#352 Register for 10/16 Webinar; AAJC, APIAVote, and OCA Updates; CALDA New Lawsuit v SB17+

In This Issue #352

·        Register to Attend Inaugural Webinar on October 16, 2025

·        Update from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC

·        Update from APIAVote

·        Update from OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates

·        CALDA Appeals and Files New Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law

·        News and Activities for the Communities

Register to Attend Inaugural Webinar on October 16, 2025

Cindy Tsai 蔡欣玲, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Committee of 100 (C100), and Rosie Levine 卢晓玫, Executive Director of the U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET), announced the launch of a joint webinar series, titled "Global Tensions, Local Dimensions - Navigating the U.S.-China Relationship," at the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025.The inaugural webinar will take place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET on Zoom, featuring Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch 張之香 and Gary Locke 骆家辉, in conversation with Jessica Chen Weiss 白潔曦, David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS.Register to attend the webinar titled "Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations," by scanning the QR code above or clicking this link: https://bit.ly/20251016WebinarAbout the Series and WebinarFrom the ping-pong diplomacy that preceded formal diplomatic ties in the 1970’s to the robust educational exchanges that flourished in the reform era in the 1990’s, people-to-people connections have provided continuity during periods of political tension in the U.S.-China relationship. ​​Yet in today's environment of strategic competition, people-to-people engagements, such as academic partnerships, student exchanges, business networks, and diaspora community ties, are increasingly restricted in the name of national security. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, whose families and networks often span both countries, increasingly find themselves in the crosshairs.This webinar will focus on the past, present, and future of people-to-people ties between the United States and China, as well as the implications for AAPI communities and U.S. policy. At a time of strained U.S.-China ties, and a concurrent rise in incidents of profiling and violence directed toward the AAPI community in the United States, this discussion will explore how U.S. foreign policy intersects with domestic policy and rights.

About the Co-Hosts

·        C100 is a nonpartisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, science, and the arts. Founded in 1990 by I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 and other distinguished leaders, C100 works to advance the full participation of Chinese Americans in U.S. society and to foster constructive dialogue between the United States and Greater China. As Cindy noted, global interactions have direct consequences for AAPI communities at home.

·        USCET, founded in 1998 by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, is a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit dedicated to promoting mutual understanding between the United States and China through education and exchange. USCET strengthens American Studies in China, supports professional development for educators, and creates dialogue among students, scholars, and policymakers. Rosie noted that USCET’s first-ever public statement was issued to express concern over proposed restrictions on international student visas.

·        APA Justice, advocate of over 10 years for fairness, equity, and justice for Asian Americans and beyond, is also a co-host of this series.

Update from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC 

During the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025, Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill, highlighting harmful House language directing the Department of Justice to reinstate the China Initiative.  AAJC is responding comprehensively.

·        Civil Society Letter: An updated letter with more than 80 organizational sign-ons has been sent to Congress.

·        Bicameral Letter: Representative Judy Chu and Senator Mazie Hirono led a bicameral letter urging opposition to reinstatement, also with the same broad organizational endorsements.

In addition, AAJC and coalition partners AASF, Stop AAPI Hate, and CAA are launching a call campaign.  Supporters are encouraged to mobilize their bases to phone back and mail all Democratic senators.  The goal is to prevent the harmful China Initiative language from appearing in the Senate bill, ensuring it remains only in the House version.

Continued calls and emails will be critical throughout this month until the Senate vote.  AAJC is closely coordinating with allies on the Hill and provide updates on timing.

On September 11, 2025, AsAmNews reported that a proposal to revive the defunct China Initiative—a Trump-era program aimed at curbing Chinese economic espionage but widely criticized for unfairly targeting Chinese scientists—is advancing through Congress. On September 11, the House Appropriations Committee voted 34–28 to include the measure in a larger appropriations bill.Asian American leaders warn reinstating the Initiative would repeat past harms. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) condemned it for fueling racial profiling and dual-loyalty tropes. Civil rights groups point to high-profile failed prosecutions of Chinese scientists such as Gang Chen 陈刚 (MIT), Anming Hu 胡安明 (University of Tennessee), and Franklin Tao 陶丰 (University of Kansas), noting the chilling effect beyond the scientific community. “People don’t know, just by looking at you, whether you’re from China or not,” said Cindy Tsai, general counsel and Executive VP of the Committee of 100. “This really goes back to the safety issue and the sense of belonging for those who have been part of this country.”More than 80 Asian American organizations including APA Justice issued a joint letter opposing the bill. Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, warned it would undermine U.S. competitiveness by driving away scientific talent. Joanna Derman of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) urged the public to educate themselves and press Congress to strip the measure: “We’ve seen how that can result in unfair and harmful discrimination against Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and academics. So by putting [it] in the appropriation bill, pretty much anybody who votes for the appropriation bill can deny that they supported the China Initiative, because it’s part of a larger bill.”

Update from APIAVote

APIAVote is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civic engagement in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. In today’s hyper-partisan climate, some ask whether a C3 message can still resonate. Bob Sakaniwa, Director of Policy and Advocacy at APIAVote, answered yes during the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025. Now more than ever, trusted messengers are essential. Communities look to organizations like APIAVote not to tilt the political scales, but to highlight how policies directly shape AAPI lives.Bob emphasized that while 501(c)(4) activity and more overtly partisan efforts have their place, C3 organizations occupy a unique and vital role. They can elevate the dialogue, build trust across divides, and push conversations toward inclusion and solutions.Reflecting on 2024, the picture for AAPI civic participation was mixed. In 2020, turnout reached historic highs. But in 2024, participation slipped—driven by uncertainty, disillusionment with both parties, and the draining effects of misinformation. Still, there were bright spots: AAPI voters led the nation in new registrations, with more first-time registrants than any other group. With 15 million eligible AAPI voters, there remains enormous untapped potential. And after nearly a year of political upheaval, more people are connecting the dots between policies and daily life—recognizing why civic engagement matters. APIAVote sees opportunities for a rebound this year and an even bigger surge heading into the 2026 midterms.At the same time, threats to voting rights are real and growing. Chief among them is the push—through legislation and executive orders—for documentary proof of citizenship to vote. This bureaucratic barrier amounts to voter suppression, fueled by the false narrative of widespread non-citizen voting. The facts say otherwise. Yet the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would impose such requirements, has already passed the House. Fortunately, the Senate has shown little interest so far.Meanwhile, the Trump administration issued an executive order with the same aim. It is currently tied up in the courts, and APIAVote—along with OCA and represented by AAJC—is a plaintiff challenging it. Another front is the push to roll back birthright citizenship. Both efforts strike at the heart of who belongs in our democracy and carry profound implications for AAPI families.Looking ahead, APIAVote is closely monitoring state-level contests. In New Jersey and Virginia, upcoming races may serve as early indicators of public sentiment toward the administration. And in California, voters will decide this November on a major redistricting proposition, a response to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting carried out under presidential direction. While redistricting is often framed in partisan terms, APIAVote sees it fundamentally as an issue of representation: voters should choose their leaders, not the other way around.Bob closed with a reminder that September 16 is National Voter Registration Day. APIAVote and its partners will be working nationwide to send a clear message: the first step in making your voice heard is registering to vote. With millions of AAPI voices still untapped, this is our moment to ensure our communities are not only present at the polls, but powerful in shaping America’s future.

Update from OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates

Founded in 1973, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national member-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. with 35+ chapters and affiliates across the U.S. At the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025, Thu Nguyen, Executive Director, recapped OCA’s 2025 convention in Seattle, spotlighting the State of the U.S. Constitution plenary, which featured Karen Narasaki (longtime civil rights advocate and former U.S. Commission on Civil Rights commissioner), Karthik Ramakrishnan (academic and founder of AAPI Data), and William Xu, a former OCA intern who later served as a public defender and now works as a judge advocate. Together, they explored impact litigation, public narrative change, and pathways for community involvement.

The convention also engaged audiences through workshops like Helen Zia’s session on AAPI crisis communications, addressing censorship, the politicization of terms such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the challenge of intergenerational dialogue around politically charged language—like “tariffs,” which have real consequences for families and businesses. A screening of John Osaki’s film Making Waves, on preserving ethnic studies and critical race theory, was another highlight. Thu encouraged chapters to bring the film to local communities.

Thu reported that OCA is co-plaintiff in three ongoing lawsuits: one on birthright citizenship, one challenging cuts to the Department of Education, and one with APIAVote on voting rights. All cases are pending before the courts.

Thu also described OCA’s Leadership Summit program, historically held in D.C. for select members to receive advocacy and public speaking training and participate in Hill visits. This year, OCA expanded the model into two-day regional leadership summits—open to all ages—combining training with visits to state capitols or local congressional offices. Recent summits were held in Boston and Las Vegas, with upcoming events in Phoenix (November), New York City, and Houston in 2026. OCA covers program costs, while local chapters help with logistics and outreach.

Finally, OCA is partnering with National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) members to educate communities on healthcare budget cuts, particularly the impact on Medicare and Medicaid. Many community members are unaware of their coverage links (e.g., CHIP and Medicaid), so OCA is working to clarify these changes and provide next steps for affected families.

CALDA Appeals and Files New Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law  

1. Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103)

According to a post by the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (华美维权同盟), CALDA led a lawsuit against the Texas government seeking to overturn Texas SB 17, an anti-Chinese land law.  A federal judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds in August. The judge held that the two plaintiffs represented by CALDA had resided in Texas for many years and thus could not be considered “domiciled in China.” Since SB 17 does not restrict them, their rights were not harmed, and therefore they lacked standing to sue.CALDA believes the judge’s ruling was wrong. The decision’s interpretation of “domicile” for individuals on non-immigrant visas conflicts with existing law and creates further ambiguity. Because violating SB 17 carries felony consequences, such vagueness may lead to overly strict enforcement, causing broader harm to Chinese communities.Some Texas banks and mortgage companies have already adopted internal policies refusing home loans to any Chinese nationals without green cards—going beyond the law itself. For many Chinese residents, the law’s terms are hard to interpret, and in the current political climate, such gray areas invite abuse, fear, and discrimination. Even those on non-immigrant visas who stay in Texas only temporarily still fall under SB 17 and face housing discrimination.At its core, SB 17 is not about national security but about treating all Chinese people as potential threats. By relying on procedural grounds, the judge avoided the real constitutional question: does SB 17 violate equal protection by stripping a group of the right to buy or rent property based solely on nationality or country of origin? This is the heart of the case and the reason CALDA filed the lawsuit.Following the August ruling, CALDA immediately filed an appeal. Both sides are now submitting briefs, and the appeals court has scheduled a hearing for November 4, with a ruling expected thereafter. 

2. Huang v. Paxton (1:25-cv-01509)

On September 16, 2025, CALDA filed a second lawsuit in federal court in Austin. This new case includes three plaintiffs: two Chinese citizens holding B1/B2 visas who are only in the U.S. for short-term visits but purchased investment properties in Texas, and one Chinese student who has been in the U.S. for just a year, currently renting in Texas while attending college. Because none of these plaintiffs have long-term continuous U.S. residence, the judge will find it harder to dismiss the case for lack of standing.CALDA will soon request a court hearing to seek a preliminary injunction to block SB 17. CALDA vows not to stop until this discriminatory law is struck down. Against the backdrop of U.S.–China tensions, Chinese Americans face unprecedented uncertainty. Texas SB 17, Florida SB 264, and Ohio HB 1 and SB 88 reflect a nationwide anti-Chinese trend. Meanwhile, the long-dormant “China Initiative” has resurfaced, stirring deep anxiety among Chinese researchers and students.Once discrimination is institutionalized, it tends to spread. These laws are like dominoes: if the first is not stopped, the chain reaction will inevitably expand. Challenging SB 17 is not only about one state law—it represents defending the basic rights of Chinese communities and resisting systemic exclusion in America. For this reason, CALDA views litigation as a crucial tool of advocacy, turning fear about the future into collective action and legal precedent for change.This is a difficult and protracted struggle. We must unite more strength and resources to confront powerful opponents. CALDA calls for continued support to secure a future free from discrimination, where fairness and justice are true guarantees for all Chinese Americans.

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2025/09/18 CAPAC Press Conference2025/09/23 Committee of 100: Is Deglobalization Inevitable?2025/10/03 Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation2025/10/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/10/16 Bridging Nations: The Power of People-to-People Exchange in U.S.-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the LawVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2.  May 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted

Summary of the APA Justice May 2025 meeting is now posted at https://bit.ly/4pxi6ti.  We thank the following distinguished speakers for sharing their comments and insights:

·        Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

·        Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC 

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

·        Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

·        Robert Fisher, Partner, Nixon Peabody 

·        William Tong 湯偉麟, Attorney General, State of Connecticut

·        Robert L. Santos, Former Director, U.S. Census Bureau; Former President, American Statistical Association 

·        Haifan Lin 林海帆, President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA); Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Yale University 

3. CAPAC Press Conference

WHAT: CAPAC Press Conference on Economic Toll of Trump’s Tariffs on Asian American CommunitiesWHEN: September 18, 2025, 10:30 am ETWHERE: Studio A – HVC117 and live stream: https://www.facebook.com/events/1874102480195831/HOST:  Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)SPEAKERS:  

·  Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06)

·  Second Vice Chair Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02)

·  Chair Emerita Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28)

·  Vice Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36)

·  Rep. Dave Min (CA-47)

·  Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) 

DESCRIPTION:  On August 29, a federal appeals court ruled that most of Trump’s tariffs are illegal but allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the case moves through the appeals process. The Supreme Court agreed to consider the appeal on an expedited timeline. Meanwhile, tariffs continue to create uncertainty for small businesses and consumers—including for Asian-owned businesses that import agricultural goods, cultural products, and traditional medicines that cannot be produced domestically.Asian American entrepreneurs own 11 percent of small businesses in the U.S. and nearly 20 percent of restaurants. Chinatown businesses in particular have reported lower demand and increased costs for goods, with some hiking prices by an average of 50 percent. According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, consumer prices rose 0.4 percent in August, driving the annual inflation rate to 2.9 percent, the highest since January, in part due to Trump’s tariffs.RSVP: Please RSVP in advance to james.kwon@mail.house.gov

3. ACF: Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation

WHAT: Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global ConversationWHEN: October 3, 2025, 9:30 am - 12:00 noon ETWHERE: Kenney Link Auditorium, Johns Hopkins SAIS, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20001HOST:  Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF)PROGRAM:

·        9:30am: Opening Remarks

·        9:45am: Session 1—Covering China from Within: Problems and Processes

·        11:00am:: Session 2—China, America, and the World: New Frontiers

·        12:00pm: Networking Lunch

DESCRIPTION:  The Johns Hopkins SAIS Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF) and the Overseas Press Club of America will jointly host an in-person event examining the state of journalistic and academic coverage of China.The first session will consider the hurdles that journalists and academics face when operating within China at present, and their evolving approaches to reporting and research. A second panel will assess the challenges that global correspondents and researchers face as they cover China's global activities and influence, especially when the issues that intersect China's global role—including artificial intelligence, trade and investment, and new energy—are themselves complex and rapidly evolving.What are the perspectives of top journalists and researchers on the current state of reporting on China? What do we know and not know – and what assumptions and narratives may need revision? What are our collective blind spots? What strategies can help strengthen the quality of research and reporting, and more accurately frame the scope and scale of the China challenge for U.S. audiences?REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3KtwClu

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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.