Asian Americans' Stake in Reform

By Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.)

THE HILL
02/03/10 07:12 PM ET

When it comes to the issue of immigration, what quickly comes to American minds? Given that reporters repeatedly write about immigrants crossing the Mexican-U.S. border, the likely response: Hispanics. This focus, unfortunately, has devolved into deleterious scapegoating of immigrants from Central and South America. This is hardly a fair burden for Hispanics to carry, as immigration realities are much more diverse.

Reform will affect millions who emigrated from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, who come with a shared struggle, shared dreams and shared abilities to contribute to this country. Standing side by side, Hispanics are diverse minority groups who will be equally impacted by immigration reform, including Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs). As chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and as a Japanese-American born to migrant workers, I know firsthand the frustration felt by API immigrants. Our stake in the immigration debate is substantial, our concerns unique, the reasons many.

The first two reasons have to do with proportionality. Among our country’s 12 million undocumented immigrants, APIs are disproportionately represented, accounting for 12 percent — or 1.5 million — of all undocumented immigrants, despite the fact that APIs comprise only 5 percent of the population in the United States. Second, what is often ignored and equally disconcerting is that APIs sponsor 39 percent of all family-based immigrants, and nearly half of the family members in visa backlogs are relatives of APIs (which is why I authored Reuniting Families Act legislation to address unreasonably long waits). In both cases, APIs proportionally lead all minority groups despite trailing population percentages by 10 points, with Hispanics at 15 percent and African Americans at 14 percent.

Why the disproportionate numbers? Hard to know exactly, but with Asia accounting for six out of the top ten countries facing family immigration backlogs — the Philippines in the second-highest rank, China in fourth, India in fifth, Vietnam in sixth, Bangladesh in seventh, and Pakistan in tenth — we may find the answer. These rankings reflect emigration trends from the world’s most populous nations (India and China), as well as the consequences of congressional legislation which specifically allowed Filipino, Chinese and Indian people to become U.S. citizens, reversing decades of discrimination and spurring an influx of applications from these countries. This legislation may also explain why nearly two-thirds of all Asian and Pacific Islanders are foreign-born. The reversing of decades of discrimination meant that the emptying of Asia’s immigration queue happened quickly and within the last few decades, which may help explain the sluggishness in media reporting.

The story does not stop there. Another reason why APIs are primary players in immigration reform is that Asian countries are among the biggest recipients of remittance monies, much of which is channeled by American-based immigrants sending money home to families. India ranks highest in receipts, with remittances totaling $27 billion, followed immediately by China in second with $25.7 billion and the Philippines in fourth with $17 billion. Again, this reflects earlier points about these three countries ranking highest in terms of numbers of backlogged visa applications.

Asian nations are also the top recipients of America’s H-1B foreign worker visa and the accompanying H-4 visa, both of which are necessary for our technology workforce. A recent survey by Duke University shows that the largest group of immigrant non-citizen tech inventors was Chinese, with Indians second. Indians have founded more engineering and technology companies in the U.S. in the past decade than immigrants from the U.K., China, Taiwan and Japan combined. This should not belie that fact that many APIs also still struggle in low-skilled labor. In my Silicon Valley, which maintains the highest percentage of APIs of any congressional district, API ethnic subgroups struggle to graduate 50 percent of their young males from high school.

Other immigration-related obstacles seem uniquely Asian. The South Asian community bore the brunt of repressive immigration enforcement tactics and policies in the aftermath of 9/11. Sweeping detentions, deportations and lack of access to fair hearings were not uncommon experiences for South Asian immigrants. Additionally, among many API immigrant groups, integration into American society is uniquely difficult given language barriers. Ninety percent of Cambodians, Hmong, Laotians and Vietnamese do not speak English at home, with 79 percent of Asians speaking a language other than English at home. Lastly, API veterans — specifically Filipino veterans who fought for America in World War II — are uniquely burdened among immigrant groups as the veterans’ children continue to face decades-long waits for visas.

I say this as we approach comprehensive immigration reform, which if successfully embraced will add $1.5 trillion to our GDP over the next 10 years, according to a recent UCLA report. It is the approach I am most concerned about. For comprehensive immigration reform to be successful it must be inclusive, for we are in it together — no matter from which country we hail.

Honda is the chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Link:

http://thehill.com/special-reports/immigration-february-2010/79617-asian-americans-stake-in-reform

Learn more about the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) by signing up for e-mail updates.

Honda & Manzano: This Is the Year for Immigration Reform to Pass

By Rep. Mike Honda and Sonia Manzano

Special to Roll Call
Feb. 4, 2010, 12 a.m.

The tide seems to be turning in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, despite populist trends that might suggest otherwise. President Barack Obama’s ability in 2010 to hammer out reform has been helped by some unusual suspects. Democrats, already on board the reform bandwagon, are even seeing some conservatives rally for similar reform measures. These new voices, along with recent polling that puts the majority of the American public in favor of a legalization process for our 12 million undocumented immigrants, bodes well for a nation in desperate need of a new immigration policy. This president, unlike his predecessor, will not shy away from needed reform as it is the right thing to do economically, the right thing to do politically, and the right thing to do morally.

In the throes of America’s recession, Obama must do everything in his power to weigh the fiscal pros and cons of any policy decision. Immigration, unsurprisingly, brings with it formidable fiscal implications. Keeping immigrants here or sending them home can save or cost taxpayers dearly, depending on what course is chosen.

A study conducted last month by University of California, Los Angeles, Professor Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, for example, finds that any deportation plan of America’s undocumented immigrants would cost our country’s gross domestic product a whopping $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years. Conversely, if we embrace comprehensive immigration reform, we add $1.5 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product over the next 10 years. Hinojosa-Ojeda also projected that the economy would benefit from a temporary worker program, which would raise the GDP by $792 billion.

The economic case is clear. Immigrants who become citizens consistently pursue higher-paying jobs and higher education, spend more and provide higher tax revenue. Just imagine what 12 million newly documented Americans could do for the economy. The legalization process also brings economic benefits like the retention of remittances. Reform will reunite families separated by our immigration system and keep monies in the U.S., instead of having workers send substantial portions of their salary to their family members abroad. As an example of the potential, U.S. remittances to Latin America alone totaled almost $46 billion in 2008. Of that, Mexico received almost $24 billion. Reducing remittances offers an obvious potential cash infusion for our economy, as billions of dollars currently being sent overseas would instead be spent in American shops and restaurants, creating jobs and helping to get our economy going.

Politically, reform is the right thing to do, which may explain why immigration reform is a bipartisan issue, visible in former President George W. Bush’s reform attempts and more recently Sarah Palin’s politically savvy promises. The communities most impacted by comprehensive immigration reform — Hispanic, Asian and African — are quickly becoming the voting majority in many districts throughout this country. By 2050, Hispanic-Americans are projected to constitute 25 percent of the total population, making Hispanics the largest population group. The fastest growing race group will continue to be Asian and Pacific Islanders, with annual growth rates exceeding 4 percent and increasing to 41 million total population by 2050.

The politics of immigration reform, then, must reflect the ever-changing politics of our population. As America becomes ever more diverse, elected officials will rightly move policies in a direction to serve that diverse constituency. Diversification will happen and we can be on the right side of history or we can ignore its eventuality and muck things up for the next generation by failing to act early enough. Obama gets this — so too does much of the country. The noise of a few angry opponents, therefore, must not get in the way of what’s good for the majority.

Lastly, there is moral merit to remembering that we are indeed a nation of immigrants. Long before the spotlight fell on Mexican immigrants as the primary newcomer and scapegoat, it fell heavily on Jewish, Irish, Chinese and myriad other ethnic groups, each one taking their turn. For centuries, America sounded the clarion call to the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” welcoming them to our shores. Comprehensive immigration reform will not widen or overextend this welcome; it will ensure a fair and legal process for this tradition to nobly continue.

The key to keeping intact the Statue of Liberty’s credo, then, is to allow new Americans, from Central America to Central Asia, the same rights and opportunities afforded the new Americans who landed on Ellis Island from Central Europe. Entire families once emigrated from Europe; it is only fair to allow others — who often wait up to 20 years to be reunited with their loved ones — the same treatment.

This is the year for comprehensive immigration reform. Left to future presidents or future Congresses, the number of undocumented immigrants will only increase and the visa waits will only get longer. Meanwhile, we lose an opportunity to do what’s right economically, politically and morally. On all accounts the case is clear: Reform now.

Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) is chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Sonia Manzano is an author and actress best known for her role as Maria on “Sesame Street.”

Link: http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_87/ma_congressional_relations/42959-1.html

Learn more about the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) by signing upf or e-mail updates.

State of Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) issued the following statement on the State of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community:

"As people across the country reflect upon the President’s State of the Union address delivered last week, Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities also are looking back at our accomplishments and ahead for what needs to still be done. At a time where we must put Americans back to work and fight to eliminate healthcare disparities, we must continue to work together to ensure that AAPIs are not left out of policy decisions.

“AAPIs are the fastest growing and most diverse racial group in the United States. We have made tremendous economic, political, and social contributions to our nation.

“This Congress, the first Vietnamese American, Rep. Joseph ‘Anh’ Cao, and the first Chinese American woman, Rep. Judy Chu, were elected to office. Both Reps. Cao and Chu joined the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which has grown to a caucus of 30 members.

“Additionally, CAPAC has worked closely with the Obama Administration to ensure diversity throughout the federal government, including cabinet level appointments and judgeships. Great strides have been made to improve the visibility of AAPIs across the nation. Looking forward, there are still great needs within the community that needs attention.

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

“This year marks the tenth anniversary of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which was established by President Clinton to improve the quality of life in underserved AAPI communities through increased participation in federal programs.

“CAPAC members are pleased with President Obama’s executive order to reestablish the Initiative with the broad mission of ensuring that all federal agencies are addressing the needs of underserved AAPI communities. President Obama once again displays his leadership and his commitment to giving voice to our community in his administration. We look forward to working closely with the Initiative to ensure that the policy priorities of our communities are addressed at the federal level.

Economy

“This recession has produced immense hardships for families across the country, particularly intensifying problems for many minority households. Minority businesses make substantial contributions to the US economy, potentially able to generate $2.5 trillion in gross receipts.

“According to the Minority Business Development Agency, Asians have the highest rate of business ownership among all minorities, but are most likely to use personal family savings to start or expand their business. The current economic crisis and tightening of credit markets will pose sever challenges for minority businesses to meet their potential of creating 16.1 million jobs. These jobs are important to help lift families out of poverty and into economic sustainability, yet it has been shown that minority owned firms are less likely to receive loans, more likely to be denied loans, and more likely to pay higher interest rates when compared to their non-minority counterparts. If the U.S. wants to remain competitive and innovative globally, then minority businesses, particularly Asian businesses must receive adequate resources and equitable access to credit.

“Across the board, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also saw the unemployment rate double during the recession. Asian Americans aged 25-54 had unemployment rates increased to 11.3 percent. Despite these startling numbers, there is still a tendency to lump all of those in our communities into one category. Limited disaggregated data masks diversity within our community making it difficult to gauge the effects of the recession on our distinct ethnic communities.

“In addition, the fastest growing groups of homebuyers are immigrants and minorities, yet Asian homeownership rate suffered the steepest decline among minority groups. While AAPIs have made significant advances in homeownership, much of this equality has been reduced with the current housing crisis. Loss of equity, usage of subprime loans, language accessibility all attribute to the unstable homeownership environment for AAPIs.

“CAPAC will continue to work with the Obama Administration and with our colleagues in Congress to ensure that our voices will be heard in upcoming debates.

Healthcare

“Despite the dramatic achievements in health and health care over the past century, disparities in insurance coverage, access to health care, and quality of care continue to exist in many communities. Many AAPI communities are linguistically and culturally isolated leaving the provision of quality healthcare a challenge. The increasing diversity within our communities and throughout our nation brings both opportunities and challenges for health care providers, health care systems, and policy makers to address these disparities. Furthermore, there is a lack of data collection on AAPI ethnic subpopulations that leaves unnoticed many healthcare disparities within our communities. Facilitating the collection of useful and accurate data on our communities will remain a top priority for the caucus.

“CAPAC Members will continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Congressional Native American Caucus, as well as with the Obama Administration, to eliminate health disparities throughout our country.

Immigration

“CAPAC also strongly supports the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. Fixing our broken immigration system, and ensuring that the AAPI community has a seat at the table remain a top priority. In particular, caucus members support: Ensuring a robust family reunification system, earned legalization for undocumented workers and DREAM Act students, the restoration of due process and judicial review in our immigration system, humane treatment of immigration detainees, and the integration of new American communities.

“There is much at stake in our communities with respect to comprehensive immigration reform. 1.5 million Asian immigrants are undocumented. This is 12% of the 12 million undocumented population which is disproportionately large to our 5% population in the U.S.

“In addition to an earned pathway to legalization, CAPAC strongly supports family reunification as a top immigration priority. Ninety percent of legal immigration from Asia is family-based, and six out of the top ten countries facing family immigration backlogs are Asian nations, namely, the Philippines, China, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

“Our caucus is committed to the passage of comprehensive immigration reform that would strengthen all of our diverse communities.

Education

“At a time when America is focused on restoring our economic prosperity, we cannot afford to let our workforce fall further behind. We need to equip our students with the skills and schooling necessary to be successful. Asian Americans have long struggled with the stereotype of being a “model minority,” implying that Asian Americans have successfully overcome obstacles. While Asian Americans are over represented in the top scores, they are also over represented in the bottom scores. Consider that among Southeast Asians adults, 59.6 percent of Hmong, 53.3 percent of Cambodian, 49.6 percent of Laotian and 38.1 percent of Vietnamese have not completed high school. This is nearly three times greater than the national average.

“One of CAPAC’s top education priorities has been to support the establishment of the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) program, a Minority Serving Institutions program provides grants to colleges and universities with significant enrollments of low income and AAPI students to help schools improve and expand their services.

Conclusion

“As Chair of CAPAC, I am hopeful for what lies ahead. In the course of a year, we have made immense progress both on the policy advocacy and education around AAPI issues. There is great potential to advance our policy priorities by continuing our work with our colleagues in the 111th Congress. Moreover, our caucus members are eager to further enhance our partnership with the Obama Administration and the White House Initiative on AAPIs. We will focus on rebuilding our economy and bringing jobs back to our communities and families. We will continue to fight for healthcare and comprehensive immigration reform. We will restore our promise to our students and ensure that our voices are heard in education debates. As we look forward, please view the caucus as a resource to you on Capitol Hill. There is important work to be done to ensure that the voices of all of our communities are heard.”

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