SOME U.S. politicians have spoken up in support of Filipinos against Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump’s plan to temporarily ban immigration from what he called “terrorist nations” to keep America safe from terrorism.
In his speech in Portland, Maine, he named the Philippines as part of the list along with Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen, citing the case of a Filipino — “ a legal permanent resident from the Philippines [who was] convicted for plotting to join Al Qaeda and the Taliban in order to kill as many Americans as possible.”
Defending Filipinos, politicians like Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, California Assemblymember Rob Bonta, and Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro Jr. were among those who criticized Trump, acknowledging the strong presence of and contributions of kababayans in America.
Bonta said Trump’s statements, which also called immigrants from these countries as “animals”, were sweeping, irresponsible and vitriolic pronouncements on race have no place in our America”.
Schatz contended that Trump’s “call to ban Filipinos from coming to the US demonstrates an absolute ignorance of the contributions that Filipino-Americans have made to American society but it also fails to recognize the strong relationship that the US and the Philippines have and have had for decades.”
Lavarro pointed out that Trump disregards “over a century of relations between the U.S. and the Philippines.”
But not all Filipinos in America are against Trump’s plan, and are in fact supporting the rationale behind his statements that have offended many Filipinos.
Republican Fil-Am community leader Rudy Asercion (who was the spokesperson for Fil-Ams supporting Sen. John McCain’s candidacy duuring the debate on The Filipino Channel’s Balitang America) told me,“Validated my statement to you that Mr. Trump does not know about the Filipinos. We are working to change that by introducing Mr. Trump to our Community and to the Philippine media ASAP.”
MEANTIME, a Fil-Am small business owner Marilyn Patacsil contended:
I absolutely support it… The word “temporary “[banning of Filipinos’ immigration to the U.S.] means a lot especially because he needs to protect our country, until we really find out what is really going on. Obama and Clinton do not care about Americans. They both embraced the terrorist countries and look at what is happening now. Scary.
People are in a panic but they need to be. I strongly believe Trump was sent by our LORD to save AMERICA. TOO MANY GOVERNMENT CORRUPT AND CRIMINALS.
Most of FILIPINOS are corrupt, ungrateful, opportunists and are not united. They come here use the benefits or what they can get from America and are not loyal. One thing that I get mad with is the many frauds that our kababayan did. But once Trump wins it will stop and I will make sure I will alert him what to look for.
It is sad. But TRUMP IS NOT CORRUPT THAT IS THE REASON WHY THEY HATE HIM AND THEY ARE IN PANIC.”
Another community leader Nimfa Gamez (who represented the Fil-Am Republicans supporting Mitt Romney during the Balitang America’s debate) emphatically argued:
“I would like to ask my fellow Filipino-Americans to seek the truth first. The mainstream media reporters, who are mostly liberal-leaning have recently been resorting to taking Donald Trump’s words out of context and twisting them for the purpose of course of creating an impact, to agitate and alienate those audiences they are specifically targeting, the more uninformed and politically uninvolved minorities among African-Americans, Hispanics and Filipinos, etc. When driven by emotions, voters may form irrational opinions and conclusions about the two candidates, Trump and Hillary, and they may be deceived to vote for the undeserving candidate…
Common sense tells us, this is what a government should do in dangerous times like this, to protect and ensure the safety of its citizens and others who are already in their country! My family and most if not all of Fil-Ams came to America thru a very stringent vetting or interview process. America like any other country has immigration and other regulatory laws. Due to the terrorism crisis, drugs menace and other crimes in the US and around the world, the US government should implement a stringent vetting process in order to protect the people who are already here! It doesn’t matter what country they come from.
To say that Donald Trump will ban Filipinos from immigrating into the United States if he becomes president is completely and utterly false! And if we love our families and care for their safety, a Trump win should not cause any worry, unless of course you are a terrorist or a criminal, because a Trump win, will bring economic progress through his better negotiating skills to keep and bring jobs back. On the other hand, don’t we even wonder why the mainstream media keeps focusing on what Trump says, instead of investigating any of the actions involving and surrounding Mrs. Clinton, like her e-mail scandals, corruption and deaths of several men in the last 6 weeks?”
Do you agree with these Fil-Am Republicans?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
