In Texas, a law aims to prohibit ownership by Chinese, Iranians, Russians or North Koreans
Nationals of China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia will not be able to own their homes or businesses.
Sergio Flores/AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The Asian community, already on edge with the violence against them and after the shootings in California, is crying out for discrimination.
Texan elected officials evoke the threats of governments which could install spies next to strategic places like military bases
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With our correspondent in Houston,
Thomas Harms
Kevin Yu and his wife Claire have lived in the United States for fifteen years, but this new law may lead them to leave Texas: "
We are told you are not part of the American dream, it is not your dream.
It's really hurtful,
he laments.
People need to understand that we mean them no harm.
We left our country and we want to be Americans.
»
Stemming foreign influence
Before becoming American citizens, which takes years, nationals of China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia who sometimes fled persecution will not be able to own their homes or businesses.
Introduced in November by Lois Kolkhorst, Republican Senator for Brenham, the bill would in effect prohibit Chinese, Iranian, North Korean and Russian citizens, governments and entities from buying land in Texas, which she and other Republicans, would help
stem foreign influence
in Texas.
Exclusion laws
Niloufar Hafzi was born in the United States, but has Iranian nationality.
"
I shouldn't have to choose between being able to go see my family in Iran, and therefore have this citizenship, and having access to property rights in the United States
," she laments.
For the defenders of the law, it is a salutary measure of protection against anti-American totalitarian regimes, "
We must protect our country, and that is what this law does, because these people do not want the countries that 'they have fled, have a foothold in the United States
,' said Bobby Eberle, the Republican Party leader of Fort Bend, an Asian-majority riding south of Houston.
Bad memories
But for opponents of this text, it is reminiscent of the anti-Chinese laws of the 19th century and anti-Japanese during the Second World War.
When elected officials made no difference between a country and the people who fled it.
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