During a fundraising event in Washington for his 2024 re-election campaign, US President Joe Biden passionately defended the positive contributions of immigrants to the country and criticized xenophobic attitudes towards them from countries like India, China, Russia, and Japan. He pointed out that these policies have stifled their economic growth, while the US benefits from the diversity and contributions of immigrants.
Biden specifically called out China, Japan, Russia, and India for their discriminatory views towards immigrants. He emphasized that immigrants are what make America strong and that its economy is thriving because of their diversity and contributions. The event marked the beginning of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
In stark contrast to his opponent Republican candidate Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, Biden has taken a more welcoming stance towards immigrants. He has criticized Trump for his harsh immigration policies put in place during his presidency and has worked to reverse some of them through new parole policies that allow certain migrants to enter the country legally for humanitarian reasons.
Despite Biden’s efforts to address immigration issues positively he still faces criticism from voters over his handling of it and concerns over unemployment. A recent poll found that over half of US adults believe that Biden’s presidency has negatively impacted the country in terms of cost of living and immigration which highlights that while his pro-immigrant stance is supported by many there are still challenges surrounding this complex issue.