In Texas, a new law banning Chinese nationals from buying property has stirred strong emotions and fears among many Asian Americans. For individuals like Shutong Hao, a Chinese-American woman who moved to the U.S. for a life-saving heart transplant when she was five, it is yet another reminder of the challenges she faces in a place that has always been her home.
What Happened
Senate Bill 17, signed into law in Texas, restricts property ownership for nationals from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, arguing national security as its foundation. The bill has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocates, who see it as a move that unfairly targets Chinese Americans and potentially violates constitutional rights. The law requires foreign nationals to have lawful status in the U.S. to purchase a home, which could bar many long-term residents, like Hao, who have lived and worked in Texas for years but have not yet obtained permanent residency or citizenship.
Hao, now 29, was devastated upon hearing about the bill. Having spent most of her life in the U.S. after her family moved from China for a heart transplant, the law felt like a direct attack on her family and her right to live in the state she calls home. “It was devastating,” Hao shared. “Hearing about that bill was kind of the first time, in my adulthood at least, that I saw targeted legislation or targeted policy against my family.”
Who Is Shutong Hao?
Shutong Hao’s journey to the U.S. was shaped by a deep need for medical intervention—her heart transplant as a young child. Growing up in the Dallas suburbs, Hao faced the isolating experience of being a minority in a predominantly white community. Teachers overlooked her, and she often had to carve out spaces where she felt she belonged. Now, as an adult, the passage of Senate Bill 17 has renewed those feelings of not belonging. For Hao, this law is more than just a policy; it’s a painful reminder of the obstacles she faces as a Chinese American.
The Legal and Political Debate
Texas Republican lawmakers, including bill author Senator Lois Kolkhorst, have argued that Senate Bill 17 is necessary to protect national security, claiming that foreign nationals from these countries might be purchasing strategic assets in the U.S. Despite the lack of evidence supporting such claims, the law passed, restricting property purchases from nationals of these countries unless they have lawful U.S. status and meet other stringent requirements.
Immigration and civil rights advocates have decried the bill, claiming that it is discriminatory, unconstitutional, and a modern form of the racist “alien land laws” that once prevented Asian immigrants from owning property in the U.S. “Texas already has tools to protect public safety while upholding an individual’s right to basic needs and a fair legal process,” said Sarah Cruz, an immigrants’ rights specialist with the ACLU.
Public and Social Media Reactions
The law has sparked widespread concern, particularly in communities with significant Asian populations, who fear that it may fuel more anti-Asian sentiment. It has drawn comparisons to previous state-level laws, such as one signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023, which banned Chinese nationals from purchasing property there. Advocates argue that laws like these only serve to deepen divisions and stoke fear, rather than addressing real threats to national security.
As the law gains traction, more Asian American voices are speaking out against what they view as a growing pattern of discrimination. “I feel I have to be extra polite and more friendly to justify my existence here,” said Hao, acknowledging the everyday anxiety she experiences in response to the growing climate of anti-Asian sentiment.
Official Statements or What Happens Next
Legal challenges to Senate Bill 17 are already underway. Justin Sadowsky, a lawyer with the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA), is representing Peng Wang and Qinlin Li, two Chinese nationals in Texas who argue that the law is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The case could provide further clarity on whether the bill infringes on property rights based on national origin and conflicts with federal authority.
While Texas legislators argue that this law is in the state’s best interest, critics insist that it will only exacerbate racial tensions and hinder the progress of Asian American communities. “We need more inclusive immigration reform, stronger due-process protections, and broader public recognition that the Asian American experience is deeply tied to the immigrant story,” said Averie Bishop of Asian Texans for Justice.
Closing Line
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
