\n\n“Many Vietnamese Americans \u2014 particularly first-generation, older immigrants with low English proficiency \u2014 had become more radically conservative, or were exposed to and sympathetic with these pro-Trump views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From my reporting on immigrant Asian communities, I found that some Vietnamese immigrants who might not understand the nuances of racism in America felt threatened by the social unrest and looting in cities. A few even became counterprotesters<\/a> at local Black Lives Matter<\/a> rallies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “many first-generation Vietnamese were already conservative to begin with. Having left behind a communist-led country, they may be averse to liberal politics, deeply religious, and invested in the idea of the American dream. Guided by a tide of Vietnamese- and English-language misinformation, however, these radical right-wing views are now quietly held by a not-so-insignificant minority”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Some Vietnamese Americans don\u2019t align themselves entirely with other immigrants. Many are wartime refugees<\/a> who fought against the communist North Vietnamese army alongside American soldiers, my mom explained. They had no choice but to leave their home country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The way she sees it, Vietnamese people deserve to be here, but America shouldn\u2019t just accept anyone. \u201cA country is like a home,\u201d she told me in Vietnamese. \u201cYou can\u2019t just let anyone inside your home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this line of thinking \u2014 that they are \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cspecial\u201d immigrants \u2014 fails to recognize how Trump\u2019s immigration policy<\/a> actually hurts some Vietnamese families, especially newer arrivals who are navigating the green card process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who fled Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon tend to remain strongly opposed to big government policies, are suspicious of any socialist-sympathizing politicians, and are blatantly anti-China<\/a>, haunted by China\u2019s imperialist agenda in Vietnam and the South China Sea. Many are religious, and hail from patriarchal households where the male breadwinner makes all the important family decisions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n