John,
While former diplomat Rep. Andy Kim had top-secret clearance to work in Afghanistan, he was banned from working in South Korea, his parents' birthplace. Kim said, “It felt like a very clear signal from the government and my workplace that they didn't trust me fully.”
Unfortunately, Rep. Kim's experience is common -- more than 300 diplomats faced similar restrictions in 2017. Republican fearmongering about Asian countries has legitimate consequences, like these discriminatory restrictions placed against AAPI diplomats such as Rep. Kim.
The “dual loyalty” trope and excessive concerns over spying have infiltrated the State Department, restricting trusted, experienced diplomats of Asian descent from ever serving in their parents' or grandparents' birthplace.
Not only is this anti-AAPI bias wrong, petty, and xenophobic, it also weakens our diplomatic relationships and makes the United States look foolish on the international stage.
Republican talking points have serious consequences, and it's our responsibility to fight back against misinformation and anti-AAPI racism.
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ASPIRE
