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US to lose much from banning immigrants: Activist

Sunday, 24 July 2016 12:30 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 24 July 2016 12:41 PM ]

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 21, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Press TV has conducted an interview with Behrad Nakhai, a social activist from New York, about condemnation made by the International Organization of Migration over US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s remarks against immigrants.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Your take on this, we have various international organizations now warning about the candidacy of Donald Trump, how do you see it?

Nakhai: Well, if you look at the history of the United States, Fermi, Brown, Salazar, Einstein, Steve Jobs all were immigrants. In fact, the immigrants are contributing quite a bit to the national economy of the United States.

Right now most of PHD students in science and engineering are foreign students, immigrants that they’re inevitably participating in the industry in this country to further status of science in this country. To ban those will deprive the United States of very very rich resources.

On the other hand, according to many reports that have come United States’ invasion of Iraq, which triggered the unrest in the Middle East and the onset of the migration of the people has caused over millions of people to become immigrant.

This is United States’ obligation that when it started this unfortunate invasion be responsible and respond and give sanctuary to these millions of people that unwillingly have been abandoned and are on the run.

Press TV: Many will say that just because of the opposite, we have Donald Trump on one hand, Hillary Clinton on the other hand, perhaps rhetoric of Hillary Clinton is better, but neither one of whom is particularly favorable, your take?

Nakhai: Neither one have genuine interest in the humane side of this equation. In another word, United States’ credibility has always been distanced by its commitments. In this case, they are both of them relinquishing any commitments to the outcome of the misfortune that they have caused to these people.

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