As November 5th slowly approaches, the Asian American community finds ourselves at a juncture, winding our way through an area that is not familiar to everyone. Given a growing population, it is necessary that we understand each side of the political spectrum and the issues that Asian Americans face. This article will further discuss some of the key issues Asian Americans today face, including immigration policies, healthcare, education, and representation, and how our two main candidates—Kamala Harris and Donald Trump—plan to address them.
Immigration Policies
Kamala Harris:
“We need to ensure that our immigration system is fair, humane, and reflects our values as a nation.”
Harris advocates for a path to American life for undocumented immigrants. She emphasizes reuniting with family. She is for the protection of refugees and criticizes harsh enforcement practices that affect immigrant communities, including those from Asian countries. Harris has supported the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 – aimed to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Donald Trump:
“We will build a wall. It will be a great wall.”
Trump’s focus on immigration contains strict enforcement and border security. He has built a wall along the southern border and implemented travel bas for specific countries, with some significant Asian populations. His administration’s overall stance has often been perceived as harsh towards those undocumented.
Healthcare Access
In general, Asian American voters are interested in policies that expand access to affordable healthcare, and mental health needs, and reduce discrimination within medical systems. Asian Americans often face language barriers and cultural competency when seeking healthcare.
Kamala Harris:
“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.”
Harris supports expanding access to healthcare through actions like Medicare for All. She believes addressing health disparities and proposing initiatives to improve mental health services is important, especially for marginalized communities.
Donald Trump:
“We are going to terminate the Obamacare disaster and replace it with something great.”
Trump has focused on reducing regulations and wants to promote competition among insurance providers. He has aimed to repeal the Affordable Care Act(ACA), arguing that it increases costs. Critics say his approach lacks a comprehensive plan to expand access, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Education
For many Asian American families, education is often placed a high value on academic achievement and access to quality schooling. Especially after affirmation action, concerns regarding education equity are getting more attention.
Kamala Harris:
“Education is the great equalizer, and we need to ensure that every child has access to a quality education.”
Harris works towards education equity. She has proposed policies to increase funding for underserved schools and reduce student debt. She advocates for inclusivity in education programs and aims to address systemic biases that affect Asian American students and others from marginalized backgrounds.
Donald Trump:
“We want to promote school choice, and we want to help parents.”
Trump’s education policy has emphasized school choice, promoting charter schools and programs that allow parents to use public funds for private education. He has also focused on reducing federal oversight in education.
While Kamala Harris and Donald Trump present contrasting views on the issues concerning the Asian American and broader Asian community, understanding these differences is crucial for voters as we consider which candidate aligns more with our priorities in the soon upcoming election.
