Ten members of Donald Trump’s commission on Asian Americans resign in protest

In a letter they say the President's policies go against its principles

President Donald Trump (AP)

Ten members of Donald Trump’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have resigned in protest against the US President’s policies.

In a letter, they raised concerns about the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, and Mr Trump's executive order banning travellers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, which was later overturned in court.

Proposals to cut federal resources to sanctuary cities - municipalities that have adopted a policy of protecting unauthorised immigrants by not prosecuting them for violating federal immigration laws - were also cited as a reason for their resignation.

Those who have resigned said they cannot serve Mr Trump as his policies go against the principle of the commission.

The letter, published by NBC News, said the "portrayal of immigrants, refugees, people of colour and people of various faiths as untrustworthy, threatening, and a drain on our nation."

It also criticised Mr Trump's plans to build a wall on the border with Mexico.

Plans to reform the Affordable Care Act would "harm" 20 million Americans, including two million Asian Americans, the letter added.

Among those to resign were the chair and vice-chair of the commission, Tung Thanh Nguyen, professor of medicine at the University of California, and Mary Okada, president and CEO of Guam Community College.

In January the commissioners requested a meeting with the President to discuss the goals of the commission and detail issues affecting their communities - this received no response.

This is the second wave of resignations from the 20-member commission, after six people left their positions in January.

Only four members now remain but Mr Trump’s administration said resignations of this nature were normal after a change in government.

In a statement the White House said it “is committed to working on behalf of all Americans, including the nation’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community.”