Legal immigrant also are targets

My parents are Indian immigrants and I am an American citizen. They embody the classic immigrant story, arriving in the U.S. with just “a few dollars” to their name. Thanks to their sacrifices and countless hours of hard work, I have the ability to sit here comfortably and write this letter to the editor.

In recent years, I’ve noticed an increasing presence of Indian-American faces in the Republican Party, such as Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley. Many attribute Trump’s surprising 2024 victory to his hard-line stance on illegal immigration, a position that resonated with many.

For some, the conversation ended there. However, for a subset of individuals, the rhetoric surrounding illegal immigration became a dog whistle for opposition to immigration as a whole. This perspective has given rise to pervasive slander against Indian-Americans on social media.

While it’s no secret to those who know me that I lean conservative on several issues, I cannot bring myself to identify as a Republican. I find it absurd that a political ideology claiming to “protect” Americans would turn against Indian-Americans, many of whom embody the very values of hard work and perseverance that this country celebrates. The MAGA movement has given a platform to the most radical. Trump’s unique ability to appeal to a truly diverse array of demographics comes with dangerous consequences.

Like every social media trend, this will ultimately blow over. Unfortunately, the Asian American response will simply be to keep heads down, mouths shut and eyes closed. While I was not raised to be driven by an agency of victimhood, this feels different.

Throughout my life, I’ve felt forced to prove my patriotism toward this country, to prove my Hindu faith is similar enough to Christianity. I can only hope that the words of our Constitution don’t die in vain.

Aaryan Pathak

St. Charles