The Impact of Harris and Trump's Election and Immigration Policies

[美华之音]

Author：Ting Lan

September 1, 2024

I have heard some Chinese immigrants say that Kamala Harris supports illegal immigration, and therefore they cannot vote for her. They believe that Trump's immigration policies benefit Chinese immigrants. In reality, Harris's policies oppose illegal immigration while protecting legal immigration. On the other hand, Trump uses the issue of illegal immigration to spread hate and division and holds a hostile attitude towards all immigrants, including legal Chinese American immigrants. See below for the New York Times' explanation of Harris's immigration policies【1】.

【1】

During the phone canvassing sessions to Pennsylvaniaand Arizona last week, I asked voters who questioned Harris's immigration policies if they knew that Harris supported a bipartisan border security agreement, which Trump blocked it by urging Republican lawmakers to reject it. The voters said they did not know. In fact, this legislation would close the border when the number of crossings reaches a set threshold and fund thousands of new border security personnel and asylum officers. Harris stated, “we have a broken immigration system and we need to fix it,”

Having lived in the U.S. for over thirty years, my friends and I among the Chinese immigrants deeply appreciate the freedom and equality in this country. We work hard, diligently, and live comfortably. Our children grow up in a free environment. From my observation, discrimination is not very apparent. However, since 2016, Trump's rhetoric has posed a significant threat to American democracy, freedom, and Chinese American immigrants. His false claims about COVID-19 originating in Wuhan and the Trump administration's portrayal of Chinese people as spies directly led to increased hatred against Asians in the U.S., resulting in innocent Asian individuals being targeted and even killed, such as the Atlanta shooting [2], where eight people, many of them women of Asian descent, have been killed in shootings at spas in the US state of Georgia.Asian Americans, spanning three to five generations, have been shouted at on the streets: "Go back to where you came from!"
Consider this: as first-generation immigrants, we still have a place to return to. But for second, third, or even sixth-generation immigrants, they have no place to go back to. They are Americans, Americans ONLY. The harm inflicted upon them is unimaginable.

【2】

Some argue that both the Democratic and Republican parties are sanctioning China, so there is no difference. Indeed, both parties are highly consistent in their policies towards the Chinese government. However, the policies affecting Chinese immigrants in the U.S. are different. 

Moreover, even with similar policies, as immigrants and our children, our appearance is distinctly different from that of American whites, and our safety and well-being depend on an inclusive and peaceful environment. Our country needs to value freedom and peace, rather than hate and division. We need a president who is tolerant, generous, and responsible, not one who is arrogant, petty, and filled with hatred.

On a national level, Trump's role in the January 6th insurrection, where he incited his supporters to storm the Capitol, resulting in the deaths of police officers, and his attempt to overturn the election results by ignoring the law, are deeply concerning.

From a moral perspective, having such a person as president would set a harmful example for young Americans and have lasting negative effects on the country and its people, including ourselves and future generations.
For Chinese Americans who support the Republican Party, please listen to the voices of other Republicans supporting Harris【3, 4, 5】. Several prominent Republicans—some of whom worked for former President Trump—took to the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.

【3】

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, Olivia Troye, who was homeland security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger all expressed their support for the Democratic nominee and pointed out that Trump lacks the moral character to lead the nation again. They conveyed one message to other Republicans and independents: do the right thing and vote for Harris in November.

【4】

“To my fellow Republicans at home who want to pivot back toward policy, empathy, and tone, you know the right thing to do. Now let’s have the courage to do it in November,” said Duncan, summarizing the other Republican speakers’ speeches as well as his own. “Millions of Republicans will cast a ballot for Kamala Harris in November.”

【5】