My name is Qasim Rashid, and I’m running for Congress in Virginia’s First District. You can find out more about my campaign at www.rashidforva.com and contribute at secure.actblue.com/...
Today, my Republican opponent Rob Wittman tweeted praise to Trump’s “Public Charge Rule”. This unjust immigration rule would make immigrants prove they are wealthy before they can come to the United States. It’s the complete opposite of what is written on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to be free”.
For centuries, immigrants have become successful because of the economic opportunity the United States has afforded them, and America has been successful because we are a nation of immigrants. Donald Trump is no exception. If his own rule was around when his grandfather immigrated from Bavaria to the United States, without a dollar to his name, he would’ve been blocked from entry. Trump’s rule is pure hypocrisy.
Data shows that immigrants contribute $82 billion to the economy each year. The idea that immigrants come to America to get on food stamps and welfare are completely false. It is required that a person be an American citizen to qualify for social welfare. Moreover, many immigrants pay more into our social welfare system and will never get to see the benefits of it. Immigrants are not taking from our poor or becoming a public charge—they are strengthening our nation.
But this double standard is par for the course for Rob Wittman. In 2017 he voted to give a $1.7 Trillion tax break to billionaire corporations, and in 2020 supports cutting food stamps for 3 million hungry Americans—all while 43 million Americans live in poverty. Wittman further supports cutting $30 Billion from social security and nearly $1 Trillion from Medicare and Medicaid. These acts disproportionately hurt the elderly and our children the most.
It’s time to end the hypocrisy. I am running for Congress to uphold the promise of the Statue of Liberty, and ensure America remains a welcoming nation for immigrants for generations to come.