Listen to VOAs Ethiopian Americans’ 2024 US election here.
The Ethiopian-American community in the U.S. today, consisting of an estimated 500-600,000 people, includes both immigrants and U.S.-born individuals. About 200-250,000 of them are U.S.-born, and roughly 35% are under 18. Among the adult population, between 45% and 55% of Ethiopian immigrants are naturalized and are U.S. citizens. The largest Ethiopian populations are found in the Washington, D.C. metro area (Maryland and Virginia included), followed by California (notably L.A., the Bay Area, and San Diego), Minnesota, and Texas. Additionally, Georgia a battleground state hosts a small but significant Ethiopian-American community of around 15 – 20,000, particularly in DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Rockdale counties, and are a mix of new arrivals and long-term residents.
To gain insights into some of the views of Ethiopian Americans on the upcoming 2024 election, an independent bipartisan survey was conducted, with most responses coming from residents who live in Maryland, Virginia, and a few other states. The results reflect the community’s diverse concerns and priorities. Foreign policy was the top concern, closely followed by tax policies, government spending, immigration policy, ethnic equality, and abortion policy. There wasn’t much room for sharing why each policy was of concern. Also, the sample size was considerably small compared to the overall population, it still uncovered some pretty fascinating insights! The survey included 13 mostly multiple-choice questions, and our team conducted additional research to address broader issues commonly expressed by the community, beyond just those of survey participants.
Survey Summary
In the survey, 89% of participants were registered voters. Among them, 29% supported Trump, 50% favored Kamala Harris, 13% were undecided, and 7% weren’t interested in voting for either president and only choosing local representatives. Most respondents were U.S. citizens for over ten years or are U.S.-born Ethiopians and fall into the 35-54 age group. This overview provides a glimpse into the values, contributions, and political concerns of Ethiopian-Americans, a community that balances its heritage with an active role in U.S. society.
The Ethiopian-American community, which has been migrating to the U.S. since the 1970s, is known for…
Ethiopian immigrants are widely recognized for their respect for U.S. laws, with many prioritizing naturalization and voter registration. This reputation stems from strong cultural and religious values that emphasize family, community, and education. Beyond personal integrity, Ethiopian-American organizations play an active role in advocating for human rights and social justice, raising awareness on issues such as human trafficking, refugee rights, war crimes, and minority protections, both in Ethiopia and globally, including in countries like Saudi Arabia and across the African continent.
Here are a few of the comments from the open-ended survey question: What concerns do you have about each candidate?
“Kamala Harris’s border plans, support of Israel, the potential of cop cities all over the country, consumer protections, minimum wage, and plans for housing/ the unhoused population. Trump…just about everything.” – Anonymous
“Trump – further enables white supremacy and only enables deeply harmful, exclusionary, power. Everything. Harris – is concerned about her neoliberalism and general middle-of-the-road approach. Particularly around the genocide in Gaza and the weak stances on climate issues (fracking).” -Anonymous
“Their support to Israel and Ukraine. None of them addressed homelessness, I have a VA friend who is suffering after his 3 tours to Iraq and his insurance keeps denying him by technicality to disqualify him not to get treatment. Both candidates have no definitive agenda on how to address the economic and financial crisis we are facing.” -Anonymous
“The extremely woke/liberal policies of the Democratic Party of which I have been a member my entire life but can no longer support the various policies and agendas they’re shoving down everyone’s throats including the indoctrination of little children in public schools by having drag queens and having various sexually explicit content in libraries. Men will never get pregnant and we should have separate bathrooms. The border also should be secure and people should come in legally, not having sanctuary cities so anyone can come in by incentivizing it with hotel and financial accommodations that are not even afforded to veterans only to have them illegally vote and steal the election like in the case of California where anyone can vote without showing an ID and proving their identity. So much is at stake and the list goes on, this is just a few among many. Trump isn’t perfect but he hasn’t completely lost his grip on reality despite the propaganda.” -Anonymous
“Trump is unfit for the presidency – he’s corrupted, racist, misogynistic, uneducated/inexperienced, and a threat to democracy.” -Anonymous
“Kamala Harris: social moral values, promotion of satanic cults like Illuminati, promotion of LGBTQ and mandatory exposure of ridiculous sex education to our kid’s Inflation, tax increase, slowing of the economy. Donal Trump: white supremacy, will pity Ethiopian dictator and support historical Ethiopia’s enemies… is a short-term benefit to overthrow Abiy. I benefit from the republican party ….Less tax, stronger economy….” -Anonymous
“Harris: doesn’t believe she will help end the war around the world She supports abortion She does not have a clear policy on how to stop spending so much on the war or the migrant crisis Trump: he is impulsive, and polarizing Concerned about his favor for Egypt vs Ethiopia He seems to embolden radical Whites.” -Anonymous
“Donald Trump is unfit to serve as president because of his criminality and anti-democratic actions such as inciting the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. He refused to acknowledge that he lost in the 2020 election. He only cares for himself. I am very worried that he will become a Fascist as he proclaimed if he becomes the president. Most importantly as a black, immigrant and non-native English speaker, I deeply and gravely worry that he will make the lives of black people miserable and dangerous.” -Anonymous
“I don’t believe either is worth my vote!” -Anonymous
“Trump is Unstable and xenophobic.” -Anonymous
Ethiopian voters are deeply concerned about global and regional instability, including the escalating threat of World War III, ongoing crises in Gaza and Israel spilling over to Lebanon, the Ukraine-Russia war, and numerous conflicts destabilizing East Africa as well as Congo. These issues are amplifying anxieties over how the next president’s choices could further intensify these tense dynamics and accelerate the highly destructive trajectory Ethiopia has been on since Abiy Ahmed came into power.
The Household income of our respondents ranged from $80,000 to $350,000. This economic contribution stems from the Ethiopian-American community’s strong emphasis on higher education, which unlocks job opportunities and enhances access to capital. To illustrate this point, here are some statistics on Ethiopian-Americans and their educational attainment.
Ethiopian-Americans make significant contributions across various sectors including Healthcare: With an estimated 10,000 Ethiopian-Americans working in healthcare, they collectively contribute around $1 billion annually in salaries. Many work as nurses, doctors, and technicians in underserved areas. Information Technology: Approximately 15,000 Ethiopian-Americans are active in IT roles, such as software development and data analysis, especially in Silicon Valley and Atlanta, generating an impact of around $1.5 billion. Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses, particularly in food service, retail, and import/export, are estimated to contribute $2.5 billion annually. Construction and Contracting: With 15,000 Ethiopian-Americans involved, this sector’s impact is around $1.05 billion.
Education is highly valued in the Ethiopian-American community, which has a notably higher educational rate than both the U.S. national average and other foreign-born populations. According to Pew Research (2019), 45% of Ethiopian-American adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, surpassing the 40% rate for all U.S. adults and the 36% rate for the general foreign-born population. Around 15-20% of Ethiopian-Americans hold advanced degrees, such as Master’s, PhDs, MDs, or JDs, making this community one of the most educated among African immigrants in the U.S.
Many of the advanced degree holders immigrated to the U.S. following the 1974 revolution. Initially, they were encouraged to return and serve their homeland but were unable to due to the Derg regime contributing to the first cycle of brain-drain. In recent decades, Ethiopian-American women, particularly those from more recent immigrant backgrounds, have achieved significantly higher educational levels than women from many other African immigrant groups, which is a big deal because Africans generally are known to prioritize education and these numbers are partly due to a wave of highly educated women who migrated in the 1980s and 1990s. This achievement speaks to the Ethiopian-American community’s commitment to prioritizing education across generations.
Remittances play a crucial role in supporting families and communities in Ethiopia. In 2022, Ethiopia received $4.7 billion in remittances, accounting for about 5% of the country’s GDP. Ethiopian Americans, as the largest contributors, sent approximately $2.5 billion in 2020, which may have grown to $3 billion by 2023. These funds are vital for covering essential needs such as education, healthcare, and small business growth, especially in rural areas, underscoring the economic impact of the Ethiopian diaspora in supporting and sustaining communities back home.
-The End
Disclaimer: Undercounting The U.S. Census and other surveys may undercount due to factors like undocumented immigrants, transient populations, or reluctance to participate. Recent Growth: The African diaspora in the U.S. has grown in the past two decades, but immigration data sometimes trails behind population increases.
To better understand Ethiopia’s current political landscape, it’s crucial to explore the underlying tensions, grievances, and the role of U.S. foreign policy on the country’s internal divisions. A comprehensive examination of these issues provides valuable insight into the complex factors shaping Ethiopia’s challenges today. The support that U.S. Senators and Congress members lend to specific political factions plays a significant role in shaping Ethiopia’s dynamics. Their policy decisions and public stances can have implications on the political narratives in the international media impacting who one might decide to vote for. For more insights on the complexities of U.S.-Ethiopia relations and their effects on internal strife, see below:
Historically, U.S.-Ethiopia relations have evolved. The U.S. supported Emperor Haile Selassie during the Cold War and later backed the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) following the fall of the Derg regime. The EPRDF, a Tigray-dominated ethnic coalition, governed Ethiopia from 1991 to 2019 when it was dissolved. Initially, formed to overthrow the Marxist-Leninist Derg regime. Over their tenure, EPRDF (also known as TPLF and Tigray Defense Force – TDF now) is believed to have received an estimated $13 billion in U.S. support over their tenure. TDF’s interests are still supported by some U.S. Politicians who mostly serve in the Democratic Party.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Mike Hammer and Congressman Brad Sherman have faced criticism for their bias when it comes to Tigray-related issues while seemingly overlooking the broader human rights crises affecting other ethnic groups in Ethiopia, particularly the Amhara community. Their support for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) during the Ethiopian civil conflict has raised concerns among their U.S. constituents, who feel that these policies contribute to a narrative that neglects the complexities and doesn’t paint the full picture of what is going on in Ethiopia.
Throughout the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s (EPRDF) rule, the ethnic federalism structure was presented as a viable governance to empower various ethnic groups instead it quickly eroded the country’s sense of nationalism and often exacerbated ethnic tensions, leading to widespread ethnic violence and displacement. In regions such as Ogaden (predominantly Somali), military crackdowns and blocked humanitarian aid led to reported abuses, with civilians alleging violence, arbitrary arrests, and restricted resources, justified under security measures. This model, based on ethnic divisions, frequently intensified inter-ethnic conflicts, particularly in areas with historical land disputes and also reported discrimination and violence under the EPRDF. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented claims of targeted displacement, limited political representation, and exclusion from development initiatives. Many Amhara communities were the victims of and felt marginalized by a system that favored the Tigray-led leadership, which controlled the EPRDF coalition, fostering mistrust and resentment for decades.
Restrictions on press freedom and expression were equally pervasive. Journalists and media outlets critical of the EPRDF were harassed, imprisoned, brutally murdered, and exiled, with the EPRDF government using the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of 2009 to detain activists and opposition members. This suppression stifled civil society, limiting the public’s access to information and the ability to even discuss government policies in public forums, thereby weakening democratic accountability.
Additionally, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, former EPRDF Minister of Health and now WHO Director-General, has been one of the more heinous offenders who carried out the EPRDF agenda to reduce the Amhara population. His involvement in spearheading a plan to distribute and administer “falsely labeled” cholera vaccines that were purportedly designed to cause infertility among the Amhara-ethnic group is no secret. And watching him being promoted to such a position within the WHO despite his known unethical practices in Ethiopia has shocked many. The EPRDF is also known for falsifying census data of the Amhara population, fueling widespread distrust and increasing polarization among various ethnic groups.
In recent years, the EPRDF has been associated with forced displacements and land seizures. Large-scale projects, such as land leases to foreign investors, led to the displacement of rural communities, particularly in the Gambela, Oromia, and Somali regions. These projects, often justified as drivers of economic development, were carried out with minimal community consultation, resulting in widespread dispossession, forced removal, and hardship for affected populations. The genocide of the Anuak is well documented.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) have voiced intentions to pick up where the EPRDF left off and tout that it’s now their turn to marginalize certain ethnic groups as the EPRDF had done in the past. They have formed militias to target Amhara and other populations, particularly in Addis Ababa and throughout the country’s agrarian population. This has resulted in the displacement of Amhara and SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region) communities, ostensibly to expand OLF influence through rezoning initiatives. These violent campaigns have involved attacks that are nothing short of ethnic cleansing and outright genocide, with communities forcibly driven from their lands using machetes, firearms, missiles, and drones. Multiple massacres have been repeatedly carried out in the past four years by TDF, OLF, and Gumuz-affiliated groups, targeting the Amhara population in greatest numbers. They are the main targets, and even local people are involved due to the hate speech and social-engineering agenda of the TDF, OLF, and their international interest groups/supporters. With no one advocating for the Amhara people in Ethiopia’s Parliament or on the Hill in the U.S., this has left the issue to go unnoticed and the ongoing wide-scale humanitarian crisis unchecked. No humanitarian aid has been able to reach the targeted civilians in the Amhara region especially since the State of Emergency has been declared by Abiy Ahmed and OLFs actors, which includes the Koree Nageenya a security committee that has been involved in orchestrating violent operations against all perceived adversaries.
The direct attack on Amhara civilians using the Bayraktar TB2 drone has been so egregious and unapologetic as Ahmed commands the Ethiopian National Federal ENDF Army to attack all in sight targeting ambulances, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and other open markets in town. The Drones that he purchases are from Baykar Defense, a Turkey-based corporation. The U.S. policy has increasingly focused on democratic reforms, especially following the Tigray conflict. Yet, many Ethiopian Americans are frustrated with the focus on Tigray while serious human rights abuses, including massacres and forced displacements, continue to get carried out on the Amhara community.
Immigration policy is a major concern as it could determine the faith of many Ethiopian migrants, given the recent surge in asylum seekers fleeing ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia. According to USCIS data, Ethiopia was among the top five countries for asylum applications to the U.S., with nearly 15,000 filed between 2021 and 2022. Many of these individuals are escaping violence and persecution, particularly more so from the Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia regions, where civilians have been displaced due to ongoing ethnic conflict and in some areas outright extermination. Amhara civilians have been forcibly removed from their land in Oromia, and similarly, ethnic targeting and displacement have occurred in other parts of the country where people’s homes are being targeted as part of the “corridor” project internally displacing millions of Addis Abeba residents.
To conclude many journalists and politicians remain imprisoned indefinitely, with no scheduled trial dates, solely due to their ethnic identities. International human rights organizations face major challenges investigating abuses in Ethiopia due to restricted access, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has denied full access to agencies such as the IOM and domestic human rights organizations. Many of the NGOs that once served different communities have packed their bags and left the country. Thousands of young Ethiopians have been imprisoned for so-called political dissent, and journalists critical of the government are regularly jailed. According to a statement by the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC) on September 19, 2024, journalists like Belay Manaye and Bekal Alamirew have reported fleeing due to arrests and threats, reflecting the intense pressure on human rights defenders and journalists, including harassment, imprisonment, and forced self-censorship. These actions undermine press freedom and civic space, violating Article 29 of the Ethiopian Constitution. The EHRDC emphasizes that these pressures restrict free expression, diversity of opinion, and the right to information, eroding fundamental rights essential to democracy and accountability.
Unfortunately, there appears to be no end in sight, and the people remain under a highly oppressive regime. We leave you with these final words that were delivered in Geneva by the late Emperor Haile Selassie I to reflect on- as this applies to ‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’ all the same.
“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior, and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war.”
Sources: PEW Research Center (2019), Migration Policy Institute (MPI), U.S. Census Bureau (2017-2021), U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), Center of American Progress (2017), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), World Bank Remittance Data (2022), Central Bank of Ethiopia (2020), Remittance Flows to Ethiopia,” Global Security, U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center EHRDC.