The Association of Chinese Teachers
  • About
    • Mission & History
    • People of TACT
    • Newsletters Archive
    • News Archive
  • Scholarships
    • Application
    • 2024 Scholarships
    • 2023 Scholarships
    • 2022 Scholarships
    • 2021 Scholarships
    • 2020 Scholarships
    • 2019 TACT Gala (50th Anniversary)
    • 2018 TACT 49th Annual Scholarship Dinner Photos
    • 2017 TACT 48th Annual Scholarship Dinner Photos
    • 2016 TACT 47th Annual Scholarship Dinner Photos
    • Updates from Past Recipients
  • Curriculum
  • Membership
  • Donate
  • Celebration
  • About
    • Mission & History
    • People of TACT
    • Newsletters Archive
    • News Archive
  • Scholarships
    • Application
    • 2024 Scholarships
    • 2023 Scholarships
    • 2022 Scholarships
    • 2021 Scholarships
    • 2020 Scholarships
    • 2019 TACT Gala (50th Anniversary)
    • 2018 TACT 49th Annual Scholarship Dinner Photos
    • 2017 TACT 48th Annual Scholarship Dinner Photos
    • 2016 TACT 47th Annual Scholarship Dinner Photos
    • Updates from Past Recipients
  • Curriculum
  • Membership
  • Donate
  • Celebration

We Are Also DACA

9/18/2017

0 Comments

 
How many of our kids and grandkids know that they may be descendants of illegal immigrants (paper sons), marriages of convenience for citizenship, or students and tourists who have overstayed their visas?

​The decision of President Trump’s administration to end the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) also affects Asian Pacific Islander Americans.   Here are some statistics from ASPIRE,  a Pan-Asian undocumented immigrant led group in the country housed under Asian Law Caucus based in San Francisco Bay Area:
Picture
In addition, ASPIRE has excellent short biographies of many undocumented youth from various Asian Pacific Islander groups.

The history of Chinese Americans in this country has been characterized by illegal immigration, forced by the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Action in 1882 and its aftermath.  Over 90% have immigrated illegally themselves or have been descendants of illegal immigrants (Francis Leo, immigration official, 1967). 
 
We are not just a nation of immigrants; we have long been a nation of illegal immigrants.  Did the Pilgrims arrive with papers?  How about the Jamestown settlers?  They did not land in an empty space, but intruded upon native tribes who gave them sustenance. 

Although the news has focused the DACA issue on Latino Americans, we must also remember our own history and support efforts and demonstrations to maintain this program.  No evidence has been found by research conducted by National Public Radio (NPR) and the Associated Press (AP) that young people eligible for DACA adversely affect jobs, but that they contributed to the economy.
Picture
​A beautifully written picture book to use about immigration is Faith Ringgold’s  We Came to America.  All arrivals to our shores, no matter when or how or with whatever religious beliefs, some with hope, some in chains, they are all part of our country.
Picture
​Paper Son:  Lee's Journey to America by Helen Foster James and Virginia Shin-Mui Loh, illustrated by Wilson Ong 2013.  Although there are many books on Angel Island, this book specifically shows how many of us had to use false identities to enter the country.

-Irene Collier
TACT is a non-profit operating under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). We are entirely volunteer-run. ​Our tax ID is #94-2325845.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    TACT is a non-profit operating under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). We are entirely volunteer-run. ​Our tax ID is #94-2325845.
    Tweets by tactsf

    News Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2015
    February 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.