visas to secure the world’s top talent. Nearly 70% of the 85,000 H1-B visas issued each year go to  workers from India.

The Information Technology Industry Council, a high-profile lobby group for large technology companies including Silicon Valley giants Apple, Facebook, Google, HP, Oracle and Salesforce, told the San Jose Mercury News that Trump’s move came at a bad time, and urged him to reconsider.

“Today’s executive action stands to upend the ability of U.S. employers – in the tech sector and beyond – to hire the men and women they need to strengthen their workforce, re-power the economy, and drive innovation,” the group said in an statement emailed to the Mercury News. “At a critical time for the U.S. economy, it will have a dangerous impact on the economic recovery and growth for years to come. As U.S. companies get their employees back to work, immigrants working in the technology industry are vital to sustaining promising recovery trends, as well as supporting the United States’ ongoing response to COVID-19.”

It is certain that the presidential campaign will swirl around the economy and Trump's bungling of the pandemic. Immigration might not sway moderate voters but it will cement Trump's support among his base. It will also encourage anti-immigrant acts, already raw from the anti-Asian attacks blamed for the coronavirus.

Family Karma: Historic reality show premiering Sunday has a chance to break stereotypes of Indian Americans

FAMILY KARMA

The Indian American cast of 'Family Karma' debuting Sunday.

By Louis Chan
ASAM NEWS

An aspiring fashion designer, a reluctant fiance, a playboy, a gay lawyer, a two time divorcee, choreographer, and rich entrepreneur – these are all characters you’ll get to know in Bravo’s new reality program - Family Karma.
Oh, and did we mention? All of them happen to be Indian American, thus making the program (debuting on Bravo Sunday at 9 ET/PT) the first reality show centered around this growing South Asian American ethnicity.

For many viewers, this will be their first look at the Indian American culture. AsAmNews had the opportunity to interview six of the cast members and preview the first two episodes.

“We are a very unique cast and I think this show will break common pre-conceived notions that many people have about Indians and India in general,” said Anisha Ramakrishna, 34, who just moved home to Miami in an effort to save money and support her fledgling fashion design business.

“I’m confident we’re going to make some Indian Americans uncomfortable because we are unapologetic and unfiltered almost immediately,” said Bali Chainani, a two-time divorcee and single mom. “However, I think showing the country that we don’t all fall under the stereotype that follows us will be massively appreciated. They’re going to love us or love to hate us.”

The show revolves around seven friends in Miami and their daily lives. Not only will viewers get to know the seven, they’ll also meet their parents, future in-laws and who knows who else. The program moves quickly and at least in the beginning, you’ll need a scorecard to keep up with everyone.

“What non-Indians I think will be surprised by is how close we are to our parents, aunts, and uncles,” wealthy entrepreneur Shaan Patel said. “In our Miami Indian community, it is not uncommon to hang out, drink, and dance with people of all ages, and our friendships are only deepened by this family bond.”

The first two episodes are lighthearted and fun. The cast is diverse enough so that viewers are likely to find at least one character they become invested in following. For me, that’s playboy Brian Benni and his longtime friend, Monica Vaswani. How many of us know longtime friends who show occasional sparks of potential passion? That’s Brian and Monica.

“You’ll see differences of opinions when it comes to relationships and matters of the heart,” said Benni, not necessarily talking about just him and Monica.

'Family Karma' centers on this group of hip, beautiful, stylish and rich Indian American friends in Miami

“I think what will surprise viewers more about this series is the type of drama we have,” Monica said. “Every comment, every joke, every confrontation has the potential to not only ruin a friendship but ruin a lifelong relationship going back generations.”

Despite the lightheartedness of the first episodes, I suspect viewers will have plenty of opportunities to both empathize and cry with the characters in future episodes.

“I agreed to be a part of this journey so I can serve as an example of a person of South Asian descent who was able to come out as LGBT to his family and never looked back,” said Amrit Kapai. “I wish to be a voice and pillar of support to those who have dealt with, and are currently dealing with, issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

“I’m sure many people from all walks of life can relate to some of the issues that I’ve faced in terms of emotional as well as my physical well-being,” said ,, who has been engaged for three years, but is reluctant to set a date. “I hope that people can provide more empathy and understanding for another. ”

For Asian Americans unfamiliar with the Indian culture, many will be surprised about the similarities and differences Indian Americans have with their own culture. For that reason alone, it’s worth watching.

“I think the viewers will see that despite our ethnicity, we will be relatable to people of all backgrounds,” said Ramakrishna.

Kamala Harris & Mindy Kaling cook masala dosa and interest from Indian Americans

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

Mindy Kaling share stories and recipes in a video showing the human side of presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Mindy Kaling prepared some masala dosas with the help of Sen. Kamala Harris in a video that is warming the hearts of immigrants.

In a video released by Democratic presidential candidate Harris' campaign, the candidate and the comedian/producer prepared the Indian dish in Kalaing's Los Angeles kitchen.

Kaling has long been a supporter of Harris. During the video released by Harris's campaign and on Kaling's personal social media accounts, they discuss their immigrant parents and their shared South Indian heritage.

“I really believe in her, I think she’s a really exciting candidate, and I like her stances on so many issues that are important to me,” Kaling told CNN early this summer.

The video of their joint dosa cooking adventure has gone viral ever since it was released on social media a day earlier and has hit more than half a million views on Twitter alone. There was also a special guest appearance from Avu Chokalingam, Kaling’s dad.

The video has gone viral and was warmly received by Indian Americans, who have been slow in showing their financial and political support for Harris, whose mother immigrated from India.

“Loved all of this,” tweeted Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

“Dear 12-Year-Old Me, One day, one of the funniest people on TV will cook a meal with a progressive US Senator who happens to be running for President and they’ll both be strong Indian American women. Your Future Self,” said Kal Penn, former Obama Administration official and actor.

“In which two South Indian American women - one @mindykaling a TV celebrity, the other @KamalaHarris a candidate for President - make dosa & eat with their hands & the whole world loves it & I feel all the #DesiPride,” tweeted Gautam Raghavan, chief of staff to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA.

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Indian Americans elected to Virginia's state legislature

Ghazala Hashmi, left, and Suhas Subramanyam, made history with their election victories.

Two Indian Americans helped turn Virginia's state legislature from red to blue as a result of Tuesday's election.

With their successful election, Suhas Subramanyam and Ghazala Hashmi made history as the first Indian Americans elected to the state legislature. The two, along with other Democrats helped the party switch control of the state from Republican Red to Democrat Blue.

"This victory is not mine alone. It belongs to all of you who believed that we needed to make progressive change here in Virginia, for all of you who felt that you haven't had a voice and believed in me to be yours in the General Assembly," Hashmi said after she defeated incumbent Republican State Senator Glen Sturtevant for the Virginia's 10th Senate District.

Hashmi, who recently received the endorsement from former President Barack Obama, won 54 percent of the vote. Republican incumbent Sturtevant claimed 46 percent of the vote.

“Today we sent a message that the status quo is no longer accepted. Thank you all for your support and passion in helping me become the next state senator for Virginia’s 10th District! I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of the change to come for Virginia,” Hashmi tweeted.

"After flipping the (State) Senate, I'll have Democrats by my side to fight to protect Virginians from the climate crisis and senseless gun violence, and work to expand our access to affordable health care and funding for public education. I can't wait to work together in the state Senate," Hashmi said.

Running in the Virginia House of Delegates 87th District, Subramanyam, a former college professor, ousted Republican Bill Drennan, 62 percent to 38 percent.

“Incredibly honored to be elected to the VA House last night and to join a @vademocrats majority. Thank you so much to the voters of HD-87 for making your voice heard, and thank you to the vols, staff, donors, friends and family who all made this possible. #BlueWave2019,” tweeted Subramanyam, a former Obama administration official and ex-congressional staffer.

“My promise to the people of Loudoun and Prince William: I will always listen to you, work tirelessly for you, and do everything I can to empower you. The campaign is over, but my work for you has just begun,” he added.

As Obama’s White House technology policy adviser, he led a task force on technology policy that Obama charged with addressing some of the country's most challenging technology issues, including job creation and displacement in the technology sector, regulating emerging technology, and addressing cybersecurity and IT modernisation in the public sector.

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Sen. Kamala Harris launches 'South Asians For the People'

SCREEN CAPTURE

Video from a tweet shows a young Kamala Harris (center front) and her sister Maya while vacationing in India with their mother and grandparents 

US Senator Kamala Harris is trying hard to reach out to South Asian Americans to counter the impression that she is downplaying half of her racial lineage.

Last month, the Harris campaign for president launched "South Asians for the People," an initiative aimed at garnering support from Indian Americans and other South Asian Americans.

The Indian American senator from California, whose late mother was cancer researcher Shymala Gopalan, launched the new initiative with a video tweet, describing the summers she spent in Chennai with her mother’s parents.

“As a young girl, I'd often go on walks with my grandfather in India, who'd discuss how people should be treated equally — regardless of the circumstances of their birth,” tweeted Harris in an introduction to the video, describing her grandfather as a freedom fighter for India. “All of his buddies, who were great leaders, they would talk about the importance of fighting for democracy, and the importance of fighting for civil rights,” said the candidate in the video.

“Those walks along the beach in India really planted something in my mind and created a commitment in me — before I even realized it — that has led me to where I am today,” said Harris in the video.

Speaking about the new initiative, Maya Humes, California communications director for the Harris campaign, told India-West: “We are connecting with the South Asian American community in a specific and concerted way.”

Harris' campaign came under early criticism from the Asian American community that she was emphasizing her black roots  over her Indian heritage in order to gain support from the African American voters. Her father is from Jamaica.

This initial skepticism -- plus the fact that she was not well-known outside of her home state -- gave her a herky-jerky introduction to the general South Asian community.

The Harris campaign website now has a space for South Asian Americans to sign up to volunteer, host events, a phone bank, and other activities. “We wanted to create a space for South Asian American Harris supporters to come together,” said Humes. “We have met tons of volunteers who support her advocacy for the community.”

Harris' appeal to South Asians has also drawn a backlash in the twitterverse, accusing her of pandering for votes. The extreme hateful nature of some of the tweets is over the top and had nothing to do with her politics or policies raises the question of their veracity. This blog has no way of ascertaining how many of those tweets are genuine or if they were generated by those agencies who wish to sow division and hate among Harris' supporters.

According to a recent survey released by APIA Data, Harris support among Indian Americans has grown significantly, but she still lags in garnering the support of other Asian American communities.

An early supporter of Harris, Indian American classical vocalist Harini Krishnan of Hillsborough, Calif., told India-West: “I’ve watched Kamala break barriers,” referring to Harris successful campaigns for San Francisco District Attorney, her campaigns for California's Attorney General and for the US Senate.

Krishnan, who is also an Assembly district delegate with the California Democratic Party, organized a dinner for prospective Harris supporters at the California Democratic Convention.

“Seeing Kamala as a candidate for president means representation. Right now, we have a president who denies my existence and questions my loyalty as an American. Kamala transcends cultures and identities to represent America, and she has a record of championing the diverse and the marginalized," continued Krishnan. 

"There are young South Asian American women, like my daughters, who are watching. If she becomes the next president, that tells them they can be part of our country’s decision-making process.”

KAMALA HARRIS CAMPAIGN

Deepa Mahesh, 15, expresses her preference during a recent march in San Jose, Calif.

Fifteen-year-old Deepa Mahesh, who attends high school in San Jose, Calif. is one of Harris' young volunteers. “I may only be 15, but I know how important this election is to the future of our country and I want to make sure Kamala runs it.

“She not only makes me feel like my community is part of something bigger, she makes every community feel included. I really think she embodies America,” said Mahesh in a press statement.

Vidya Krishnamoorthy, the mother of two, said she supports Harris because of her advocacy on behalf of increasing the salaries of school teachers.

“My interest in Kamala stemmed from our shared identity as South Asian women, but my passion for her developed when I learned her policies," said Krishnamoorthy, a resident of Fremont, Calif. "Kamala is going to protect my children, who are awestruck by the fact that someone who looks like them could be president, with plans like increasing teacher pay. Kamala is going to give Dreamers a pathway to citizenship and end family separation, and I trust that she will do it right because she was raised by immigrants herself.”

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Protesters counter 50,000 Indian Americans and Trump rallying for Indian prime minister

 Twitter @HenaZuberi

Thousands of protestors greeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston.

ASAM NEWS

Donald Trump joined 50,000 people to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Howdy Modi rally in Houston Sunday. Outside, thousands of protestors expressed their opposition to the Modi’s reign and called out what they see as his human rights abuses.

“We are proud to have you as Americans,” said Trump to the Indian American community, according to Voice of America. “My administration is fighting for you each and every day.” The president said India has never “had a better friend as president as President Donald Trump.”

Modi, in turn, praised Trump for making “the American economy strong again.” He added India-US relations have reached “new heights.”

Trump's presence is part of the Republicans attempt to make inroads in the Indian American community, one of the fastest growing demographics, mainly due to of immigration, in the US.

However, more than 80 percent of Indian Americans voted for Hillary Clinton, instead of Trump in 2016, according to polling by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

That message of unity contrasted with the tens of thousands of mostly Indian Americans outside demonstrating against the Prime Minister, reported Al Jazeera.

“As Hindus, we feel like the atrocities happening in India … is all being done by a Hindu extremist government in the name of our beloved faith, Hinduism. It is our absolute religious, moral and human obligation to stand up and be counted on the side of history that said: ‘No, not in our name,'” said Sunita Viswanath, the co-founder for Hindus for Human Rights.

“The pluralist and secular constitution of India has repeatedly come under a grave threat by the actions of Prime Minister Modi’s government for over five years,” added Syed Afzal Ali, national vice president of the Indian American Muslim Council.

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