#333 Hate Crime Victim Speaks; Trump on Harvard/Funding Cuts/Litigations; Meng/Hirono Bill+

In This Issue #333

·       Hate Crime Victim to Speak at 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

·       Trump Revokes Harvard’s Authority to Enroll International Students

·       U.S. Science Faces Crisis Amid Deep Federal Funding Cuts

·       Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions

·       Meng, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Promote the Teaching of AANHPI History in Schools

·       News and Activities for the Communities

Hate Crime Victim to Speak at 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 

According to AsAmNews, BlackNews, KABC, LA Times, Washington Post, and multiple media reports, Aki Maehara, a 71-year-old Japanese American professor and Vietnam War veteran, was struck by a speeding vehicle on April 29, 2025, while riding his electric bicycle near his home in a suburb of Los Angeles. Moments before the crash, Maehara says he heard racial slurs directed at him. The case is now under investigation by the Montebello Police Department as a possible hate crime.Maehara, a longtime professor of Asian American history at East Los Angeles College (ELAC), sustained serious injuries in the attack. He suffered a concussion, fractured cheekbone, deep arm lacerations, and trauma to his hips, lower back, and neck. His electric bike was destroyed in the collision. But what shocked him even more than the physical pain were the words he heard before and after the attack.“I heard, ‘ f**** c***k,’ and I got hit,” Maehara told Eyewitness News. “My bike and I were thrown down. As soon as I hit that row of bricks, I heard the guy say, ‘Go back to  f**** c***k land,’ and then he drove away.”

“I wear a full-face helmet with a glare visor,” Maehara said. “There’s no way anybody could see my face. So how the hell did he know I’m Asian?”The motive behind the attack appears deeply personal. Maehara is no stranger to harassment. Over the course of his teaching career, which has included courses on the history of racism in the United States and the Vietnam War, he has faced intimidation and threats. He recounted multiple incidents, including classroom protests by Chicano Republicans and even a visit from Ku Klux Klan members during his tenure at Cal State Long Beach.Despite his injuries and the trauma of the attack, Maehara refused to retreat from the classroom. Just weeks after being hospitalized, he returned to teach his final classes of the semester. “It was important for me to show up because they’re trying to stop me,” he said.Friends, former students, and community members have rallied around him in the wake of the attack. Glorya Cabrera, a longtime friend, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his recovery expenses, including additional in-home care beyond what the VA hospital is currently providing.

Community leaders have called for greater awareness and systemic change. “This isn’t just about one man on a bike,” said a spokesperson from the Stop AAPI Hate coalition.  “It’s about decades of racism, invisibility, and a failure to protect our communities. Mr. Maehara’s story is one of courage, but also a wake-up call.”Maehara’s attack is yet another stark reminder that anti-Asian hate remains an ongoing battle and underscores the vulnerability that many AAPI individuals feel in their daily lives.Professor Aki Maehara, along with community leaders, has accepted the invitation to speak on the incicent at the APA Justice monthly meeting on June 2, 2025. 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 - Steven Pei 白先慎, Vincent Wang 王文奎, and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org.

Trump Revokes Harvard’s Authority to Enroll International Students

According to CNN, New York Times, Reuters, The Hill, and multiple media reports, in a dramatic escalation of its ongoing confrontation with Harvard University, the Trump administration on May 22, 2025, revoked the school’s ability to enroll international students—striking a major blow to one of the university’s most important sources of funding and global prestige.The decision, conveyed in a letter from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is part of a broader federal investigation into Harvard’s compliance with immigration and education policies. The move follows tense exchanges between the university and the Department of Homeland Security over the legality of a sweeping request for records related to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).The revocation means that Harvard can no longer admit international students and that current international students must transfer or risk losing their legal status in the United States.

The university, which has around 6,800 international students—roughly 27% of its student body—is expected to challenge the move in court. It would be the second legal confrontation between Harvard and the Trump administration in recent weeks. Last month, the university sued the federal government over what it described as unconstitutional attempts to alter its curriculum, admissions policies, and hiring practices.The financial impact of the decision is likely to be significant. With tuition alone approaching $60,000 a year—and total costs nearing $87,000—international students often pay a substantial share of their education expenses, making them a key revenue source.Harvard said the move by the Trump administration was illegal and amounted to retaliation.  Harvard rejected the allegations and pledged to support foreign students.  The government’s action is unlawful," the university said in a statement. "This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”  The university said it was "fully committed" to educating foreign students and was working on producing guidance for affected students.

U.S. Science Faces Crisis Amid Deep Federal Funding Cuts

According to reports by the New York Times on May 21 and May 22, 2025, respectively, a deepening funding crisis is shaking the foundation of U.S. scientific research, with the Trump administration imposing sweeping cuts across key institutions, including Harvard University and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The result is a dramatic slowdown in research activity, jeopardizing America’s innovation pipeline and scientific leadership.At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the situation is especially severe. Following accusations from federal officials that the school promotes “amorphous equity objectives” and fosters antisemitism, the administration froze federal grants—cutting off a vital lifeline that constitutes nearly 60% of the school’s revenue. More than 130 researchers had their funding abruptly canceled, threatening major studies on ALS, tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis. Faculty describe the emergency response—cutting programs, ending leases, and training staff in private fundraising—as “all-consuming.”  With many scientists considering offers from institutions in Europe and China, administrators fear a permanent brain drain.

Simultaneously, the NSF is issuing new grants at the slowest rate in at least 35 years.  As of May 21, only $989 million in grants had been awarded for 2025—down 51% from the average of the past decade. The slowdown is hitting virtually every scientific field, including computer science, biology, climate research, and STEM education. Compounding the problem, more than 1,600 active NSF research projects have beenterminated, eliminating around $1.5 billion in previously approved funding.While the administration argues that elite universities like Harvard should rely on their own endowments and that NSF funds must align with conservative priorities, critics warn these ideologically driven cuts threaten the nation’s scientific infrastructure.  Economists caution that reduced research investment could have long-term consequences on economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.

Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions 

As of April 29, 2025, the second Trump Administration has issued 142 executive orders, exceeding the record of 99 set during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term, according to a May 16, 2025,  Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. This surge in executive actions has sparked court challenges and injunctions. As of May 21, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 246 (8 closed cases). As of May 21, 2025, the New York Times reported at least 165 of the court rulings have at least temporarily paused some of the Trump administration initiatives due to concerns over presidential authority, constitutional violations, or federal statute infringements.

The CRS report identified 25 cases in which district courts had issued nationwide injunctions.  Nationwide injunctions are court orders against the government that prevent the government from implementing a challenged law, regulation, or other policy against all relevant persons and entities, whether or not such persons or entities are parties participating in the litigation.  Commentators, judges, lawmakers, and executive branch officials debate whether and when it is appropriate for a court to enjoin a government action in its entirety, with some arguing that nationwide injunctions are rarely or never appropriate, while others defend the practice.They 25 nationwide injunctions covered by CRS include:

·       10 on federal funding

·       3 on birthright citizenship

·       2 each on federal agencies, federal employment, immigration, information disclosure, and military service

·       1 each on DEI and elections. 

CRS categorized cases by subject matter manually. While some cases raised multiple legal and policy issues and could potentially be classified in multiple subject areas, CRS selected one primary issue area per case for ease of analysis.National Injunction from terminating the immigration status of foreign studentsAccording to the Washington Post on May 23, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of the Northern District of California blocked the Trump administration from terminating the immigration status of foreign students, granting nationwide relief to thousands of students caught in the crosshairs of the administration’s crackdown on alleged antisemitism on college campuses.

The Trump administration “likely exceeded their authority and acted arbitrarily and capriciously” when officials terminated the legal status of students in a database overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Judge White wrote.  “The relief the Court grants provides Plaintiffs with a measure of stability and certainty that they will be able to continue their studies or their employment without the threat of re-termination hanging over their heads.”While many courts have granted relief to individuals suing the administration, the judge’s order effectively bars the federal government from arresting, incarcerating or transferring students in these cases and all other individuals nationwide while similar cases are still pending.Injunction Against Dismantling Department of EducationAccording to Reuters on May 23, 2025, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston issued an injunction blocking the department from moving forward with a mass termination announced in March of over 1,300 employees, which would cut its staff by half.  "The record abundantly reveals that defendants' true intention is to effectively dismantle the department without an authorizing statute," wrote Joun.

"This court cannot be asked to cover its eyes while the department's employees are continuously fired and units are transferred out until the department becomes a shell of itself," the judge wrote.  He ordered the administration to not just reinstate the workers but also to halt implementation of Trump's March 21 directive to transfer student loans and special needs programs to other federal agencies.The Trump administration has appealed the decision. 

Meng, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Promote the Teaching of AANHPI History in Schools

On May 22, 2025, U.S. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act, bicameral legislation to promote the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in schools across the country. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made and continue to make immeasurable contributions to our nation, including in sports, arts, government, science, business, and military service. However, the K-12 education system and social studies textbooks have poorly represented how AANHPIs have played pivotal roles in shaping America for the better. In a recent survey, 42% of respondents were unable to name a famous Asian American, and 42% were unable to name a famous Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. The Teaching AANHPI History Act requires Presidential and Congressional Academies’ grant applicants and recipients to include Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian history as part of their American history and civics programs offered to students and teachers.  Every year, hundreds of teachers and students attend these academies, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Education, for an in-depth study of American history and civics. 

The bill would also encourage the inclusion of AANHPI history within national and state tests administered through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and promote collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s Asian Pacific American Center to develop innovative programming. APA Justice is among the many organizations that have endorsed the Meng-Hirono legislation.Read the CAPAC press release: https://bit.ly/43JYFEs.  Read the full text of the legislation: https://bit.ly/4myhBxG.

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2025/05/22 Serica 2025 Trailblazers Conference & Gala2025/05/29 U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee - 25 Years Later2025/06/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/06/03 The Second Annual State of the Science Address2025/06/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/06/15-18 2025 Applied Statistics Symposium2025/06/16-24 Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay AreaVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.  

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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.