I am a child of two immigrants. Most, if not all, of my Asian American friends and colleagues have similar or identical backgrounds. In general, most of the Asian American community across the United States is connected by this shared story of immigration, with around 34% being U.S.-born children of immigrants, according to the Pew Research Center. 

Since Asian people first arrived in the U.S. in the 1850s, they’ve enriched the U.S. with their culture, food and vibrancy. I am proud to live in and continue my education in California, a state that boasts the largest population of Asian Americans. I’m also lucky to have grown up surrounded by individuals from backgrounds and ethnicities beyond my own. 

Consequently, as President Trump deploys increasing numbers of National Guard troops to California, against American citizens and undocumented immigrants alike, and White House officials have stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hopes to scale up arrests to 3,000 a day, it felt obvious that Asian Americans like me should stand with our fellow immigrant communities. 

The U.S. as we know it would not exist without immigration. The opportunities and life that my Asian American peers and I have been given would also not be possible without the immigrants who worked tirelessly around me. 

Yet, I was appalled and disappointed by the lack of support that the Asian American community has offered toward families affected by ICE, including families who are Asian American themselves. Several popular Los Angeles-based Asian American influencers were noticeably silent about the ICE raids, as pointed out by smaller creators like @orpheusbloom, @chynapandamera and @babypillsbury. 

Additionally, a survey conducted by the Associated Press found that “about 4 in 10 AAPI adults support deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.” 

The reality is that the Asian American community should not be silent about ICE. 

I’m not alone in these feelings. TikToker @guacamolly.com posted a video asking an important question: “Why are us Asian people so mute about the ICE raids as if this shit didn’t happen to us historically?” 

Another TikToker, @rache.l444, posted that she believes that the #StopAsianHate movement died down so quickly because of the community’s reluctance to speak up for any other community besides their own. The influencer stated that, “So many Asian Americans overestimate their proximity to whiteness.”

This proximity to whiteness derives from the model minority myth, which stereotypes Asian Americans as smart, hardworking individuals who are more academically, economically and socially inclined to succeed than other minorities. The supposed “Asian superiority” has led some Asian Americans to believe that they are considered equal to and by their white counterparts, when it couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Although the median Asian American household holds a higher national median income than white households in the U.S., Asian Americans have the most income inequality of any major ethnic group. According to a Pew Research Center study, “about one-in-ten Asian Americans live in poverty.” Additionally, although Asian Americans hold a great percentage of professional jobs, compared to other racial groups, Asian Americans are least likely to be promoted to leadership positions.

This stereotype also isolates Asian Americans from other minority groups. In the article “Why Be a ‘Model Minority’ When You Could Dismantle White Supremacy?,” author Dae Shik Kim Jr. explains that the model minority status can be achieved “only by distinguishing, and distancing, oneself from other minorities: xenophobia and racism, enacted by victims of xenophobia and racism.”

Alternatively, this white proximity could spark fear rather than confidence. The model minority myth and the resulting spotless Asian reputation are  a product of “good behavior” being rewarded. By speaking out against the system, we run the risk of biting the hand that feeds us and, ultimately, losing the supposed privileges and good graces we have become accustomed to. 

The model minority and its proximity to whiteness have , for too long, divided the Asian American community from other minority groups. In general, there is a lack of understanding that a society that prioritizes and elevates whiteness will continue to do so no matter how “submissive” or “well-behaved” you are. 

Asian Americans should not fall for the model minority myth’s false sense of security about their societal status, especially regarding immigration. Asian Americans are not being offered better or different circumstances in the eyes of ICE. 

Asian Americans, in their success and determination, act as proof of the “American dream.” What right do we have to deny other immigrants of the same? Citizens or not, it is not up to us to decide who is deserving of achieving such, nor is it the right of our government. 

For a community that emphasizes family and togetherness, we falter because of our selfishness. Seaside Bakery was founded by immigrants. Your rave buddy is the child of immigrants. Your international friends and colleagues are immigrants. Immigration has affected our past and will continue to affect the present and future of everyone around us. 

The desire to remain an exemplary citizen should not replace empathy and compassion for others. The Asian American community cannot continue to offer its compliance through silence. You don’t have to join a protest or be a social media activist to lend your support. 

Educate yourselves and the people around you. Remain vigilant about the raids happening across the country. But most importantly, use your privilege for the greater good.