March 18, 2025
Hidetaka Hirota, Asian American Research Center faculty affiliate, was interviewed by Berkeley News(link is external) to discuss the deep roots of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. Hirota provides historical context for Trump’s attempts to end birthright citizenship, he explains how demand for immigrant labor has shaped U.S. policy and shares his perspective on America’s shifting attitude toward migration. "Trump is really outstanding, in a sense. He is bold,” Hirota said. “But at the same time, his language, his approach, the way he views immigration were actually built on earlier discourses.”