Immigrants in COVID America: “The Great Pause” Fueling the Rise in Anti-Asian Attacks

March 16, 2021

Guest blogger: Cheena Amaranto, law student, University of San Francisco

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected people from all walks of life, but not equally in that migrants are disproportionately affected by the adverse effects of this outbreak. Despite the restrictions the government has imposed to put a halt on the spread of this virus, there is this worsening xenophobia and violence that these migrants now constantly face.

There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption to the normal that we were once accustomed to, and the Asian communities within this country have been among those greatly affected by this “Great Pause.” Filipino-American journalist Jose Antonio Vargas highlighted a group that seemed to be overlooked during this ongoing debate over immigration policy – the undocumented Asians. This particular population is relatively new to the U.S., wherein the majority already had family members living in this country upon their arrival. It then follows that a primary reason these immigrants come is to reunite with their families already living here, alongside pursuing better opportunities unavailable in their native land. Vargas was born in the Philippines and came to the U.S. to be with his grandparents at the age of 12. Vargas attempted to apply for a driver’s license and at that time discovered that he was undocumented. Vargas called attention to how aspects of this pandemic emphasize the struggles of those undocumented: “I think as an undocumented person, I always felt unsafe… unsafe and in this permanent state of precariousness that this pandemic has sharpened… The American experience, everything we’re going through is the immigrant experience. For many of us, social distancing is not a temporary part of life. It’s our reality.” [1] This statement not only sheds light on these disparities causing a great divide in this country, but also the fear and cultural shame undocumented Asian Americans face that often go unnoticed. In terms of this pandemic racism, acknowledgement and collective action are essential to form this identity that undocumented immigrants seem to struggle with. We need to be accountable and expose the need for these controversial conversations, especially in this society wherein we all had to adjust to a new normal, even when the normal we were once used to seems to be no different to them. Advocating for a path to citizenship would serve as a solution to situations that most Asian immigrants face and encouraging discussion to humanize undocumented immigrants and get those outside of those communities to understand these individuals fully.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, an alarming level of violent attacks and harassment toward these Asian communities have also spiked yet have been silenced. An 84-year-old Thai elderly died after being shoved to the ground in SF, an 89-year-old Chinese woman slapped and set on fire by two men in Brooklyn, a 91-year-old senior shoved to the pavement in Oakland, and a 61-year-old Filipino American man brutally attacked with a box cutter are only some of the recent violent attacks on Asian Americans since the start of the pandemic. These hate crimes seem to be a product of how racial prejudice has shaped how the public view Asian Americans in being blamed for the spread of this outbreak. One example that has taken over social media outlets recently is the video of a SF Uber driver being harassed and even pepper sprayed by three passengers after their refusal to wear their masks. The assaulted driver, Subhakar Khadka, came to the U.S. eight years ago and works to support his family in Nepal. He had his sights set on his goal of earning a living enough for his family in Nepal to join him in this country. [2] Even though the passenger was arrested and charged with assault, heavy outrage still accumulates as it is appalling thinking that there are people who could treat working individuals in this derogatory way during this pandemic. These incidents are not widely covered in the media, and thus being considerate and having respect to one another is what immigrants in COVID America desperately need at this moment.

What needs to be done is to advocate for Asian Americans and combat this violence linked to the rising xenophobia against this particular group. Not only Asian Americans, but also the other immigrant groups across the U.S. Immigration System, need this protection against systematic racism. Last week, it was announced that a hate crime legislation is being reintroduced to mitigate this ongoing pandemic racism that Asian Americans suffer from. The legislation assigns a Department of Justice official to review hate crimes reported to law enforcement, and also issues guidance for law enforcement to establish online reporting of hate crimes and incidents. President Biden’s memorandum, signed in January, addressing anti-Asian hate since the outbreak also further promotes racial equality in this context and highlights the need for education on the discrimination directed at the Asian American community. [3] In addition to these changes in the legal system, the effects of avoiding these implications caused by the pandemic can be serious and life-altering, and immigrants needing a helping hand should access help and public benefits regardless of one’s immigration status. Through various resources [4], immigrants can seek assistance while others can find a way to support the U.S. immigrant rights movement during these particularly challenging times.

[1] Yam, Kimmy. “Jose Antonio Vargas on How Aspects of the Pandemic Mirror Struggles of Undocumented People.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 1 May 2020, www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jose-antonio-vargas-how-aspects-pandemic-mirror-struggles-undocumented-people-n1197616.

[2] “San Francisco Uber Driver Coughed on, Pepper Sprayed after Asking Women to Wear Masks.” KMOV.com, 9 Mar. 2021, www.kmov.com/news/video-san-francisco-uber-driver-coughed-on-pepper-sprayed-after-asking-women-to-wear-masks/article_e08dd48e-80d9-11eb-92ef-dfd588806cbc.html.

[3] Yam, Kimmy. “Asian American Lawmakers Reintroduce Legislation to Combat Covid-Related Hate Crimes.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 11 Mar. 2021, www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-american-lawmakers-reintroduce-legislation-combat-covid-related-hate-crimes-n1260749.

[4] State of California. “Help for Immigrants.” Coronavirus COVID-19 Response, covid19.ca.gov/guide-immigrant-Californians/.