Woman Thought Leader: Irene Bueno
2/8/2019 | 25m 40sVideo has Closed Captions
Asian American relations under the Trump administration.
We continue our Woman Thought Leader Series with Irene Bueno, who shares her thoughts on the priorities and challenges of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. She covers topics from stereotypes and discrimination to healthcare, leadership and representation. Irene served in the Clinton Administration and is a co-founder of the Nueva Vista Group (NVG).
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.
Woman Thought Leader: Irene Bueno
2/8/2019 | 25m 40sVideo has Closed Captions
We continue our Woman Thought Leader Series with Irene Bueno, who shares her thoughts on the priorities and challenges of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. She covers topics from stereotypes and discrimination to healthcare, leadership and representation. Irene served in the Clinton Administration and is a co-founder of the Nueva Vista Group (NVG).
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch To The Contrary
To The Contrary is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> SOME ARBITRARY MAP WAS MADE TO SAY, YOU ARE ALL CONSIDERED AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
I THINK PEOPLE REALIZE OUR NUMBERS ARE FEW.
IF WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER.
♪ ♪ >> >> HELLO.
WELCOME TO TRAIR.
TO, TO THE CONTRARY.
I'M EILEEN BONO.
BAYBUENO.
>> WE FOCUS ON OUTREACH TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND MULTICULTURAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS.
WELCOME, EILEEN.
NICE TO SEE YOU HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> AS A THOUGHT LATER IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE AFFECTING ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IS OUR LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE LEADERLEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE SENATE ON HEALTH AND JUDICIARY ISSUES.
SHE'S ONE OF THE FEW IMMIGRANTS IN CONGRESS SPEAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TAMMY DUCKWORTH, A DECORATED VETERAN AND LEADER ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN ISSUES.
ON THE HOUSE SIDE WE HAVE JUDY KHU FROM L.A. AND MANY MORE.
I'M ENCOURAGED THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WILL HAVE A VOICE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE IS A VOICE LACKING BECAUSE ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN -- BECAUSE OF CULTURAL ATTITUDES DON'T WANT TO STEP UP TO BECOME LEADERS, OR BECAUSE OF PREJUDICE AGAINST THEM?
>> HAITION ASIAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES, WHILE WE HAVE BEEN HERE MANY YEARS, INCLUDING BACK IN THE 1700S WHEN FILIPINOS CAME, MOST RECENTLY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE POLICY PROCESS.
WHETHER YOU COME FROM A COUNTRY WHERE POLITICS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH OR RAN AWAY FROM A REGIME WHERE POLITICS WAS NOT TO BE TRUSTED, THERE WAS SOME DISCOURAGEMENT FIRST GENERATION TO GET INVOLVED BUT THE SECOND GENERATION AND OTHERS REALIZE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S VOICES ARE HEARD.
WE HAD PATSY MAY AN INCREDIBLE ROLE MODEL, BUT NOT MANY.
I THINK AS MORE RUN, YOU WILL SEE MORE ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN RUN.
WE HAVE SEEN IT THIS LAST ELECTION.
>> WE DID.
THE ELECTION OUT OF DETROIT OF A MIDDLE EASTERN WOMAN, MIDDLE EAST AND ASIAN ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BUT SOME LUMP THE TWO TOGETHER.
>> I CELEBRATE ANY DIVERSE WOMAN WHO IS ELECTED TO CONGRESS.
IT IS VERY HARD TO BE ELECTED TO CONGRESS.
IT'S POLE LARRIZING.
YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD, OVERCOME DISCRIMINATION OR RACIST FEELINGS.
WE CELEBRATE CONGRESSWOMAN TA LIB'S ELECTION AND THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN TO BE ELECTED IN CONGRESS.
>> EXACTLY.
DO ASIAN AMERICAN MEN FACE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PREJUDICE?
ARE THERE MORE LEADERS?
I KNOW THERE WAS A GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ASIAN AMERICAN MEN IN PROMINENT TRADITIONS.
>> I THINK IN THE AMERICAN SOCIETY, MEN LED THE WAY.
YOU THINK A SENATOR THAT PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE FIRST FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII.
SECRETARY LOCK AND THE FIRST ONE FROM MY HOMETOWN OF SAN JOSE.
THEY DID PAVE THE WAY.
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU NEED TO LOOK BACK AND HELP OTHERS.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ALL THREE TO MAKE SURE ASIAN AMERICANS BOTH MEN AND WOMEN RISE TO A LEVEL OF PROMINENCE.
>> I WANT TO TELL YOU A FUNNY STORY.
I COVERED CONGRESS IN A WAY, I WAS THERE.
THERE WAS A JOKE THAT WENT AROUND ABOUT HE AND SENATOR BOSCH WITS, JEWISH AMERICAN IMMIGRANT ALSO, STANDING BY THE SIDE OF THE SENATE FLOOR LOOKING AT THE PROCEEDINGS, AND RUDY SAID TO DANIEL, WE ARE THE ONLY TWO GUYS IN HERE WHO ARE NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE CAN'T.
THE CONSTITUTION, IF YOU ARE BORN IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, YOU CAN'T RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
ANYWAY, I WANT TO MENTION THAT SO FAR IN THE 2020 ELECTION, THERE ARE TWO WOMEN OF ASIAN AMERICAN BACKGROUND WHO INDICATE THEY MAY RUN FOR.
>> CAM LA HARRIS AND CONGRESSWOMAN FROM HAWAII.
I THINK THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN HAVING A VOICE.
>> DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE A SHOT?
WILL THEIR DIVERSITY BE AN ASSET OR A BURDEN, DO YOU THINK?
>> SENATOR HARRIS HAS BEEN ELECTED STATEWIDE.
SHE IS -- MANY OFFICES, ATTORNEY GENERAL AND NOW THE SENATOR.
SHE HAS A NATIONWIDE PROFILE.
SHE HAS A GREAT STORY AND SHE IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.
I THINK FOR HER, THAT WOULD HELP HER TO USE HER BACKGROUND AND HER EXPERIENCES AS WHY SHE WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HURT HER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I RECOGNIZE IN THIS COUNTRY PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE FROM A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND.
I THINK SHE IS BRIDGE THE GAP AND EDUCATE PEOPLE IN A RESPECTFUL WAY.
>> SHE IS HALF INDIAN AMERICAN HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
TO ME, ASIA, SINCE IT'S SUCH A HUGE CONTINENT, WHAT DO ASIANS FROM INDIA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE IN COMMON WITH ASIANS FROM -- FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE YOURSELF, THE PHILIPPINES.
WE MAY GROUP THEM TOGETHER, BUT DO YOU ALL GROUP YOURSELVES TOGETHER?
YOU SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS.
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE EACH OTHER.
TEMTELL ME HOW IT WORKS?
>> I AGREE.
SOME ARB ARBITRARY MAP WAS MADE AND SAID YOU ARE ALL ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS.
OUR NUMBERS ARE FEW, AND IF WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER.
HISTORICALLY, INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN LIFETIME ENEMIES, YET WHEN THEY COME TO THIS COUNTRY, YOU FIND EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF A COMMON CAUSE, BLOAF BELIEF IN THE HOPE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THAT IF WE WORK TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS.
>> I NOTICED WHILE RESEARCHING FOR THIS INTERVIEW, THERE ARE HUGE GAPS BETWEEN ASIAN AMERICANS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN TERMS OF THE POVERTY LEVEL.
WHEN TAKEN AS A WHOLE, ASIAN AMERICANS ARE 12.6% VERSUS THE GENERAL POPULATION 12.4%.
LARGE GROUPS IN MINNESOTA.
THEY HAVE A 37% POVERTY RATE.
YOUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, THE PHILIPPINES, 6% POVERTY RATE.
DOING MUCH BETTER THAN AMERICANS AS A WHOLE.
WHY IS THAT?
>> THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY IS VERY DIVERSE.
THERE ARE 30 COUNTRIES CONSIDERED PART OF THAT.
THE IMMIGRANTS FROM THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE FILIPINO INDIANS.
>> AND CHINESE.
>> THEY HAVE COME HERE BECAUSE OF THEIR SKILLS, THEIR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.
FILIPINO DOCTORS GO TO WEST VIRGINIA.
INDIAN DOCTORS GO TO OTHER AREAS AND NEED OF SERVICES.
SOUTHEAST ASIANS, VIETNAMESE, THE AMONG, CAMBODIANS.
THEY HAVE COME TO THE UNITED STATES AS REFUGEES, MANY ESCAPING VIETNAM.
THEY HAD WHAT THEY COULD CARRY WITH THEM.
SOME OF THEM HAD SKILLS.
SOME HAD CHALLENGES WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY BECAUSE YOU ARE A REFUGEE, YOU CAN'T MAKE IT.
I THINK OF CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANY MURPHY.
STEPHANY MURPHY WAS A REFUGEE.
SHE ESCAPED VIETNAM WITH HER FAMILY IN A BOAT AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD PARISH IN THE OCEAN.
A NAVAL SHIP PASSED BY AND RESCUED THEM.
SHE TELLS THAT STORY.
>> NOW SHE'S IN THE HOUSE.
>> SHE'S IN THE HOUSE.
SHE'S COMMITTED HER LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE SHE WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SHE WANTS TO GIVE BACK.
CHEF'S COME FROM THE RICKETY BOAT TO BE A A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
>> AMAZING STORY.
AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTING ASIAN AMERICANS, 30 PLUS COUNTRIES, WHICH -- WHAT PART OF ASIA -- WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT REFUGEES.
WHAT PART OF ASIA IS LIKELY TO SEND REFUGEES, MEANING NOT WELL-EDUCATED ASIANS TO AMERICA?
>> WELL, I GUESS, RIGHT NOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRIES.
OBVIOUSLY, INDIVIDUALS, IF THEY HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES TO QUALIFY THEM TO BE A REFUGEE.
THE OTHER THING YOU FIND WHEN PEOPLE HAVE DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, PROFESSIONAL LEVEL, ONE OF THE TENANTS OF THE IMMIGRATION LAW, FAMILY UNIFICATION IS IMPORTANT.
YOU GET PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, BUT WHEN THEY COME TO YOU IN THE UNITED STATES, WHETHER THEY HAVE A HIGHER EDUCATION BACKGROUND OR NOT, MANY TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND BETTER THEMSELVES.
YOU HEAR DISCUSSION ABOUT, WE ARE NOT ALLOWING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IMMIGRANTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
WHEN THEY GET HERE AND ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, THEY ARE SO HUNGRY TO SUCCEED AND LEARN.
FAMILY REUNIFICATION IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN FAMILIES.
>> THERE ARE STEREOTYPES ABOUT ASIANS I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
THE TONGER TIGER MOM, HAS THAT HURT OR HELPED ASIAN AMERICAN MOTHERS?
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER.
I KNOW THE STEREO STEREOTYPE, BUT I THINK ASIAN AMERICANS ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
WE WANT OUR CHILDREN -- IN SOME WAYS, WE ARE THE SAME.
WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO SUCCEED, GROW UP HEALTHY AND STRONG.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF APPROACHING ITS.
I'M NOT A TIGER MOM.
I BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING MY DAUGHTER WHERE SHE IS.
SHE PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HERSELF, AND CHILDREN THESE DAYS HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WE'LL BE THERE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
TO BE CRITICAL OF THEM WHEN THINGS DON'T WORK OUT, I DON'T THINK IS NECESSARILY HELPFUL.
WE NEED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE RESILIENT.
>> YOU THINK TIGER MOM IS A NEGATIVE STEREOTYPE.
>> I THINK SO.
SOME MAY THINK OF IT AS POSITIVE.
I THINK THE TIGER MOM SYNDROME, YOU CAN'T GO ON PLAY DATES, SOCIALIZE, DO THESE OTHER THINGS, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU NEED TO LEARN TO SOCIALIZE, HAVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, HAVE EXPERIENCES.
WHEN YOU GO TO COLLEGE, WHEN YOU GO TO THE WORK WORLD, YOU NEED THOSE EXPERIENCES.
IN THAT WAY, TIGER MOM CAN BE A NEGATIVE THING IF ALL YOU DO IS STUDY, HAVE GOOD GRADES, TEST SCORES AND GO TO THE RIGHT SCHOOLS.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE A "TIGER MOM" UNLESS YOU ARE A FULL TIME MOM?
>> THE PERSON THAT WROTE THE BOOK, I BELIEVE, IS A LAW PROFESSOR.
SHE MANAGED TO BE A TIGER MOM.
THERE IS A WAY THE MOMS CAN BE IN A ROOM AND PRESSURE YOU WITHOUT PHYSICALLY BEING THERE.
I THINK I LEARNED THAT GROWING UP AS WELL.
>> THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WITH CELLPHONES.
>> EXACTLY.
>> AND "CRAZY RICH ASIANS" THE BIG MOVIE.
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?
>> I READ THE BOOK.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE BOOK, I THOUGHT THERE IS A STEREOTYPE OF ASIANS BEING SUCCESSFUL AND WEALTHY.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.
WHEN I READ THE BOOK AND WATCHED THE MOVIE, IT TALKED ABOUT ASIAN AMERICANS -- EXCUSE ME, ASIANS IN A CERTAIN COUNTRY OF A CERTAIN CLASS.
A WOMAN, A CHINESE AMERICAN WOMAN AND HER EXPERIENCE INTERACTING WITH THAT.
I FOCUSED ON THE CHINESE AMERICAN WOMAN, AND HER MOTHER, IF YOU RECALL THE STORY -- I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE MOVIE.
>> I SAW THE MOVIE BUT DIDN'T READ THE BOOK.
>> SHE LEFT AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP IN A COUNTRY SHE DIDN'T THINK SHE WOULD BE PROTECTED AND MADE HER WAY HERE.
SHE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HER CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
THAT'S MORE LIKE THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE MOVIE WHEN RACHEL GETS ON A PLANE TO GO TO SINGAPORE AND PACKS A MEAL IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE THINK, WE HAVE TO SAVE MONEY.
WE'LL BRING FOOD IN A CONTAINER.
THEY WERE IN FIRST CLASS.
I THINK THAT HE THAT'S HOW ASIANS THINK.
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING ANGLE TO PICK UP ON.
YOU HAVE SPENT MOST OF YOUR WORKING LIFE WORKING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
IS THAT A MORE CRITICAL ISSUE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS THAN FOR OTHER MINORITY GROUPS?
>> ASIAN AMERICANS, I THINK, FACE A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
MOST ASIAN AMERICANS ARE FOREIGN BORN.
THE INCREASE OF ASIAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES OCCURRED BETWEEN 2000-2015.
>> IN 2015, WE SHOULD NOTE, ASIAN AMERICANS OVERTOO OVERTOOK HISPANICS AS THE LARGEST IMMIGRATION GROUP.
>> BY 2025, THEY'LL BE THE LARGEST IMMIGRATION GROUP SURPASSING THE HISPANIC GROUP.
>> MANY ASIANS SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE AT HOME.
ONE OF THE BARRIERS FOR ASIAN AMERICANS ACCESSING QUALITY HEALTHCARE IS A LANGUAGE BARRIER AND CULTURE.
IT EATS DIFFERENT HOW HEALTHCARE IS PROVIDED IN SOME COUNTRIES THAN HERE.
THE OTHER ISSUE, ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES OR WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MADE A CHANGE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS TO THE POINT -- MANY ARE STILL UNINSURED, BUT THE DISPARITY WAS ALMOST ELIMINATED, ONE OUT OF SIX HAD NO A ACCESS, SO WHEN IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE PULLED BACK, THAT IMPACTS THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS LANGUAGE BARRIER.
>> AND HEALTH INSURANCE.
>> BECAUSE ASIAN AMERICANS ARE NOT IN THE ROMANCE LANGUAGE GROUP.
IT'S HARDER FOR ASIANS TO SWITCH FROM TIBETAN OR THE THAI LANGUAGES OR ONE OF THE 500 PLUS INDIAN LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN INDIA TO A ROMANCE LANGUAGE, AND TO SPEAK IT, THEN TO SAY SOMEONE FROM EUROPE OR LATIN AMERICA SPEAKING FRENCH, SPANISH, ITALIAN.
>> I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS LATELY.
EFNLEVEN IF YOU WANTED TO LEARN ENGLISH, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CLASSES.
ASIAN IMMIGRANTS ARE WORKING ONE TO TWO JOBS AND TO FIND THE TIME TO LEARN IS DIFFICULT.
I THINK THEY ARE WILLING TO DO THAT AND WANT TO LEARN.
IT IS A DIFFICULT LANGUAGE.
IT'S AS IF ONE OF US MOVED TO CHINA OR THE PHILIPPINES.
IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO LEARN THAT LANGUAGE AS AN ADULT, BUT WE FIND CHILDREN THAT COME HERE YOUNG, THEY ARE BILINGUAL, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.
I HOPE THAT SCHOOLS AND SOCIETY VALUE THAT.
IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, KIDS SPEAK ALL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
WHEN KIDS SPEAK TWO OR THREE LANGUAGES, WE SHOULD EMBRACE THEM AND NOT TELL THEM THEY CAN'T SPEAK THAT THAT AT SCHOOL.
YOU CAN ONLY SPEAK ENGLISH.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE HARVARD LAWSUIT.
ASIAN ADD ADEQUACY GROUPS ARE SUING HARVARD BECAUSE THERE IS A QUOTA ON ASIAN AMERICANS SIMILAR TO ALL IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS.
ASIANS ARE ABOUT 6% OF THE U.S. POPULATION AND REPRESENT 22% OF THE HARVARD STUDENT BODY.
IS THAT DESCRIMGHTS?
DISCRIMINATION?
>> I WOULD QUESTION THE PREMISE OF THE LAWSUIT.
THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CHALLENGE ANY KIND OF RACE-BASED PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT IN THIS CASE OF HARVARD, THEY ARE CHALLENGING A POLICY I THINK IS A GOOD POLICY.
ASIAN AMERICANS BENEFIT FROM IT.
I THINK HAVING A UNIVERSITY SETTING THAT HAS DIVERSE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF STUDENTS LEARNING.
IF EVERYONE HAS THE SAME BACKGROUND, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN.
>> INTERESTING.
HOW ARE ASIAN AMERICANS FAIRING UNDER THE CURRENT PRESIDENT?
>> I THINK IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT STARTING WITH THE FIRST DAYS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
>> HE'S NOT PICKING OUT -- HE'S NOT ATTACKING ASIANS THE WAY HE HAS BEEN ATTACKING HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS.
>> HE OR PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR HIM ARE PROMOTING, YOU THINK OF THE MUSLIM-AMERICAN BAN.
THERE ARE ASIAN AMERICANS OF MUSLIM FAITH.
IT DOES BLUE DOES IMPACT.
AS AN ASIAN AMERICAN, WHEN I SEE ANY COMMUNITY UNDER ATTACK, I FEEL IT COULD HAPPEN TO US.
LOOK AT JAPANESE INTERNMENT AND WHAT HAPPENED DURING WORLD WAR II.
AFTER 9-11, WHEN PEOPLE WERE BLAMING ALL MUSLIMS OF 9-11, HE STEPPED IN BECAUSE HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE IMPRISONED BY YOUR OWN COUNTRY.
WHEN SOMEONE IS ATTACKED BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND, THAT'S SOMETHING ASIANS WOULD STAND UP FOR.
THE PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT STOPPING CHAIN MIGRATION.
WHAT HE REALLY MEANS IS HE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE FROM FAMILY MEMBERS JOINING THEIR FAMILY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO DON'T HAVE SKILLS THAT THEY THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE.
>> OR WHO CURRENT POLICY PROMOTES THAT.
IT ALLOWS, SETS ASIDE A NUMBER OF VISAS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO BRING IN OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.
>> IN 1965, OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS WERE DISMANTLED BECAUSE THEY EXCLUDED PEOPLE FROM CERTAIN COUNTRIES AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
THIS IS WAS WAS A CHANGE TO BRING IN CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT SKILLS AND UNIFY FAMILIES BECAUSE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.
THE REFUGEE POLICY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US.
THAT'S ANOTHER POLICY HE IS TRYING TO CHANGE UNILATERALLY THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER.
>> THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY REFUGEES ALLOWED IN THAT YEAR.
>> THERE IS A LIMIT.
>> SO WHAT IS -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE HISPANIC MIGRANTS CLAIMING REFUGEE STATUS, THOUGH THEY ARE NOT BEING PURSE PERSECUTED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT, THEY HAVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LAW AND ORDER AND DISORDER AND CHAOS AND COUNTRIES BEING RUN BY DRUG GANGS.
THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM A GOVERNMENT SUPPRESSING YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A CERTAIN COLOR OR FAITH.
HOW DOES -- HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
HOW DOES TRUMP POLICY IMPACT THAT?
>> I THINK THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE.
SURE, WE CAN SAY ALL OF THE PEOPLE COMING OVER EXPERIENCE IT, BUT THEY MAY HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
THE LAW IS SPECIFIC.
THERE IS CASE LAW ABOUT WHETHER SOMETHING CLASSIFIES YOU FOR ASYLUM.
THEY MUST BE LOOKED AT INDIVIDUALLY.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE WADING ACROSS THE BORDER.
PEOPLE ARE VULNERABLE.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN WE KEEP PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE VULNERABLE SITUATIONS WHILE THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED.
IT'S VERY CONCERNING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ENLIGHTENING HALF HOUR.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
VISIT US ONLINE AND WHETHER YOU ARE AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, PLEASE JOIN US NEXT WEEK.
♪ ♪ ♪ FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR SEE AN ONLINE EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
Support for PBS provided by:
Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.