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Newsletter - #222 12/04 Monthly Meeting; PNAS Opinion; Upcoming Activities; ACP Conference and Retreat + #222 12/04 Monthly Meeting; PNAS Opinion; Upcoming Activities; ACP Conference and Retreat + In This Issue #222 · 2023/12/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · PNAS Opinion: The High Price of Overzealously Defending The US Research Enterprise Against Theft by China · Upcoming Activities: The Role of Chinese Students and The Repeal of The Chinese Exclusion Act · ACP Conference and Community Leadership Retreat in Dallas · News and Activities for the Communities 2023/12/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, December 4, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers include: · Matt Jones , Partner, WilmerHale LLP. Matt represents Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 , a naturalized U.S, citizen and founder of the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Virginia. She was a cardiologist and medical researcher with the astronaut program in China prior to coming to the U.S. to study in 1987. In 2010, Dr. Chen became the focus of an FBI investigation. After 6 years of investigation, Dr. Chen was told that no charges will be filed against her in 2016. However, confidential information from the investigation was leaked to Fox News in or around 2017. On December 21, 2018, Dr. Chen filed a privacy lawsuit against the federal government. After several years of motion and discovery, the leaked reports are traced back to former Fox News reporter and now CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge . For months, Fox News and Herridge argued that they are protected under the First Amendment and free press. In August 2023, the presiding judge ruled "... Chen’s need for the requested evidence overcomes Herridge’s qualified First Amendment privilege in this case." Matt spoke about Dr. Chen's case at the November 2022 APA Justice monthly meeting . He will give us an update on the latest development. · Michael Bloch , Partner, Bloch and White LLP. Michael represents Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 , an ethnic Tibetan from China who served in Afghanistan as a U.S. marine and later joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) as an officer. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Angwang was arrested in September 2020, charged with acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government under the now-defunct "China Initiative." He was jailed pre-trial for six months in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the charges against Angwang were dropped in January 2023. U.S. prosecutors said they uncovered new information that warranted the dismissal. Angwang was reportedly surveilled under Section 702 of FISA. Despite the dismissal of all charges, Angwang faced an administrative trial conducted by NYPD in September 2023 for failing to attend a 5-day, 1,700-questions investigative hearing. The trial may result in the termination of Angwang's employment with NYPD. Michael will give us an update on Angwang's case. A Q&A and discussion session will follow the reports by Matt Jones and Michael Bloch. Discussants include: · Bethany Li , (confirmed) Legal Director, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) · Paula Madison 罗笑娜 (confirmed), Retired, NBCUniversal Executive; Entrepreneur; Journalist · Brian Sun 孙自华 (confirmed), Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP · Helen Zia 谢汉兰 (confirmed), Activist, Author, and Former Journalist · Patrick Toomey/Ashley Gorski (invited), National Security Project, ACLU Brian Sun was part of the legal team representing Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 in the criminal trial in 2000. Brian later represented Dr. Lee and won a settlement in a civil lawsuit when Dr. Lee sued the government under the Privacy Act in 2006. Helen Zia co-authored with Dr. Lee and published a book titled " My Country Versus Me " in 2002.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 PNAS Opinion: The High Price of Overzealously Defending The US Research Enterprise Against Theft by China On November 22, 2023, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) published an opinion by Stanford University physics professors Steven A, Kivelson and Peter F. Michelson . According to the opinion, the US government—reflecting rare bipartisan consensus—has, of late, undertaken increasingly expansive and intrusive actions to stem the illicit flow of proprietary secrets and intellectual property to China. These actions also aim to reduce the benefits that accrue to China from expertise acquired by Chinese scholars and students during visits or extended stays in the United States. Underlying this consensus is evidence that China is stealing valuable proprietary information from the United States, characterized by FBI Director Christopher Wray as “a whole of society effort to steal from the United States” Although these government actions are well-intentioned, significant harm has resulted. The benefits to the United States from the influx of talented Chinese students, immigrant scientists, and visiting scholars to our universities have largely been ignored or poorly understood by policymakers. Numerous examples highlight the importance for the United States of welcoming talent from around the world, but most particularly from China. Understanding the implications of these examples underscores just how much we lose by enacting Draconian measures to stop Chinese scientists from coming to the United States.Many of the concerns focused on intellectual property theft, economic competitiveness, and advancing military capabilities—extensively discussed in numerous articles and policy papers —are well founded. However, as professors of physics pursuing basic research, we argue that government must take into account the serious costs of restrictive US policies—adopted or proposed—that are seen as responses to these threats, particularly as they relate to fundamental scientific research at US universities.Read the PNAS opinion: https://bit.ly/3sOrq3s Upcoming Activities: The Role of Chinese Students and The Repeal of The Chinese Exclusion Act 1. Webinar: The Role of Chinese Students in America: A Conversation with Former Students from China On December 5, 2023, The US-China Education Trust, the Carter Center, and the US Heartland China Association will host a webinar on "The Role of Chinese Students in America: A Conversation with Former Students from China." WHAT: Webinar "The Role of Chinese Students in America: A Conversation with Former Students from China"WHEN: December 5, 2023, 6:30 - 9:00 pm ETDESCRIPTION: As Chinese international students have become a focal point of rising U.S.-China tensions, some Americans contend that the risks of educating students from China outweigh the benefits. The voices of those who have lived the Chinese student experience in America are essential to this debate, yet often overlooked. To add this personal perspective, USCET has assembled a panel of former Chinese students, all now successful Americans making significant contributions in their chosen fields.MODERATOR: Madelyn Ross , President, US-China Education Trust PANELISTS: · Min Fan, Executive Director, United States Heartland China Association · Dawn Li, educator, entrepreneur, and writer · Yawei Liu, senior advisor for China at The Carter Center and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations · Yi Zheng, tenured professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Director of the Nano Energy Laboratory at Northeastern University in Boston, and founder of the cleantech start-up, Planck Energies. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/47sjeow 2. In-Person Event: We Are Americans On December 6, 2023, a coalition of organizations led by the 1882 Foundation will host an in-person event "We are Americans" to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the 125th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship. WHAT: In-person Reception and Lecture on "We are Americans" WHEN: December 6, 2023, 2:30 - 5:00 pm ET LOCATION: Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street SE, Washington DC, 20003 DESCRIPTION: A reception and a lecture to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the 125th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship. SPECIAL REMARKS: Judy Chu , Member, U.S, House of Representatives LECTURER: Martin Gold, Counsel to The 1882 Project HOSTS: The 1882 Foundation, CACA, UCA, OCA, and JACL REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3Gibn10 ACP Conference and Community Leadership Retreat in Dallas On November 11, 2023, the Association of Chinese Professionals Foundation (ACP) celebrated its 30th anniversary at its annual MetroCon conference and gala in Dallas, Texas. The conference included a session on "Critical Issues Facing Chinese Americans Today." The panelists were Gene Wu , Texas State Representative; Haipei Shue , President of United Chinese Americans (UCA); Echo King , President of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA); and Steven Pei , Professor of University of Houston. Cindy Tsai , Interim President and Executive Director of the Committee of 100, was keynote speaker at the gala.A community leadership retreat was held the next day on November 12, 2023. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2023/12/03 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting2023/12/04 APA Justice monthly meeting 2023/12/05 The Role of Chinese Students in America2023/12/06 1882 Foundation Lecture and Reception: We are Americans 2023/12/10 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting2023/12/12 Community Briefing on Section 7022023/12/17 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. NPR Report on GOP Plan to Revive Citizenship Question According to NPR , a coalition of conservative groups is preparing for a chance to shape the country's next set of census results in case a Republican president returns to the White House in 2025. Their playbook includes reviving a failed push for a citizenship question and other Trump-era moves that threaten the accuracy of the 2030 national head count. The plan also calls for aligning the mission of the government agency in charge of the next tally of the country's residents with "conservative principles." Many census watchers, including a former top Trump administration official, tell NPR they find this position particularly alarming. The policy proposals — led by The Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank — are part of a broader "Project 2025" plan for dismantling aspects of the U.S. government. Back View PDF November 27, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #141 Campaign Closing; OSTP Issues Guidance; APA Justice to Meet with AAU; Happy Labor Day! #141 Campaign Closing; OSTP Issues Guidance; APA Justice to Meet with AAU; Happy Labor Day! Back View PDF September 2, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #395 Rep. Dave Min; Researching While Chinese; Attack on MD Delegate Chao Wu; McCarthyism + #395 Rep. Dave Min; Researching While Chinese; Attack on MD Delegate Chao Wu; McCarthyism + In This Issue #395 · Rep. Dave Min Remarks on Issues, Identity, and Political Power · Researching While Chinese - Return of The China Initiative · Racist Attack on Maryland Delegate Chao Wu · Politico: McCarthyism Is Back · News and Activities for the Communities Rep. Dave Min Remarks on Issues, Identity, and Political Power Congressman Dave Min was elected in 2024 to represent California’s 47th Congressional District in the heart of Orange County. He is the child of Korean immigrants and a product of California public schools. He previously served as a California State Senator from 2020-2024. Before becoming an elected official, Congressman Min was a law professor at UC Irvine. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 4, 2026, Congressman Min shared his insights and remarks on issues, identity, and political power as we start the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Rep. Min opened by introducing his district centered on Irvine and encompassing Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach as a region once defined by its conservative roots but now thriving on diversity, immigration, trade, and science. Reflecting on the breadth of the AANHPI diaspora, Rep. Min noted that the communities represented on the call span home countries accounting for roughly 60% of the global population, with immigration histories ranging from the early 1900s to the present day. While acknowledging that experiences vary widely — from Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants of decades past, to Vietnamese refugees of the war era, to more recent arrivals from Central Asia — he emphasized that these communities share important common ground: a family member who made the choice to come to America, and a deep, personal stake in the values that made that choice meaningful. Rep. Min spoke with urgency about the current political moment, noting that many Asian Americans feel the threats to democracy, immigration, and the American Dream not as abstractions, but as lived realities — particularly those whose parents and grandparents witnessed countries fall to authoritarian regimes. He observed that this heightened awareness may help explain why Asian American voters who supported Trump in the last election appear to be shifting sharply in the other direction. He also flagged concrete concerns including ICE enforcement actions, steep cuts to university and education funding, and a renewed rise in anti-Asian hate closely tied to escalating anti-China sentiment. On a hopeful note, Rep. Min celebrated the remarkable cultural ascent of Asian America. He contrasted today's landscape — where Asian food, music, television, and fashion enjoy widespread popularity — with his own experience growing up in 1980s California, when Asian Americans were largely invisible or mocked in mainstream culture, and where few Americans could distinguish between the diverse nations and peoples of Asia. Rep. Min closed with a strategic call to action. He argued that the Asian American caucus must build its political identity around issues — not just individual personalities — if it hopes to leave a lasting legacy. He pointed out that in Washington and in state capitals, other caucuses are the go-to voices on their signature issues: Latinos on immigration, Black caucuses on criminal justice, the Women's Caucus on gender equity. Asian Americans, by contrast, are rarely consulted as a bloc on any major issue. Potential areas of ownership he suggested include immigration, education, small business, and mental health. He concluded with a pointed warning: "When you're not at the table, you're on the menu" — and called on the community to change that. Watch Rep. Min’s remarks at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWW1NwGExf8 (6:59) Researching While Chinese - Return of The China Initiative In a report on May 12, 2026, Science examines a series of U.S. prosecutions of Chinese postdoctoral researchers accused of improperly shipping or transporting biological materials into the United States. The article argues that these cases have revived fears of a new version of the Trump-era China Initiative, this time focused on Chinese scientists on temporary visas rather than senior Chinese American faculty. The report centers on several cases at the University of Michigan and Indiana University. The first involved Chinese postdoc Yunqing Jian , who was arrested in June 2025 and later pleaded guilty to smuggling biological materials and making false statements. Authorities accused her and her former boyfriend, Zunyong Liu , of improperly bringing a wheat fungus into the U.S. Prosecutors described the fungus as a potential “agroterrorism weapon,” although scientists cited in the article noted the strain already exists widely in the United States and is commonly studied by plant researchers. The report also details cases involving Chengxuan Han and Youhuang Xiang , who were prosecuted for mislabeled shipments involving common laboratory materials such as plasmid DNA and the model organism C. elegans. All four convicted postdocs were deported, effectively ending their ability to continue research careers in the United States. Science emphasizes that the materials involved were not highly dangerous pathogens, but rather commonly used research tools. Critics quoted in the article argue that the government escalated relatively routine labeling and customs violations into national security cases. Former FBI agent Michael German said such prosecutions traditionally occur only when truly dangerous pathogens are involved. The article portrays FBI Special Agent Edward Nieh as a central figure connecting the investigations. The prosecutions reportedly expanded through seized phones, customs inspections, and scrutiny of Chinese-linked biological shipments. The report also highlights the broader consequences for universities and faculty advisers. Prominent plant biologists Libo Shan and Ping He , both U.S. citizens, were investigated after employing Jian, though they were ultimately cleared. Neurobiologist X.Z. Shawn Xu relocated his laboratory to China after the arrests of researchers in his lab. Indiana University scientist Roger Innes faced laboratory searches, restrictions on research exchanges, and the suspension of collaborations with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Many scientists interviewed by Science described a chilling effect across research campuses. Chinese faculty and students reportedly fear heightened scrutiny, deportation risks, and racial profiling. Some researchers told the magazine that talented Chinese scientists are increasingly declining U.S. positions in favor of opportunities in Europe, the United Kingdom, or Singapore. The report argues that although the Biden administration formally ended the China Initiative in 2022 after criticism that it unfairly targeted scientists of Chinese descent, the newer prosecutions suggest a continuation of similar concerns under a different framework. The focus has shifted from disclosure violations and alleged economic espionage to shipping and customs violations involving biological materials. At the same time, the article acknowledges that the government has legitimate authority to enforce rules governing the transport and labeling of biological samples. Prosecutors and federal officials defended the investigations as necessary to protect U.S. agricultural and national security interests. Overall, the Science report presents the cases as emblematic of growing tensions between U.S. national security priorities and the openness of the American scientific research system, particularly regarding collaborations involving Chinese scientists. Read the Science report on Researching While Chinese: https://bit.ly/4ubTFDD ***** In a report on May 11, 2026, The Chronicle of Higher Education describes the escalating federal scrutiny surrounding Roger W. Innes , an Indiana University biology professor who publicly defended Chinese postdocs prosecuted and deported by the U.S. government. The article focuses on the sudden closure and lockdown of Innes’s laboratory and adjacent research facilities at Indiana University. University police closed multiple labs, offices, and storage areas, affecting roughly 40 to 50 researchers, many with no connection to Innes’s work. The shutdown disrupted federally funded experiments, restricted access to equipment, and jeopardized ongoing biological research projects. Neither the university nor federal authorities provided a clear explanation for the closure. University administrators initially said the action was directed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), but the USDA later denied ordering the shutdown, while confirming an ongoing investigation. This contradiction intensified confusion and concern among faculty members. The Chronicle connects the investigation to Innes’s public defense of Yunqing Jian and Youhuang Xiang , Chinese researchers accused of improperly importing biological materials. Innes had written an expert letter disputing government claims that the fungal samples involved posed a national-security threat, arguing they were common research materials already present in the United States. Soon afterward, Xiang — a postdoc in Innes’s own lab — was arrested and later deported after pleading guilty to smuggling plasmid DNA. Innes told The Chronicle he believes the investigation into Xiang, and the subsequent scrutiny of his own laboratory, were retaliatory responses to his advocacy on behalf of Chinese scientists. He said the government’s message appeared to be: “Do not speak out on behalf of Chinese postdocs.” The article details how FBI agents searched Innes’s lab in December 2025, followed by a USDA inspection. Initially, USDA informed him that his lab was compliant with regulations, but later rescinded that statement, saying it had been issued “in error.” Weeks later, after Innes publicly criticized Xiang’s treatment as “100 percent politically motivated,” the lab shutdown occurred. Faculty members described the closures as abrupt and opaque. According to Innes, unidentified men in dark suits entered the lab and informed researchers they were “securing” the space. Locks were changed overnight, and even neighboring labs unrelated to Innes became inaccessible because of the building’s shared layout. Department chair Armin P. Moczek criticized the lack of transparency and said the shutdown had severely disrupted research operations. He described abandoned experiments, dying plants, inaccessible data and equipment, and growing anxiety among faculty and students. Other researchers in the department reported that major portions of their laboratories had effectively ceased functioning. The Chronicle portrays the episode as part of a broader climate of fear and uncertainty surrounding Chinese scientists and their collaborators in the United States. Faculty members interviewed expressed concern that federal investigations, national-security rhetoric, and institutional secrecy are discouraging international scientific collaboration and creating a chilling effect across university campuses. Read the Chronicle report: https://bit.ly/4fq97Hs . Read the Science report on May 9, 2026 about the lockout of Professor Roger Innes’s laboratory: https://bit.ly/3Pdf1Bj . Racist Attack on Maryland Delegate Chao Wu According to ABC7 News , AsAmNews , CBS Baltimore , Daily Record , Maryland Matters , Moco Show (2026/05/12), MoCoShow (2026/05/14), NBC4 Washington , and WBAL-TV , during the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a deeply troubling incident unfolded in the Maryland House of Delegates. On April 30, 2026, Republican Delegates Mark Fisher and Brian Chisholm posted a 13-minute video podcast, tilted "ChiCom of the Year Award," accusing Democratic Delegate Chao Wu — a Chinese-born data scientist representing parts of Howard and Montgomery counties — of being a spy for the Chinese Communist Party, repeatedly using a derogatory slur, and mocking the way he speaks. Wu, who holds a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Maryland, served on the Howard County Board of Education before being elected to the House of Delegates in 2022. He responded with dignity: "I am a proud new American and a public servant. Unfounded accusations and extremist conspiracy theories will not distract me from the work that matters. Xenophobia, racism, and McCarthyism have no place in our state." The backlash was swift and bipartisan. House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk escalated the matter to the Ethics Committee to investigate. AAPI Caucus Chair Delegate Lily Qi said plainly: "Xenophobia and bigotry have no place in the Maryland legislature. One can debate the merit of a bill without resorting to racist name-calling and unfounded accusations." House Minority Leader Del. Jason Buckel (R-Allegany) said he had "no reason to believe" that Wu was "somehow affiliated with the Chinese government as an American citizen and elected official," adding: "There is no place for discrimination or prejudicial treatment toward Asian-Americans based on their ethnicity in our party and that's not something our Caucus engages in or promotes in any way." Despite calls to apologize and remove the video, Fisher and Chisholm have refused to back down. Official bodies, legislative caucuses, elected leaders, and community organizations have strongly condemned the racially offensive video, including · Legislative Caucuses: The Legislative Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus , the Legislative Black Caucus , and the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus. · Federal Elected Officials: The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin . · State Leadership: House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and the leader of the House Republican Caucus. · Local Governments & Councils: The Montgomery County Council and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich . · Community Organizations : Committee of 100 , Montgomery County Progressive Asian American Network (MoCoPAAN), OCA-DC . Politico : McCarthyism Is Back According to Politico . the resurgence of McCarthyist tactics under the Trump administration — the targeting of academics, journalists, immigrants, and federal employees for perceived disloyalty — is not simply a historical echo, but the direct result of a deliberate decades-long effort by one largely overlooked figure: Jean McCarthy , wife of Senator Joe McCarthy . The report reframes Jean McCarthy as far more than a supportive spouse. She was an active intellectual and strategic partner who worked around the clock — seven days a week, often until the early morning hours — reviewing documents from Richard Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover , strengthening her husband's charges, and ghostwriting key speeches and Senate statements, including the 1951 attack on Defense Secretary George Marshall . When Senator Millard Tydings led a committee that exposed McCarthy's allegations as "a fraud and a hoax," Jean took charge of the retaliatory campaign. She moved to Baltimore, helped craft a tabloid branding Tydings a communist, and enthusiastically approved a doctored photograph falsely depicting him with Communist Party leader Earl Browder — seeing no ethical problem with the fabrication. Tydings lost his re-election bid, and a subsequent Senate investigation condemned the outside interference in the race. When Joe McCarthy died in 1957 — physically and politically broken, censured by the Senate in 1954 after Edward R. Murrow exposed him as a bully and a fraud on national television — Jean pivoted to preserving and rehabilitating his legacy. She worked closely with William F. Buckley Jr. and the editors of National Review , supplying condolence-note mailing lists that dramatically boosted the magazine's circulation, and became a featured speaker at anti-communist rallies. She fiercely guarded her husband's reputation, blocking any portrayal that failed to treat him as a hero. The article concludes that Jean McCarthy's tireless rehabilitation of McCarthyism transformed what might have been a discredited historical footnote into a durable political ideology — one that the authors trace through Barry Goldwater 's militant conservatism, Nixon's culture wars, Newt Gingrich 's scorched-earth partisanship, and ultimately Donald Trump 's authoritarian style. In the article's framing, Jean — not Joe — was McCarthyism's most enduring architect. “Democrats and Republicans remain miles apart on nearly everything these days, but there is one point on which both parties are in complete agreement: McCarthyism is back,” the report said. Read the Politico report: https://politi.co/4ueSP8X News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/05/20 Trump v. Barbara: Birthright Citizenship at the Supreme Court 2026/05/27 AAPI Representation on Capitol Hill: Navigating Careers and Sharing Advice 2026/06/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/06/10 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Calvin Tsao 2026/06/27-28 From Crisis to Coalition: Lessons from the Front Lines in Minneapolis/St. PaulVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Cato: Trump v. Barbara: Birthright Citizenship at the Supreme Court WHAT : Trump v. Barbara: Birthright Citizenship at the Supreme Court WHEN : May 20, 2026, 2:00-3:00 pm ET WHERE : Webinar HOST : Cato Institute Speakers: · Paul Finkelman , President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law and Public Policy, Emeritus, Albany Law School and Visiting Professor of Law, University of Toledo College of Law · Dan Greenberg , Senior Legal Fellow, Cato Institute · Ilya Somin , Professor of Law, George Mason University, and B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute · Jack Chin , Edward L. Barrett Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Legal Education, UC Davis School of Law. DESCRIPTION: Does the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee birthright citizenship to persons born in the United States to parents without permanent immigration status? This is an insightful discussion with a group of scholars who will break down Trump v. Barbara, consider the recent Supreme Court oral argument, and explore the approaches the Court might take as it reaches a decision. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4dg8Kwt 3. AAPI Representation on Capitol Hill: Navigating Careers and Sharing Advice WHAT : AAPI Representation on Capitol Hill: Navigating Careers and Sharing Advice WHEN : May 27, 2026, 6:00-7:30 pm ET WHERE : In Person: 232 East Capitol Street NE, Washington DC HOSTS : US-China Education Trust; U.S. Asia Institute Moderator: Nicholas Wu , congressional reporter at Semafor Speakers: · Allison Dong , senior communications advisor for the House Budget Committee · Tiffany Ge Elzey , staff director to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) · Jason Li , professional staff member for the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party · Catalina Tam , nominations director to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) DESCRIPTION: The panel will offer first-hand insight into how policy is made and what AAPI representation looks like in the legislative branch. The discussion will also examine the challenges and opportunities that have shaped panelists' careers, along with practical advice for anyone looking to forge their own path in legislative politics and policymaking. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3Pg4bdP # # # 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 . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF May 18, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #20 10/05 Monthly Meeting; WSJ Report On The Tao Case; UMich Webinar #20 10/05 Monthly Meeting; WSJ Report On The Tao Case; UMich Webinar Back View PDF October 2, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, February 24, 2021 The “China Initiative’s” racist targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and students - particularly those of Chinese descent - echoes past xenophobic national security initiatives that put immigrant communities and communities of color under unjust government scrutiny. This webinar, the third in this series, explores the civil society responses to Japanese incarceration and discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II, and the targeting of Arab, Middle-Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities after 9/11, to inform how civil rights organizations and university leaders can more effectively challenge the new administration to end the “China Initiative” and the unfair scrutiny of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and students. Connecting current discrimination against Asian Americans and immigrants of Chinese descent within the historical framework of the treatment of Asian Americans, other immigrant communities, and communities of color in the U.S. is essential for building a broad coalition to support the legal and policy reforms necessary to protect the civil rights of all communities. (See our coalition letter to the Biden transition team here ). Because academic and research institutions are the targets of “China Initiative” investigations, we must also understand the needs of university leaders and create a platform for allies and civil rights organizations to support the scientists, researchers, and students currently impacted by the latest wave of xenophobia. This webinar will focus on how to build these mechanisms for policy reform. 20210224 Webinar3ChinaInitiative2.png 20210224 Webinar3ChinaInitiative1.png Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #140 Arrowood Nomination; Help Jamie; Prof. Xi's Appeal; Briefing; Stanford; Asia Society #140 Arrowood Nomination; Help Jamie; Prof. Xi's Appeal; Briefing; Stanford; Asia Society Back View PDF August 30, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #1 Reminder Of July 6 Meeting #1 Reminder Of July 6 Meeting Back View PDF July 5, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

The Trump administration recently announced Presidential Proclamation 10043 (PP 10043) - "Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers From the People's Republic of China." May 29, 2020 On May 29, 2020, the Trump administration announced Presidential Proclamation 10043 (PP 10043)" Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers From the People's Republic of China ." By September 9, 2020, CNBC reported that over 1,000 visas for Chinese nationals were cancelled because they were deemed security risks with military ties. These students were not given any explanation as to why their visas were revoked under the Proclamation, nor any opportunity to challenge the revocation. According to The College Post on February 5, 2021, Visa restrictions may block one-fifth of Chinese graduate STEM enrollment annually. On June 10, 2021, the American Council on Education (ACE) sent a letter , co-signed by a number of higher education associations, to the U.S. Department of State under the Biden administration outlining concerns about the application of Presidential Proclamation 10043 on student and scholar visa applications at U.S. embassies/consulates. On August 10, 2021, Forbes reported that " Biden Keeps Costly Trump Visa Policy Denying Chinese Grad Students ." On September 15, 2021, a Department of State Federal Register notice announced the Secretary of State's delegation of authority to the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs to make national interest determinations under the PRC "Military-Civil Fusion Strategy proclamation to exempt students and researchers who would be otherwise covered by the entry bar under that proclamation, but "whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees." On June 27, 2022, a civil lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois Urbana Division. Led by a professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a group of students affected by the PP10043 ban, the lawsuit challenges the U.S. Government's continuing efforts to ban the entry of Chinese nationals who seek to study at U.S. universities. The Trump administration recently announced Presidential Proclamation 10043 (PP 10043) - "Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers From the People's Republic of China." Previous Next Presidential Proclamation 10043

Newsletter - #324 4/7 Meeting; Rallies and Hearing in TX; US Data Integrity; Rule of Law; Litigations;+ #324 4/7 Meeting; Rallies and Hearing in TX; US Data Integrity; Rule of Law; Litigations;+ In This Issue #324 · 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Texas Tri-City Rallies Against Alien Land Bills and Hearing · Threats to U.S. Statistical Data Integrity · Opinions: Advocate to Safeguard the Rule of Law · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 7, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Mark Takano , First Vice Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Member, U.S. House of Representatives · Erwin Chemerinsky , Dean, Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley · Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100 · X. Edward Guo , President, Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE) 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 . Texas Tri-City Rallies Against Alien Land Bills and Hearing Hundreds of concerned Texans gathered in Austin, Dallas, and Houston on March 29-30, 2025, to protest the discriminatory and unconstitutional proposals of State Bill 17 (SB17) and House Bill 17 (HB17). Their demonstrations received extensive local media coverage: · 2025/03/30 KTRK (ABC13) @Houston: Eyewitness News at 5:30pm - March 30, 2025 (starts at 7:33) · 2025/03/30 WFAA (ABC9) @ Dallas: Protestors gather in Plano against bills in the Texas House, Senate · 2025/03/29 KVUE (ABC24) @ Austin : 'Who gets to be American?' | Texans protest bills that would ban some foreign land ownership In an open letter to Texas legislators, a coalition of 49 Texas-based organizations and 32 national and other organizations outlined their concerns: · These bills are unconstitutional and discriminatory, as they target individuals based on their nation of origin. In other words, individuals are being targeted and rights taken away, not because of something they did, but because of where they came from. In so doing, these bills threaten the protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution and Texas constitution. · These bills will discourage foreign investments and talents from coming to Texas, leading to loss of jobs and economic opportunities – when the bills aim to punish some of Texas’ largest trading partner(s). This is especially the case when President Trump specifically stated, “we want them to invest in the U.S.” (Feb. 26, 2025). · These bills falsely equate individuals with governments; and will punish individuals who may have no political affiliation in their former or current countries. · These bills are based on paranoia and have no legitimate basis in reality. There have not been any realistic data or facts that support the implementation of these restrictions, or how these bills will actually support national security. · These bills will provoke discrimination against the Asian and immigrant community. Similar discriminatory alien land law was repealed by the 59th Texas Legislature in 1965. The coalition urges lawmakers not to repeat past mistakes and to reject SB17 and HB17.SB17 passed the Texas Senate on March 19. A public hearing for HB17 took place on April 2 before the Texas House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans Affairs Committee. After about five hours of testimonies, the bill was left pending. Threats to U.S. Statistical Integrity According to the government website https://www.statspolicy.gov/ , relevant, timely, credible, and objective statistical information is part of the foundation of democracy and the fundamental responsibility of the U.S. Federal statistical system. Since the Nation's founding, the U.S. Federal statistical system has collected and transformed data into high quality statistical information, making it readily available to inform all types of decision-making, while protecting the responses of individual data providers. Such decisions may include those made by Federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal policymakers; the private sector, including businesses; and individuals. Led by the U.S. Chief Statistician and the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP), the U.S. Federal statistical system is a decentralized, interconnected network of 16 Recognized Statistical Agencies and Units, 24 Statistical Officials (across 24 major cabinet agencies), approximately 100 additional Federal statistical programs engaged in statistical activities, and several cross system interagency and advisory bodies. According to a Washington Post opinion on March 11, 2025, the Trump administration has aggressively deleted taxpayer-funded data, limiting Americans’ ability to understand critical issues. Elon Musk 's DOGE has removed key datasets, canceled data collection contracts, and suppressed inconvenient statistics, preventing public access to crucial economic, health, and demographic information. Tactics include misrepresenting statistics, altering economic metrics, and eliminating entire categories of public data, often to obscure politically damaging facts. This manipulation mirrors authoritarian practices, eroding trust in U.S. data and hampering informed decision-making. While some external groups archive lost data, they cannot replace missing government statistics, leaving Americans with only what Trump chooses to disclose.The American Statistical Association (ASA) has identified that five statistical science advisory committees under the Department of Commerce were disbanded. These committees have served for decades as crucial resources for the Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and BLS, providing expert guidance on complex statistical challenges. This concerning development threatens the quality and integrity of federal data that policymakers and businesses rely on daily. Without these independent advisory bodies, federal statistical agencies lose both valuable expertise and an essential accountability mechanism that ensures their methodologies remain sound and transparent. ASA and the George Mason University have set up a website to monitor and share updates on the health of the federal statistical agencies: https://bit.ly/4ih5Qsp The Trump administration dismantled the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) through budget cuts, staff reductions, and the cancellation of key data programs. Reports on racial disparities, special education, and school funding gaps were also suppressed. Without NCES, policymakers and researchers lose a crucial source of reliable education data, widening state-level disparities and reducing accountability. This aligns with Trump’s broader strategy of controlling public information and to obscure politically inconvenient statistics, leaving Americans without an impartial assessment of the education system. Opinions: Advocate to Safeguard the Rule of Law On March 28, 2025, David Leopold , former President and General Counsel of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, published an opinion in the Washington Post titled " Trump’s immigrant purge is part of a larger agenda ."Leopold argues that by denying immigrants due process, the Trump administration is undermining the rule of law. It has pursued mass deportations by bypassing traditional immigration laws, instead invoking wartime-era statutes with minimal safeguards. This has led to detentions and deportations without proper legal review, including cases involving alleged Venezuelan gang members and student activists. Border czar Tom Homan has openly dismissed judicial oversight, while the administration has attempted to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify deportations, despite the U.S. not being at war with Venezuela. Courts have intervened, but the administration has ignored rulings and even sought to impeach judges who challenge its authority. The Trump administration has invoked Cold War-era laws to detain and deport student activists without due process, raising concerns about targeting individuals based on political beliefs. This includes the arrests of Rumeysa Ozturk , a Turkish Fulbright scholar, and Mahmoud Khalil , a Palestinian activist protesting the Gaza war—both detained based on a determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio . These actions set a dangerous precedent, threatening constitutional protections and potentially leading to wrongful deportations, including of U.S. citizens. Leopold warns that this broader erosion of due process endangers fundamental rights and liberties for all, not just noncitizens.On March 28, 2025, John Palfrey , President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, published an opinion in Newsweek titled "It's Time for Zealous Advocacy to Safeguard the Rule of Law." Palfrey warns that the rule of law in the U.S. faces an unprecedented assault—court rulings are being ignored, judges face impeachment threats and personal risks, and government officials openly dismiss judicial authority. Lawyers representing political opponents are being targeted, law firms are losing security clearances, and executive orders are restricting legal representation in government contracts. "These are full-frontal attacks on the fundamental system of the rule of law in America. Today, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the system of law that it undergirds, is in serious peril," Palfrey wrote.Beyond the legal ramifications, he argues that undermining the rule of law will disrupt commerce, deter investments, and weaken philanthropic efforts that rely on legal protections. A strong legal system is essential for ensuring freedoms, including the right to donate to causes and invest in economic growth. He calls on the legal profession to take an active role in defending these principles, warning that inaction could permanently erode justice and democracy in America.On March 29, 2025, the Harvard Crimson reported that at least 82 of the Harvard Law School’s 118 active professors, along with nine emeritus professors, signed a letter condemning government of retaliation against lawyers and law firms representing clients and causes opposed by President Donald Trump . Most of the Law School’s top leadership signed the letter. “ While reasonable people can disagree about the characterization of particular incidents, we are all acutely concerned that severe challenges to the rule of law are taking place, and we strongly condemn any effort to undermine the basic norms we have described ,” the letter stated. Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of April 2, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 162 (3 closed cases). These are some of the latest developments: · On April 1, 2025, Democratic attorneys general and governors in 23 states and Washington, DC, filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr ., alleging that the department’s sudden rollback of $12 billion in public health funding was unlawful and harmful. In the lawsuit, the states are seeking a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief to immediately halt the administration’s funding cuts that they say will lead to key public health services being discontinued and thousands of health-care workers losing their jobs. State of Colorado v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1:25-cv-00121) · On April 1, 2025, The League of Women Voters Education Fund sued the Trump administration over President Trump's elections executive order which purports to regulate federal elections by directing the Election Assistance Commission to require a citizenship document to register to vote. League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump (1:25-cv-00955) · On March 31, 2025, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), a labor union that represents federal government employees, sued the Trump Administration alleging President Trump’s Executive Order that terminates certain federal employees’ collective bargaining agreements, including 12 such agreements negotiated by NTEU, is unlawful. NTEU has asked the court to block termination of these agreements. National Treasury Employees Union v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-00935) News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/14 State of Play Virtual Town Hall2025/04/15 China Connections: A Conversation with Emily Feng2025/04/22 Scholars Not Spies: Fighting for International Academic Workers’ Rights in an Era of Rising US-China Conflict2025/04/24 CHINA Town Hall: The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/05/06 Asian American Careers - How to Build Your Personal Network, including Through Strategic AlliesVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 2025/04/14 State of Play Virtual Town Hall WHAT: State of Play Virtual Town Hall WHEN: April 14, 2025, 3:00 - 4:30 pm ET WHERE: Online Event HOST: Asian American Scholar Forum Keynote: Grace Meng , Chair Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Welcome Remarks : Kai Li , Vice Chair, AAASF; Professor, Princeton University Moderator : Gisela P. Kusakawa , Executive Director, AASF Facilitator : Xiaoxing Xi , Professor, Temple University Speakers: · Steven Allan Kivelson , Professor, Stanford University · Peter Michelson , Professor, Stanford University · Tobin L. Smith , Senior Vice President, Association of American Universities · Brian A. Sun , Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, CAPAC · Keliang "Clay" Zhu , President and Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance DESCRIPTION: This vital conversation will address growing challenges scholars, scientists, and researchers face, including the potential return of the China Initiative, increased investigations, restrictive legislation like the proposed ban on Chinese student visas, and heightened scrutiny of scientists and international students. Experts will also discuss high-impact legal cases, concerns over travel and reentry, and strategies to foster a more welcoming and supportive research environment. This town hall encourages questions and feedback from the public as we strive to address the unique challenges of our day! Register today and ask questions for our experts and policy leaders! REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4jaA40N 3. 2025/04/22 Scholars Not Spies WHAT: Scholars Not Spies: Fighting for International Academic Workers’ Rights in an Era of Rising US-China Conflict WHEN: April 22, 2025, 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT WHERE: Webinar HOST: Justice Is Global CO-SPONSORS : APA Justice, Massachusetts Society of Professors MSP (MTA-NEA), GEO Local 6300 IFT-AFT, UMD Graduate Labor Union (UAW), UE Local 256 MIT GSU. DESCRIPTION: Only weeks into President Trump’s second presidency, we are witnessing a barrage of executive orders and measures targeting immigrant academics. From the DHS attempting to deport Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil, to a proposed bill that would ban student visas for all Chinese nationals, international academic workers are at risk. Amid rising scrutiny of international academics, growing U.S.-China tensions have made Chinese scholars targets, often viewed as spies and national security threats. This webinar brings together academic workers from across the country to speak about how the US-China rivalry fosters nativism and harms all international academic workers. It hopes to spark discussions about how our unions can build contracts and organize advocacy efforts that meet the moment and protect our peers. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/wearescholarsnotspies 4. 2025/04/24 China Town Hall – The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy WHAT: China Town Hall – The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy WHEN: April 24, 2025, 5:30 pm ET WHERE: Hybrid event - see registration · In person - Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, Suite 605, Washington, DC 20052 · Livestream program HOSTS: US-China Education Trust; National Committee on U.S.-China Relations; Young China Watchers 5:30 – 6:30 pm On-site discussion with Sean Stein , president of the US-China Business Council 6:30 pm - Panel discussion Panelists: · Ryan Hass, Director, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution · Matthew Turpin, Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution · Lingling Wei , Chief China Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal DESCRIPTION: The China Town Hall, organized by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), is a nationwide program that offers a comprehensive overview of the current U.S.-China relationship and its local impact—shaping discussions in communities across the country. By connecting local audiences with U.S. policymakers and leading experts on China, the program fosters informed dialogue on this vital bilateral relationship. The 2025 China Town Hall will feature an in-depth discussion on President Trump’s China policy in his new term, bringing together top experts to analyze the evolving U.S.-China dynamic. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4iTMqKW # # # 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 April 3, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #381 3/24 Mass Surveillance Webinar; AASF Update; Citizen Diplomacy; Birthright Citizenship #381 3/24 Mass Surveillance Webinar; AASF Update; Citizen Diplomacy; Birthright Citizenship In This Issue #381 · 03/24 Webinar: What AAPI Should Know About Mass Surveillance · Update from Asian American Scholar Forum · USHCA: Advancing Subnational and Citizen Diplomacy · More Amicus Briefs to Oppose Birthright Citizenship Executive Order · Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake? · News and Activities for the Communities 03/24 Webinar: What Asian Pacific Americans Need to Know About Mass Surveillance During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 2, 2026, Mike German announced an upcoming webinar titled “Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know,” scheduled for March 24 at 4 p.m. Pacific (7 p.m. Eastern). The webinar aims to raise awareness about mass surveillance programs—particularly the reauthorization of Section 702 and related national security authorities—that are fueling aspects of the current Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown. The Asian American community has long been unfairly targeted as a national security threat, including during the China Initiative, and that these surveillance programs continue to disproportionately impact the community. The event is intended to educate the public about how ICE uses technology and law enforcement information, what is being done to address these practices, and how community members can support ongoing advocacy efforts. APA Justice is deeply grateful for Mike, retired Fellow of the Brennan Center for Justice and former FBI Special Agent, for taking a break from his retirement to help organize this webinar. Please save the date and time and look for further details in the coming days. Update from Asian American Scholar Forum During the APA Justice monthly meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum, highlighted three major updates from AASF. First, she discussed the recent hearing in the case involving Dr. Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 and Northwestern University. Although Dr. Wu was not charged following a 2019 National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigation, her family has alleged that the university took damaging actions against her, including limiting her work, closing her lab, reassigning grants, isolating her, and involuntarily admitting her to a psychiatric unit. The court allowed several claims—including a discrimination claim—to move forward, and written discovery will proceed. AASF is closely monitoring the case, has organized support from more than 1,000 faculty signatories, is preparing a nonprofit letter with Advancing Justice | AAJC, and will host an educational webinar featuring Dr. Wu’s daughter. Gisela emphasized that the case reflects the broader employment and institutional ripple effects of the China Initiative. Second, she noted that AASF is monitoring reports of potential efforts to bar individuals of Chinese descent, including permanent residents, from certain federal employment roles. AASF is assessing these developments and will keep the community informed about any actions requiring response. Finally, Gisela ended on a positive note, announcing AASF’s inaugural AIX Summit in New York City on April 17, 2026. The summit will highlight Asian American leadership in artificial intelligence and research, featuring prominent scholars and scientists, and aims to celebrate achievements while strengthening the pipeline of future talent in the United States. For more information, visit https://www.aasforum.org/2026/02/17/inaugural-aasf-aix-summit/ A summary for the March 2 monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. ***** On March 4, 2026, NPR reported on the story of Dr. Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛, interviewing a number of scientists and researchers, as well as her daughter Liz Rao. Read or listen to the NPR report: https://n.pr/4cNobOr . USHCA: Advancing Subnational and Citizen Diplomacy According to the U.S. Heartland China Association (UCHCA), from October 23 to November 2, 2025, a Heartland Leaders Delegation organized by USHCA traveled to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Xianyang, engaging with local governments, universities, and businesses to explore cooperation in healthcare, education, environmental governance, and sustainable economic development. This delegation included six local elected officials representing communities across the Mississippi River Basin and beyond. The delegation's meetings and exchanges coincided with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, where Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping were holding high-level discussions. While national leaders set the tone for the bilateral relationship, the delegation demonstrated how local and regional actors can also advance constructive engagement on the ground — often operating ahead of, and in support of, broader national conversations by sustaining dialogue, trust, and cooperation at the community level. Amid evolving U.S. federal engagement in subnational diplomacy and a shifting geopolitical landscape, the visit highlighted how state and local leaders play a vital role in promoting understanding and advancing diplomacy through local-to-local cooperation that delivers tangible benefits for their communities. Across all four cities, Heartland leaders moved beyond symbolism to engage in substantive, place-based exchanges on healthcare innovation, environmental stewardship, education, advanced manufacturing, and cultural heritage — areas where local governments are uniquely positioned to deliver tangible outcomes. The visit also highlighted the growing recognition among Chinese private-sector leaders of the critical role local relationships play in successful international business development. Engagements with companies such as Nongfu Spring and Gotion underscored how Chinese firms seeking to expand in the United States increasingly prioritize understanding local contexts, workforce needs, regulatory environments, and community expectations in the American Heartland — reinforcing that economic cooperation is driven not solely by national policy, but by sustained dialogue with state and local leaders. In 2026, the Yangtze-Mississippi River Dialogue will return to the U.S. in the fall, with USHCA planning to host a reciprocal Chinese delegation. Read the USHCA report: https://bit.ly/46EwbNK More Amicus Briefs to Oppose Birthright Citizenship Executive Order On February 27, 2026, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Howard University School of Law's Civil Rights Clinic filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, Equal Justice Society, the National Urban League, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, urging the Court to strike down President Trump's executive order 14160 on birthright citizenship. The brief debunks the Trump administration's claim that the Reconstruction Congress intended birthright citizenship to apply only to freed slaves and their children, arguing that the 14th Amendment and the Immigration and Nationality Act clearly grant birthright citizenship to all people born in the United States, regardless of the legal status of their parents. The groups warn that if upheld, the executive order would resurrect a time in American history when only certain people could be declared a citizen by birth, and would further expose communities of color to harmful policies — with immigration enforcement tactics that hearken back to a time when newly freed Black people had to carry their manumission papers. On March 2, 2026, the American Bar Association (ABA) filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that Executive Order 14160 violates the birthright citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. The ABA urges the Supreme Court to affirm the lower court's judgment invalidating the executive order and preserve the settled rule that birth in the United States confers citizenship. Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake? On March 17, 2026, the Committee of 100 will host a webinar as part of its Equity Pulse series: “Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake?” On April 1, 2026, the Supreme Court will hear arguments that could redefine what it means to be a U.S. citizen. It is a battle Chinese Americans have fought before. In 1898, Wong Kim Ark sued for his right to reenter the United States after being denied because of his Chinese ancestry. His Supreme Court victory established birthright citizenship as we know it. Now, that precedent is under attack in Trump v. Barbara . Join attorneys Wendy Feng , Arjun Shenoy , Tony Wang , and Jennifer Wu on Monday, March 17 at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT, as they break down the legal arguments and discuss what this case could mean for AAPIs and civil rights. They were directly involved in the drafting of the two amicus briefs filed by the AAPI community in this case. Even if you are a U.S. citizen today, this case could affect generations to come. Hear from top legal experts, ask questions, and engage on a constitutional right. Register to attend: https://bit.ly/4aVpBDC News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/03/17 Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake? 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng Visit 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 March 6, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Racial Profiling Alien Land Bills Alien land bills, also known as alien land laws upon passage, have historically restricted the landownership and property rights of immigrants, particularly those of Asian descent. They are being revived today. Dive into the issue Latest developments Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264 This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. Campaign to Oppose The Nomination of Casey Arrowood This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. More News Research Grant Politicization Research grants to organizations and academics with Chinese ties have become politicized, posing a threat to apolitical, peer-reviewed science. Learn More Chinese Exclusion Act The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, which Iowa Congressman John Kasson described as "one of the most vulgar forms of barbarism." Learn More Learn more about related issues Featured: Interactive map Tracking Alien Land Bills The Committee of 100 launched an alien land bill tracker and a companion interactive map on December 15, 2023. This database tracks and maps state and federal bills that target property ownership by non-citizens, particularly from countries like China. These resources are updated four times a year in March, July, October, and December. Committee of 100: 2024 Alien Land Bill Tracker and Map Committee of 100: 2023 Alien Land Bill Tracker and Map In early 2023, APA Justice launched an interactive Alien Land Bill tracker with an interactive map to monitor restrictive state land ownership legislation. Following collaborative efforts, the Committee of 100 launched its own Alien Land Bill tracker and interactive map on December 15, 2023. Subsequently, APA Justice discontinued updates to its original tracker and map. As of May 28, 2023, there are 33 states known to have introduced some form of alien land and property bills in the current or recent legislative session. A few had passed and signed into state law; some have died; others were still pending. Original state-by-state links to the legislations and map were provided as community resources. They were collected from multiple sources including research by APA Justice, Advancing Justice | AAJC, Committee of 100, National Agricultural Law Center, Project South, media reports, and crowdsourcing. California's 1913 Alien Land Law During the APA Justice monthly meeting on April 3, 2023, Paula Madison, businesswoman and retired executive from NBCUniversal, proposed a proactive and assertive national media alert network for the Asian American community. The idea was prompted by the challenge of Texas Senate Bill 147 (SB147) and the revival of discriminatory alien land bills. While this bill was introduced in Texas, the implications nationally and globally were huge. It was decided that a roundtable will be convened to further discuss the development and implementation of the concept and strategies for the near term and the longer term. Following a discussion with the Asian American Journalists Association on April 10, 2023, the virtual Inaugural Roundtable was hosted by APA Justice on April 17, 2023. April 2023 Meeting Apr. 3rd 2023 National Media Network Read More According to the Equal Justice Initiative , on May 3, 1913, California enacted the Alien Land Law, barring Asian immigrants from owning land. California tightened the law further in 1920 and 1923, barring the leasing of land and land ownership by American-born children of Asian immigrant parents or by corporations controlled by Asian immigrants. The 1913 California Alien Land Law was one of the earliest and most influential U.S. laws specifically restricting Asian immigrants' land ownership rights. Anti-Asian land restrictions had been developing, especially on the West Coast, influenced by widespread anti-Asian sentiment. California's law became a model for similar legislation in other states. California did not stand alone. Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming all enacted discriminatory laws restricting Asians’ rights to hold land in America. In 1923, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed various versions of the discriminatory land laws—and upheld every single one. Most of these discriminatory state laws remained in place until the 1950s, and some even longer. California's 1913 Alien Land Law According to the Equal Justice Initiative , on May 3, 1913, California enacted the Alien Land Law, barring Asian immigrants from owning land. California tightened the law further in 1920 and 1923, barring the leasing of land and land ownership by American-born children of Asian immigrant parents or by corporations controlled by Asian immigrants. The 1913 California Alien Land Law was one of the earliest and most influential U.S. laws specifically restricting Asian immigrants' land ownership rights. Anti-Asian land restrictions had been developing, especially on the West Coast, influenced by widespread anti-Asian sentiment. California's law became a model for similar legislation in other states. California did not stand alone. Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming all enacted discriminatory laws restricting Asians’ rights to hold land in America. In 1923, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed various versions of the discriminatory land laws—and upheld every single one. Most of these discriminatory state laws remained in place until the 1950s, and some even longer.

Newsletter - #387 4/6 Meeting; CHR: 50 Years of Support; Ohioans Opposed HB1; C100 Survey; No Kings; + #387 4/6 Meeting; CHR: 50 Years of Support; Ohioans Opposed HB1; C100 Survey; No Kings; + In This Issue #387 · 04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · NASEM/CHR: 50 Years of Support for Colleagues under Threat · Ohioans Overwhelmingly Opposed the State’s Alien Land Bill at March 17 Hearing · C100: The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype · 03/28 No Kings Day · News and Activities for the Communities 04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored to welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Eric Zheng , President, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai · Susan A. Thornton , Vice Chair, U.S. Heartland China Association · Susan Shirk , Research Professor; Director Emeritus, 21st Century China Center, University of California, San Diego Although the Trump-Xi summit has been postponed to May 14-15, 2026, U.S.-China relations remain the most consequential global issue of our time — with profound implications for trade, education, international exchange, and the well-being of Chinese Americans, Asian Americans, and immigrant communities nationwide. This meeting will bring together some of the most informed voices on these issues for a timely and wide-ranging conversation. The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . ***** Eric Zheng is President of AmCham Shanghai, the largest American chamber of commerce in Asia Pacific. Prior to his current role with AmCham Shanghai, Eric had a successful career with AIG including serving as President & CEO of AIG China. Eric has been active in several non-profit and charity organizations. He is a member of Committee of 100 and currently serves as Chair of Committee of 100 Greater China Region. Eric will focus on “Opportunities and Challenges in China: An On-the-Ground Perspective of American Companies.” Susan A. Thornton is a retired senior U.S. diplomat with almost three decades of experience with the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia. She is currently Vice Chair of the U.S. Heartland China Association and a Senior Fellow and Visiting Lecturer in Law at the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center. She is also the director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Susan will offer observations about subnational and citizen diplomacy including education and other people-to-people exchanges. Susan Shirk is a research professor at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and director emeritus of its 21st Century China Center. She is one of the most influential experts working on U.S.-China relations and Chinese politics. She is also director emeritus of the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC). Susan will speak about the current state of US-China relations, focusing on the now-delayed leaders’ meeting. NASEM/CHR: 50 Years of Support for Colleagues under Threat In the early 1970s, leaders and members of the National Academy of Sciences mobilized to support Andrei Sakharov , who faced persecution in the USSR for his pro-democracy and human rights advocacy. This effort to defend Sakharov and other at-risk scientists led to the establishment of the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) in 1976. On December 15, 2025, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) produced a video featuring Helen Zia 謝漢蘭 , author and human rights activist, and Gang Chen 陈刚 , Professor of Power Engineering at MIT. The video highlights how wrongful targeting of scientists—especially Asian American researchers— repeatedly undermines both human rights and the integrity of science. Helen Zia recounts the case of Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , Taiwanese American nuclear scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory who was falsely accused of espionage, held in harsh solitary confinement, and later released with a judicial apology—an episode she argues reflects treatment that “would be called torture” elsewhere. Similar patterns persisted decades later. Professor Chen describes his 2021 arrest under the China Initiative for routine academic collaborations, calling it “a year of living in hell” before charges were dropped. He warns the initiative created a “tremendous chilling effect,” with surveys showing widespread fear among Asian American scientists and many reconsidering research careers or leaving the U.S. These cases offer a broader historical context of suspicion toward Chinese Americans, while emphasizing the critical role of scientific solidarity. Support from the scientific community helped challenge false accusations and defend affected researchers. The central message is clear: silence enables injustice, while speaking out is essential. As Professor Chen concludes, collective advocacy is vital because “if we do not speak out, it could happen to any of us.” In recognition of its 50th anniversary, CHR hosted a virtual event on March 24, 2026. It was moderated by CHR Chair Martin Chalfie , Nobel Laureate and University Professor at Columbia University. The CHR also launched a short film highlighting the story of colleagues who have themselves come under threat and the importance of responding to rights abuses. Scientists pursue truth, yet their work can challenge powerful interests—creating risks not only for individuals but for the integrity of science itself. Dr. Chalfie said, when researchers are targeted, it discourages bold ideas and open inquiry. Defending threatened scholars is therefore part of the profession’s core responsibility. Since 1976, CHR has bridged the human rights and scientific communities, advocating globally for scientists facing abuses ranging from harassment to imprisonment. Andreas Georgiou , who worked to produce “reliable, credible and trustworthy official statistics” for Greece, faced intense political backlash and multiple prosecutions, reflecting how even technical truth-telling can provoke retaliation. His experience underscores the broader risks faced by professionals committed to integrity. CHR’s work—supported by thousands of academy members—demonstrates the power of solidarity. As CHR Vice Chair Dr. Andrea J. Liu noted, “The value of voicing support is immeasurable…to know that your community is behind you is incredibly important.” Protecting human rights ultimately safeguards the conditions necessary for science to thrive: freedom of thought, open collaboration, and the courage to pursue truth. Visit https://nap.nationalacademies.org/chr-50/our-work.html to learn more about the work of CHR. Watch the video on Helen Zia and Gang Chen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83iQBnAS5mA (9:23). Watch the 50 Years of the Committee on Human Rights film at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iITtDXiECk (7:43) Ohioans Overwhelmingly Opposed the State’s Alien Land Bill at March 17 Hearing The Ohio House Public Safety Committee held its fourth hearing on March 17, 2026, on House Bill 1 (H.B. 1), titled “Ohio Property Protection Act.” This is one of the alien land bills or laws tracked by the Committee of 100 that would restrict land or property ownership based on national origin, potentially violating federal and state laws, especially the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. The hearing once again drew a full room and highlighted the overwhelming and consistent public opposition to the bill. Testimony breakdown is as follows: · 102 in opposition · 7 in support · 3 as interested party Not a single Ohio resident testified in support of H.B. 1 - only seven (7) testimonies were submitted in support of the legislation, five (5) of which came from out‑of‑state special‑interest groups. In contrast, opposition testimony came from 95 Ohio residents, one member of the legislature, and six community and civil‑rights organizations. Details of the testimonies can be found here . Proponents Fail to Demonstrate Security Rationale Supporters of H.B. 1 failed to show how the bill protects Ohioans or addresses national security risks. Their testimony: · Relied on unsubstantiated claims and anecdotes against lawful residents and visa holders. · Cited isolated incidents in other states with no relation to home ownership. · Offered no evidence linking immigrants in Ohio to national security threats. · Did not explain with evidence how the legislation would address any real security concerns. · Linked illegal immigration and border concerns to individual home buyers and businesses owners who are here legally in the United States. Broad Legal, Economic, and Civil Rights Concerns Opponents of H.B. 1 emphasized that the bill: · Discriminates on the basis of national origin. · Wrongfully punishes those that follow the law. · Conflicts with the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. · Damages Ohio’s reputation as a fair, welcoming, and business‑friendly state, and the most innovative and entrepreneurial state in the Midwest. · Defines “critical infrastructure” so broadly that it would effectively restrict property ownership by lawful residents across the state — see attached the critical infrastructure zone map. This is a complete ban on home ownership in the state and a level of government overreach unprecedented in Ohio. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a measure similar to H.B. 1 in the state budget in 2023. · Ohio Capital Journal: Critics, supporters spar over bill restricting foreign land ownership in Ohio · The Blade: Ohio bill banning 'foreign adversaries' from buying land nearing House vote C100: The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype On March 25, 2026, the Committee of 100 hosted a webinar on “The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype” and released the second of four reports in this year’s State of Chinese American Survey (SOCA). The webinar was moderated by Katie Soo , Trustee of the Asia Society Global Board of Trustees and Board Chair of Asia Society Southern California, and joined by Dr. Teresa Hsu , Founder and Executive Director of SPEAK (Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans & Kins) and Dr. Vivien Leung , Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Santa Clara. The March 2026 report outlines the pervasive impact of the “perpetual foreigner” stereotype, or the perception of a racial or ethnic group as outsiders. According to the South China Morning Post and AsAmNews , the SOCA survey finds that more than half of Asian Americans experience “assumed foreignness” on a regular basis, including being asked where they are “really from” or complimented for speaking English well. The study also shows that this experience occurs at similar rates among both U.S.-born and foreign-born individuals, indicating that such perceptions are driven largely by race and appearance rather than immigration status. The findings underscore that Asian Americans are more likely than any other racial group to be viewed as outsiders, with 55% reporting regular experiences of being treated as foreign—far higher than other groups surveyed. In addition, a majority report experiencing some form of everyday discrimination on at least a monthly basis. In terms of consequences of these experiences. The “perpetual foreigner” stereotype is associated with increased psychological distress, anxiety, and a diminished sense of belonging. Researchers also note that such experiences can discourage civic and political participation, contributing to broader concerns about representation and inclusion. These findings reinforce a central concern for the Asian American community: despite long-standing contributions and deep roots in the United States, many continue to be perceived as outsiders. Addressing this challenge remains critical to advancing full inclusion and equal participation in American society. 03/28 No Kings Day According to AP News , Fox , New York Times , NPR , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, the third "No Kings" nationwide protests on March 28, 2026, drew massive crowds across all 50 U.S. states, with more than 3,000 events organized to oppose the Trump administration’s executive overreach, immigration policies, and military actions. Demonstrators broadly expressed concerns about the state of American democracy, citing immigration crackdowns, rising costs, and expanding foreign conflicts. Participation spanned both urban and rural America—from New York City to Driggs, Idaho, a town of fewer than 2,000 residents in a state where Trump won 66% of the vote in 2024—underscoring the movement’s geographic reach. Organizers noted that roughly two-thirds of rallies took place outside major metropolitan areas, including in conservative-leaning states such as Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota, and Louisiana, as well as in politically competitive suburbs in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona. The movement has also expanded globally, with demonstrations reported in at least 15 countries, including Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, and Japan, amid international concern that U.S. military actions could escalate into a broader conflict. The flagship event was held in St. Paul, state capital of Minnesota, with over 100,000 protesters. Protesters held up a massive sign on the Capitol steps that read, "We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis." Prominent Political Leaders included Senator Bernie Sanders , Governor Tim Walz , Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan , Attorney General Keith Ellison , U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar , and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her . Bruce Springsteen performed his protest anthem "Streets of Minneapolis," written in response to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti , along with performances and appearances by Joan Baez , Robert de Niro , Jane Fonda , Tom Morello , and Maggie Rogers . Labor and advocacy leaders were also present in droves. Watch the No Kings video of the St. Paul flagship event at https://www.nokings.org/ (4:09:05). Mayor Her’s speech starts at around 2:08:20. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/04/03 The China Debate We’re Not Having: Politics, Technology, and the Road Ahead 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly 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 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 March 30, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter