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 - #221 Happy Thanksgiving! Loss of Talents; Shutdown Averted; Secret Surveillance Program; + #221 Happy Thanksgiving! Loss of Talents; Shutdown Averted; Secret Surveillance Program; + In This Issue #221 · Happy Thanksgiving! · How America Lost The Heart of China's Top Talent · Government Shutdown Averted For Now · Secret Surveillance Program Gives Cops Access to US Phone Records · News and Activities for the Communities Happy Thanksgiving! How America Lost The Heart of China's Top Talent According to the Brookings Institution, there is a perception that Chinese talented youth are itching to flock to American shores. However, the reality is quite the opposition: Just this year, India has eclipsed China in sending the most international students to the United States. This is the first time has lost that distinction since 2008.Although Chinese students' enrollment in the United States has rebounded this year, this growth may not reflect the choices of China's top talent.Quality, not quantity, is paramount. A recent report from Tsinghua University, China's leading institution, reveals the trend for China's top talent: Over the past few years, the number of Tsinghua graduates who chose to study in the U.S. plummeted - from 11% in 2018 to a mere 3% in 2021. Many attribute this to the pandemic; however, the proportion of Tsinghua graduates studying in the United Kingdom has not declined at all, and the number choosing to study in Singapore has even risen. American higher education has diminished appeal for China's best and brightest. There is fear and anxiety about what they perceive as "a hostile America" toward China - specifically, the U.S. policies targeting Chinese talent and the broader anti-China rhetoric. Instead they would rather compete to get into the graduate program at Tsinghua or other top Chinese institutions. This sentiment marks a significant change from the 1980s and 1990s. The geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China are chilling Chinese students' passion for American education. Trump administration-era policies have been continued by the Biden administration.In other words, souring US-China relations, rising anti-China sentiments, and the concurrent, dramatic increase in anti-Asian hate crimes have inadvertently helped alleviate China's brain drain.The other reason for top students staying in China is the ascendancy of Chinese universities. Some opinion leaders in the U.S. so not fully grasp how American science and technology education and innovation depend on foreign talent, of which Chinese talent is among the largest. They consider Chinese students as threats to U.S. national security based on their incorrect assumptions. Whether the U.S. has permanently lost its charm with regard to China's top talent remains unknown. Whole concerns over intellectual theft are valid, any policy or discourse that weaponizes this concern, and targets groups based on their race, ethnicity, or national origin is fundamentally against American values and interests.Read the Brookings Institution opinion: https://bit.ly/40Jwsus The South China Morning Post reported that only 211 Americans studied in mainland China during the 2021-22 school year, according to the 2023 version of an annual US government-funded study by the Institute of International Education (IIE). In contrast, from 2018 to 2019, there were more than 11,000 American students in the mainland.The same study showed that during the 2022 to 2023 school year, 289,526 Chinese studied in the US, a slight decrease from the 290,086 during the previous school year. Enrolment from India, the second-largest source of foreign students in the US, reached an all-time high of 268,923 in the 2022-23 academic year, an increase of 35 per cent over the previous year.According to the Chinese embassy in Washington, during the past two-plus years, at least 70 Chinese students with legal visas were “interrogated, harassed and deported” by US law enforcement at their port of entry.The State Department issued about 91,000 visas this year to Chinese students, according to Brenda Grewe of the department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. Marianne Craven , also of the State Department, said Chinese students were a “priority and valued by US universities”, noting that China is a key country for colleges’ recruitment efforts. U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said getting people-to-people interactions back on track was a “major priority” for him. Continuing a trend from the previous academic year, the number of Chinese pursuing undergraduate studies decreased during 2022-23, to 100,349 – a decrease of 8.4 per cent. Like last year, Chinese graduate students saw a single-digit percentage increase. From 2022-23, the number of graduate students rose by 2.3 per cent to 126,028, accounting for the plurality of the Chinese student population in the US at 43.5 per cent. And like last year, about half of the Chinese students studied maths, computer science, engineering and other “STEM” subjects. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3QOdMW0 Government Shutdown Averted For Now According to multiple media reports including CNN , President Joe Biden signed on November 16 the stopgap spending bill into law, averting a shutdown for now and setting up a contentious fight over funding in the new year. The plan is not a full-year spending bill and only extends funding until January 19 for priorities including military construction, veterans’ affairs, transportation, housing and the Energy Department. The rest of the government – anything not covered by the first step – will be funded until February 2.Read the CNN report: https://cnn.it/3G7JsRm Secret Surveillance Program Gives Cops Access to US Phone Records According to WIRED , a secretive government program is allowing federal, state, and local law enforcement to access phone records of Americans who are not suspected of a crime. US senator Ron Wyden wrote a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), challenging the program’s legality. A surveillance program now known as Data Analytical Services, or DAS, has for more than a decade allowed federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to mine the details of Americans’ calls, analyzing the phone records of countless people unsuspected of any crime, including victims. Using a technique known as chain analysis, the program targets not only those in direct phone contact with a criminal suspect but anyone with whom those individuals have been in contact with as well. The DAS program, formerly known as Hemisphere, is run in coordination with the telecom giant AT&T, which captures and conducts analysis of US call records for law enforcement agencies, from local police and sheriffs’ departments to US customs offices and postal inspectors across the country,First disclosed by the New York Times in September 2013 as Hemisphere, the DAS program—renamed in 2013—has since largely flown under the radar. Internal records obtained by the newspaper at the time concerning the program’s secrecy show that law enforcement had long been instructed to never “refer to Hemisphere in any official document.”The collection of call record data under DAS is not wiretapping, which on US soil requires a warrant based on probable cause. Call records stored by AT&T do not include recordings of any conversations. Instead, the records include a variety of identifying information, such as the caller and recipient’s names, phone numbers, and the dates and times they placed calls, for six months or more at a time. Documents released under public records laws show the DAS program has been used to produce location information on criminal suspects and their known associates, a practice deemed unconstitutional without a warrant in 2018. Earlier this month, Wyden and other lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced comprehensive privacy legislation known as the Government Surveillance Reform Act. The bill contains numerous provisions that, if enacted, would patch most if not all of these loopholes, effectively rendering the DAS program, in its current form, explicitly illegal. Read the WIRED report: https://bit.ly/46xYGtG News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2023/11/26 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting2023/12/03 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting2023/12/04 APA Justice monthly meeting 2023/12/10 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting2023/12/12 Community Briefing on Section 7022023/12/13 1882 Foundation - Repeal of Chinese Exclusion and Wang Kim Ark2023/12/17 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Cosmos Club Luncheon Event on US-China Science and Technology Relations On November 16, 2023, the Cosmos Club hosted an in-person luncheon event on "Challenges and Opportunities: Defining US-China Science and Technology Relations." The featured speakers were Rebecca Spyke Keiser , chief of research security strategy and policy at the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Tobin (Toby) Smith , senior vice president for government relations and public policy at the Association of American Universities (AAU). They were engaged in an interactive discussion on the complex relationship between the US and China and its bearings on a plethora of science policy issues. Back View PDF November 22, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #40 Raskin Letter Delivered; "China Initiative;" Presidential Memo; More #40 Raskin Letter Delivered; "China Initiative;" Presidential Memo; More Back View PDF February 1, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #157 Ted Lieu; Urgent Letter; Franklin Tao; NASEM Workshop; Dr. Keiser Video; Sherry Chen #157 Ted Lieu; Urgent Letter; Franklin Tao; NASEM Workshop; Dr. Keiser Video; Sherry Chen Back View PDF December 2, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #135 8/1 Monthly Meeting; SCBA Webinar on Dialogue with NIH; 7/11 Meeting Summary; CHIPS+ #135 8/1 Monthly Meeting; SCBA Webinar on Dialogue with NIH; 7/11 Meeting Summary; CHIPS+ ! Back View PDF July 28, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #18 09/30 Webinar Reminder; 10/05 APA Justice Meeting; More Webinars #18 09/30 Webinar Reminder; 10/05 APA Justice Meeting; More Webinars Back View PDF September 29, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #276 9/9 Meeting; NIH's China Initiative; Talent Programs; Heartland/Mainland; Texas Raids+ #276 9/9 Meeting; NIH's China Initiative; Talent Programs; Heartland/Mainland; Texas Raids+ In This Issue #276 · 2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · NIH's "China Initiative" · International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment · From Heartland to Mainland: Reflections and Insights on US-China Agricultural Roundtable · Texas Raids Latino Democrats' Homes, Including Those of LULAC Members · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, September 9, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited speakers are: · Ted Lieu , Member, U.S. House of Representatives; Vice Chair, Democratic Caucus (invited) · Jane Shim , Director, Stop Asian Hate Project, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) (confirmed) · Tori Bateman , Director of Advocacy, Quincy Institute (confirmed) · Sandy Shan , Director, Justice Is Global (confirmed) · Christine Chen , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Vote (confirmed) 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 . NIH's "China Initiative" According to the South China Morning Post on August 26, 2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is attempting to rebuild relationships with Asian researchers, though some scientists believe the damage is almost "irreversible."Six years after the Trump Administration's "China Initiative" targeted scientists for suspected ties to China, the NIH, which led many of these investigations, has acknowledged the "difficult climate" it created but stopped short of issuing an apology. The NIH was the first and most active federal agency in conducting these investigations.As of June 9, 2024, 112 scientists, predominantly of Asian descent, had lost their jobs due to dismissals or forced retirements. Most of these cases involved NIH-funded researchers who were suspected of undisclosed connections to Chinese institutions. Consequences ranged from job terminations to funding suspensions and criminal investigations.Tragically, a prominent Chinese American researcher in neurology and genetics died after her lab at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine was shut down.On August 15, 2024, NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli expressed support for Asian American, Asian immigrant, and Asian research colleagues, acknowledging that the government's actions had "unintended consequences" for these communities, leading them to feel "targeted and alienated."According to her statement, NIH is now working with universities and academic organizations to take steps to repair relations with Asian researchers. Dr. Nianshuang Wang , a principal scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, highlighted that researchers of Chinese descent make up a significant portion of the NIH and the broader US life sciences and biotechnology research community. Many top research papers today include contributions from these researchers. However, Dr. Wang, whose work was instrumental in developing the COVID-19 vaccine, noted that many scientists, including well-established senior figures, have left the US, feeling targeted and bullied due to their race.Although the Department of Justice ended the "China Initiative" in February 2022, the NIH's efforts to curb "foreign interference" continue. A leading Chinese-born virology professor in the US welcomed the NIH's recent statement as encouraging but cautioned that the impact of racial profiling on Asian American scientists, particularly those of Chinese origin, is "long-lasting and almost irreversible." This climate of suspicion, the professor argued, will "definitely" weaken the US's competitiveness in life sciences research, a field in which China is becoming a formidable competitor. There are approximately 100,000 Chinese-born scientists in the US, who contribute enormously to America's leadership in science. However, the number of Chinese-born scientists leaving the US has risen steadily, from 900 in 2010 to 2,621 in 2021, according to the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. In June 2024, Dr. Marcia McNutt , President of the National Academy of Sciences, warned in her address on the State of Science in the US that the country is losing its global scientific leadership to other nations, particularly China. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3T5LOa0 International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment WHAT : International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment WHEN: August 29, 2024, 3:00-4:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; speakers include Harvard University Professor of Biostatistics Xihong LinDESCRIPTION: This event highlights the public release of the International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment consensus study report. The report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and recommends ways to improve the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining the best and brightest scholars, relative to programs and incentives used by the U.S.'s strategic competitors. Members of the consensus study committee will provide an overview of the report and discuss its findings and recommendations. This will be followed by a moderated question and answer period during which members of the public can submit written questions. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3X3k5If From Heartland to Mainland: Reflections and Insights on US-China Agricultural Roundtable In June 2024, the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) led a special delegation of American agriculture students and faculty from 7 states, 10 universities to attend the 4th Annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable in China. The immersive trip was 17 days long.On August 29, 2024, a special webinar will share the delegates' reflections and insights from their recent travels. As delegates of two American delegations organized by USHCA - the Ag & Food Business Delegation and the Ag Education Delegation – they had a front-row-seat opportunity to observe and explore the impact of US-China collaboration around agriculture as they traveled through Shanghai, Hefei, Jinan, Binzhou, Weifang, Beijing, and Xi’an.Register to attend the webinar: https://bit.ly/3Z4uWnU Texas Raids Latino Democrats' Homes, Including Those of LULAC Members According to CBS News on August 27, 2024, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), has been targeted in voter fraud raids led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .LULAC, founded in 1929, has requested the Justice Department investigate Paxton's office for potential Voting Rights Act violations, accusing it of conducting illegal searches under the guise of voter fraud. The organization argues that these actions are reminiscent of historical voter suppression and intimidation tactics against Black and Latino communities. Latinos make up about 40% of the Texas population.One of those reportedly targeted was Lidia Martinez , an 87-year-old who lives in San Antonio. Martinez has been a LULAC member for over 35 years and works to expand voter registration among seniors and veterans in South Texas.She said that on August 20, 2024, there was a knock on her door in the morning, and she was greeted by nine officers in tactical gear and firearms who said they were executing a search warrant. Martinez was questioned for over three hours about her voter registration efforts in Texas. Law enforcement seized Martinez's phone, computer, personal calendar, blank voter registration forms and her certificate to conduct voter registration. "This is a free country, this is not Russia," Martinez said during a press conference denouncing the raid. Manuel Medina , the chair of Tejano Democrats, is another LULAC member who was targeted. Medina's home was raided on August 22 by police in riot gear, who were armed and broke down his door. Read the CBS News report: https://cbsn.ws/3X4qNhb News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/08/29 From Heartland to Mainland: Reflections and Insights from the U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable2024/08/29 International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment 2024/08/29 Anti-Alien Land Law & Attacks on AAPI Community2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/09/10-12 Chronicle Festival: The Road Ahead to 20352024/09/12 AA4D: Nobel Laureates and Scientists for Democracy 2024/09/19 1990 Teachers Workshop: Asian American Identity2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity Summit2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 The Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Anti-Alien Land Laws: a Broad Overview On August 29, 2024, Texas State Representative Gene Wu will host a webinar on "Anti-Lien Land Laws: A Broad Overview," starting at 7:00 pm ET. In the past two centuries, more than a dozen states passed laws banning Asian immigrants from purchasing or acquiring property. Nationwide, states enacted Anti-Alien Land Laws in response to a wave of Anti-Asian feeling that began in mid-1800s. However, the history of Anti-Alien Land Laws can be traced back to the very founding of our country. Previous alien land laws have since been ruled unconstitutional for violating the 14th Amendment right to equal protection, as well as regulations prohibiting discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and national origin. However, legislative efforts across the United States, including here in Texas, continue to target individuals from China based solely on their national origin.Join the webinar: https://bit.ly/3X2BjFB Back View PDF August 29, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #287 Civic Leadership Forum; Endorse Stanford Letter; Qian Xuesen; MSP Lecture; Election; + #287 Civic Leadership Forum; Endorse Stanford Letter; Qian Xuesen; MSP Lecture; Election; + In This Issue #287 · Civic Leadership Forum Silicon Valley: The U.S. vs. China: A Talent War · Additional Endorsers and Letters Invited to Oppose Revival of China Initiative · McCarthyism and Qian Xuesen 钱学森 · "Threats to Academic Freedom and International Engagement: China and Beyond" · APIAVote: Election Information in Your State · News and Activities for the Communities Civic Leadership Forum Silicon Valley: The U.S. vs. China: A Talent War On October 11, 2024, Civic Leadership Forum Silicon Valley: The U.S. vs. China: A Talent War was held at Ding Ding TV studios. Over 300 people watched the livestream of the event, which covered three topics: · Understanding the implications of losing top talent to China. · Discovering how trade wars and talent loss affect the middle class. · Exploring strategies for fostering collaboration and retaining talent. The expert panel included: · Scott Rozelle : A leading scholar in Chinese economics, Rozelle has recently participated in Track Two diplomacy initiatives between the U.S. and China. · Peter Michelson : A renowned physicist at Stanford University, Michelson has expressed concerns about the impact of the DoJ’s China Initiative on reverse brain drain. · Peter Zeidenberg : A successful lawyer who has defended Americans wrongly accused of espionage-related crimes, including Kansas University Professor Franklin Tao. · Joel Wong : A dedicated advocate for the Asian American Pacific Islander community and a prominent figure in U.S.-China relations. Professor Feng “Franklin” Tao , and his wife Hong attended the event and spoke about their ordeal . Former Congressman Mike Honda led off the Q&A session. Dr. Ken Fong , sponsor of the event, gave closing remarks . Additional Endorsers and Letters Invited to Oppose Revival of China Initiative On October 9, 2024, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that more than 165 Stanford faculty members signed a letter to congressional leaders to “strongly oppose” legislative efforts to reinstate the China Initiative. The U.S. House has passed a measure to bring back the Trump-era initiative, which was ended in February 2022. Lawmakers also included language directing the U.S. Department of Justice to restart the probe in a government-spending bill. Both proposals require Senate approval. Gisela Kusakawa , executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, said it was important for professors and researchers to voice their concerns because they see firsthand the importance of international collaboration — and the chilling effect of the initial federal inquiry. She encourages faculty members at other colleges to also weigh in vy endorsing the Stanford letter or write their own letters. “By speaking out, these scholars can help shape policies that safeguard the academic landscape for future generations,” she said, Steven A. Kivelson , a professor of physics who spearheaded the drafting of the Stanford letter with Professor Peter Michelson , said he has worked with “brilliant” graduate students, postdocs, visiting scholars, and longtime research partners from China. “The China Initiative was significantly harmful to such collaborations, without having any clear positive implications for national-security issues,” he wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “There are few policy matters that seem so clear-cut to me as that the China Initiative should not be revived.”Read the Chronicle report: https://bit.ly/3U6ZD8J . Read the Stanford faculty letter: https://bit.ly/4dCVC2P . Endorse the Stanford faculty letter: https://bit.ly/4eXkWBw . The 1990 Institute has joined the White House , CAPAC , a coalition of community organizations , Committee of 100 , and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association in issuing a statement condemning the attempt to revive the China Initiative: https://bit.ly/3U8bLpT .On October 13, 2024, Forbes Breaking News posted a video recording of a hearing by the House Oversight Committee on September 24, 2024, in which Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) slammed the premise of the hearing and questioned witnesses about discrimination against the Chinese community. Watch the video: https://bit.ly/4029aSa (5:23) On October 12, 2024, Fair Observer reported that escalating political tensions between the U.S. and China are hindering scientific collaboration and making it harder for the U.S. to attract and retain talented Chinese scholars, according to a new study co-authored by Wharton professor Britta Glennon . Both countries are increasingly focused on self-sufficiency in science, diverging from long-standing international collaboration trends. This shift towards nationalism, Glennon argues, may have unintended consequences for innovation. The study, titled "Building a Wall around Science," was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Read the Fair Observer report: https://bit.ly/4dKyAa7 . McCarthyism and Qian Xuesen 钱学森 In China, Qian Xuesen 钱学森 is hailed as a national hero—an aerospace engineer who took China into space. Here in America, Qian’s story is a lesson about how McCarthyism and American insecurity made America less secure. Qian Xuesen left the Republic of China in 1935 to study aerospace engineering at MIT, and he later became a professor at CalTech and co-founded NASA’s famous Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was a welcome guest in the U.S. for more than ten years. In fact, shortly after World War II, the U.S. Government thanked him for his contribution to the war effort, including his service on the U.S. government’s Scientific Advisory Board as an Air Force lieutenant colonel. At the height of McCarthyism in 1950, the FBI accused Qian of being a communist and a threat to national security. He felt betrayed and humiliated, and after trying unsuccessfully to clear his name. The Department of Justice placed him under house arrest and forbade him from leaving for five years from 1950-1955 until the United States finally decided to deport him. Rather than helping the United States land on the moon, the country forced Qian out, and he helped build China’s space program. Still, there is no evidence that Qian ever spied for China or was an intelligence agent when he was in America, and government officials later described his deportation as “the stupidest thing this country ever did.” Qian’s life is recognized as globally pivotal in both Chinese and American history. The BBC wrote: “Qian's life spanned almost a century. In that time China grew from an economic minnow to a superpower on Earth and in space. Qian was part of that transformation. But his story could have been a great American one too - where talent, wherever it is found, could thrive.” Sources: 2020/10/26 BBC : Qian Xuesen: The man the US deported - who then helped China into space National Museum of Nuclear Sciences and History: Qian Xuesen Wikipedia: Qian Xuesen Alex Liang , second year student at Harvard Law School, contributed this report. "Threats to Academic Freedom and International Engagement: China and Beyond" On November 12, 2024, Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, will host a lecture on "Threats to International Engagement and Academic Freedom," starting at 4:00 pm ET. The featured speaker is Dr. Yangyang Cheng , Particle Physicist and Research Scholar at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center. Across the country, faculty and students are facing impediments to international engagement, and sometimes at significant personal risk, arising from increasingly strict federal regulations. International faculty and students are especially vulnerable, as are Chinese Americans and others with ties to countries experiencing strained US relations.At UMass Amherst, there are strong unions with the power to enforce robust contracts. The MSP event and the conversations it generates will help mobilize the UMass community to win and sustain the strongest possible protections for research and professional lives.The event will be held at UMass Amherst Lederle Graduate Research Center A112. It will also be streamlined by Zoom at https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/96950189589 . For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3Yn2lcH APIAVote: Election Information in Your State November 5, 2024, is Election Day. Voters will elect the next President and Vice President of the United States. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be up for election, and 34 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested. There will also be state and local elections, as well as ballot initiatives or referendums.Every state has different rules for its elections. APIAVote (Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 that promotes civic participation and voter engagement in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. It focuses on increasing voter registration, turnout, and advocacy to ensure AAPI voices are represented in the U.S. political process.APIAVote has developed an online map to provide state-by-state election dates, including registration and mail-in deadlines, as well as early voting. It also provides translated mailers to over 1 million AAPI households and online in order to inform them on how, where and when to vote, in their preferred language. To find out specific information about your state, visit: https://bit.ly/4f2qKtB According to NPR on October 14, 2024, in an election race this close, Asian American voters have become a force. The Asian and Pacific Islander Political Alliance (APIPA) is working to mobilize AAPI voters in Pennsylvania ahead of the 2024 election, canvassing daily to support Vice President Kamala Harris and other endorsed candidates. AAPI voters, though a small part of the electorate in this critical swing state, have grown significantly, with their numbers increasing by 55% between 2010 and 2020. The group's efforts reflect the growing importance of the AAPI population in political engagement, particularly in tight races where their votes could be decisive.Outreach to AAPI communities has been a challenge for both major parties, partly due to the cost and labor involved in translating voting materials. However, candidates like Harris have focused on targeted advertising and voter engagement in Asian American media, emphasizing her own immigrant background. While the Donald Trump campaign has done less specific outreach, they have attempted to tap into nostalgia for the economy during Trump's presidency. AAPI voters, once engaged, tend to remain politically active, and their support could prove crucial in several swing states.In other states, like Nevada, North Carolina, and Georgia, AAPI voters are also seen as a key demographic, with advocacy groups working to build long-term political engagement. Democratic organizers have noticed a surge in South Asian volunteers and increased outreach from both parties. However, some within the AAPI community still feel politically marginalized, a challenge advocacy groups are working to address by increasing voter outreach and representation in campaigns.Read the NPR report: https://n.pr/3BTAnfO News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/10/16 Rebuilding Trust in Science2024/10/20 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/22 Engage with AAAS: 2024 U.S. Elections2024/10/25-27 Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the American Studies Network2024/10/26 Common Ground and Banquet2024/10/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/10 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/12 Threats to International Engagement and Academic Freedom2024/11/14 Asian American Career Ceiling InitiativesVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Committee of 100: Asian American Career Ceiling Initiative WHAT : Asian American Career Ceiling Initiative: “An Advice and Networking Event (Financial Services, Investing and Consulting)" WHEN: November 14, 2024, 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm ET WHERE: Webcast HOST: Committee of 100 Moderator: Peter Young , Chair, Committee of 100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative DESCRIPTION: This virtual event, the 37th in a series, will enable Asian Americans of all ages to get valuable career advice from experienced and successful Asian Americans in the Financial Services, Investing and Consulting professions. Committee of 100 expects to hold this event for a different clusters of professions in the future. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3A1RUC3 3. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moved to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved 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 October 15, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #15 September 14 Will Be A Very Informative Meeting #15 September 14 Will Be A Very Informative Meeting Back View PDF September 11, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #331 5/5 Meeting; Student Visas Reversal; Higher Ed United; Litigations; Heritage Month; + #331 5/5 Meeting; Student Visas Reversal; Higher Ed United; Litigations; Heritage Month; + In This Issue #331 • 2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting • International Student Visa Revocations and New ICE Policy • Higher Education Against Political Interference/Government Overreach • Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions • May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month • News and Activities for the Communities 2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 5, 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: • William Tong 湯偉麟, Attorney General, State of Connecticut • Robert L. Santos, Former Director, U.S. Census Bureau; Former President, American Statistical Association • Haifan Lin 林海帆, President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA); Professor, Yale University • Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; and his attorney Robert Fisher 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. International Student Visa Revocations and New ICE Policy On April 25, 2025, Politico reported that more than 100 lawsuits and dozens of restraining orders from federal judges challenged the Trump administration’s mass termination of student visa records. After 20 days of consistent legal defeats, the administration capitulated and reversed its decision. Notable lawsuits include • Chen v. Noem (3:25-cv-03292), filed April 11 in the Northern District of California by the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (华美维权同盟 CALDA) • Jane Doe 1 v. Bondi (1:25-cv-01998), filed April 11 in the Northern District of Georgia by CAIR-Georgia, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, and American Civil Liberties Union-Georgia. Inside Higher Ed reported that over 280 colleges and universities have identified at least 1,879 international students and recent graduates had their visa revoked and their records terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)—actions that carry significant immigration and employment consequences. On April 29, Politico reported that the visa revocations were part of the "Student Criminal Alien Initiative," which involved running 1.3 million student names through a federal criminal database run by the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Approximately 6,400 matches were found, many of which were minor infractions or dismissed charges. Despite this, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) used the data to terminate student records in the SEVIS tracking system. In parallel, the State Department revoked visas for roughly 3,000 individuals based on similar data, separate from the SEVIS terminations. Hundreds of the terminations, an ICE official who helped oversee the effort said, came less than 24 hours after an April 1 email exchange between his office and the State Department, with little sign of review of individual cases to ensure the decisions were accurate. The lack of due process became especially clear during an April 29 hearing before U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, where ICE officials admitted that hundreds of terminations were made within 24 hours of receiving raw data—with little or no individual case review. “When the courts say due process is important, we’re not unhinged, we’re not radicals,” Judge Reyes said during an hourlong hearing. “I’m not on a lark questioning why students who have been here legally, who paid to be in this country by paying their universities … they’re cut off with less than 24 hours of consideration and no notice whatsoever." Akshar Patel brought the suit that led to the April 29 hearing. He is an international student from India who pursued undergraduate studies in computer science at the University of Texas at Arlington. He graduated prior to 2025 and has since been working in the computer science field in North Texas. His legal status in the U.S. was abruptly terminated after his name appeared in the ICE sweep of the NCIC database. He had faced a reckless driving charge in 2018 but it was ultimately dismissed. When colleges discovered the students no longer had legal status, it prompted chaos and confusion. In the past, legal statuses typically were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school. In some cases this spring, colleges told students to stop working or taking classes immediately and warned them they could be deported after the ICE sweep. According to AP News, NBC News, and multiple media reports on April 29, an internal memo to all Student and Exchange Visitor Program personnel, which falls under ICE, shows an expanded list of criteria for ICE to terminate foreign-born students’ legal status in the U.S., including a “U.S. Department of State Visa Revocation (Effective Immediately).” It was filed in court by the Justice Department on April 28 and dated April 26. This new ICE policy could foreshadow another new round of deportation efforts. Brad Banias, an immigration attorney who represents Patel, said the new guidelines vastly expand ICE’s authority beyond previous policy, which did not count visa revocation as grounds for losing legal status. In the past, if a student had their visa revoked, they could stay in the U.S. to finish their studies — they simply would not be able to reenter if they left the country. “This just gave them carte blanche to have the State Department revoke a visa and then deport those students even if they’ve done nothing wrong,” Banias said. Follow the continuing development at https://bit.ly/3Yd6gIH. Higher Education Against Political Interference/Government Overreach On April 22, 2025, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) published a statement denouncing the Trump administration’s “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” with higher education. According to the Guardian, the joint condemnation followed a convening of more than 100 university leaders called by the AACU and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to “come together to speak out at this moment of enormity”, said Lynn Pasquerella, the president of the AACU. Pasquerella said that there was “widespread agreement” across a variety of academic institutions about the need to take a collective stand. In the powerful unified statement, leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies voiced strong opposition to “unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.” While affirming their openness to “constructive reform” and “legitimate government oversight,” the signatories declared: “We must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses.” The statement emphasized the unique role of higher education in sustaining democracy and fostering innovation, asserting that “American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom.” It warned that undermining these freedoms would come at a steep cost: “The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society.” The signatories from large state schools, small liberal arts colleges and Ivy League institutions declared: “We must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses” and concluded with a call for “constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.” The number of signatories rose from about 180 on the day the statement was issued to over 594 as of 6:00 pm ET on May 1, 2025. AACU continues to accept signatures from current leaders of colleges, universities, and scholarly societies. Separately on April 22, 2025, a group of at least 122 retired university and college presidents and chancellors issued a powerful "Pledge to Our Democracy" warning that the United States is facing an unprecedented constitutional and political crisis. They condemn the current administration for ignoring court rulings, attacking the press, punishing free speech, and undermining independent institutions like universities and research centers—hallmarks of democratic societies. Drawing parallels to autocratic regimes in Russia, Turkey, and Hungary, the signatories argue that America’s democratic institutions are being dismantled in favor of authoritarian control. They call for a broad, nonpartisan coalition—including educators, students, unions, and community leaders—to resist this slide into autocracy and defend constitutional values, urging Americans to stand up before democracy is lost. Read the Pledge to Our Democracy: https://bit.ly/437C0BI Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of May 1, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 222 (7 closed cases). 1. Mass Termination of F-1 Foreign Student Visa Records One of the most significant waves of legal action involves the mass termination of F-1 foreign student visa records. The Tracker consolidates as one case Jane Doe 1 v. Bondi (1:25-cv-01998) all the lawsuits involving the removal of F-1 foreign student visa registration, representing over 100 lawsuits filed (and 50 restraining orders) against the administration’s actions. They include Liu v. Noem (1:25-cv-00133), Deore v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2:25-cv-11038), and Chen v. Noem (3:25-cv-03292) although each case may vary in facts and legal arguments. According to a policy brief by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and as reported by AsAmNews on April 22, Indian and Chinese nationals account for the majority of revoked student visas -- 50% and 14% respectively -- followed by South Korea, Nepal and Bangladesh. Amy Grenier, AILA’s Associate Director of Government Relations, advises students to document any notices received from the government or their universities. Tejas Shah, president of the South Asian Bar Association’s charitable arm, expressed concern over the lack of clarity and due process: “Students have not been given an opportunity to properly challenge the grounds for the revocations,” he said. While some students have opted to self-deport, Shah urges caution and emphasizes the importance of legal counsel and consular support before making such decisions. 2. District Court Rules Invocation Of Alien Enemies Act Was Unlawful According to AP News, Wall Street Journal, and multiple media reports, on May 1, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. of the Southern Disatrict of Texas ruled in the case of J.A.V. v. Trump (1:25-cv-00072) that the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) cannot be used against people who, the Trump administration claims, are gang members invading the United States. He is the first judge to bar the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelans from South Texas under the 18th-century wartime law. “The Court concludes that the President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and, as a result, is unlawful,” wrote Judge Rodriguez, who was nominated by Trump in 2018. His ruling is significant because it is the first formal permanent injunction against the Trump administration using the AEA and contends the president is misusing the law. “Congress never meant for this law to be used in this manner,” said Lee Gelernt, the ACLU lawyer who argued the case, in response to the ruling. The Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times before in U.S. history, most recently during World War II, when it was cited to intern Japanese Americans. 3. 220+ Lawsuits for First 100 Days in Office According to ABC News, in the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has faced an unprecedented wave of legal challenges—more than 220 lawsuits—averaging over two per day. Approximately 60 of those cases have focused on the president's immigration policy, These lawsuits target executive orders, sweeping immigration changes, mass firings, and attacks on higher education and civil liberties. Judges across the country have blocked key parts of his agenda, including attempts to end birthright citizenship, punish sanctuary cities, and eliminate diversity initiatives. While the administration has won some temporary reprieves, courts have harshly criticized its disregard for due process and constitutional norms. In the first hundred days since Trump took office, lawyers challenging his actions in court alleged that his administration violated court orders at least six times. The administration has rebutted orders to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States despite the Supreme Court ordering them to facilitate his release. Federal judges have accused the Trump administration of acting in "bad faith," willfully ignoring court orders, and launching what one judge called a “shock-and-awe” campaign against legal guardrails. High-profile rulings have exposed how ICE used the Alien Enemies Act to deport individuals without proper review and how student visas were revoked based on speech or minor offenses. Four law firms have sued the Trump administration after they were targeted for their past work, with each firm arguing the Trump administration unlawfully retaliated against them and violated their First Amendment rights. Judges have temporarily blocked the Trump administration from targeting Susman Godfrey LLP, Jenner & Block LLP, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, and Perkins Coie LLP. "The framers of our Constitution would see this as a shocking abuse of power," U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan said regarding the order targeting Susman Godfrey LLP. According to the New York Times Tracker, as of May 1, at least 132 of the court rulings have at least temporarily paused some of the Trump administration’s initiatives. May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Asian Pacific American Heritage Month originated in June 1977 when Representatives Frank Horton (New York) and Norman Y. Mineta (California) called for the establishment of Asian/Pacific Heritage Week. Hawaii senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Both bills passed, and in 1978 President Jimmy Carter signed the resolution. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush expanded the celebration from a week to a month. The monthlong celebration honors the contributions and history of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in the United States. The activities have grown beyond cultural festivities to include serious themes addressing community grief and social justice, especially in response to recent anti-Asian hate incidents. Events are now held in various public spaces across the U.S., highlighting the diversity within AANHPI communities. Despite recent federal rollbacks on diversity initiatives, public interest and participation in AANHPI Heritage Month continue to expand, reflecting broader engagement in civic life and a reclaiming of space for underrepresented voices. Over 30 members of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) members & House Democratic leaders celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month with this statement: https://bit.ly/3GwLRbL. The website asianpacificheritage.gov is the official U.S. government portal for AANHPI Heritage Month. It is a collaborative project curated by various federal cultural institutions including the Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The website covers: • History of AANHPI Heritage Month: Its origins, significance, and how it came to be recognized in May. • Feature Exhibits and Collections: Digital exhibits, archival materials, and special collections that highlight AANHPI contributions to American history and culture. • Events and Programs: A calendar of public lectures, virtual tours, and educational programs hosted by federal agencies and museums. • Resources for Educators: Lesson plans, teaching materials, and historical documents that support classroom learning. • Spotlights on Notable Figures: Biographies and achievements of prominent AANHPI individuals across diverse fields such as arts, science, politics, and activism. Some of the state and local activities for the Heritage Month: • Asia Society: https://bit.ly/3EyjdGB • Asia Society Texas: https://bit.ly/3YXa40S • Cincinnati, Ohio: https://bit.ly/3S4kiJn • Fairfax County, Virginia: https://bit.ly/42SYLIn • Houston: https://bit.ly/4lUVQYn • Kansas City: https://bit.ly/44dxgM1 • Lincoln, Nebraska: https://bit.ly/4iFQpd6 • Los Angeles: https://bit.ly/3EH5gpN • Middle Tennessee: https://bit.ly/4jB5oq5 • Montgomery County, Maryland: https://bit.ly/4jQWkNs • New York: https://bit.ly/3YVuLKI • Orlando, Florida: https://bit.ly/42PWZry • San Francisco: https://bit.ly/42CO5ib • Seattle: https://bit.ly/3GuFTrB • Unexpected: https://bit.ly/42RaEhV News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/05/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2025/05/05 Silk Road Connection: Oklahoma and Gansu Celebrate 40 Years of Friendship through Culture, Music, and Education 2025/05/06 Asian American Careers - How to Build Your Personal Network, including Through Strategic Allies 2025/05/12-14 APAICS Annual Summit and Gala 2025/05/18 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/06/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2025/06/15-18 2025 Applied Statistics Symposium Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. The Silk Road Connection On May 5, 2025, the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) will host a "Silk Road Connection" performance to celebrate 40 years of sister-state friendship between Oklahoma and the Gansu province of China. The in-person event is free and open to the public. It will be held at Constitution Hall in the George Nigh Center, University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, Oklahoma. Reception starts at 6 pm. Performance starts at 7 pm. The event will feature traditional Chinese music and dance, hors d'oeuvres, photo opportunities with Chinese performers in traditional costumes and a performance from Oklahoma’s own Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road. A delegation from Gansu will bring both government officials and a large group of professional dancers and musicians. Former UCO President and Oklahoma Governor George Nigh will also be in attendance. For more information and tickets to to event, visit: https://bit.ly/44Q5S6Z # # # 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. 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