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Justin Trinidad
“A lot of families are separated by a broken immigration system. The Visa backlog for Filipinos specifically is several decades, at least 20 years, for a family member in the US to petition for a family member in the Phillippines to come to the US. Decades could be the death of a loved one within that time period."
“AAPIs are the most affected by the family reunification system in terms of immigration compared to other racial groups, because the way AAPI families come to this country is primarily through the petition system."
“It’s very important to do policy and make sure that AAPIs have a seat at the table. When we go to Congress, they can be completely unaware of these issues and how they disproportionately affect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders."
“It’s very important to do policy and make sure that AAPIs have a seat at the table. When we go to Congress, they can be completely unaware of these issues and how they disproportionately affect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders."
“In reality, people aren’t illegal. People shouldn’t be described as illegal. Undocumented separates the person from the policy or law; it’s more of a status legally, but it doesn’t describe who they are or their character."
“In reality, people aren’t illegal. People shouldn’t be described as illegal. Undocumented separates the person from the policy or law; it’s more of a status legally, but it doesn’t describe who they are or their character."
“I have a good friend who works for Advancing Justice Atlanta. He himself is undocumented, and so is his family. His parents have no way of getting legal citizenship as of right now, so their status will remain undocumented until there’s new legislation. And when you’re an undocumented immigrant, there’s always a danger of being deported, despite how long they’ve been in this country. He himself grew up here, so he doesn’t know any other home but the US."
“Undocumented students have no access to Federal financial aid. Only certain states allow you to get in-state tuition or in-state financial aid. There are actually three states - Alabama, Sourh Carolina, and Georgia, - that don't even allow undocumented students to enroll in college. And there are pockets of Filipino Americans in those states who can't even access higher education."
“The Filipino World War II veterans were promised citizenship and being able to bring their families over after the war. But they’re all in their eighties and nineties, and the Department of Homeland Security just allowed a parole program to allow their children to visit them in the last years of their lives."
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