Trump Continues to Scapegoat Immigrants in New Executive Order

Washington, DC - OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates is extremely disturbed at President Trump’s executive order to ban immigration to the United States. The administration’s claim that immigrants strain the domestic labor market is a facade that sets a precedent to curb immigration during any future crises. On the heels of President Trump’s categorical ban on asylum seekers earlier this week, it is clear that the administration is set on scapegoating immigrants instead of supporting a nation in fear and economic strife.

OCA is concerned that this executive order will pave the way for the White House to heavy-handedly shut down immigration in the future, and exacerbate already-existing xenophobia towards our valuable immigrant populations.

“Blaming immigrants and separating families will not distract from the administration’s failure to secure PPE and other necessary medical equipment for the nation’s hospitals and clinics. It won’t distract from the administration’s disregard as governors struggle with mounting cases. And it surely will not distract from Trump’s careless spreading of misinformation about COVID-19,” states Rita Pin Ahrens, OCA’s Executive Director.

“This executive order attempts to pit vulnerable workers—namely Black workers and other workers of color, workers without college degrees, and disabled workers—against immigrant workers, as if any of these communities are mutually exclusive. OCA will not stand for intentional marginalization of these communities and will continue to fight for the Pacific Islander worker without a degree and the disabled Asian American worker, who know that immigrants are the backbone of our healthcare system and make our economy stronger.”

OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national civil rights organization dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

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