Kamala Harris invokes Indian heritage in response to Trump's immigration plan

Kamala Harris, first Indian-origin Senator castigated President Donald Trump's merit-based immigration plan saying it was "short-sighted" and invoked her unique background as a Democratic candidate for White House in 2020 -- being daughter of an Indian immigrant.

Trump on Thursday, May 16, rolled out system that would prioritise high-skilled workers over those who alrey have relatives in country when determining who receives green cards.

Harris, Senator from California, criticised proposal, which Democratic leers have vowed to fight, saying that Americans routinely celebrate a "unified culture" and US Constitution guarantees equality for all people.

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"I found anuncement today to be short-sighted," said 54-year-old California Democrat, slamming Trump plan before an Asian American audience in Las Vegas.

On plan's intention to award immigrants certain points based on education or skills, Harris said, "We cant allow people to start parsing and pointing fingers and creating hierarchies among immigrants."

" beauty of trition of our country has been to say, when you walk through door, you are equal. We spoke those words in 1776, 'we are all equal' and should be treated that way. t, oh well, if you come from this place, you might only have a certain number of points, and if you come from that place you might have a different number of points."

Asians have historically immigrated as family units, Harris pointed out.

At an event hosted by an Asian American group, One APIA Neva, Harris dove into her barrier-breaking election to US Senate as first South Asian to serve in body's history. She ackwledged her presidential run as a biracial woman helping to shatter tions about being black, Asian and a woman.

first South Asian-American US senator in history  her mor is Indian, her far is Jamaican  Harris said breaking barriers was more than about personal achievement as she eyed becoming first woman commander in chief.

"It's about making a statement about who can do what and redefining ims about who can do what and how y do it," she said.

Trump and ors have "perverted" issue of immigration, Harris ded, as she echoed her call for pathway to citizenship. 

She ted how as California attorney general she h alerted county sheriffs that y were t required to comply with detainer requests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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In a ligharted moment, an audience member asked Harris if she would commit to wearing a tritional Indian garment to her inauguration, kwn as a sari.

"Let's first win," Harris said, smiling. "My mor raised us with a very strong appreciation for our cultural background and pride. Celebrations that we all participate in regardless of how our last name is spelled. It's beauty of who we are as a nation."

In her campaign stump speech, Harris always includes stories about how her mor, Shyamala Gopalan, impacted every aspect of her life. And while she has spoken about visits to India during her book tour, Harris on trail has leaned far more into African American identity her mor raised her to embrace