While U.S. immigration tide has flipped, Chinese Americans better contain their joy July 28, 2015 Editorial, Sing Tao Daily
Fifty years after the implementation of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, the U.S. Census Bureau confirmed that China has replaced Mexico as the top country of origin for immigrants to the United States beginning in 2013. Recalling that the Chinese was the most discriminated immigrant group for over a hundred years, the contrast is sharp like day and night. As we review the past and assess the present, Chinese Americans should perhaps not place too much self-comfort on the increase of numbers on the surface, but be careful in facing the backlash brought on by the immigration changes.
In the early days when the Chinese came to the U.S. to help build the railroads, the conservatives already accused the Chinese of "taking away American jobs, tarnishing white American women, and threatening the American civilization." After the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, Chinese became the first group of illegal aliens “officially designated by law,” suffering from numerous barriers and human tragedies continuously in the nation of new immigrants and their nation of origin.
It was not until 1965, when the U.S. passed the immigration law and terminated quotas favoring European nations, that Chinese from “two shores, three regions” (meaning the mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) were able to rush in to pursue the American dream. By the 2010 U.S. Census, the number of Chinese in the U.S. reached 3.3 million.
The increase in the Chinese American population and the reunion of their families are of course good developments, but their situation also becomes the focus of attention. Chinese immigration history expert Li Yi Lin points out that when their country of origin, China, becomes increasingly stronger and American xenophobia resurfaces, Chinese Americans will also be more vulnerable to political and economic attacks.
For example, in terms of security issues, U.S. federal investigators continuously accuse nationals from the Chinese mainland in recent years to be involved in military and economic espionage, and are intensifying the crackdown, with the result that the two sides talk past each other. However, Chinese Americans working in the sensitive sectors in the U.S. are serially accused of leaking secrets to mainland China. Surprisingly, some cases cannot be prosecuted afterwards because of insufficient evidence. As their many years of hard work, income, and reputation of the accused individuals vanish overnight, many of these individuals feel that they are innocent victims of these "unjust, false, and wrong” cases, serving only the purpose as warnings to others.
Although the federal law enforcement agencies declare that they would not cook up charges, Chinese Americans in science and technology facing the attacks of these cases and surveillance must invite well-known Chinese American organizations to train the community on how to protect themselves; highlighting that as they dedicate their full efforts to their professions and work, they must also be concerned whether they will become the next "Wen Ho Lee."
Secondly, a few investors and wealthy princelings from mainland China act with high-profile, showcasing a "money is wayward" attitude, treating the local culture, ethics, and safety regulations as nothing, and even causing major tragedies. These disorderly behaviors adversely impact mainstream Chinese Americans as well as their image. It is unavoidable that mainstream society becomes repulsive towards these strange phenomena.
In terms of immigration laws, there has already been much discussion pointing out that Congress has failed to begin immigration reform and stem the influx of immigrants. Will the review in September of the immigration laws through investment tighten conditions and affecting opportunities for those who follow because there were many Chinese immigrant investors in the past three years? The American racial problems have become more acute in recent years. Whether it is the conflict between White and Black or the defamation of the Hispanics, they represent to some extent a conservative counterattack. The fear is: will these issues eventually be at the expense of the rights of other racial and ethnic groups? There is no guarantee that the finger of blame will not be pointing to the top immigrant group of Chinese.
In the past, Asian Americans, and in particular Chinese Americans, were often referred to as "the model immigrant." However, as racial and ethnic disputes pour in, the topic of how Chinese Americans may, besides self-preservation to avoid becoming the victimized group, turn from passive to active and help to tackle the symptoms and causes of American racial and ethnic issues is one that is worthy of additional thoughts by those who care about the development of racial and ethnic issues.
