NCAPA Applauds Stand by Members of President's Advisory Commission on AAPIs

10 Commissioners Resign in Protest of Trump's Policies that Adversely Affect AAPIs

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) applauds the 10 members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) who have resigned in protest of President Trump’s adverse and discriminatory policies.

The President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs works with all federal government agencies to improve the health, education and economic status of AAPI communities. The commissioners’ terms end on Sept. 30, 2017, but these 10 commissioners resigned yesterday because they felt they “can no longer serve a President whose policies aim to create outcomes that are diametrically opposite to [their] principles, goals, and charge.” Specifically, they cited President Trump’s ban on refugees; increased border and immigration enforcement, including proposals to cut funding to sanctuary cities; and repealing the Affordable Care Act.

“The anti-immigrant, anti-refugee and anti-Muslim policies and rhetoric from the Trump Administration are striking fear in our communities and are detrimental to all Americans,” said Quyen Dinh, NCAPA Chair and Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). “We are proud to stand by the resigning commissioners as we commit to working together to protect and fight for our future generations. My parents, along with more than one million Southeast Asian American refugees, risked their lives to come to this country more than 40 years ago. Today, we must live up to that promise of being a welcoming nation.”

“We thank these resigning commissioners for taking a powerful stand on behalf of our communities,” said NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang. “While they had hoped their important work could continue under the new administration, they felt compelled to honor their principles of protecting the rights and American values of immigrants, refugees, people of color and people of all faiths, who together, help make our nation stronger. Their action--especially just days before the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II--reminds us that our nation must not be divided. We must reject discriminatory policies that are driven by fear and hate and focus on preserving our civil liberties, civil rights, and democracy for all.”

Related: 

APALA Commends AAPI Commissioners Resigning in Protest to Hateful Policies

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 35 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.