President Trump Day One Priorities Affecting AANHPI Communities

On January 20, President Donald Trump marked his first day in office with a series of executive orders aimed at signaling a dramatic shift from Biden-era policies. These orders, spanning immigration, environmental policy, and diversity initiatives, represent a show of force and a rollback of previous administration priorities. Many of these actions will have immediate and significant consequences for AAPI communities. Moreover, they undo generations of progress and tarnish the values of fairness and equality that are central to American society.

In response to these flurry of changes, APIAVote will be keeping our community aware and educated on what’s happening. As these new policies take effect, we are committed to helping our community understand what’s at stake and how they can take action.

Crackdown on Immigration 

During the presidential campaign, President Donald Trump had made it clear that harsher immigration policies were going to be a priority for his administration. The President’s executive orders on immigration have in fact signaled his intention to pursue a strict approach on immigration and represent a sharp shift from previous policies, with significant implications for AAPI communities and others. One of the most immediate actions is a policy barring asylum for individuals newly arriving at the southern border and suspending the Refugee Admissions Program indefinitely, citing U.S. national interests as justification. This effectively shuts the door to those fleeing persecution.

Further tightening asylum policies, the administration reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed by immigration judges.

Additionally, the Laken Riley Act, which would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and deport undocumented migrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses, has passed the Senate vote and will now head back to the House for a final vote.

All these immigration policies are deeply harmful to the AAPI community. Among the 48 million immigrants living in the US today, about 11 million are undocumented and who are integral to the success of our economy, contributing significantly to our workforce and economic stability. While they are invaluable to our local communities and economies, they live under constant threat of displacement. Nearly everyone knows of someone who is or has been undocumented, whether family member, friend, coworker, or community member.

Ending Birthright Citizenship

During the campaign, President Trump made it clear that he would be ending birthright citizenship for babies born to undocumented immigrants. However, the Executive Order issued by Trump goes beyond ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, which in and of itself would be an unconstitutional move that challenges the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil. The EO indicates that “when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth.” That means if the mother and father were both in the U.S. with an H-1B, Temporary Protected Status, or any other legal status other than having a green card or U.S. citizenship, the baby would not get U.S. citizenship. This fundamental change would undermine a cornerstone of American identity and values, and it would create far-reaching consequences for all immigrant communities, including AAPIs.

For those in the AAPI community, this is particularly alarming and draws historical comparisons going back to the 1800s, when Chinese immigrants faced exclusion laws under the Chinese Exclusion Act, as well as being denied citizenship and legal protections for those in the country. Wong Kim Ark was a young poor cook when the U.S. government challenged his citizenship under the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. This law had not only barred Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States but also rendered Chinese immigrants already in the country ineligible for citizenship. It was the landmark United States v. Wong Kim Ark of 1898 that finally gave rights of citizenship for children born in the United States to Chinese immigrant parents under the 14th Amendment. Because this EO violates the settled law regarding the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, 22 states have filed lawsuits against this EO. Additionally, the ALCU along with Asian Law Caucus and others have filed a lawsuit against this EO on behalf of organizations including New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and others whose members’ babies born on U.S. soil would be denied citizenship by the EO. Ending birthright citizenship would create a climate of fear and uncertainty, as well as render certain individuals stateless within the US. Many AAPI families who are mixed-status would see their children lose basic rights and access to things like education, healthcare, and legal protections.

This measure will create a generation of second class citizens. Second class citizenship by executive order is not just unconstitutional, but ignores 150 years of precedent. It will also mean more big government intrusion into people’s lives, bureaucratic hurdles and investigating of newborns and hospitals.

Rollback of Federal Voting Rights Protections

In addition to immigration and other issues, President Trump’s executive orders targeted voter rights by rolling back an order issued by former President Joe Biden that encouraged federal agencies to promote voter registration. This rollback is a significant blow to voting rights, a cornerstone of democracy that ensures all eligible citizens have a voice in shaping the nation’s future.