Newsletter - #30 More On 12/02 Webinar; Presidential Transition; Happy Thanksgiving #30 More On 12/02 Webinar; Presidential Transition; Happy Thanksgiving Back View PDF November 23, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Xiaofeng Wang 王晓峰 Associate Dean for Research James H. Rudy Professor of Computer Science, Engineering and Informatics Director of Center for Security and Privacy in Informatics, Computing, and Engineering Director of Secure Computing Indiana University Table of Contents Overview Continuing Developments Overview Xiaofeng Wang, a prominent cybersecurity professor at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), was terminated on March 28, 2025—the same day FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents conducted searches at his homes in Bloomington and Carmel, Indiana. The university has not publicly disclosed the reasons for his dismissal. Professor Wang's wife, Nianli Ma—a library systems analyst at the university—was also terminated on March 24, 2025. The American Association of University Professors' Bloomington chapter has criticized the university's handling of Wang's termination, asserting that it violated due process and university policies. The specific reasons behind the federal investigation remain undisclosed, and the search warrants have been sealed. Efforts have been made to unseal these documents to gain clarity on the situation. Professor Wang is reportedly represented by Attorneys Jason Covert and Jackie Bennett Jr. of Taft Law . References and Links 2025/04/10 Indiana Daily Student: Nianli Ma terminated 4 days before FBI searched her and Xiaofeng Wang’s homes 2025/04/03 The Herald-Times: IU professor Xiaofeng Wang investigated for academic misconduct before FBI search 2025/04/02 Indiana Public Media: Lawyers: Fired cybersecurity expert and wife safe and not charged with a crime 2025/04/02 Indiana Daily Student: IU computer science faculty condemn Xiaofeng Wang’s termination in letter 2025/04/02 WIRED: Cybersecurity Professor Faced China-Funding Inquiry Before Disappearing, Sources Say 2025/04/02 South China Morning Post: Exclusive | US cyber expert Wang Xiaofeng ‘is safe’ after FBI raids, source says 2025/04/02 Indiana Daily Student: IU professor and library analyst face no pending criminal charges, lawyers say 2025/04/02 Reuters: Cybersecurity professor targeted by FBI has not been detained, lawyer says 2025/04/01 South China Morning Post: US cyber expert Wang Xiaofeng took Singapore job before FBI raids: university letter 2025/04/01 Indiana Public Media: Fired prof accused of research misconduct, FBI involvement unclear 2025/03/31 CNBC: Indiana U. fired cybersecurity professor XiaoFeng Wang on day FBI searched his homes: Union 2025/03/31 South China Morning Post: China Initiative 2.0? Raids on scientist Wang Xiaofeng revive spectre from first Trump era 2025/03/31 Indiana Daily Student: Faculty organization alleges IU violated policy in terminating Xiaofeng Wang 2025/03/31 Fox-59: IU faculty protests firing of professor in FBI probe 2025/03/31 WTHR: I U professor allegedly fired after FBI raids on homes in Carmel and Bloomington 2025/03/31 WIRED: Cybersecurity Professor Mysteriously Disappears as FBI Raids His Homes 2025/03/30 ARS Technica: FBI raids home of prominent computer scientist who has gone incommunicado 2025/03/30 Indiana Public Media: FBI won’t say why agents searched homes of IU cybersecurity expert 2025/03/29 MSN: Professor Abruptly Fired Amid FBI Raid 2025/03/28 WTHR: FBI seizes boxes of evidence after searching Carmel, Bloomington homes Return to Table of Contents Continuing Developments On April 12, 2025, the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA) issued a public statement regarding the case of Professor Wang, condemning his termination by IU and raising serious concerns about the erosion of due process, threats to academic freedom, and the ongoing pattern of racial profiling targeting Chinese American scientists. FAPA also sent an open letter to IU President Pamela Whitten. On April 1, 2025, Stanford University cybersecurity scholar Riana Pfefferkorn filed a motion Tuesday to unseal the warrants used to execute searches of IU professor Xiaofeng Wang and Nianli Ma’s homes last week. She filed the motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. On April 17, 2025, John E. Childress, the acting U.S. attorney of the Southern District of Indiana argued the search warrants used in the FBI searches of Xiaofeng Wang and Nianli Ma’s homes March 28 should remain sealed in response to the motion to release the warrants. On April 14, 2024, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) hosted a State of Play Town Hall, in which Nianli Ma, wife of Professor Xiaoxeng Wang spoke about her family situation. AASF and a coalition of organizations and individuals wrote a letter to Rahul Shrivastav, Provost of Indiana University (IU) and requested reinstament of Professor Wang. On April 14, 2025, a GoFundMe campaign for Professor Wang was started by his son, Luke Wang, at https://bit.ly/3E70Vfm . Nianli Ma Professor Wang termination reportedly involved an undisclosed research grant from China in 2017-2018. On April 17, 2025, Day of Action for Higher Ed, IU computer science chair Yuzhen Ye said Professor Wang was not even aware of the grant when university officials asked him about it. “So apparently a researcher in China applied for this grant without his knowledge," she said "So (Wang) explained and also he provided a supporting documentation to IU. I truly believe this really could have unfolded in a very different way if IU administration had chosen to trust its own faculty or give them a fair chance to respond,” Professor Ye said. References and Links Southern District of Indiana: In Re: Motion to Uunseal Search Warrants (1:25-mc-00022) 2025/04/18 Herald-Times: Wife, son of cybersecurity professor Xiaofeng Wang make first comments since FBI raid 2025/04/17 Indiana Daily Student: U.S. attorney argues to keep search warrants for Xiaofeng Wang’s home searches sealed 2025/04/17 Indiana Public Media: IU department chair says Wang didn't know about undisclosed Chinese research grant 2025/04/17 Indian Public Media: Protest groups at IU unite for National Day of Action on higher education 2025/04/16 Guardian: The mysterious firing of a Chinese professor has Asian students on edge: ‘Brings chills to our spines’ 2025/04/15 South China Morning Post: ‘It hurts deeply’: Nianli Ma, wife of cyber expert Xiaofeng Wang, speaks up over FBI raids 2025/04/14 WIRED: A Cybersecurity Professor Disappeared Amid an FBI Search. His Family Is ‘Determined to Fight’ 2025/04/12 FAPA: Open Letter to Pamela Whitten, President, Indiana University 2025/04/12 FAPA: Public Statement on the Case of Dr. Xiaofeng Wang 2025/04/02 Indiana Daily Student: Stanford scholar files motion to unseal warrants used to search homes of Xiaofeng Wang 2025/03/31 AAUP IU Bloomington Chapter: Open Letter to Rahul Shrivastav, Provost, Indiana University Return to Table of Contents Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #333 Hate Crime Victim Speaks; Trump on Harvard/Funding Cuts/Litigations; Meng/Hirono Bill+ #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 Trum p'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 students According 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 Education According 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. # # # 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 . Back View PDF May 23, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #44 Registration Opens for Third Webinar; "China Initiative"; Hate Crimes #44 Registration Opens for Third Webinar; "China Initiative"; Hate Crimes Back View PDF February 19, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

The abrupt dismissal of visa fraud and other charges against five scientists from China in five separate “China Initiative” cases and the FBI reports from the discovery process exposed the weaknesses of the prosecutions, dissension in the FBI’s own ranks, and exaggerated claims of national security risks by the government. July 22, 2021 Table of Contents Overview Non-Armed Uniformed Services in the US “Startling” Claim by Assistant Attorney General John Demers What the Juan Tang Case Revealed What the Lei Guan Case Revealed Links and References Overview In court filings on July 22 and 23, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) abruptly moved to drop visa fraud and other charges against five scientists from China in five separate "China Initiative" cases, including four biomedical and cancer researchers in California and a doctoral candidate studying artificial intelligence in Indiana. U.S. District judges have granted dismissal in three of the five cases. The five Chinese nationals are: Lei Guan (关磊), Visiting researcher (mathematics), University of California at Los Angeles Dr. Chen Song (宋琛), Visiting researcher (neurology), Stanford University Dr. Juan Tang (唐娟), Visiting researcher (cancer), University of California at Davis Xin Wang (王欣), Visiting researcher (neurology), University of California at San Francisco Kaikai Zhao (赵凯凯), Doctoral candidate (machine learning and artificial intelligence), Indiana University Prosecutors did not provide explanations in their motions to dismiss. According to multiple media reports, Wyn Hornbuckle, a Justice Department spokesman issued a statement that said "[r]ecent developments in a handful of cases involving defendants with alleged, undisclosed ties to the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China have prompted the department to re-evaluate these prosecutions... We have determined that it is now in the interest of justice to dismiss them.” DOJ announced the visa fraud charges against four of the five scientists exactly a year ago on July 23, 2020. Just a day earlier, the U.S. ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, accusing it of being a "spy center" to conduct spying activities with local medical centers or universities. The fifth scientist, Lei Guan, was first charged in August 2020 for Destruction and Alteration of Records in a Federal Investigation with visa fraud charges added in September 2020. Although the DOJ did not provide an explanation for the dismissals, Reuters reported that there was "recently disclosed evidence of a report by FBI analysts that questioned if the visa application question on 'military service' was clear enough for Chinese medical scientists at military universities and hospitals." In another report by the Washington Post , an unnamed official was quoted to say that "the punishment for visa fraud typically does not exceed a year. That fact, combined with the prospect of prolonged litigation in several instances, led officials to assess that the interests of justice were best served by dropping the cases." Non-Armed Uniformed Services in the US Some of these five prosecutions were based on photos of the individuals in uniform. However, wearing a uniform does not always imply military service. Out of the eight branches of uniformed services of the United States, two are non-armed: The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is the uniformed personnel system of the United States Public Health Service, which is under the Department of Health and Human Services. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps is a uniformed branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is under the Department of Commerce. “Startling” Claim by Assistant Attorney General John Demers On December 2, 2020, The Washington Post reported that John Demers, Assistant Attorney General John Demers claimed that more than 1,000 researchers who had hidden their affiliation with the Chinese military fled the United States. The exodus came in the wake of the arrests of six Chinese researchers accused of lying on their visa applications about their ties to the People’s Liberation Army. The arrests, coupled with the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, which U.S. officials said served as a command-and-control node to direct spying operations, were intended to send a signal to Beijing. The figure was described as “startling” and has not been supported by any factual evidence. What the Juan Tong Case Revealed On July 19, 2021, defense attorneys for Dr. Juan Tang filed a Defendant's Trial Brief and Memorandum Supporting Dismissal at Trial . It included a section on "The FBI’s Deliberate Failure to Disclose Critical Exculpatory Evidence to the Court and to the Defense Warrants a Dismissal of this Ill-Conceived Indictment." "There is dissension in the FBI’s own ranks," the trial brief started. It cited that the government intentionally did not comply with the discovery order for the trial and highlighted that "... just days ago, a heavily redacted report dated for release four months ago, on April 1, 2021, which the government did not disclose to this Court when it ruled on Dr. Tang’s Motion to Dismiss." Exhibit A shows a FBI Background Note dated April 1, which includes a statement that investigations and expert interviews "suggest that the visa application form (DS-160) potentially lacks clarity when it comes to declaring one's military service or affiliation." Specifically, the highlighted response to the question “Is this obfuscation indicative of nefarious intent?” says: Investigations associated with these individuals as well as PLA experts interviewed in the cases cited above suggest that the visa application form (DS-160) potentially lacks clarity when it comes to declaring one’s military service or affiliation. China’s PLA is not a direct analog to how the US military services are set up, especially regarding the PLA’s Civilian Cadre. CTTAU assesses that while some intentional obfuscation is almost certainly being used by the PLA to gain entry into the US, there are grey areas where it is difficult for the FBI and DOS to determine whether obfuscation is intentional or for nefarious tech transfer purposes. Among the Civilian Cadre are a significant number of doctors and nurses and other professionals that at times are required to wear a military type uniform, but who would not necessarily consider themselves soldiers despite being considered as active duty. There are also contract civilians who work for the PLA, but are not considered active duty military. Within investigations it may also appear as if students and scholars from particular MCF-designated and PLA-affiliated universities and institutions are obfuscating their respective affiliations by not declaring military service despite having academic advisors who are PLA officers, but the FBI has an incomplete understanding of the full nature of this student/scholar to academic advisor relationship. What the Lei Guan Case Revealed A partially redacted draft FBI report appeared as part of an exhibit in a non-motion response filed in the case of Lei Guan on July 12, 2021. It is titled Fourth Military Medical University Interviews and Arrests Likely Had Minimal Impact in Mitigating Technology Transfer Threats from PRC Students dated March 19, 2021. The 28-page exhibit includes a draft white paper that provides assessments on seven cases under the "China Initiative," including the five that were dismissed. The draft paper states that targeting of the researcher and students "likely had minimal, short-term positive impact on the technology transfer threat from PRC students, scholars, and researchers." In addition, "[o]nly two of the arrests had a nexus to technology transfer violations, ... and none included charges related to other counterintelligence concerns." The operation "likely contributed to the deterioration of the FBI's delicate yet valuable relationship with some US universities by not exercising more caution before approaching PRC students." Although there was strong advice against investigating and arresting students and researchers with the operation, "several FBI field offices proceeded with visa fraud charges for individuals who met the criteria but did not meet the threshold for a high-priority technology transfer threat." "It is in the best national security interest of the FBI to strategically identify, target, and mitigate PRC technology transfer threats while also preserving educational opportunities in the United States for PRC students who do not pose a threat," said an unredacted portion of the FBI report. A footnote also stated that "the FBI does not consider clinical medicine an area of concern for PRC technology transfer." According to the exhibit, a FBI Supervisory Intelligence Analyst drafted the report as a response to a February 2021 award nomination. She was originally included as part of the award nomination but disagreed about the "high impact" the award's nomination claimed to have made. She did not think the arrest of the PLA students met the threshold for high impact at that time, as she assessed at an early stage the impact was minimal. The draft was a way for her to dispute the information contained in the awards packet. She removed herself from the award nomination. Jump to: Overview Non-Armed Uniformed Services in the US “Startling” Claim by Assistant Attorney General John Demers What the Juan Tang Case Revealed What the Lei Guan Case Revealed The abrupt dismissal of visa fraud and other charges against five scientists from China in five separate “China Initiative” cases and the FBI reports from the discovery process exposed the weaknesses of the prosecutions, dissension in the FBI’s own ranks, and exaggerated claims of national security risks by the government. Previous Next 8. Five Visa Fraud Cases Dismissed

Newsletter - #297 12/11 Webinar - Ted Lieu; Gene Wu; Andy Kim; New CAPAC Leadership; AAJC #297 12/11 Webinar - Ted Lieu; Gene Wu; Andy Kim; New CAPAC Leadership; AAJC In This Issue #297 · Ted Lieu to Deliver Remarks at Tomorrow's Land Ownership Webinar · Gene Wu Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Caucus · Andy Kim Sworn in as U.S. Senator for New Jersey · CAPAC Elected New Leadership · AAJC Calls for Sign-on to Open Letter on Select Committee on CCP · News and Activities for the Communities Ted Lieu to Deliver Remarks at Tomorrow's Land Ownership Webinar U.S. Representative Ted W. Lieu 刘云平 will deliver the opening remarks at the webinar co-hosted by the Committee of 100 and APA Justice titled " The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities " on December 11, 2024. On November 19, 2024, Rep. Lieu was reelected as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the fourth-highest position in House Democratic leadership. Lieu is a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired from the Reserve with the rank of Colonel. As a legislator, Lieu has established himself as a leader on artificial intelligence; the environment; cybersecurity; civil liberties; foreign affairs and veterans. As the highest-ranking Asian American in Congress, Lieu continues to champion policies promoting equity, justice, and inclusion.Register to attend the webinar today: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p WHAT : From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities WHEN: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar WHAT: Historically discriminatory policies are reemerging in state legislatures across the U.S. Originally designed to prevent non-citizens, particularly those from AAPI communities, from owning property, these laws are now being reframed as safeguards to national security. This webinar will discuss whether these laws properly address national security concerns or whether they are merely a pretext that infringes upon civil rights and liberties under the guise of protection. A panel of legal experts and advocates will delve into the history of alien land laws, examine their renewed impact on vulnerable communities and discuss key cases, including a bill recently introduced in Florida. This event is essential for anyone committed to upholding justice and equity in America. To learn more about current land ownership exclusion legislations, visit Committee of 100’s interactive map , which details specific bills, status, and text. Also, visit APA Justice Alien Land Bills webpage for the latest developments on current lawsuits challenging these laws and more. HOSTS: Committee of 100, APA Justice Moderator: Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100 Opening Remarks: Ted Lieu, U.S. Representative (CA-36), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Speakers: · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Gene Wu , Chair of Texas House Democratic Caucus Closing Remarks: Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice; Member, Committee of 100 REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p Gene Wu Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Caucus On December 4, 2024, the Texas House Democratic Caucus (HDC) elected Rep. Gene Wu (吴元之) as their new chair. Gene Wu has been representing District 137 in the Texas House of Representatives since 2013. He is known for his support of immigration, family and minority groups including Asians and Pacific Islanders, Blacks, and Hispanics. Rep. Gene Wu was the first legislator who brought the alien land laws to the attention of the public nationwide. He will speak at the webinar on " The impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities " on December 11, 2024. A dedicated advocate for the Asian Pacific American community in Texas and across the nation, Gene Wu regularly holds town hall meetings and travels nationwide, urging the community to confront the rising threat of anti-Asian legislation at both the state and federal levels. His 26-slide presentation offers a concise overview of the historical anti-Asian issue in the U.S., tracing its roots from the founding of the United States to the "China Week" in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2024. He also presented this issue during his town hall meeting on September 29, 2024: https://bit.ly/3XN7Ujm (49:37). · Texas Tribune: Houston Rep. Gene Wu to lead Texas House Democrats through GOP-dominated legislative session · Houston Chronicle: Houston Rep. Gene Wu chosen as next Democratic leader in Texas House · Houston Public Media: Houston Rep. Gene Wu elected Chair of Texas House Democratic Caucus · Chron: Houston’s Gene Wu elected Texas House Democratic leader in surprise move Andy Kim Sworn in as U.S. Senator for New Jersey On December 8, 2024, Senator-elect Andy Kim was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Phil Murphy , allowing him to assume office ahead of his elected term beginning on January 3, 2025. The appointment followed Kim’s certification by the Board of State Canvassers as the winner of the Senate race to succeed Bob Menendez . Kim was sworn in on Monday, December 9, 2024, becoming New Jersey’s newest senator.In a brief speech on the Senate floor, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) welcomed Kim, who he called “one of the most respected and admired members of the House Democratic caucus, where his talent was only matched by his decency.” “Today, I am appointing Senator-elect Andy Kim to the United States Senate so he can begin his term in office before the new year begins,” Murphy said in an official statement. “Taking this step will allow Senator Kim to embark on the smoothest possible transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running serving the people of New Jersey,” Murphy said. Senator Kim expressed gratitude for the opportunity: “It’s an honor to get to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate. It’s a dream that remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors, and one that I’m ready on day one to fight for. I want to thank Governor Murphy and Senator [George] Helmy for ensuring that New Jersey was well represented during this transition, and look forward to getting to work for the people.” On November 18, 2024, Senator-elect Kim addressed the APA Justice monthly meeting. He expressed gratitude to APA Justice for its efforts in addressing anti-Asian hate and discrimination and highlighted the challenges of creating a secure and inclusive environment for all, referencing his personal concerns for his children and elderly parents. Kim emphasized the importance of building coalitions to combat hate and discrimination in all forms, including policies like the China Initiative, which he described as fear-mongering. He pledged to continue fighting these issues in his role as a U.S. Senator and called on others to join him in these efforts. A summary of the November 18 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Read the New Jersey Monitor report : https://bit.ly/3ZJDxfD and Governor Murphy's statement: https://bit.ly/4g6niz0 . CAPAC Elected New Leadership On December 4, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) announced its leadership for the 119th Congress. Rep. Judy Chu ( 赵美心 , CA-28) transitions to Chair Emeritus. The newly elected leadership includes · Rep. Grace Meng ( 孟昭文 , NY-06), Chair · Rep. Mark Takano ( 高野马克 , CA-39), First Vice-Chair · Rep. Jill Tokuda ( 德田吉尔 , HI-02), Second Vice-Chair · Rep. Ami Bera , M.D. (CA-06), Whip · Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Freshman Representative APA Justice and other organizations issued statements reacting positively about the new leadership. · CAPAC Announces Newly Elected Leadership for the 119th Congress · APA Justice Applauds New CAPAC Leadership · APAICS Applauds Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Election as CAPAC Chair · NBC News: Rep. Grace Meng to lead congressional Asian caucus, replacing longtime chair Judy Chu · AsAm News: Grace Meng will lead congressional Asian caucus AAJC Calls for Sign-on to Open Letter on Select Committee on CCP Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC is preparing to send an open letter to House leadership, opposing the reauthorization of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (Select Committee). This letter is born out of concern that the harmful and targeted policies supported by the Select Committee—including the revival of the DOJ’s China Initiative as well as various iterations of land laws— will only continue to ratchet up anti-Asian sentiment in the 119th Congress.To read the open letter and sign on, interested organizations are asked to complete this form: https://bit.ly/4950dKv News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/12/10 National Immigration Inclusion Conference 2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Laws2024/12/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # 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 APA Justice website at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF December 10, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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Newsletter - #202 Sign-on Letter to President Biden; Alien Land Laws; Florida Appeal/Motion; 8/26 March #202 Sign-on Letter to President Biden; Alien Land Laws; Florida Appeal/Motion; 8/26 March In This Issue #202 Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Appeal and Motion Filed in Florida Lawsuit Against Discriminatory Alien Land Law Washington Post Reports on Alien Land Bills See You at "The March on Washington" on August 26, 2023 Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Stanford University Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter F. Michelson issued the following letter calling for faculty members and scholars at U.S. institutions of higher learning to co-sign a letter to President Joe Biden to renew the US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Read the letter: https://bit.ly/3KP6wXG Sign on to the letter: https://bit.ly/3qGWC3r WHEN: Before Noon PDT on Thursday, August 24 Please forward to other members of the university community! Dear Colleagues, The US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation is due for renewal by August 27; in less than 6 days. The decision on whether the U.S. will pursue renewal of the Protocol will be made by the White House, mostly likely with discussion led by the National Security Council of the United States. This agreement has been the basis of scientific engagement between the US and China since it was first signed in 1979 and renewed approximately every five years thereafter. For an informative overview of the Protocol and a discussion of the case for renewing it have a look at a recent essay by Deborah Seligsohn, Senior Associate (non-resident) of CSIS. See also recent coverage in the WSJ and in Reuters . If the Protocol is not renewed by the United States - which seems plausible at present moment - it is likely to have significant negative impact on ongoing and future scientific exchanges between the US and China. We believe that the multiple benefits of robust scientific exchange vastly outweigh any security issues that accompany such openness. Furthermore, the Protocol does not commit the US to any specific activities but provides a framework for discussion and developing specific agreements. The US should not slam the door. If you agree with us, please consider signing an open letter to the President of the United States and the members of the National Security Council expressing support for renewing this agreement. This can be done by clicking on this link and following the instructions. You can also read the letter there. Please also consider forwarding this email to other members of the university community who you think might likewise be willing to sign. If you plan to sign, please do so before Noon PDT on Thursday, August 24. Sincerely, Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson Appeal and Motion Filed in Florida Lawsuit Against Discriminatory Alien Land Law On August 21, 2023, attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Florida lawsuit against Senate Bill (SB) 264 filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from the Order, entered on August 17, 2023, ECF No. 69, denying Plaintiffs’ Emergency Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. Read the appeal: https://bit.ly/44eexMI Also on August 21, 2023, attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Florida lawsuit moved for the Florida District Court to issue an injunction pending appeal in this matter. Plaintiffs request a decision by Thursday, August 24, 2023. Read the motion: https://bit.ly/3KPkR6h Washington Post Reports on Alien Land Bills On August 21, 2023, the Washington Post published two articles on alien land bills: 2023/08/21 Washington Post : State lawmakers move to ban Chinese land ownership . https://wapo.st/45DMG9S 2023/08/21 Washington Post : Laws banning Chinese from buying property dredge up old history. https://wapo.st/45BdyHA According to these comprehensive reports, in Washington, the White House and federal lawmakers are pursuing ways to constrain Chinese-owned businesses like TikTok amid a bipartisan push to limit China’s reach.Now state legislators have embraced a novel, locally focused tactic aimed at China’s domestic investments: restrictions on Chinese land ownership.Lawmakers in 33 states have introduced 81 bills this year that would prohibit the Chinese government, some China-based businesses and many Chinese citizens from buying agricultural land or property near military bases, according to a Washington Post analysis of data compiled by Asian Pacific American (APA) Justice, an advocacy group. A dozen of the bills are now law in states such as Alabama, Idaho and Virginia.Asian American advocacy groups and legislators have raised alarm that the new bills go beyond national security concerns and could encourage discrimination against Chinese Americans at a time of rising hate crimes — harking back to a time when they were openly barred from owning property.“There is ignorance out there that causes people to think that because you are Chinese you are part of the Chinese government,” said former Texas state representative Martha Wong , a Republican.While most bills also ban land ownership tied to other “foreign adversaries,” including Russia, Iran and North Korea, lawmakers’ rhetoric has focused almost exclusively on China — and some states have gone even further than targeting government entities. A Florida law also restricts land purchases by Chinese citizens with non-tourist visas.Critics say the movement is also being fueled by growing anti-Asian sentiment in the United States, evidenced by a rise in hate crimes that became particularly acute during the coronavirus pandemic.“President Trump calling covid-19 the China virus and kung flu laid the groundwork for people to blame China for their own misfortunes,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), who is Chinese American and has introduced a bill to combat the landownership restrictions. “Now we see this anti-China fever taking a different route, with politicians trying to gain political points by being more anti-China than the next person.” Wong, 84, testified against several Texas bills by describing how she lived for years as a child in her family’s grocery storage room because no one would rent or sell a home to her Chinese American father. “We do not want backward movement to the type of discrimination my father faced,” she said.The push in states to limit Chinese ownership has extended to Congress, where at least 11 bills aiming to restrict land buys by Chinese businesses and citizens have been introduced over the past three years. None has passed, but several are still pending, and the language from one bill was recently inserted into the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate last month.Some experts say national security concerns are inflated because China and Chinese investors own a fraction of U.S. agricultural lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report shows Chinese investors own about 1 percent of American agricultural land, and only about 0.03 percent of that is farmland. The rest are agriculturally zoned properties that include rural roads, homesteads and non-farm-related buildings.“For purposes of food security, blocking Chinese or other foreign investors, that argument doesn’t hold a lot of water,” said Joe Glauber , USDA’s chief economist from 2008 to 2014 and now a senior researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute. “We are already exporting a large portion of what we produce, so it is not a question of needing to keep this stuff at home. As far as farmland is concerned, what China owns is literally a drop in the bucket.”The bills face an uncertain legal future. The American Civil Liberties Union has challenged the constitutionality of the Florida law, making some of the same arguments that caused several state supreme courts to strike down broad bans on land ownership by foreign citizens of Asian countries decades ago, including a pivotal California Supreme Court decision in 1952.“Banning people from buying a house based on where they are from is blatantly unconstitutional,” said Ashley Gorski , a lead attorney in the ACLU case against the state of Florida. “Everyone in the United States is entitled to equal protection under the constitution, including citizens of other countries.”“We expect the political rhetoric on this to escalate and also expect more legislation to be introduced and passed,” said John C. Yang , president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which has been fighting the bills. “Even state legislators want to appear to be tough on China right now, and they are grasping for things that they can control in their own state legislatures to show that they are being tough.” For weeks this summer, South Florida real estate agent Josie Wang says she’s rushed to close property deals for many of her clients. The sales anxiety wasn’t sparked by the usual forces — high interest rates and low inventory.Instead, she was worried that her Chinese clients would soon face new hurdles to buying property in the United States. If the deals weren’t closed quickly, she warned them, they may need to consult an attorney before moving forward.Over the last few months, Montana, Virginia, and North Dakota have all passed legislation restricting the ability of Chinese nationals to buy property. Georgia, Iowa and Kansas, among others, are considering similar legislation.In Florida, which has passed one of the strictest versions of the law, Chinese nationals can’t buy property within 10 miles of any military bases — the state has 21 of them — or critical infrastructure such as airports. Under the law, which is being challenged in court, those who sell property to Chinese immigrants could face stiff penalties, including a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison.Asked about the concerns among some people in the Asian community, Jeremy Redfern , Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ’s spokesman, didn’t directly respond, writing in an email, “There is no reasonable way of responding to unnamed ‘Asian Americans in Florida.’”For some Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans the new laws have been a hurtful reminder of anti-Asian laws that banned them from immigrating to the United States or buying agriculture property in the country for decades.“This is not right, we live in the 21st Century,” said Winnie Tang , who moved to the United States from China 45 years ago and lives in Miami. The laws, she says, remind her of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 — a 10-year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the United States. “We are being singled out to be discriminated against by other people.”“My face is Chinese,” Tang said. “So that means in the future, if I want to buy any property they could use this law to force me to show ID to prove I’m a citizen and not related to the Chinese government … This law gives people the right to discriminate against me openly.”Critics have called such laws discriminatory and the Department of Justice has said about the Florida version of the law: “These unlawful provisions will cause serious harm to people simply because of their national origin, contravene federal civil rights laws, undermine constitutional rights, and will not advance the State’s purported goal of increasing public safety.” Legislation in Texas, which aimed to ban all property ownership by Chinese citizens, died in the House of Representatives after massive protest from the Asian American community. “I don’t think the Republicans fully appreciated was how unbelievably angry the Asian community was,” Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu , who represents a heavily Chinese district in Houston, said.Some Asian Americans say they have experienced more hate crimes since the pandemic began.“This has always been the singular, major discrimination against all Asian Americans,” Wu said. “That Asian Americans are never truly American enough, that Asian Americans are always just a hair’s breadth away from betraying the country and doing whatever their home country tells them to.”The United States has taken drastic measures against Asian Americans before, said Mae Ngai , a professor of Asian American Studies at Columbia University, noting that during World War II, more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent were forced into camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.“This is where it leads. It leads to putting so-called enemy aliens in concentration camps. I don’t think it’s a ridiculous proposition,” Ngai said. “We should be very, very concerned.”APA Justice tracks the alien land bills at https://www.apajustice.org/alien-land-bills.html , including a map and a list of state bills at https://bit.ly/43oJ0YI See You at "The March on Washington" on August 26, 2023 On August 26, 2023, a 2023 March on Washington will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders in 1963, to continue the fight for democracy, social justice and civil rights. Join the King family at the Lincoln Memorial to honor the past, acknowledge the present and march toward a future of progress and equality.Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities will join the March to continue the landmark moment in the struggle against racial profiling and hate. Help to distribute the Yellow Whistles to amplify our voice. Please wear yellow to symbolize our struggle for justice and hope. Show our support of peoples of color and conscience. UCA: 纪念“我有一个梦想”演讲60周年 . UCA诚挚邀请您参加8月26日在林肯纪念堂举办的一场特殊活动，以纪念并见证美国历史的重要时刻。 这是一个值得我们每个人珍视的机会，让我们一同回顾并向前看，思考过去的成就、面对现在的挑战、展望未来的希望。林肯纪念堂作为美国历史的见证者，见证了种族平等、人权尊重和社会进步的重要进程。60年前，马丁·路德·金（Martin Luther King Jr.）在这里发表了那篇永载史册的“我有一个梦想”演讲，为美国的平等与正义倡导奠定了基石，成为了社会变革的象征。 在这个特殊的日子里，我们将一同回望过去，追忆那些勇敢的先驱者们为种族平等而奋斗的历程，从60年前的种种挑战到今天我们所面临的机遇与挑战。我们希望通过这次活动，传承那份坚韧和勇气，汲取历史的智慧，为我们未来的努力指明方向。 2023/08/21 Dragon Eagle TV: 8月26日让我们相聚林肯纪念堂穿越60年见证美国历史 (video 0:39) Back View PDF August 22, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #335 Today’s Monthly Meeting; Ohio Alien Land Bills; Chinese Student Visas; Fulbright Finalists Disqualified #335 Today’s Monthly Meeting; Ohio Alien Land Bills; Chinese Student Visas; Fulbright Finalists Disqualified In This Issue #335 · Today’s APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Ohio Lawmakers and Community Members Speak Out Against Alien Land Bills Introduced · Organizations Outraged by Trump Administration Move to Revoke Chinese Student Visas · Trump Administration Disqualified Finalists in Fulbright Selection Process for Being Related to DEI and Climate Change · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, June 2, 2025 , starting at 1:55 pm ET . In addition to updates by Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Jiny Kim , Vice President of Policy and Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited speakers are: · Judy Chu , Member, U.S. House of Representatives; Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Ya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Juanita Brent , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Aki Maehara , Professor, Historian, East Los Angeles College · Christina Ku and Gerald Ohn, Co-Founders, Asian American Civil Rights League · Brian Sun , Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright · David Inoue , Executive Director; Larry Oda , Chair Emeritus; Gary Nakamura, Vice President, Japanese American Citizens League · Manjusha Kulkarni , Co-Founder, Stop AAPI Hate 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 . Ohio Lawmakers and Community Members Speak Out Against Alien Land Bills Introduced Earlier this year, the Ohio General Assembly introduced bills to restrict foreign property ownership. The House Bill ( HB1 ) was introduced on January 23, and the Senate Bill ( SB88 ) was introduced on February 10, and both were referred to the respective committees within a few days. The house bill number (1) seems to signify its importance, and the senate bill number (88) was said to be a snub at the number eight, which many in Asian countries deem as a fortunate number. The two bills have a similar text for the most part, which is to ban individuals, businesses, and governments of "a foreign adversary" from owning agricultural land from buying property within a 25-mile radius of military bases, airports, and "critical infrastructure", in the name of protecting national security. The Senate bill has additional restrictions that include forcing a current owner to sell their property at its original price. The Asian community raised alarm in May over the proposed bills and quickly mobilized members to participate in committee hearings and voice their concerns. Lawmakers in the Ohio General Assembly also expressed unease, introducing amendments aimed at narrowing the scope of the bills and reducing potential harm. Primary concerns include racial profiling and the targeting of Asian Americans, particularly those of Chinese descent, as well as the disturbing echoes of some of the darkest chapters in American history, such as California's 1913 Alien Land Law , the Chinese Exclusion Act , and the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. As of May 27, the Ohio HB1 received testimonies from 11 Proponents, 68 Opponents, and three (3) Interested Parties, and the Ohio SB88 received testimonies from four (4) Proponents, 231 Opponents, and eight (8) Interested Parties. · Columbus Dispatch : Opponents call Ohio property sales ban 'racist,' 'discriminatory' · Ohio Capital Journal : Hundreds push back against bill prohibiting foreign nationals from buying property in Ohio · WBNS/10TV (CBS affiliate): Asian American community voices concerns over Ohio bills targeting foreign nationals · State House News Bureau (NPR affiliate): A bill would bar Ohio land buys by businesses and immigrants from some countries · WKYC-TV Cleveland (NBC affiliate): Asian American community voices concerns over Ohio bills targeting foreign nationals · Toledo Blade : Ohioans of Asian descent fight ban on property sales to ‘foreign adversaries’ Organizations Outraged by Trump Administration Move to Revoke Chinese Student Visas The Trump Administration is "aggressively revoking" Visas for Chinese students According to the Associated Press , New York Times , and others, the Trump administration announced this week that it would begin "aggressively revoking" visas for Chinese students, including those allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or those studying in unspecified "critical fields." Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement Wednesday evening, adding that the State Department was revising visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of future applications from China, including those from Hong Kong. The move has sent shockwaves across U.S. universities, which collectively host over 275,000 students from China, making them the second-largest group of international students after India. Administrators, professors, and students expressed concerns that the lack of clarity about the policy’s scope, especially how “ties to the CCP” and “critical fields" are defined, will generate confusion and anxiety on campuses. Critics argue the visa crackdown could damage America’s scientific and technological competitiveness. “Shutting the door on Chinese students doesn’t just betray our values — it weakens our leadership in science, technology, and innovation,” said former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke. Universities have long relied on international students for both talent and tuition revenue. “I think it is terribly misguided, counterproductive, and another way in which we are shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University. Reactions from Organizations to the Announcement about Revoking Chinese Student Visas On May 28, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a statement expressing concerns, “The wholesale revocation of student visas based on national origin — and without an investigation — is xenophobic and wrong,” and “turning these students away —many of whom simply wish to learn in a free and democratic society — is not just shortsighted but a betrayal of our values.” On May 29, Advancing Justice I AAJC called Rubio’s announcement “another blow to international students and academia.” The organization condemned the policy as rooted in “fearmongering, racial profiling, and xenophobia,” and said, “exclusionary and discriminatory policies based on stereotypes rarely address actual national security concerns,” “fuel prejudice and unfair targeting of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans” and “have destroyed lives and careers and negatively impacted our country’s competitiveness in global innovation.” In the Asian American Scholar Forum ’s statement, Executive Director Gisela Perez Kusakawa said, “This policy threatens to dismantle the international talent pipeline that has long fueled American innovation and excellence…Treating them with blanket suspicion not only violates principles of fairness, due process, and our democratic values—it sends a chilling message to the world that America no longer welcomes global talent.” The Committee of 100 denounced the visa policy announcement. “This new visa policy will adversely and profoundly affect our colleges and universities, research institutions, scientific discovery, and startups in ways we have yet to fully comprehend,” said Gary Locke, Chair of the Committee of 100 and former U.S. Ambassador to China. U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET) criticized the policy as overly broad, discriminatory, and harmful to American soft power. It warned that the new visa policy “fails to distinguish between individuals who pose genuine risks and those simply seeking educational opportunities,” and “beyond undermining core American values of fairness and openness, these measures pose significant risks to U.S. economic competitiveness, soft power, and long-term diplomatic stability.” USCET said education remains the United States’ single largest service export to China, with spending by Chinese students reaching $14.4 billion USD in 2023 and creating 143,000 US jobs. Trump Administration Disqualified Finalists in Fulbright Selection Process for Being Related to DEI and Climate Change On May 29, Inside Higher Ed reported that the Trump administration staged an unprecedented intervention in this year’s Fulbright selection process, rejecting finalists whose research deals with race, gender, or climate change. The Fulbright Commission of Norway selected 17 finalists for this year’s US Fulbright Program , a prestigious academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. State Department and received approval from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) in January, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent an internal department cable requesting an additional step for the scholarship’s review process, which historically has entailed an initial project review by the Institute of International Education, a secondary review by a panel in the host country and final approval from the FFSB. The State Department ultimately nixed seven of the 17 finalists Norway selected — about 40 percent of their expected Fulbright cohort. The grounds for their rejections were “clearly political,” said Curt Rice , director of the Fulbright Commission of Norway; he said the finalists whose acceptances were overruled all had proposals that dealt with either diversity or climate change. “There is almost no precedent for them to change a list of finalists sent by a host country,” Rice concluded. News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/05/29 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 Area2025/06/29-30 2025 ICSA China ConferenceVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # 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 . Back View PDF June 2, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #282 Combating New McCarthyism; AASF Forum With NIH; Dr. Zhijian "James" Chen; More #282 Combating New McCarthyism; AASF Forum With NIH; Dr. Zhijian "James" Chen; More In This Issue #282 · AIP: House Pushes to Resurrect China Initiative · AASF Forum with the National Institutes of Health · Dr. Zhijian “James” Chen Wins “America’s Nobel” · News and Activities for the Communities AIP: House Pushes to Resurrect China Initiative According to the American Institute of Physics (AIP) on September 18, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to reinstate the Justice Department’s China Initiative under a new name. The bill known as H.R. 1398 passed on a vote of 237-180, with support from 214 Republicans and 23 Democrats.The legislation is unlikely to advance in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where the companion bill has only Republican cosponsors. In addition, the White House issued a statement strongly opposing the bill, stating it “could give rise to incorrect and harmful public perceptions that DOJ applies a different standard to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to the Chinese people or to American citizens of Chinese descent.”Rising in opposition to the bill, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) said that resurrecting the “misguided” China Initiative would represent a “clear step backwards.”“The China Initiative did not just waste valuable resources. If you were a person of Chinese descent working in American higher education, you were a suspect,” said Nadler, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. “Rather than keeping America safe, the China Initiative divided workplaces, ruined careers, and contributed to anti-Asian hate at the height of the pandemic,” he added.Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, also took to the House floor in opposition to the bill. She described the China Initiative as “the new McCarthyism,” referring to fears of communist influence in the U.S. during the Cold War that were stoked by Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI). “McCarthyism had deadly effects in the 1950s and so does the China Initiative, harming our country’s competitive edge by casting a chilling effect on our academic community,” Chu said. “While we all want to stop American secrets from being stolen, investigations should be based on evidence of criminal activity, not race and ethnicity.” “This bill would essentially re-establish the DOJ’s harmful and ineffective China Initiative, in all but name,” said Joanna Derman , director of anti-racial profiling, civil rights, and national security for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, in an email. “Instead of reviving a program that we know led to the racial profiling of Asian immigrant and Asian American scientists, we should be discussing policy solutions that would actually attract and retain top talent in critical STEM fields,” Derman continued. Last week’s vote is not the first time that the House has attempted to reinstate the China Initiative — a similar provision is in the House’s appropriations bill for DOJ. Various advocacy groups representing Asian Americans, such as the Asian American Scholar Forum and Stop AAPI Hate, have called for Congress to remove the provision from the final version of the appropriations bill.AIP is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of physics and related disciplines. Founded in 1931, it serves as a federation of scientific societies, supporting the physics community through a variety of initiatives, including publications, advocacy, education, and outreach.Read the AIP report: https://bit.ly/47yU0FU . Read the White House statement: https://bit.ly/3XvIXJ1 What is McCarthyism? McCarthyism refers to a period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States during the early Cold War, particularly in the late 1940s and 1950s. Named after Senator Joseph McCarthy , it is characterized by widespread accusations of communist infiltration in American institutions, often without substantial evidence. The movement targeted government officials, entertainment industry figures, educators, and union leaders, among others, accusing them of being Soviet sympathizers or communist spies. McCarthyism led to investigations by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and loyalty tests for federal employees. Many individuals lost their jobs, were blacklisted from industries (especially in Hollywood), or faced public shaming. The era also created a climate of fear and repression, where dissenting political views were suppressed.The term "McCarthyism" now broadly refers to the practice of making baseless accusations or using unfair investigative methods to suppress dissent and stoke public fear. The movement began to collapse in 1954 after McCarthy's own credibility was questioned during the televised Army-McCarthy hearings. The famous moment during the hearings came when Joseph Welch , an attorney for the Army, confronted McCarthy with the line, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" This marked a turning point in public opinion against McCarthy, leading to his censure by the U.S. Senate, and the eventual end of the era.McCarthyism left a lasting impact on American politics and culture, often viewed as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political persecution and mass hysteria.Watch the PBS video clip "Have You No Decency?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svUyYzzv6VI (5:46) Book Chapter on New Red Scare The FBI has a long history of surveillance of ethnic Chinese scientists in the United States. McCarthyism, the Economic Espionage Act, and more recently the China Initiative were initiatives adversely impacting Chinese and Chinese Americans living in the U.S. The stereotypes of Asian and Chinese scientists as “disloyal” stem from the perpetual foreigner trope. The key here is that most of them were U.S. citizens. They are as much an American as any other American, yet their “loyalty” is perceived as less trustworthy. This stereotype has harmful, life-altering consequences.Read this and other chapters from the book Communicated Stereotypes at Work by Anastacia Kurylo (Editor, Contributor), Yifeng Hu (Editor, Contributor), Wilfredo Alvarez (Contributor), & 29 more. ASIN:B0CSK2PGY3. Lexington Books (May 15, 2024) Opinion on Don't Bring "China Initiative" Back and More Statements On September 19, 2024, The Hill published an opinion by Mike German, senior fellow in the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program and a former FBI special agent. According to the opinion, allies of Donald Trump aim to revive the China Initiative, a failed Trump-era program targeting economic espionage by Chinese agents, which led to racial profiling and harm to U.S. science. The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 proposes its return, while Congress recently passed a bill to rebrand it as the "CCP Initiative."Originally launched in 2018, the China Initiative became a tool for targeting Chinese and Asian American researchers, rather than catching spies, leading to a chilling effect on scientific research. Although FBI Director Christopher Wray claimed widespread China-related misconduct, most investigations did not result in espionage convictions, instead focusing on minor administrative offenses.Read The Hill opinion by Mike German: https://bit.ly/47yBPQI Read more statements condemning the revival of the China Initiative:2024/09/20 1990 Institute: The 1990 Institute condemns H.R.1398, legislation that reestablishes the China Initiative 2024/09/18 AAASE: Open Letter to Congress 2024/09/18 OCA: OCA Condemns Measures Fueling Xenophobia and Discrimination 2024/09/09 ACE: Letter to House Leaders AASF Forum with the National Institutes of Health On September 19, the Asian American Scholars Forum (AASF) hosted a public forum with leadership from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The speakers included NIH Director Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli and NIH Principal Deputy Director Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak . AASF Executive Director Gisela Kusakawa moderated the forum. In her opening remarks, Dr. Bertagnolli acknowledged the valuable contributions of Asian scholars to the U.S. scientific community and reaffirmed NIH's commitment to building relationships with Asian scholars to address the most challenging research challenges in health sciences collaboratively. Dr. Bertagnolli expressed deep concern over the fallout that the U.S. government’s efforts to address troubling actions from China have had on Asian scholars and the difficulties they face. She stated, "We are here to tell you: we hear you, and we see you. We are ready to work together with you as partners in a productive manner."Kusakawa asked about Dr. Bertagnolli’s vision for NIH in the future, and how NIH can create a warm and welcoming environment to protect and empower Asian scholars. Dr. Bertagnolli highlighted that one of NIH’s strengths is its inclusiveness, which brings together the best scientists from diverse backgrounds to address cutting-edge scientific challenges. She noted that ensuring that Asian scholars feel welcome in this environment is crucial. She also noted that rebuilding trust in NIH among Asian scholars, especially those who have lost confidence in the government and NIH, remains an ongoing effort.Dr. Bertagnolli listed a number of steps to make Asian American scholars feel included and welcomed at NIH. She said that today’s forum was aimed at clearing up misunderstandings, and listening to the voices of Asian scholars. She also said NIH will provide more training on research integrity, use new disclosure forms, and explain NIH’s new policy matrix, which further clarifies NIH’s response to foreign adverse influence. She thanked Asian American organizations including AASF for their input in developing these policies. Kusakawa mentioned the recent passage of a bill in the House of Representatives attempting to reinstate the China Initiative and asked how NIH handles political pressure while protecting Asian scholars from excessive scrutiny and maintaining the integrity of NIH research. Dr. Bertagnolli said this was a very important question and emphasized that, regardless of the political climate, NIH remains committed to ensuring the quality and integrity of the research it funds. These policies, on the one hand, are a responsibility to taxpayers and, on the other, help protect researchers from undue foreign influence, which has long been a core principle of NIH policy, well understood by researchers.Dr. Bertagnolli specifically emphasized that, in 2022, NIH began updating its Policies & Procedures for Promoting Scientific Integrity in response to a presidential memorandum. Dr. Bertagnolli reiterated that maintaining research integrity and protecting it from harmful foreign influence has always been NIH’s policy.During the subsequent session, NIH Principal Deputy Director Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak continued to answer questions from AASF. In his responses, Dr. Tabak denied that NIH specifically targeted Chinese researchers based on their ethnicity and stressed that NIH’s investigations targeted certain behaviors that potentially violate the agency’s policy, not focused on individuals. He clarified two additional misunderstandings: first, that NIH is not involved in the now-defunct Department of Justice's China Initiative; and second, that NIH does not have the authority to stop research funding to an institution or university due to the actions of an individual.Dr. Tabak also mentioned that while NIH does not have the power to suggest actions to members of Congress proactively, it always cooperates when lawmakers request technical explanations and support. NIH can use these opportunities to clarify relevant issues to legislators and educate them on specific issues. Kusakawa further raised the issue of how to overcome the underrepresentation of Asian scholars in leadership positions. Dr. Tabak explained that NIH’s previous approach was to train senior researchers with the hope that they would move into leadership roles. Now, however, they have begun training younger researchers hoping to address the problem more effectively.Finally, Dr. Tabak praised the work of organizations like AASF. He stated that NIH looks forward to collaborating with AASF and universities to strengthen connections with Asian scholars. More than 600 people registered for the forum, and over 60 questions were submitted. The record of this event will be available publicly. Juan Zhang , editor at US-China Perception Monitor, contributed this report. Comments and Questions Submitted by APA Justice APA Justice submitted the following comments and questions for the AASF Forum with NIH:"Dr. Bertagnolli’s recent statement was an important first step. The forum is another positive step to repair relationships and rebuild trust."While it is important to turn the page and move forward, it is equally essential to reflect on what went wrong and the lessons learned from all sides over the past six years—particularly with the looming threat of a China Initiative revival."Over the past six years, both intended and unintended consequences have emerged. Hundreds if not thousands of researchers, an overwhelming proportion of them were of Chinese origin, were placed under suspicion, surveilled, investigated, or prosecuted—many of them continue to this day. More than 100 scientists and researchers lost their jobs and had their reputation and finances ruined. At least two prominent Chinese American researchers—one from Northwestern University and another from Arizona State University—died by suicide, reportedly as a result of inquiries or investigations initiated by the NIH."Does the NIH believe all these scientists and researchers were treated fairly and justly? Will the NIH conduct a review of some, if not all, of these cases to assess the fairness of the process and hearing of their appeals? Will the NIH work with institutions, faculty, and the Asian American and scientific communities to establish a consistent due process framework, ensuring that the accused have a fair opportunity to refute charges and defend themselves?" Dr. Zhijian “James” Chen Wins “America’s Nobel” According to Forbes , South China Morning Post , and multiple media on September 19, 2024, Dr. Zhijian “James” Chen 陈志坚 won the 2024 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, which is also known as "America's Nobel."Dr. Chen is Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of the Center for Inflammation Research at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center and the George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science. He was recognized for his discovery of the cGAS enzyme that senses pathogens like viruses and bacteria and triggers the body’s immune system. His work provides clues for new treatments of cancer and other diseases.“Dr. Chen’s research has elucidated the process by which our bodies fight off invasive pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and other microbes, through the detection of wayward intracellular nucleic acids. Insights into this signaling pathway provide a foundation for new approaches to the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases as well as vaccine development,” said Daniel K. Podolsky , M.D., President of UTSW. Shan-Lu Liu , a professor of virology at Ohio State University, also said that Dr. Chen's discovery had "opened new avenues" for understanding autoimmune diseases. "Dr Chen's work not only enhances our understanding of immune mechanisms, but also provides potential strategies for treating diseases linked to immune dysregulation," Dr. Liu said.Dr. Chen is the fourth UTSW faculty member to win a Lasker Award. The previous three winners are all Nobel laureates. The Lasker Awards recognize significant achievements in medicine and biomedical research. Since 1945, the Lasker Foundation has awarded more than 400 prizes to outstandig scientists and clinical researchers. A total of six individuals were recognized this year with awards in three categories — basic research, clinical research, and public service. Each award carries a stipend of $250,000.Dr. Chen is the sixth scientist of Chinese origin to receive a Lasker Award. He is also the second Chinese recipient in the basic research category, more than six decades after biochemist Choh Hao Li , who won in 1962. Dr. Chen, 58, was born in a rural area of China's southeastern Fujian province. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology from Fujian Normal University in 1985, he won an overseas scholarship to the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned a PhD in biochemistry in 1991. He set up a lab at UTSW in 1997 and was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences in 2014. Read the Forbes report: https://bit.ly/3zDR9yK . Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3Bm3doN News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 2024/09/25-26 APAICS Technology Summit2024/09/26 White House Initiative AA& NHPI Policy Summit2024/09/27 The War for Chinese Talent in America: The Politics of Technology and Knowledge in Sino-U.S. Relations2024/09/29 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/02 C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Initiative2024/10/06 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/10/08 Media Training for Election Season2024/10/10 China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach2024/10/11 China and the World Forum (Virtual): China-U.S.: Destined for War or Inevitable Peace?The Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moving to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we are moving the Newsletter webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF September 25, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #306 Protect Birthright Citizenship; Year of The Snake; CSIS Study; UMichigan Ends Program+ #306 Protect Birthright Citizenship; Year of The Snake; CSIS Study; UMichigan Ends Program+ In This Issue #306 · Protect Birthright Citizenship · Happy New Year of The Snake! · CSIS: Advancing U.S.-China Coordination amid Strategic Competition · University of Michigan Ends Joint Program with Chinese University · News and Activities for the Communities Protect Birthright Citizenship On January 20, 2025, The Trump Administration issued an executive order seeking to strip certain babies born in the United States of their U.S. citizenship. During his first administration in October 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intention to issue such an executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents, but legal experts and lawmakers, including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan , contended that such a change would require a constitutional amendment.Immigrants’ rights advocates promptly filed a lawsuit on the same day the executive order was released. The case was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of New Hampshire, ACLU of Maine, ACLU of Massachusetts, Asian Law Caucus, State Democracy Defenders Fund, and Legal Defense Fund on behalf of organizations with members whose babies born on U.S. soil will be denied citizenship under the order, including New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Make the Road New York. The lawsuit charges the Trump administration with flouting the Constitution’s dictates, congressional intent, and long standing Supreme Court precedent. Read the press release by ACLU and the Legal Defense Fund .On January 21, 2025, media outlets including AP News , Bloomberg , the Guardian , and New York Times reported that attorneys general from 22 states filed lawsuits against the executive order. Two separate cases aim to block the directive. One, led by 18 state attorneys general and joined by San Francisco and Washington, D.C., was filed in Federal District Court in Massachusetts The second was filed in Seattle federal court by Washington State Attorney General Nicholas Brown and three other states.New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said that presidents might have broad authority but they are not kings. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong , a U.S. citizen by birthright and the nation’s first Chinese American elected attorney general, said the lawsuit was personal for him. The 18 states involved in the Massachusetts case include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment, guarantees U.S. citizenship to nearly all children born on U.S. soil, with the narrow exception of children of foreign diplomats. Ratified in 1868, the amendment overturned the Dred Scott decision, which had denied Black Americans the rights of citizenship. In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld this principle in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, affirming that children born to immigrant parents in the U.S. are entitled to citizenship—a precedent that has stood for over a century. Norman Wong , 74, the great-grandson of Wong Kim Ark , denounced the executive order in an interview with NBC News , calling it “troubling” and divisive. “He’s feeding off the American mindset, and it’s not a healthy one,” Wong said. “We can’t build the country together and be against everybody. … If we have good thoughts and work from that, we’ll get a better world. But it’s not going to be easy in this country.” Watch the NBC News report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMpC2amB_L8 (2:30) Why the United States Has Birthright Citizenship The complaint filed in Massachusetts argues that "birthright citizenship embodies America’s most fundamental promise: that all children born on our soil begin life as full and equal members of our national community, regardless of their parents’ origins, status, or circumstances. This principle has enabled generations of children to pursue their dreams and build a stronger America."According to History.com , birthright citizenship was initially limited to free white people. In 1790, the nation's first naturalization law stated that “free white persons” could gain citizenship if they had lived in the U.S. for two years and had a good character. The new citizens’ children under the age of 21 were given citizenship. But the new naturalization law ignored massive swaths of American society, including enslaved people and Native Americans, neither of whom were considered citizens.In 1857, as arguments about slavery roiled, the U.S. Supreme Court further entrenched racial exclusion with its ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford . T he court declared that Scott, an enslaved man seeking his freedom, was not a citizen because of his African descent. It also concluded that no person of African descent, even if born in the U.S., could be considered a citizen.After the Civil War, the abolition of slavery spurred a redefinition of citizenship. The 14th Amendment , ratified in 1868, proclaimed that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” are citizens. This sweeping declaration fundamentally reshaped the concept of birthright citizenship.Still, the rights of children born to immigrant parents remained uncertain until Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese American, challenged the system —and won. Born in 1873 in the U.S. to Chinese immigrants, Wong’s claim to citizenship was complicated by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 , which barred Chinese nationals from becoming naturalized citizens. In 1898, Wong faced his defining legal battle after being denied reentry into the U.S. following a trip to China. Stranded on a ship in San Francisco harbor, Wong’s case became a test for the Department of Justice, which sought to prove that individuals of Chinese descent were not entitled to citizenship. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where Wong won. Associate Justice Horace Gray , writing for the majority, affirmed that the 14th Amendment “includes the children born, within the territory of the United States, of all other persons, of whatever race or color, domiciled within the United States.” Gray warned that denying citizenship to Wong would set a precedent that could strip citizenship from thousands of individuals of European descent, including those of English, Irish, German, and other ancestries, who had long been recognized as citizens. Gray’s reasoning underscored the broader implications of Wong’s victory: allowing a Chinese American to claim birthright citizenship did not endanger the rights of white Americans but rather safeguarded the foundational principles of equality and citizenship for all. APA Justice will monitor and track the development of New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (1:25-cv-00038) , Doe v. Trump (1:25-cv-10136) , and State of Washington et al v. Trump et al (2:25-cv-00127). Happy New Year of The Snake! January 29, 2025, marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac. The Year of the Snake occurs every 12 years, and individuals born in the following years are considered to have Snake as their zodiac sign: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025. Since the Chinese New Year typically falls in late January or early February, those born early in the year should check the specific start and end dates for the Year of the Snake.Also known as Lunar New Year, the festival is celebrated across Asia with diverse and vibrant traditions rooted in themes of family reunions, renewal, and good fortune. In China, it is known as Spring Festival and features family gatherings, red envelopes, and lion dances. South Korea's Seollal includes ancestral rituals, folk games, and rice cake soup symbolizing longevity. In Vietnam, Tết celebrations center around ancestor worship, house cleaning, and the exchange of red envelopes. Mongolians observe Tsagaan Sar with milk-based dishes, meat dumplings, and visits to elders, emphasizing renewal and purification. Ethnic Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, also celebrate with their unique cultural traditions.This year invites us to sharpen our focus and pursue shared goals with precision and intuition, much like the snake navigating its path. May we embrace challenges with courage, transforming uncertainties into opportunities for growth.Let the Year of the Snake inspire us to strengthen our bonds, celebrate our diversity, and uphold the values of fairness and inclusion. Together, we can make this year a time of renewal, progress, and shared prosperity. Wishing you a year filled with wisdom, health, and success. Happy Year of the Snake! CSIS: Advancing U.S.-China Coordination amid Strategic Competition In November 2022, the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies and the Brookings John L. Thornton China Center initiated a project to identify safe and effective methods for collaboration among nonstate actors on critical challenges facing the United States and China. On January 15, 2025, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released a three-part report, Advancing U.S.-China Coordination amid Strategic Competition: An Emerging Playbook, exploring opportunities for collaboration on transnational issues despite the ongoing rivalry between the two nations. Part I: Scoping the Challenge The U.S.-China relationship, dating back to 1844, has alternated between cooperation and conflict, with the current era defined by intense strategic competition across military, economic, technological, and diplomatic domains. This rivalry is exacerbated by a weakening post–World War II international order, rising nationalism, and mutual distrust. Both nations struggle to coordinate efforts on global issues like climate change, food security, and public health. The U.S. increasingly aligns with democratic allies like the G7, while China emphasizes its role within BRICS+ and the Global South. Without collaboration, growing competition threatens the international order and increases the risk of global conflict. Part II: Insights from Case Studies and Track 2 Dialogue Joint research by CSIS and Brookings, including a 2024 track 2 dialogue on climate-smart agriculture, highlights three key lessons for collaboration: 1. Geopolitical context shapes collaborative opportunities, often guided by national interests. 2. Nonstate actors should align initiatives with the national priorities of both countries. 3. New approaches to track 2 dialogues, such as longer, informal meetings in neutral venues, foster more effective cooperation. These insights underscore the importance of working on shared challenges like food security and sustainable agriculture. Part III: Recommendations for Advancing Collaboration The report calls for proactive U.S.-China collaboration on shared global challenges, arguing that waiting for reduced competition is not a viable strategy. Key recommendations include: · Normalizing coordination amid competition. · Securing high-level commitment from both governments. · Prioritizing specific, manageable issues. · Identifying neutral venues for cooperation. · Leveraging track 2 dialogues to explore innovative solutions. While mutual mistrust persists, the report emphasizes the urgent need for collaboration on critical issues like pandemics, food insecurity, and environmental degradation to safeguard global security and prosperity. Read the CSIS report: https://bit.ly/40IllUc University of Michigan Ends Joint Program with Chinese University On January 10, 2025, the University of Michigan (UM) announced the termination of its longstanding partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), marking the end of a two-decade academic collaboration.The decision, confirmed by UM President Santa J. Ono , follows concerns raised by the U.S. House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China, chaired by U.S. Representative John Moolenaar . The UM-SJTU partnership, which included the UM-SJTU Joint Institute and facilitated dual-degree programs and international exchanges, will allow current students to complete their degrees without disruption. UM emphasized its commitment to international education, balancing national security concerns with fostering global academic partnerships.“International experiences are vital for our students in this interconnected world,” Ono said. “We remain committed to supporting UM’s international students and will continue to foster international partnerships that advance knowledge and cross-cultural understanding and ensure our campus remains a vibrant community where scholars from around the world can thrive.”According to Science on January 13, 2025, the termination of the UM-SJTU partnership reflects broader tensions between U.S. and Chinese academic collaborations. The joint institute, which engaged in biomedical and energy research, faced scrutiny for potential links to China’s defense advancements. This move follows similar actions by other U.S. institutions, such as Georgia Tech and UC Berkeley. Tony Chan , a mathematician at UCLA and former president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, described the trend as indicative of the “deep and steep downturn” in U.S.-China scientific relations. “The message is very clear to universities: Don’t have anything to do with China,” said Chan, who also led the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology from 2018 to 2024. He warned that the academic "decoupling" between the two nations will harm both countries. “It’s not good for science,” Chan added. “And it doesn’t look like things are going to get better anytime soon.”Read the UM announcement: https://bit.ly/4g6Xv95 . Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/4jrh6DR News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/23 Community Reactions to the Trump Administration's "Day One" Priorities2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/02/03 Getting China Right: Launch of ACF Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Get Help Today on LA Fires Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance: · Online at DisasterAssistance.gov · Calling 800-621-3362 · By using the FEMA smart phone application · Assistance is available in over 40 languages · If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Please share with your families, friends, and colleagues in the Los Angeles area. 3. Vincent Chin Institute: First Executive Director Job Announcement The Vincent Chin Institute (VCI) is seeking its inaugural Executive Director to lead efforts in combating hate through organizing, education, and narrative change. This full-time, remote position offers a salary range of $125,000 to $150,000, depending on experience, and includes comprehensive benefits. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) experiences, a proven track record in organizational leadership, fundraising, and program development, and the ability to build cross-sector partnerships. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, with early submissions encouraged by January 24, 2025. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4jmFFSi 4. OPM Revises Executive Core Qualifications On January 17, 2025, Government Executive reported that " Senior Executive Standards Get first Update in More Than 15 Years ."The Senior Executive Service (SES) was created under President Jimmy Carter as part of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. The SES was designed to establish a cadre of high-level federal managers who would provide leadership across agencies and ensure the continuity of expertise in the federal government. Its creation aimed to increase the flexibility and accountability of senior federal executives while fostering efficiency and effectiveness in public administration.The Office of Personnel Management (OPM)'s updates to the SES executive core qualifications will take effect on July 1, 2025. As part of the updates, OPM added data literacy and systems thinking as new sub-competencies and modified the name of the technology management sub-competency to leveraging technology. The agency also included interpersonal skills, building workplace culture and strategic communication as new sub-competencies. # # # 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 . Back View PDF January 22, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #226 11/6 Meeting Summary; Request for GAO Review; 12/16 Protest in Miami; From Congress; + #226 11/6 Meeting Summary; Request for GAO Review; 12/16 Protest in Miami; From Congress; + In This Issue #226 · 2023/11/06 Monthly Meeting Summary · Congressional Request for GAO to Review Federal Investigations into Foreign Influence of Research · 2023/12/16 Justice4All Protest in Miami, Florida · Latest Activities and Developments from U.S. Congress · News and Activities for the Communities 2023/11/06 Monthly Meeting Summary The November 6, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting summary is now available at https://bit.ly/41n2TiL . We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: · Gene Wu 吳元之, Member, Texas State House of Representatives, described the third special and perhaps more special sessions that the Texas governor has called after the close of the 2023 legislative session. Gene cautioned us not only the possible reintroduction of SB 147 and related alien land bills, but also the passage of dangerous and unconstitutional anti-immigration bills that will create the state's own code-based immigration laws. Gene will continue to conduct his town hall meetings to stay vigilant and informed. It is an effective model for communities across the country to organize and deal with the alien land bills and related issues that are appearing at the state and federal levels. The town hall meetings are organized with Professor Steven Pei and others on Sundays at 8:00 pm CT. All are welcome to join with the Zoom registration link at https://bit.ly/40U6aFS . Andy Kim , Member, U.S. House of Representatives; Executive Board Members, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Congressman Kim serves on the Armed Services Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the CCP. These roles give him important insights into some of the dynamics that are both dangerous and concerning about the trajectory and how it intersects with the AAPI community and our nation. Congressman Kim is worried from his close look that the Select Committee is setting the stage for a new era of xenophobia and poorly planned policies that could lead our country and the AAPI community to be less safe. He described the systematic pattern where the decisions are being made about US foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific and parts of Asia that are different from Europe and other parts of the world. Congressman Kim feels very strongly about the need for the AAPI community to get further engaged in a broad array of issues. Congressman Kim is running for the New Jersey Senate seat in 2024. If you wish to support and stay engaged with Congressman Kim, please contact Jack Our at Jack@andykim.com . Dr. Sergio Lira, Co-Vice President, Texas Multicultural Advocacy Alliance (TMAC); President, Greater Houston, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Formed in 1929, LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic and Latin-American civil rights organization in the United States. It has over 135,000 members today. Dr. Lira witnessed a long history of anti-immigrant treatment faced by the Asian American and Hispanic American communities, such as anti-Asian hate incidents during the COVID pandemic; alien land bills in Texas, Florida, and other states across the nation; and the case of New York Police Department Officer Anwang 昂旺. We need to work together to ensure that we fight and advocate together. Working in silos is not going to give us the strength to have real impact on legislation. Dr. Lira is excited to join TMAC and lend his expertise and experience to fight these issues. Together we can make positive change. Cindy Tsai 蔡欣玲 , Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100 (C100). C100 is about 35 years old. From its very first day, it has had a dual mission. One is to ensure full inclusivity of Chinese Americans in America. The second is to be a force to encourage constructive relationships between the people in the U.S. and Greater China. In today’s geopolitical world, Cindy said C100 cannot serve one of the missions without thinking about the other. Cindy shared two works in progress during the meeting. One is an interactive map to track state alien land bills with options to filter individual bills by categories and contacts at the state legislature level. The other is a playbook for those who are relatively new in political engagement and advocacy about basic rules and tools that should be understood before we get involved. It is like Political Engagement Advocacy 101 and will lessen some of the obstacles that we face. Cindy invited community members to contact her at ctsai@committee100.org if they wish to participate and contribute to these two resources. Andrew Chongseh Kim , Senior Foreign Attorney (Texas, Illinois), Bae, Kim & Lee LLC in South Korea. Andy Kim, aka amicably as "the other Andy Kim," joined the call from Seoul. Andy is also General Counsel, Korean American for Political Action, and author of a landmark white paper on the Economic Espionage Act. He sent greetings to all the leaders at the monthly meeting, especially to Congressman Andy Kim about the pride, excitement, and warm wishes of the Korean American community about his run for the Senate. Dr. Albert Wang , Chair, API Coalition. Dr. Wang reported on the formation of API Coalition to help unite and connect API elected officials and community leaders. API Coalition would hold a national summit after the end of the APEC meetings, which Congresswoman Judy Chu would also attend and speak. Dr. Albert Wang can be contacted at aybwang@comcast.net . Andy Li , President of API Coalition, can be contacted at andy.j.li@gmail.com . Casey Lee , Policy Advisor, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). Casey substituted for Nisha Ramachandran , CAPAC Executive Director, and reported that CAPAC was monitoring two appropriation bills in the House that were scheduled for a vote. The first was on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The second was the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. CAPAC is reviewing any potentially harmful anti-Asian amendments for both that may impact our communities including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Section 702 reforms. Joanna Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC. Joanna reported on the imminent introduction of a bipartisan FISA 702 reform bill in Congress, a Tri-Caucus briefing on FISA section 702 reform for the first week of December, and continuing efforts to oppose the Rounds amendment in the NDAA. Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org . Gisela reported that AASF would have a convening to focus on AI for science and medicine the following Sunday. AASF leadership would also convene. The top priority for AASF is to prevent what AASF sees as multiple attempts to increase disclosure requirements. With legislation, AASF is also concerned with congressional attempts towards reinstating the Department of Justice’s China Initiative, including the use of appropriation bills. Read the 2023/11/06 monthly meeting summary: https://bit.ly/41n2TiL . Read past monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP Congressional Request for GAO to Review Federal Investigations into Foreign Influence of Research On December 11, 2023, leading Members of Congress requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a formal review of ongoing federal efforts to investigate allegations of foreign influence in federally funded research. The Members seek to ensure that researchers are not facing discriminatory treatment while federal agencies implement policies to protect U.S. research security. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) joined Ranking Members Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to author the letter to Gene Dodaro , Comptroller General of the United States. “As a global leader in scientific research, the United States has long fostered and benefited from a culture of openness and international collaboration,” the Members wrote. “Contributions from U.S. scientists of diverse backgrounds and foreign researchers have made the United States a science and technology powerhouse. In recent years, however, concerns arose about foreign entities, especially from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), attempting to influence U.S.-based researchers whose scientific work is funded by federal agencies.”As a result of these concerns, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began investigating 246 scientists in 2018, 81 percent of whom identified as Asian. 103 of those scientists eventually lost their jobs. A November 2022 GAO report noted that U.S. university representatives and stakeholder groups have voiced concerns about racial bias in these investigations as well as harm to careers and reputations. “Federal agencies are in the process of implementing new research security policies at the direction of Congress and the White House,” the Members continued. “It is imperative that in developing and carrying out these policies, agencies reject racial biases that have historically plagued attempts to crack down on academic espionage.” To that end, the Chair and Ranking Members request GAO conduct a review and offer recommendations related to due process, agency data, and whether agencies’ present policies, procedures, and training ensure investigations are free from bias and do not result in discriminatory treatment. CONTACTS: Graeme Crews , (202) 597-2923 (CAPAC) Cassie Anderson , (202) 308-1766 (Science) Nelly Decker , (202) 226-5181 (Oversight) Read the Congressional letter: https://bit.ly/3t9rdrR . 2023/12/16 Justice4All Protest in Miami, Florida On December 16, 2023, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET, a protest will be held in Miami, Florida. It is an event for community members to gather in solidarity to oppose unconstitutional legislation and unfair property registration requirements targeting specific members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. SB 264, a legislation imposing a restrictive property purchase ban for certain community members, has raised significant concerns. Violations of this ban could result in severe civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to 5 years. Moreover, SB 264 mandates property registration, threatening law-abiding, taxpaying AAPI community members with an unprecedented and unreasonable penalty of $1,000 per day if their properties remain unregistered by December 31st, 2023. The rally will witness the presence of notable Asian American political leaders including Congresswoman Judy Chu , Texas State Representative Gene Wu , and 2020 Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang . WHAT: In-Person Protest - Justice4AllWHEN: December 16, 2023, 2-4 pm ET/11-12 noon PTWHERE: Torch of Friendship, 301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132HOSTS: Florida Asian American Justice Alliance, United Chinese Americans, and othersDESCRIPTION: The rally is an urgent call for unity and justice, aiming to bring together individuals of all backgrounds in opposition to discrimination and unfair treatment. It stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment to justice, diversity, and equality that Miami holds dear. For further information, please visit www.FAAJA.org and www.ucausa.org CONTACTS: info@faaja.org or info@ucausa.org . New Florida law blocks Chinese students from academic labs According to Science on December 12, 2023, a new state law is thwarting faculty at Florida’s public universities who want to hire Chinese graduate students and postdocs to work in their labs. In effect since July, the law ( Senate Bill 846 ) prohibits institutions from taking money from or partnering with entities in China and six other “countries of concern.” The list of banned interactions includes offering anyone living in one of those countries a contract to do research. Students could be hired only if they are granted a waiver from the state’s top higher education body. But how that process would work is not clear, and the 12 public colleges and universities covered by the law are still writing rules to implement the statute. More than 280 faculty members at the University of Florida (UF), which has the state’s largest research portfolio, have signed a petition urging UF to clear up the confusion and to voice support for an open-door policy on hiring. The state law applies to all academic interactions with China, Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela. UF now employs about 350 graduate assistants and 200 postdocs from the seven countries of concern. But UF faculty see a much bigger ripple effect from the new law. “A substantial number of skilled applications for our graduate programs originate from these countries of concern,” the petition notes, singling out China and Iran. “Restrictions on recruiting could significantly reduce our applicant pool … and lead to a significant erosion of UF’s standing within those international communities.” Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/46Ygcr5 Latest Activities and Developments from U.S. Congress 1. Short-Term Renewal of Section 702 of FISA to April 19, 2024 Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which will sunset at the end of the year without congressional action, would stay in place until April 19, 2024, after the Senate voted 87-13 to approve an $886 billion defense authorization bill with a short-term renewal attached. The House passed the measure by a vote of 310-118 on December 14, 2023. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) voted in opposition of the final version of the NDAA and issued a statement that said in part, "Further, this year’s bill includes a supposedly short-term extension of FISA section 702, which permits warrantless surveillance of Americans, through April 2024. But by failing to include language to prevent FISA Courts from recertifying this surveillance for another year, the bill effectively means a 16-month extension without necessary reforms ... Because the final NDAA fails to reduce wasteful spending and retains troubling policies related to key civil liberties, I voted in opposition.” Read Rep. Chu's statement: https://bit.ly/3TpeZFW . 2. Rep. Chu and Senator Hirono Introduce Resolution to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act On December 14, CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and CAPAC Executive Member Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI) introduced resolutions in both chambers of Congress commemorating the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The Magnuson Act, which passed on December 17, 1943, repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. In June 2012, Rep. Chu introduced H.Res. 683, a resolution formally apologizing for the Chinese exclusion laws. The resolution passed the House of Representative unanimously on June 18, 2012. The Senate version of the resolution, S.Res. 201, passed the Senate unanimously on October 7, 2011.Read the Resolution: https://bit.ly/48hrIif . Read the CAPAC press release: https://bit.ly/41kW1T5 . 3. Florida Senator Says Garlic from China is a National Security Risk According to BBC on December 8, 2023, Republican Senator Rick Scott has written to the commerce secretary, calling for a government investigation into the impact on national security of garlic imports from China. In his letter, Senator Scott highlighted "a severe public health concern over the quality and safety of garlic grown in foreign countries - most notably, garlic grown in Communist China" and called for the Department of Commerce to take action, under a law which allows investigations into the impact of specific imports on the security of the US. The Office for Science and Society at McGill University in Quebec, which attempts to popularize and explain scientific issues, says there is "no evidence" that sewage is used as a fertilizer for growing garlic in China. "In any case, there is no problem with this," an article published by the university in 2017 says. "Human waste is as effective a fertilizer as is animal waste. Spreading human sewage on fields that grow crops doesn't sound appealing, but it is safer than you might think." Read the BBC report: https://bbc.in/3RpjjSX 4. Opposition to The DETERRENT Act On December 4, 2023, the American Council on Education (ACE) and a group of higher education associations wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in strong opposition to the "Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Education (DETERRENT)" Act. Read the ACE letter: https://bit.ly/41plhHH . On December 6, 2023, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) took to the House Floor to urge her colleagues to vote in opposition to H.R. 5933, the DETERRENT Act. Just Strategy has created an open petition to strongly oppose the DETERRENT Act for concerned individuals to sign on here: https://bit.ly/47Zu1a0 . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2023/12/15 Webinar on Voices of AAPI Communities2023/12/16 In-Person Justice4All Protest in Miami, Florida2024/01/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/01/09 The Jimmy Carter Forum on US-China Relations in Honor of 45th Anniversary of Normalization2024/02/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. APAICS: AA & NH/PI Candidate Pipeline According to the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), a record 215 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) candidates ran for state and federal office, including in U.S. territories, in the 2023 election cycle. AA & NH/PI candidates running for office increased over 40% this election cycle compared to 2021. With 123 projected winners, there are at least 659 AA & NH/PI elected officials nationwide.Every year, APAICS builds a comprehensive database of candidates through its AA & NH/PI Candidate Pipeline , which monitors general election results for state and federal elections nationwide. The Pipeline also includes information about AA & NH/PI candidates who ran at the state level. 3. Data Analytics, Data Science Degrees See Large Increases in 2022 According to AMSTATNews on December 1, 2023, this fall’s release of the 2022 degree completion data from the National Center for Education Statistics is marked by the large increases in the undergraduate and master’s degrees awarded in the recently introduced categories for data analytics and data science. The number of bachelor’s degrees in data science, for example, jumped to 897 in 2022, from 165 in 2021 and 84 in 2020. For bachelor’s degrees in data analytics, the 2020, 2021, and 2022 numbers are 325, 455, and 767, respectively.The number of bachelor’s degrees in statistics also grew, albeit more modestly than in prior years: 5,408 in 2022, a 2 percent increase over 2021. A 15 percent drop in the number of master’s degrees in statistics to 3,570 in 2022 stood out in the most recent release.Read the AMSTATNews report: https://bit.ly/46VXNep Back View PDF December 15, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter