“After decades of being separated from loved ones, Asian immigrants sponsored family members
in such large numbers that the 1965 Act was nicknamed the 'brothers and sisters act.'”
-Erika Lee, from "The Contradictory Legacy of the 1965 Immigration Act"
“Congress was saying in its debates, Immigration patterns shifted to Asians and Latin Americans. New immigrants that came from Taiwan and Hong Kong were educated. They became professionals such as architect I.M. Pei, inventor An Wang, and journalist Connie Chung. Immigrants from India, Filipinos, and other southeast Asian countries coming to United States for higher education also increased. Newcomers often worked in home care, nursing, agricultural and construction sectors, each contributing to the U.S. economy in different ways.
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“Chinese Americans have been leaders in business, the professions, sports, and the performing arts.
And they've worked into the top ranks of American government. In the executive branch, Elaine Chao broke ground, serving as secretary of labor (2001-2009) for President George W. Bush.”
- Martin B. Gold , author of Forbidden Citizens, Chinese Exclusion and the U.S. Congress: A Legislative History"
“ In 2016, about half of Chinese adults had at least a bachelor’s degree, significantly higher than among immigrants overall and U.S.-born adults. Notably, Chinese immigrants were twice as likely to have a graduate or professional degree compared to the other two groups.” |
- Student generated graph based on data from
Pew Research Center and Migration Policy Institute |
- Student generated graph based on data from Migration Policy Institute
“The median annual household income of households headed by Asian Americans is $73,060, ($70,000 for Chinese Americans), compared with $53,600 among all U.S. households.” |
“[The Chinese immigrants'] blood, sweat and tears built the first transcontinental railroad,
connecting the people of our nation...they opened our mines, constructed the levees,
and became the backbone of our farm production.”
-Judy Chu, Congresswoman
“The memories are etched in my bones |
“This is our Plymouth Rock.”
- Paul Chow, Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, 1983
“A people Congress claimed couldn't assimilate have assimilated so well that
it's hard to find the evidence of past discrimination against
Chinese in America.”
- Martin B. Gold, author of Forbidden Citizens, Chinese Exclusion and the U.S. Congress: A Legislative History
“We must finally and formally acknowledge these ugly laws that were incompatible with American’s founding principles. We must express the sincere regret that Chinese deserve. By doing so, we will acknowledge that discrimination has no place in our society and we will reaffirm our strong commitment to preserving the civil rights and constitutional protections for all people of every color, every race and from every background.”
- Judy Chu, Congresswoman, 2012