Asian Americans at Risk if Birthright Citizenship is Overturned
Published in New York Times on
Re "Overturning of Birth Rule Would Affect Many Asians" (news article, April 2)
To the Editor:
Re "Overturning of Birth Rule Would Affect Many Asians" (news article, April 2):
The research is clear: President Trump's unconstitutional executive order, if upheld, would disproportionately deprive Asian Americans of citizenship. Under the executive order, children born to undocumented immigrants and to people on temporary visas, including large numbers of students and people on employment visas from countries such as India, China and the Philippines, would not be U.S. citizens.
Asian Americans are among the fastest growing racial groups in the United States, and approximately two-thirds of Asian Americans were born outside the United States.
As a racial justice organization, we've long advocated immigration reforms that prioritize family unity and pathways to citizenship. Our country is stronger when we have a system that allows all immigrant communities to thrive. We will accept nothing less.
Marita Etcubañez
Martin Kim
Washington
The writers are, respectively, the vice president for immigrant and racial justice and the director for immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC.