#392 5/4 Meeting; Legacy of APAICS; Schwarzman Scholars; Trump's Tirade; FISA Section 702+

In This Issue #392

·      2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

·      The Enduring Legacy of APAICS

·      Ten Years of Schwarzman Scholars

·      Trump’s Tirade Against Chinese and Indian Immigrants

·      More on FISA Section 702

·      News and Activities for the Communities

2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET.

In addition to updates from:

·       Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)

·       Joanna YangQing Derman, Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC

·       Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)

We are honored to welcome the following distinguished speakers:

·       Dave Min, Member, U.S. House of Representatives

·       Robert Underwood, former CAPAC Chair; President Emeritus, University of Guam; Co-Founder, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)

·       Madalene Mielke, President and CEO, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)

·       Martin B. Gold, Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC

The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org.  

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We are honored that Congressman Dave Min will deliver the opening remarks to launch the 2026 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Elected in 2024 to represent California’s 47th Congressional District in the heart of Orange County, Rep. Min is the son of Korean immigrants and a proud graduate of California public schools. He previously served in the California State Senate from 2020 to 2024. Prior to his public service, he was a law professor at the University of California, Irvine.

The Enduring Legacy of APAICS

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) stands today as one of the most consequential institutions shaping Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) political leadership in the United States. Its story is inseparable from a broader movement to transform representation in American democracy—one that began in 1994 under the visionary leadership of Norman Mineta and Dr. Robert Underwood and continues today under President and CEO Madalene Mielke.

APAICS was founded alongside the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) at a time when AAPI representation in government remained limited and fragmented. Mineta and Underwood recognized a structural gap: while advocacy existed, there was no sustained institutional pipeline to recruit, train, and elevate AAPI leaders into public service.

Originally known as the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Institute (CAPACI), APAICS was conceived as a nonpartisan, educational organization dedicated to civic participation and leadership development. Its mission remains to promote AANHPI engagement at every level of the political process—from community service to elected office.

For Mineta, whose life journey spanned wartime incarceration to Cabinet leadership, the stakes were deeply personal. For Underwood, the imperative was equally clear: to ensure that Pacific Islander voices—often overlooked even within broader AAPI narratives—would have a durable presence in national policymaking.

Before and after his congressional service, Underwood built a distinguished career in education, including serving as president of the University of Guam. His scholarship on Chamorro identity, cultural preservation, and education reflects a lifelong commitment to empowerment through knowledge—principles that are deeply embedded in APAICS’ mission.

Over the past three decades, APAICS has evolved into a comprehensive leadership pipeline. Its programs—including congressional fellowships, national and regional leadership academies, and mentorship initiatives—have trained and supported generations of AANHPI leaders now serving across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.

The results are increasingly visible. AAPI representation in public office and policy leadership has grown meaningfully, and with it, the expectation that AANHPI voices will be present not as exceptions, but as integral participants in governance.

Under the leadership of Madalene Mielke, APAICS has entered a new phase of strategic growth and national influence. With deep experience in political development and fundraising, Mielke has expanded the organization’s reach while reinforcing its core focus: preparing leaders not only to enter public service, but to lead effectively once there.

As APAICS marks more than 30 years of impact, its founding vision remains highly relevant. From the pioneering leadership of Norman Mineta and Robert Underwood to today’s institutional strength, APAICS continues to translate access into opportunity—and opportunity into public leadership.

We are especially honored that both Robert Underwood and Madalene Mielke will be featured speakers at the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 4, 2026. Their perspectives offer a timely opportunity to reflect on the progress of AANHPI political engagement and the work that lies ahead.

For more information about APAICS, visit https://www.apaics.org/

Ten Years of Schwarzman Scholars

At a time when geopolitical tensions and mutual misunderstanding increasingly shape U.S.–China relations, the Schwarzman Scholars (苏世民学者) program offers a different model—one grounded in education, dialogue, and long-term relationship building. Since its launch in 2016, the program has emerged as one of the most prominent global leadership initiatives of the 21st century.

Founded by Stephen A. Schwarzman 苏世民, the program is based at Tsinghua University in Beijing and is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Each year, approximately 150 scholars from around the globe are selected for a fully funded, one-year master’s degree in Global Affairs, with a focus on leadership, public policy, economics, and international studies.

Throughout the past decade Schwarzman Scholars has empowered over 1,300 young leaders from more than 100 countries with the skills to navigate the challenges of the 21st century.

Often compared to the Rhodes Scholarship, Schwarzman Scholars was conceived as a modern counterpart. Its core premise is straightforward but ambitious: that future leaders must develop not only technical expertise, but also cultural fluency, geopolitical awareness, and the ability to engage across differences.

The program brings together a highly diverse cohort and immerses them in a rigorous academic and leadership curriculum. Scholars live and study together, creating an environment where dialogue lives on a daily basis.

A defining feature of the program is its emphasis on exposure. Scholars engage directly with senior policymakers, business leaders, and academics from China and around the world. Through lectures, mentorship, internships, and travel, participants gain firsthand insight into China’s political system, economic development, and societal changes.

Equally important are the informal exchanges—conversations among peers that challenge assumptions and build mutual understanding. In an era where narratives about China and the United States are often shaped by distance and distrust, these interpersonal connections can have lasting impact.

Whether one views the program as a bridge, a laboratory, or a strategic investment in global leadership, its significance is clear: it is an effort to shape how future leaders understand—and engage with—one of the most consequential bilateral relationships in the world.

For more information about the program, visit https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/ten-year-anniversary/

Trump’s Tirade Against Chinese and Indian Immigrants

According to AsAmNews, The Guardian, and The New York Times, President Donald Trump sparked widespread backlash after posting a transcript and video from a podcast by Michael Savage that described China and India as “hellhole” countries and made negative claims about immigrants from those nations. Although Trump added no commentary, critics in the U.S. and abroad viewed the post as endorsing the remarks.

The Indian government publicly criticized the comments as inappropriate, while U.S. lawmakers, including Grace Meng and Ami Bera, condemned the rhetoric as harmful and inflammatory, particularly amid rising anti-Asian sentiment.  The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a public statement expressing outrage by the racist and xenophobic post.

The controversy comes as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments over Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship in early April, an issue central to his immigration agenda. The White House defended the post as part of a broader critique of current citizenship policies.

“These are no longer dog whistles,” Jon Lewis, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said. “They’re bullhorns. It sends that emboldening message to neo-Nazis and White supremacists that the government is on your side.”

More on FISA Section 702

After an extension of 10 days, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire on April 30, 2026, unless it is renewed by Congress.  

According to NPR on April 24, 2026, Speaker Mike Johnson has introduced a new proposal to extend the surveillance authority for three years, but it is largely unchanged from two earlier attempts that failed in the House. Johnson’s latest bill does not include a warrant requirement, instead proposing increased reporting and penalties for misuse.

"This is not a reform bill and it's not a compromise," Elizabeth Goitein, a privacy advocate and senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, wrote on X. "It's a straight reauthorization with eight pages of words that serve no serious purpose other than to try to convince members that it's NOT a straight reauthorization."

On April 23, 2026, the Washington Post published an editorial titled “Want to read an American’s emails? Get a warrant.” Congress can break its deadlock over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by adopting a simple compromise grounded in the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution: continue warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad, but require a warrant before searching Americans’ communications collected under the program.

It emphasizes that while foreign intelligence gathering is essential and lawful, the current system allows the government to search Americans’ emails and messages without judicial approval—effectively creating a “backdoor” around constitutional protections. Internal oversight reforms are insufficient, the editorial argues, because only a judge can provide independent review.

The editorial rejects claims that a warrant requirement would harm national security, noting emergency exceptions are available and that similar protections already apply in domestic law enforcement. Ultimately, it frames the issue as a fundamental civil liberties question: whether Section 702 will remain a necessary intelligence tool or continue to function as a loophole that weakens Americans’ constitutional rights.

Resources:

·       2026/04/16 Brennan Center for Justice: Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): 2026 Resource Page

·       2026/03/24 APA Justice Webinar: Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know (1:04:32)

·       APA Justice timeline: Timeline Visualization of U.S. Mass Surveillance

·       APA Justice webpage: Warrantless Surveillance

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:

2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

2026/05/11 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Steven Chu

2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future Together

2026/05/13 The Model Minority Trap: How ‘Positive’ Stereotypes Harm Asian Americans

2026/06/01 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2.  Upcoming “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” Events

WHAT: Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Steven ChuWHEN: May 11, 2026, 6:00-7:00 pm ETWHERE: WebinarHOST: Committee of 100Moderator: Peter Young, Chair of the Conversations Initiative and Committee of 100 New York Regional Chair and Board MemberSpeaker: Steven Chu, Nobel Prize Recipient in Physics, former Secretary of Energy, and Stanford University professorREGISTRATION: https://c100-5-11-2026.eventbrite.com

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WHAT: Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Calvin TsaoWHEN: June 10, 2026, 6:00-7:00 pm ETWHERE: WebinarHOST: Committee of 100Moderator: Peter Young, Chair of the Conversations Initiative and Committee of 100 New York Regional Chair and Board MemberSpeaker: Calvin Tsao, leading architect, philanthropist, and educator

REGISTRATION: https://c100-6-10-2026.eventbrite.com

3. The Model Minority Trap: How ‘Positive’ Stereotypes Harm Asian Americans

WHAT: The Model Minority Trap: How ‘Positive’ Stereotypes Harm Asian AmericansWHEN: May 13, 2026, 3:00-4:00 pm ETWHERE: WebinarHOST: Committee of 100Speakers:

·       Derald Wing Sue, Professor of Psychology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University

·       Emma Zang, Associate Professor of Sociology, Yale University

DESCRIPTION:  The model minority stereotype is often dismissed as a "compliment" but creates real harm for Chinese Americans and Asian Americans more broadly. New data from the 2025 State of Chinese Americans survey reveals Chinese Americans who regularly encounter these assumptions report significantly more psychological distress than those who face no discrimination at all. These seemingly positive assumptions mask significant disparities—and the harm compounds.  

This is the third installment of C100's 2025 State of Chinese Americans webinar series, featuring new survey data on how these “positive” stereotypes are associated with measurable psychological distress and mask significant mental health disparities within Asian American communities. Professors Derald Wing Sue and Emma Zang, will unpack why this stereotype persists, who it hurts most, and what practitioners and policymakers can do differently.REGISTRATION: https://committee100-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/2117768023399/WN_wonLo_NmSoSBL5DCldJvKQ#/registration

4. Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony

WHAT: Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and CeremonyWHEN: August 7-9 2026WHERE: Memorial Auditorium, Stanford UniversityHOST: Asian American Research Center at Stanford, Asian American Scholar ForumDESCRIPTION:  The goal of the Pioneer Project is to educate the public on the history of Asian American pioneers and scholars who have made transformative contributions to our country and the world.  FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit https://www.aasforum.org/

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APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community.  For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.