AAPI leaders blast Trump's latest immigration ban on worker visas

Donald Trump's latest attempt to limit immigration to the US is receiving a wall of condemnation from Asian American and medical organizations. 

Trump issued an executive order on Monday (June 23) limiting legal immigration through the rest of 2020. The order restricts H-1B visas, which include specialty occupations such as tech workers and postdoctoral scholars; H-2B, temporary non-agricultural workers; certain categories of J visas, which includes international workers typically hired to temporarily fill jobs like au pairs, camp counselors, and more; and L-visas, which are used for intracompany transfers. 

The order does not include agricultural workers and makes exceptions for those who would be in the national interest, like medical professionals essential in fighting Covid-19 and caring for patients afflicted with the coronavirus. 

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, issued the following statement:

“Once again, despite claiming that he loves immigrants and only wants to uphold the law, Donald Trump demonstrates his goal is to upend our laws in order to end all immigration," said Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, in a statement. 

The California Democrat said Trump is using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to curtail legal immigration to the United States, chipping away at decades of immigration policies that have enabled our nation to attract top talent from around the world that has bolstered the US economy until Trump was elected. 

"This will disproportionately impact high-skilled workers from Asia, who overwhelming utilize the H1-B visa system and account for over 80 percent of H1-B visa holders in the United States. It’s a purely xenophobic and bigoted agenda that actually works against our national interest. As the exceptions to this order prove, immigrants are vital to our economy. 

"Immigrants are not only needed in agriculture and medicine – two wildly divergent fields – they’re needed in business, academia, and everything in between as well. If we want to rebuild our economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot close ourselves off from immigrants. 

New American Economy launched an Immigrants and COVID-19 Portal this year to show the vital role immigrants play in the country's fight against the coronavirus pandemic, as well as its response and recovery.

The report from NAE pointed out that in health care, AAPIs account for more than 20 percent of physicians and surgeons, about 14 percent of whom are immigrants. And 1 in 11 nurses are AAPI, about 75 percent of whom are immigrants. AAPIs also support the country’s food supply chain by as workers in agriculture, food processing plants, grocery stores and restaurants.

Adding their voice to those questioning Trump's anti-immigrant positions was a national organization of doctors. 

"We are concerned that the limited exception for physicians, nurses and other health professionals will not ensure that IMGs (International medical graduates) are able to enter the U.S. for education, training, research and medical care if it is not directly related to COVID-19," said Dr. Jacqueline W. Fincher, President of the American College of Physicians.

“Trump continues to advance his xenophobic agenda to divide the country and scapegoat immigrants. He’s used every moment of crisis, every failure of his as an opportunity to expand his nativist policies and prevent hardworking families from reunification," said Megan Essaheb, Director of Immigration Advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC.

"Instead of building infrastructure for testing, contact tracing, and PPE that would diminish the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump Administration is going after immigrants and foreign workers in a bid to distract from its immense failures.," Alvina Yeh, Executive Director of Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO. "The Administration has already killed more than 100,000 Americans due to their inaction on COVID-19: they are seeking to bring harm upon thousands more families with this immigrant ban."

Since taking office, immigration has been one of his top issues, from building a wall in the country's southern border, a ban on travelers from certain Muslim countries, separating young children from their parents,  tightening the requirements for refugees, and trying to remove family reunification as a prioritiy for US immigration policy. 

In addition, last week, the US Supreme Court rejected his attempt to end the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that allowed those immigrants who arrived with their parents who entered the country without documents. 

Statement attributable to:

Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, MACP

President, American College of Physicians





Washington, DC (June 23, 2020) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) is concerned that the executive order that President Trump issued yesterday to suspend immigration in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will have a broad, negative impact on U.S. health care and calls for its immediate withdrawal.

International medical graduates (IMGs) and other non-citizens are critical members of our country’s health care delivery system. We are concerned that the limited exception for physicians, nurses and other health professionals will not ensure that IMGs are able to enter the U.S. for education, training, research and medical care if it is not directly related to COVID-19. A new class of resident physicians are scheduled to begin their training in a little more than a week, including many IMGs who are poised to arrive in the U.S. and begin treating patients.

The order could additionally hinder the ability of other scientists to enter the U.S. for teaching, research, public health collaboration and other essential activities. It would also restrict their family members from entering the U.S., placing undue stress on them at an already impossibly stressful time.

We urge the administration to withdraw this order and instead shift their focus to evidence-based efforts that can help us to mitigate the impact and spread of this virus. If the administration declines to withdraw the order, Congress should enact legislation to stop it from going into effect. Now is the time to be focusing on increasing our health system’s capacity and supporting physicians and other health care professionals.

Hasan Minhaj, Padma Lakshmi celebrate immigrants in the arts at New American Festival, Sept. 14-15

Padma Lakshmi, Arturo Castro, Aparna Nancherla, Jonny Sun, Ronny Chieng, Marcus Samuelsson, Min Jin Lee, and Yasmin Khan to headline New American Festival in New York City

In a celebration of immigrants' contributions to American art, food, film, comedy, fashion and more, foodie queen and model Padma Lakshmi will give a keynote address.

New American Economy (NAE) has announced the complete lineup of events comprising the inaugural New American Festival, a groundbreaking event that brings together a wide range of immigrant cultural luminaries this weekend, Sept. 14-15.

The festival will take place at NeueHouse (Madison Square – 110 East 25th Street), in New York City.

Following its debut in New York, NAE will bring the New American Festival to cities across the U.S., including Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Kansas City, Nashville, Houston, and Oakland, among others.

“The New American Festival celebrates the visionary contributions that immigrants make to the fields of art and culture,” said New American Economy’s Katherine Steinberg. “Immigrants have revolutionized cuisine, and altered our perceptions through convention-breaking comedy, music, literature, and performance. The festival highlights how our cultural diversity is our national strength across each of these fields.”

According to NAE’s recent analysis of the 2017 American Community Survey, more than 400,000 immigrants are working in creative or artistic occupations, helping support the nearly $1 trillion creative industry sector in the United States. There are more than 25,000 immigrant actors, producers, and directors; nearly 23,000 immigrant musicians; more than 17,400 immigrant photographers; and more than 16,000 immigrant writers and authors nationwide.

Josh Wyatt, CEO of NeueHouse, said, “NeueHouse is honored to partner with the New American Festival to host its inaugural festival and call our space their home this month. The NeueHouse creative community thrives in an inclusive environment regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation and socio-economic backgrounds, a vision that is shared and celebrated by the New American Festival. NeueHouse deeply values and supports the diversity of members through thoughtful programming, community forums and business platforms that enable success for all.”

New American Festival headliners include established and emerging artists whose work has changed their respective fields and art forms.

New York Times best-selling author, host, and executive producer Padma Lakshmi will give the keynote address which kicks off the celebration Saturday morning.

In addition, the festival will also offer conversations with award-winning host, comedian, writer, and producer Hasan Minhaj (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, Homecoming King) and sex therapist, radio and television show host and author Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer and a performance by America’s leading Latino dance organization, Ballet Hispánico.

Other headliners include renowned chef, restaurateur, and author Marcus Samuelsson (Red Rooster Harlem, Marcus B&P), Big Friendship co-author and Call Your Girlfriend podcaster Aminatou Sow, author Min Jin Lee (Pachinko, Free Food for Millionaires), and author, broadcaster and cook Yasmin Khan (Zaitoun, The Saffron Tales).

The festival will feature a panel discussion with Comedy Central talent and executives and a stand-up hour featuring comedians, including Ronny Chieng (senior correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), Aparna Nancherla (Comedy Central’s Corporate, Netflix’s The Standups, Bojack Horseman), Vladimir Caamaño (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Marvel’s Runaways, Jimmy Kimmel Live), and more.

BoJack Horseman writer, everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too author, and illustrator of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s New York Times best-seller Gmorning, Gnight! Jonny Sun will bring an interactive multimedia piece to NeueHouse with collaborating artist Hannah Davis.

The musical lineup features artists across genres, including Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth B, and Japanese Breakfast, the indie-rock solo music project of Korean-American musician Michelle Zauner.

Also joining the festival will be America’s leading Latino dance organization Ballet Hispánico, author Daniel José Older, The Splendid Table podcast host Francis Lam, 2018 James Beard Foundation Book of the Year winner, Michael W. Twitty, Chinese-American bilingual rapper and hip-hop artist Bohan Phoenix and many other guests.

All tickets can be purchased at www.newamericanfestival.com. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

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Website will help you discuss immigration issues with your cranky, Trump-loving uncle

See the economic impact of immigrants in your state, then you can zero in on your Congressional district.

SO YOU'RE taking the plunge and becoming more politically aware; planning on visiting your Congressional representative or attend his or her town hall; writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper; taking part in the many marches and demonstrations protesting the policies of the new president.

Good for you! Democracy is not a sport for bystanders.

However, there are so many issues to focus on -- the economy, Wall St. greed, the growing divide between the Trumpeters and the rest of America, inequities in the justice system, the U.S. becoming an oligarchy, women's rights and climate change -- that it is almost impossible to know all there is to know about the wide range of issues facing us.

All of those topics are important, but for most Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders, the demographic with the fastest rate of immigration for the last five years, immigration is the subject that hits close to home. Most AAPI are first- or second-generation immigrants with family and friends still in our country of origin. Here's a new tool to help you discuss the subject with your Congressional rep or with your friends and family.

New American Economy (NAE) released Map the Impact, an interactive showcasing the contributions of immigrants in all 435 Congressional districts, the 55 largest U.S. metro areas, all 50 states, and industry sectors across the economy. 

With information on immigrant tax contributions, spending power, entrepreneurship, workforce, home ownership, demographics, voting power, and more, Map the Impact shows that the foreign-born are helping to grow the economy everywhere. 

Map the Impact also features hundreds of stories and videos featuring local leaders in all corners of the country talking about why immigration matters to them. 

Today, business, mayoral, conservative, and cultural leaders are sharing the data and calling on Congress to pass immigration reform via 141 events and actions.

“This data puts the economic power of America’s immigrants in stark relief,” said John Feinblatt, Chairman of New American Economy. “Across the map, and in every industry, immigrants strengthen the economies of big cities and small towns alike.”

The map serves as a go-to resource on the power that immigrants wield in the United States, and an advocacy tool for users to take action on the issue. 

With many features, Map the Impact provides users a way to see how immigrants are contributing to their congressional district, check sector-specific information on how immigration impacts industries like Tech and Agriculture, and share stats and graphics directly with elected officials via social media.

RELATED: A guide for resisting Trump

Visit www.MapTheImpact.org for that information that illustrates the influence of immigrants in America on states, cities, districts, and key issues.

For instance, in the innovation and STEM fields, the website points out how vital that sector depends on immigrants:

"For America to compete in the 21st century, we need a robust innovation economy—which requires a workforce skilled in the science, technology, engineering, and math (or STEM) fields. Yet American students are not entering those industries in sufficient numbers, and the United States is projected to face a shortage of one million STEM workers by 2022. Foreign-born students frequently gravitate towards STEM disciplines, making up roughly one out of every three individuals earning graduate-level STEM degrees each year. Our broken visa system, however, makes it difficult many of them to stay after graduation—a reality that hurts the ability of our employers to expand and create more opportunity for American workers."

With the focus Mr. Trump is putting on immigrants, refugees, undocumented Americans, foreign visitors, students and The Damn Wall, people need to know that they are not the criminals, "bad dudes" and leeches that the current president would have us believe they are.

There is no argument that our immigration laws need to be reformed. How we do that ienn a humane and fair and in a way that is beneficial to our country is the discussion we should be having without having to resort to the scare tactics, stirring up all the fears and biases that are best left undisturbed in the dark recesses of our souls.

Immigrants are essential to the U.S. economy, and deporting millions of them will only weaken us as a nation.

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