Congressman Lieu Responds to Donald Trump's Attacks on Asian Pacific Americans

Press Release

Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to Donald Trump's recent comments about legal immigrants to the United States:

"Donald Trump has now expanded his bigoted attacks to include Asian Pacific Americans. Trump announced at a rally in Maine that he is increasing his ban on Muslims to include legal immigrants from "terrorist nations." Some of the examples he cites include legal immigrants from the Philippines and Pakistan.

As an immigrant from the Asia Pacific region, I find Trump's newly expanded proposal even more offensive. But it is more than just offensive, it is dangerous. Trump's racist thinking--"there's no way of vetting" legal immigrants--is exactly the thinking that caused one of the darkest periods in American history: the internment of over 100,000 Americans because they happened to be of Japanese descent. (And for the record, Trump has stated he might have supported the internment).

Trump's expanded xenophobic proposal also weakens US national security. America is strong because of our diversity not in spite of it. Having served on active duty, I know that our military is the greatest in the world because we don't care what color you are, who you love, or what religion you practice. We just care if you can do your duty to our nation with excellence.

Trump's proposal to ban Muslims dishonored America. By now doubling down and expanding that proposal to include Asian Pacific Americans, Trump again shows that he is unfit to hold the highest office in our land. Trump should have apologized to Muslim Americans long ago. Now he needs to also apologize to Asian Pacific Americans.

Source