In response to the growing need to support and uplift the stories of Asian migrants, we are excited to announce the creation of the Asian Migrant Border Alliance, or AMBA. A coalition that advocates for the rights and the needs of Asian migrants in our southwestern border states through increased resource and information sharing, narrative change, and development of support networks for our most vulnerable communities. AMBA is currently composed of four organizations that serve and support Asian migrant communities: Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander for Equity, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Asian Texans for Justice, and New Mexico Asian Family Center.
With Trump’s second term officially underway, policies and practices are becoming more anti-migrant and anti-Asian by the day. The Trump administration has already begun to (re)impose harmful policies and practices such as expedited removal, Remain in Mexico, rescinding sensitive location protections, establishing English as the official language, and has attempted to end birthright citizenship.
These inhumane and unjust attacks threaten the safety of Asian American communities. 65% of Asians Americans are foreign born, making our community the only racial group with a majority foreign born population in the U.S. In recent years, many of our recent arrivals from Asia have come to the U.S across the southern border. In the 2023 fiscal year, Customs and Border Patrol reported a 5,300% increase in encounters with Chinese migrants and a 1,500% increase in encounters with Indian migrants. However, support systems at the border are not prepared for the linguistic and cultural diversity of these new arrivals, leaving many Asian migrants to fend for themselves.
The media, Trump, and anti-migrant politicians created a dangerous rhetoric around these migration trends, calling it a “Chinese invasion”. This, compounded with continued anti-Asian hate from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Trump’s continuously racist comments toward Asian communities, is of great concern to AMBA’s member organizations. Without intervention, Asian migrants will continue to be under-supported and in danger. We, therefore, invite you to join us in this moment to stand in solidarity with our Asian migrant community. To help us protect and defend them from the Trump administration’s relentless attacks. If you feel called to do so, please donate HERE or by clicking the link below.
Your contribution will help us advocate against Trump’s attacks on migrant communities and for the rights and protections of Asian, and all, migrant communities. Together, we will strengthen our interstate collaboration to provide resources, critical information, and support for Asian migrant communities. Your support will help us build these resources and will allow AMBA to respond to our communities’ most pressing needs, such as access to public benefits/services, labor rights, and safety.
Together, we are a unified voice for Asian migrants. We will defend the rights of Asian migrants, combat anti-Asian and anti-migrant rhetoric, and stand in solidarity with other migrant communities to assure that all who wish to call the U.S. home may do so safely.
You can learn more about each of our coalition members by visiting their websites and social medias linked below.
