Newsletter - #73 Qing Wang Case Dropped; Feds Transparency; CAPAC in Action; 07/12 Meeting Summary #73 Qing Wang Case Dropped; Feds Transparency; CAPAC in Action; 07/12 Meeting Summary Back View PDF July 19, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #168 Updates on Texas SB147 and Revival of Alien Land Laws; Media Opinions/Reports; News #168 Updates on Texas SB147 and Revival of Alien Land Laws; Media Opinions/Reports; News In This Issue #168 Updates on Texas Senate Bill 147 and Opposition to Revival of Alien Land Laws Media Opinions by Asian American Leaders Media Reports Asian American Community News and Activities Updates on Texas Senate Bill 147 and Opposition to Revival of Alien Land Laws 1. First Webinar - A Call to Stop SB 147 and All Alien Land Laws The first in a mini-series of two webinars sponsored by 1882 Foundation , APA Justice , United Chinese Americans was held on February 17, 2023. Judy Chu , Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, opened the webinar with her remarks. Panelists included Gene Wu , Texas State Representative; Jamal Abdi , President, National Iranian American Council (NIAC); David Donatti , Staff Attorney, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas; and Clay Zhu , Attorney and Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA). Professor Steven Pei , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, started, and Haipei Shue , President of United Chinese Americans, moderated the webinar. Watch the webinar at https://bit.ly/3Z4wjzE (video 1:27:51). 2. Second of a Mini Series of Webinars . The second webinar titled "Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Laws and SB147" will be held on Friday, March 1, 2023, starting at 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT. The webinar will be moderated by Professor Janelle Wong of University of Maryland. Confirmed panelists are Texas State Representative Gene Wu , Professor Madeline Hsu of University of Texas at Austin, and Professor Carol Suzuki of University of New Mexico School of Law. Ted Gong , Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation will deliver opening remarks. Register for this webinar at http://bit.ly/3Id2uGp 3 . Weekly Town Hall Meetings with Texas State Representative Gene Wu. Beginning on Sunday, February 19, 2023, Texas State Representative Gene Wu will hold town hall meetings with all Texas community groups and individuals starting at 8 pm CT every Sunday to exchange information and coordinate the next step. Everyone is welcome. Please register to attend: http://bit.ly/3XI6tQX . Representatives of major organizations and regional organizers are requested to send your credential to APAJ2023@gmail.com . A special personalized panelist link will be emailed to you. Representative Gene Wu我希望以后每个周日晚上8时和德州的朋友们一起总结经验和商讨下一步的策略，欢迎大家注册参加， http://bit.ly/3XI6tQX ，各主要团体和抗议组织的代表，请把你自己的简介发到 APAJ2023@gmail.com ，可免注册，并且享有优先发言的权利，谢谢。德州州议员吴元之 4. Chin Lung and the Great Western Potato Mart Thanks to Historical Record of Chinese Americans for leading us to the story of Chin Lung . According to the Soundings Journal , at the turn of the twentieth century, the grain market had fallen on hard times, but Los Angeles investors—wealthy from citrus, real estate, and oil—and San Franciscans, wealthy from the Comstock Lode, and other investors from the East and from Europe, began purchasing and reclaiming the rich peatlands of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.¶ These investors were soon leasing the lands to energetic farmers, many of them Asian immigrants. A major crop planted on these Delta farmlands was potatoes and Stockton became known throughout the United States as the “great western potato mart.”¶ Chin Lung was one of the first Chinese farmers to lease Delta farmland. In September 1901, he planted a crop of potatoes on his 1,100-acre lease just west of Stockton. Mr. Chin’s potato crop hit the Eastern markets nearly two months ahead of his competitors from other areas and he suddenly became wealthy.¶ Between 1901 and 1924, Chin Lung farmed at least 1,000 acres each season and he was the principal employer of Chinese laborers in San Joaquin County.¶ In 1910 Chin purchased 2,200 acres of Delta farmland of his own, northwest of Stockton near White Slough—the first agricultural property in San Joaquin County purchased by a Chinese.¶ Two years later Chin purchased the nearby Shin Kee Tract, named after the Sing Kee Store (correct spelling) that he owned on Sacramento Street in San Francisco. He grew potatoes, beans, onions, asparagus, and hay for seventy work horses.¶ Chin lost the store and his agricultural holdings in California and Oregon by 1923 as a result of the Alien Land Acts of 1920 and 1923. He farmed in Oregon until 1933, after which he retired and returned to his native China. Read the Soundings Journal article: https://bit.ly/3lMLkbb 5. Asian Texans for Justice Sign-on Letter. Asian Texan for Justice is asking the broader Texas community to join this letter opposing the Texas Senate Bill 147: http://bit.ly/3lRpsez . You can sign onto the letter here: http://bit.ly/3k3wNaJ . It has also developed a toolkit for community members to take action - contact the bill author, lieutenant governor, and governor to oppose the legislation: http://bit.ly/3XK2L9J . As legislation begins to move through the process, it will be updating the toolkit with updated calls to action for testimony and more. Questions or comments should be directed to info@asiantexansforjustice.org Media Opinions by Asian American Leaders 1. San Francisco Chronicle . On February 17, 2023, retired San Francisco Superior Court judges Lillian Sing and Julie Tang published an opinion titled "While Florida targets Black history, Texas Republicans plan to make life miserable for Asian Americans."¶ According to the opinion, while much of the country is rightfully preoccupied with Florida’s efforts to eliminate African American history from schools, a quieter but equally dangerous racist development - Texas Senate Bill 147 (SB147) - is happening in Texas and beyond.¶ The ultra-conservative American Legislative Exchange Council is pushing many of these bills as a “model policy.”¶ These laws will almost certainly have a disproportionate impact on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders because we are easier to identify — and will bolster the yellow peril view of us as forever foreigners in our own country.¶ Whatever the state of official diplomatic relations between countries, these sorts of anti-free market, race-based discriminatory restrictive covenants are anathema to our nation’s values and have a disgraceful place in American history. SB147 ignores history to send the chilling message that questions Asian American loyalty to America — perpetuating the forever foreigner stereotype.¶ The nation just endured a 339 % increase in anti-Asian hate crimes last year. SB147 and similar legislation spreading across the country will target Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders anew.¶ The bills are xenophobic, unconstitutional and should not be passed. Read the San Francisco Chronicle opinion: https://bit.ly/3YYpu2D 2. New York Daily News. On February 17, 2023, Frank Wu, President of Queen's College, City University of New York, published an opinion titled "Being American and being Chinese."¶ According to the opinion, Chinese Americans, who number more than five million, face the worst dilemma as China and the United States enter a new phase of competition and conflict.¶ The question is asked again and again: which side are you on? No answer will likely satisfy the suspicious.¶ The situation of Chinese Americans verges on the untenable. Americans of Chinese descent include those whose ancestors came on the Mayflower and whose forebears were enslaved, thanks to intermarriage; and adoptees, whose parents would no doubt be accepted as white.¶ They also include descendants of laborers who built the transcontinental railroad, which united the nation after the Civil War, and who founded Chinatowns more than a century ago.¶ Some Chinese Americans arrived on these shores not from mainland China but from Cuba or Peru or Japan or Germany, because their grandparents left for those destinations before their parents migrated again. Many Chinese Americans came from Taiwan, their families having fought communism; or Hong Kong, themselves departing before the 1997 handover from Great Britain to Beijing.¶ Ironically, due to prejudice, the dissidents are not distinguished from the regime they protested. These individuals are not merely allies to the United States; they are in fact Americans.¶ It hardly mattered that the individuals who were sent to the hospital in critical condition from being kicked in the head or shoved down stairs were as vulnerable as the next person. Those with hostility in their hearts do not pause to check passports. The statistics show record rates of hate crimes directed at Asian Americans.¶ Meanwhile, Asian Americans were significantly overrepresented among the health care workers on the front lines, risking their own lives in order to tend to others. They even cared for those who requested service providers of a different race.¶ At the same time, without much evidence once bias was stripped away, the government prosecuted respected professors on the theory they were spies stealing scientific secrets in an elaborate conspiracy. Every Chinese exchange student, government officials said explicitly, was a potential sleeper agent.¶ For Chinese Americans who have struggled to assimilate despite the objections of their own family, the effort verges on futile. America beckoned to them, promising freedom and opportunity. Its ideals are still strong.¶ The profound Black struggle for civil rights offers important lessons. Chinese Americans must participate in civic life. They cannot try to put their heads down and work harder. By exercising their rights, they fulfill their responsibilities. Only that engagement will ensure their equality. Read the New York Daily News Opinion: http://bit.ly/3k1GXZq Media Reports On February 18, 2023, CNN reported on "History repeats itself with anti-China land ownership proposals."¶ According to the report, new efforts to bar Chinese citizens and others from owning property in Texas and other states echo the treatment of Asian people in the US more than 100 years ago, when Congress barred them from obtaining citizenship and multiple state laws restricted land ownership.¶ In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expected to sign legislation to bar citizens of countries the State Department has designated as “foreign adversaries” from owning agricultural land. Companies with deep ties to those countries would also be affected. Those countries currently include China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.¶ In Texas, a much broader proposal names those countries and bans citizens of them from owning any land whatsoever. The ban would presumably extend to legal immigrants living in the US. That bill is still working its way through the legislature but has the support of Gov. Greg Abbott .¶ The Texas proposal in particular specifically recalls a despicable chapter in US history, when so-called Alien Land Laws were passed in numerous states between the 1880s and 1920s to specifically bar Asian people from owning land. The California Alien Land Law was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court in 1952 for violating the 14th Amendment.¶ Chinese people were explicitly barred from immigration to the US for generations – from the 1880s, when Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, until that law’s repeal during World War II. So few Chinese people were allowed to immigrate for another generation after that until 1965 – 105 per year – that it amounted to a de facto ban.¶ “It’s definitely sort of reinvocation of kind of what people in Asian American studies would refer to as ‘Yellow Peril’ fearmongering,” said Madeline Hsu , a history professor and expert in Asian American studies at the University of Texas at Austin. “There are ways in which it resonates with what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II, where regardless of citizenship, regardless of nativity, they were racially categorized as enemy aliens.” Read the CNN Report: https://cnn.it/3lNfkDO . On February 17, 2023, KVUE reported on "Texas bill banning foreign citizens from buying land sparks outrage in Austin."¶ According to the report, outrage is growing over a bill filed in the Texas Legislature that would ban citizens and entities from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from buying land in Texas.¶ Austinite Victoria Li believes the bill is a form of "xenophobia" and "racism."¶ Eric Tang is the director of the Center for Asian American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and says this bill is reminiscent of a California State Bill from the 1900s known as the "Alien Land Laws."¶ State Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) joined U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu and other Asian community leaders to discuss the bill.¶ Haipei Shue , the president of the United Chinese Americans, explained that these bills don't just exist in Texas. These bills are also being introduced in Florida, New Jersey and Tennessee. Watch and read the KVUE report: https://bit.ly/3YGVKaZ On February 16, 2023, NBC News reported on "Chinese citizens in Texas are incensed over a proposal to ban them from buying property in the state."¶ According to the report, Asian residents say the legislation uses national security as a guise to further target and scapegoat their communities. They’re angry, they say, and they’re questioning whether they’re truly welcome in Texas.¶ As a Chinese immigrant who became a U.S. citizen years ago, Ling Luo feels she’s one of the lucky ones. But she remembers the promise the U.S. once held for her and now says that that dream is being crushed in the immigrants around her.¶ Luo started an activist group, the Asian American Leadership Council (AALC), specifically to push back against the bill, and she put it on the popular Chinese social network WeChat. Beyond spreading awareness of the bill, Luo and AALC have encouraged worried residents to write and call their legislators.¶ “Legislators use these kinds of bills to just play with the Chinese community here and appeal to their voter base,” Luo said. “China won’t get hurt at all, and the Chinese investors won’t get hurt at all. It’s the people here, the non-U.S. citizens, Chinese immigrants, who are the ones getting hurt and totally destroyed.” https://nbcnews.to/3EfEfGC On February 1, 2023, Forbes reported on "Texas Bill: Many Immigrants, H-1B Visa Holders Can’t Buy Property."¶ According to the report, Texas Senate Bill 147 may be part of a Republican “primary” battle between Texas Gov. Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , which has included both men sending migrants from the border to cities with Democratic mayors.¶ There are approximately 80,000 non-U.S. citizens born in the four countries who are residents of Texas. About 55,000 are employed and more than 5,000 are self-employed, including over 1,000 with incorporated businesses.¶ If the bill were to become law, an H-1B visa holder from France could buy a house, but one from China could not. A Ph.D. student from Russia at a Texas university would not be allowed to purchase property, but a student from Sweden could.¶ Individuals from the affected countries could start making decisions on where to work or study to avoid Texas. Companies might become alarmed if employees are treated differently under Texas law based on their place of birth. http://bit.ly/3IAC9Uj Asian American Community News and Activities 1. Julie Su for Secretary of Labor. On February 17, 2023, Rep. Judy Chu , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) led 33 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Biden in support of Julie Su for Secretary of Labor. Read the letter: https://bit.ly/3YFVA3D 2. Reps. Chu, Lieu, Meng, & Takano Statement on GOP Congressional Attacks on Dominic Ng. On January 17, 2023, Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Grace Meng (NY-06), and Mark Takano (CA-39)—who are all leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)—released a joint statement about a recent letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation from Republican Members of Congress. The letter requests an investigation into whether Dominic Ng , President Biden’s recent appointment to be Chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC), had violated the Espionage Act. “As with every presidential appointee, Dominic Ng, who is Chinese American, has undergone an extensive vetting process and sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution and serve the American public... No Chinese Americans—indeed no Americans—should face suspicions of disloyalty or treason based on their ethnicity, nation of origin, or that of their family members. That kind of profiling is beneath us all, particularly those entrusted with public office,” the statement said. Read the statement: http://bit.ly/3IdzZbK 3. White House Engagement with AANHPI Community. The White House Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) newsletters and community will be launched in 2023. Bi-weekly virtual meetings start on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 3:00pm ET. Register here: http://bit.ly/3Kfm5Zh . On February 16, 2023, President Biden signed a new Executive Order, Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government to reaffirm and strengthen the Administration’s commitment to deliver equity and build an America in which all can prosper. Read the Factsheet here: http://bit.ly/3lOIJNK . In January 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released its National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Communities. The new strategy, which comprises action plans prepared by 32 federal agencies—including all 15 executive departments in the President’s Cabinet—builds on the Administration’s broader equity agenda and details investments in AA and NHPI communities and priorities. Read the National Strategy: https://bit.ly/3YYcB8N 4. AASF Webinar - Know Your Rights! on Airport Enforcement and Border Harassment. On February 2, 2023, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) hosted a webinar on Know Your Rights! on Airport Enforcement and Border Harassment. The event was moderated by Gisela Kusakawa , AASF Executive Director. Speakers included Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, National Security Project, ACLU; Gregory Chen , Senior Director of Government Relations, American Immigration Lawyers Association; and Brian Sun , Partner, Norton, Rose, Fulbright US LLP. Watch the webinar at https://bit.ly/3EmQIYT (video 1:38:19) 5. Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego (ACA) . ACA is accepting applications for API Public Service Internship. It encourages college or incoming college students seeking pre-law, political science or related fields in public policy to complete an internship application for consideration. The API Public Service Internship Program aims to provide college students an opportunity to experience the inner workings of an elected office. The placed interns will work under the auspice of the elected office. They will undertake a variety of assignments, including day-to-day regimen of an elected official’s office. They will assist on local events planning and assist staff on special projects that might include policy research and data gathering. Interns could also assist with constituent casework and opportunities for community outreach and engagement. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/3EeahT1 Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF February 19, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #292 Statement; 11/18 Meeting; Alien Land Bills - CACA, Activism, What Counts? Civil Rights #292 Statement; 11/18 Meeting; Alien Land Bills - CACA, Activism, What Counts? Civil Rights In This Issue #292 · APA Justice Statement on Election Outcome · 2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · CACA Calls for Equal Land Ownership · Texas' Threat Prompts Surge of Chinese American Activism · What Counts as "Chinese-Owned" Farmland? · Chinese American Scientists Call for Fight Against Racial Discrimination · News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Statement on Election Outcome As a nation built by immigrants, the United States has thrived for 250 years due to the contributions of new arrivals and their descendants. However, this year’s presidential election revealed a stark contrast in how we perceive that legacy of immigration.With Donald Trump ’s election as president, America will face new challenges. In the coming years, APA Justice is resolutely committed to continue addressing issues impacting Asian Pacific American communities. Through coalition-building, education, and civic engagement, we will continue to advocate against the profiling of scientists and any group based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. We will continue to oppose discriminatory alien land laws and legislation that violate constitutional rights, combat harmful stereotypes that question our loyalty, and engage in dialogues that promote fair and accountable government policies and practices.The fight for a more equitable, inclusive future does not end with a single election. Let this moment serve as a powerful call to action. Every individual, regardless of their origin, has the potential to contribute to the future of our nation. Together, we can reaffirm our commitment to diversity and ensure that the promise of America is fulfilled for all. 2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, November 18, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. The meeting was moved to avoid conflicts with Election Day. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Dr. Kai Li , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch , Founder and Executive Chair, US-China Education Trust · Michael Wong , Board Member and Former National Vice President, Veterans for Peace · Peter Michelson , Luke Blossom Professor in the School of Humanities & Sciences and Professor of Physics, Stanford University; Steven Kivelson , Prabhu Goel Family Professor and Professor of Physics Senator-Elect Andy Kim is invited to give remarks.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 APAJustice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . CACA Calls for Equal Land Ownership The Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) is one of the oldest Asian American civil rights organizations. It was established in 1895 to advocate for the civil rights of Chinese Americans and to promote citizenship, education, and community engagement. On November 1, 2024, CACA issued a public statement with a position paper, advocating for fair land ownership laws with national security safeguards. "The right to own land is a core American value tied to the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution protects this right through due process and equal protection, covering both U.S. citizens and legal residents," the statement said. "Historically, Chinese Americans faced severe discrimination in land ownership — laws like the 1913 California Alien Land Law barred Asian immigrants from owning land, and these restrictions created lasting economic impacts."According to the position paper, in today’s divisive political environment, systemic discrimination is gaining popularity, particularly in real estate markets. Discriminatory alien land laws, stipulating race or ethnicity, are being revisited in over twenty states, and Chinese Americans often face bias from real estate sellers and government officials. A significant consequence of this discrimination is the inability or unwillingness to differentiate between Chinese Americans and nationals from the People’s Republic of China, fueling xenophobia and unfair treatment of our citizens and residents under misguided security concerns.Read the CACA statement: https://bit.ly/3UA9RyC . Read the position paper : https://bit.ly/3Yx8nGA Texas' Threat Prompts Surge of Chinese American Activism According to the South China Morning Post on October 18, 2024, in response to Texas Senate Bill 147, which sought to restrict property purchases by citizens of “adversarial” nations like China, Chinese Americans in Texas have become increasingly politically active. The bill, though ultimately amended and then dropped, would have affected residents like Lan Wang , who has since joined others in protesting similar proposals. Advocacy groups report unprecedented involvement, with community members rallying, fundraising, and learning the legislative process. SB 147 was later watered down and ultimately died, However, Texas state lawmakers are threatening to bring a version of it back, in addition to other legislation that targets Chinese influence. In July, Republican State Senator Lois Kolkhorst vowed to introduce an anti-foreign land ownership bill in the next legislative session, which begins in January 2025.“The anti-alien land law issue in Texas has ignited a lot of debate and led to a lot of Asian Americans participating in politics and in government in a way that I’ve certainly never seen before,” said Lily Trieu , executive director of Asian Texans for Justice, a non-profit group based in Austin. Trieu, whose organization provides advocacy training, described seeing “unprecedented” numbers of Chinese Americans not only displaying political awareness, but also donating money, hosting rallies and actively participating in the legislative process.In July, the Committee of 100, a non-partisan Chinese American civic group, reported that 151 bills restricting property ownership by foreign entities have been considered in 2024 at the state and national levels, with 71 specifically targeting Chinese citizens. For Gene Wu , a Democratic representative in the Texas House, the battle extends far beyond state politics. Citing proposed land bans and visa restrictions for Chinese nationals in Project 2025, a blueprint by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank for a second Donald Trump administration, Wu called the fight “existential” for Chinese Americans. “It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter that you’re a citizen … everybody is a spy, and that’s what we’re fighting against,” he said.Over the past few months, Wu has travelled across the country sharing lessons from Texas’ recent experience with other states.In Florida, legislation against property ownership by Chinese citizens has also ignited unprecedented mobilization among local Chinese Americans. The Orlando-based Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA), for instance, was formed in the wake of SB 264, a Republican-sponsored bill targeting citizens of China and six other countries that became state law in May 2023. FAAJA is one of several groups supporting a suit against the law in court.Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/4ehE4d1 What Counts as "Chinese-Owned" Farmland? According to the Wall Street Journal on October 31, 2024, Walton Global, a major landholding company identified by the USDA as having Chinese investments, successfully petitioned to reclassify much of its U.S. farmland as non-Chinese-owned, arguing USDA data misattributed Chinese ownership. While the company has some Chinese investors, Walton's CEO Bill Doherty emphasized that his family owns the company, not Chinese entities.“We do business in China. We’re proud to do business in China,” Doherty said in an interview. But he said, “The company is owned by me and my family. And I’m most definitely not Chinese.”Opposition to Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland in the name of economic and national security is a popular message by U.S. politicians from both parties. Some of the largest companies caught up in this criticism are now pushing back. Few agree on what even counts as owned by China or which aspect of that ownership is bad for the U.S., even when that land is close to military installations.Walton, which buys and resells land to developers, owns 14 sites that have some Chinese investment within 15 miles of military bases. Two Walton sites near military bases with more than 90% Chinese ownership are not included in the USDA database because the underlying land is not designated as agricultural. Walton promoted its project in Colorado Springs by noting how the city is home to sports facilities—and local military installations—because they are a source of employment. Walton said it has investors from around the world who can take brief tours of their land holdings, but do not otherwise have access to the land, which the company then aims to sell to developers.“Labeling all Chinese companies, Chinese investors, and Chinese Americans—and now also all of the American companies who do business with them—as threats to our country without any actual evidence, isn’t just detrimental to our national security, but also defies all of the lessons learned from our history,” Texas state Rep. Gene Wu said. Smithfield Foods, acquired by a Chinese firm in 2013, has also faced national security concerns. Its chief executive has disputed concerns that the company’s Chinese ownership threatens the U.S. food supply chain, saying its new ownership has instead helped fuel Smithfield’s growth. Read the Wall Street Journal report: https://on.wsj.com/3YvZ3Tv Chinese American Scientists Call for Fight Against Racial Discrimination A report by BBC on October 29, 2024, highlights the struggles of Chinese American scientists facing discrimination and national security scrutiny. Physicist Xiaoxing Xi , arrested in 2015 on now-dismissed espionage charges, compares his experience to persecution during China’s Cultural Revolution, leading him to avoid professional ties with China. U.S.-China tensions under recent administrations have intensified, with legislative efforts to revive the “China Initiative,” which previously targeted Chinese American academics for alleged economic espionage.Asian American Scholar Forum's Gisela Perez Kusakawa and MIT’s Yasheng Huang underscore concerns over such legislative moves, which would formally reinstate the initiative. Scientists interviewed agree on national security’s importance but argue they have been unfairly scapegoated. Xi, alongside academics like Anming Hu and Franklin Tao , has turned to advocacy, with Hu recently addressing Congressional representatives against the initiative's revival, warning it scapegoats scholars and threatens U.S. technological leadership.Families have borne immense financial burdens, with Tao’s wife, Hong Peng , working extra shifts to cover legal costs that now exceed $2.3 million. Xi, still pursuing legal action against the FBI for his case, aims to uncover potential abuses and ensure transparency. Read the BBC reports: · 2024/10/29 BBC (English): Chinese American Scientists Call for Fight Against Racial Discrimination · 2024/11/01 BBC (Korean): 미-중 경쟁 속 살얼음판을 걷는 중국계 미국인 과학자들 · 2024/11/02 BBC (simplified Chinese): 美国大选：中美关系恶化下华裔科学家如履薄冰“不要再与中国有任何瓜葛” · 2024/11/02 BBC (Vietnamese): Những nhà khoa học Mỹ gốc Hoa đối mặt với rủi ro trong cuộc đối đầu Mỹ-Trung · 2024/11/02 BBC (Thai): เปิดชีวิตบนเส้นด้ายของนักวิทยาศาสตร์อเมริกันเชื้อสายจีน ท่ามกลางการแข่งขันระหว่าง 2 มหาอำนาจ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/11/10 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/12 Threats to International Engagement and Academic Freedom2024/11/13 China's Economic Transformation: Policy, Challenges, & Domestic Impact2024/11/14 The U.S. Elections: What Happened? What's Next?2024/11/14 America's Trust in Science: What's Changed, What's Next?2024/11/14 From Tokyo Rose to The China Initiative2024/11/15 An Advice and Networking Event (Financial Services, Investing and Consulting)2024/11/15 Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue2024/11/15-17 AAASE Inaugural Summit2024/11/17 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/11/24 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Threats to Academic Freedom and International Engagement: China and Beyond WHAT : Threats to International Engagement and Academic Freedom: China and Beyond WHEN: November 12, 2024, 4:00 pm ET WHERE: Hybrid in-person and Online event HOST: Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) at University of Massachusetts, Amherst Speaker : Dr. Yangyang Cheng , Particle Physicist and Research Scholar at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center DESCRIPTION: 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. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3O77Shv FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://bit.ly/3Yn2lcH 3. China's Economic Transformation: Policy, Challenges, & Domestic Impact WHAT : China's Economic Transformation: Policy, Challenges, & Domestic Impact WHEN: November 13, 2024, 7:00 pm ET WHERE: Online workshop HOST: 1990 Institute DESCRIPTION: This workshop is the first of a two-part series on China’s economy. This first session will explore the complexities of China's economic evolution over the past 40 years, highlighting the government's role in shaping the country's economic trajectory and addressing key internal challenges such as unemployment, rising national debt, and the evolution of economic policies. Our expert speakers will also examine the effects of COVID-19 on China’s economy and society. This workshop is open to all secondary school educators and everyone who is interested in gaining a deeper understanding of China’s economic past, present, and future. Participating educators will leave better equipped to help students engage with these complex topics in a relatable way. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3AwiweM 4. America's Trust in Science: What's Changed, What's Next? WHAT : America's Trust in Science: What's Changed, What's Next? WHEN: November 14, 2024, 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm ET WHERE : Online Webinar HOST: American Association for the Advancement of Science DESCRIPTION: The event will feature a breakdown of Pew’s 2024 trust in science survey results, which will be released that morning. Pew will then moderate a AAAS panel to discuss what the results mean for the application and conduct of science, and what the U.S. scientific community should do about it. The event will close with an audience Q&A. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3YEl8PF 5. From Tokyo Rose To the China Initiative: Espionage and AAPIs WHAT : From Tokyo Rose To the China Initiative WHEN: November 14, 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET WHERE : In Person and Online; Costantino Room, Fordham Law School HOST: Center on Asian Americans and the Law, Fordham Law School DESCRIPTION: Asian Americans have long been accused of spying for foreign countries and engaging in acts of treason. In 1949, Iva Toguri D’Aquino was tried for treason in San Francisco—as the infamous “Tokyo Rose.” Years later, she was pardoned. In 1999, Dr. Wen Ho Lee, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, was arrested and accused of being a spy who had given U.S. nuclear secrets to China. Although he eventually pleaded guilty to one count of mishandling national defense information (after spending 278 days in confinement under harsh conditions), the sentencing judge apologized to him on behalf of the United States.More recently, during the China Initiative, the government arrested individuals of Asian descent with great fanfare, only to eventually drop or drastically reduce the charges in many of the cases. When the end of the “China Initiative” was announced in 2022, there was some skepticism that it was truly over, skepticism that was shown to be justified earlier this year as some members of Congress sought to revive it. Will the China Initiative now be revived? The Center on Asian Americans and the Law at Fordham Law School will explore the issues presented by the government's prosecution over the years of Asian Americans for espionage and treason at its Third Annual Fall Symposium. We will first examine several historic cases and follow with a panel discussion on the government's more recent actions. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://bit.ly/4fnbZSL 6. 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 November 9, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #338 7/7 Meeting; AAU Wins Ruling; Role of Research Universities; Visa Interview to Restart #338 7/7 Meeting; AAU Wins Ruling; Role of Research Universities; Visa Interview to Restart In This Issue #338 · 2025/07/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · US Judge Rules for AAU and Universities · Tony Chan: The Role of Research Universities in a Changing World Order · State Department Restarts Student Visa Interviews with New Rules · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/07/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, July 7, 2025, 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 welcome and are honored by the following confirmed distinguished speakers: · Lynn Pasquerella , President, American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) · Toby Smith , Senior Vice President for Government Relations & Public Policy, Association of American Universities (AAU) · Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Founder and President, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) · Paul Cheung 鄭文耀 , President, Committee of 100 · Tony Chan 陳繁昌 , Former President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (2018–2024) and Former President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2009–2018) 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 . US Judge Rules for AAU and Universities (Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Intern, contributed to this report)According to AP News , Reuters and other media reports, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts issued a final judgment on June 20, 2025, in favor of Plaintiffs Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the American Council on Education, and 13 universities, blocking the National Science Foundation's (NSF) policy change that would have capped indirect costs for research grants at 15%. The judge ruled that the NSF's policy change is "invalid, arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to law."The civil lawsuit Association of American Universities v. National Science Foundation (1:25-cv-11231) was filed on May 5, 2025. AAU and a coalition also brought these lawsuits against the Trump administration with recent rulings: · Association of American Universities v. Department of Health & Human Services (1:25-cv-10346) . On April 4, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley entered a final judgment and permanent injunction in favor of the Plaintiffs. The Trump administration has filed an appeal. · Association of American Universities v. Department of Energy (1:25-cv-10912) . On May 15, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction , finding that the DOE’s Rate Cap Policy likely violates the Administrative Procedure Act—by taking agency action that conflicts with existing regulation, is arbitrary and capricious, and is impermissibly retroactive—and poses a risk of irreparable harm to research institutions. AAU is an organization of leading research universities in the U.S. and Canada, founded in 1900 to promote academic excellence and influence national higher education and research policy. Its members conduct a significant share of the nation’s research and are central to advancing innovation, economic development, and scientific leadership. Toby Smith , Senior Vice President for Government Relations & Public Policy at AAU, will speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on July 7, 2025.***** WP Opinion: Trump is Undermining U.S. Science On June 18, 2025, the Washington Post published an opinion authored by Neal Lane , physicist and former director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Michael Riordan , physicist and author, warning that the Trump administration’s reckless and erratic actions toward U.S. science are placing the nation at serious risk. The authors urge Congress to immediately reassert its statutory authority over National Science Foundation (NSF) funding, direction, and management in order to support and uphold the future of U.S. science, technology, economic well-being, and national security.Established in 1950, the NSF originally focused on basic research in the physical sciences, only experiencing a burst of political support and funding after the launch of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik I satellite in 1957. Throughout its tenure, the agency has contributed to the development of the internet and World Wide Web , by funding Mosaic and Stanford University’s Digital Library Initiative, in which Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed the Google search engine. NSF has also stimulated great advances in laser and quantum technologies, as well as microbiology.However, the NSF fired 168 employees in February, roughly 10% of its workforce, in compliance with Trump’s executive order aimed at reducing federal personnel to "boost efficiency." The NSF has been terminating grants at a record pace, particularly in areas such as climate science and educational diversity. In 2025, the NSF has awarded only $1 billion in new grants, just half the usual pace compared to previous years. The future seems even more bleak — Trump’s 2026 fiscal year budget calls for slashing $5 billion from the current $9 billion NSF budget. Neal Lane and Michael Riordan emphasize that wholesale firings, budget-slashing, and arbitrary elimination of grants particularly harm young, emerging scientists as they often depend on NSF fellowships and grants to launch their scientific careers. This discouragement directly harms the future of U.S. science. Tony Chan: The Role of Research Universities in a Changing World Order Tony Chan 陳繁昌 is a distinguished computational mathematician who served as the President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 2009–2018, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia from 2018 to 2024 .Educated at the California Institute of Technology (B.S., M.S.) and Stanford (Ph.D.), Dr. Chan held leadership roles at Yale and UCLA before becoming assistant director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate at the U.S. National Science Foundation. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of IEEE, AAAS, and SIAM. In March 2025, Dr. Chan published an essay titled " The Role of Research Universities in a Changing World Order. " He opined that as global power centers realign, research universities are more than academic institutions—they are key players in shaping global values, talent flows, and geopolitical influence. As tensions rise between East and West across sectors like trade, technology, and security, particularly STEM-focused institutions, now face pressure to engage with broader global rivalries. In particular, 1. Geopolitics and the rise of the East Geopolitical shifts, especially China’s rise, are reshaping the role of research universities. While U.S. and European institutions have long led in innovation and academic freedom, China’s targeted investments in top universities align education with national goals for technological and economic strength. This rivalry now reflects a deeper contest over global norms and influence. As Chinese universities expand international engagement, U.S. institutions grow more insular under political pressure, national security concerns, and revived efforts like the China Initiative—leading to a steady unraveling of U.S.–China academic partnerships. 2. Student and faculty mobility: a double-edged sword The global mobility of students and faculty—once a hallmark of internationalization in higher education—is increasingly shaped by shifting geopolitics, particularly the U.S.–China rivalry. While Chinese and Indian students long sought Western education, rising visa restrictions, scrutiny over security concerns, and a perception of unwelcomeness have curbed that trend. Simultaneously, China is attracting top overseas talent back home and nurturing new generations domestically, as seen in the success of DeepSeek, an AI firm staffed by local graduates. This reverse flow challenges Western universities' ability to attract top talent and underscores the need to balance openness with national security. As global dynamics shift, talent and innovation are increasingly staying in—or returning to—China, reshaping the future of academia and global leadership in science and technology. 3. Research competition versus collaboration Tensions between competition and collaboration in research are growing, as nations race for dominance in fields like AI and biotech while needing global cooperation on issues like climate change and pandemics. Research universities are caught in the middle—fueling national innovation but reliant on international exchange. Western governments are increasingly restricting collaboration over national security concerns, often invoking vague “dual use” rules, which may backfire and hinder progress. Chinese universities remain eager to engage globally, but geopolitical pressures make partnerships difficult. Without creative ways to balance openness and security, research may fracture along national lines, slowing global progress. 4. The way forward: Navigating a complex landscape In a shifting world order, research universities face the challenge of balancing national interests with global collaboration while staying true to their mission of advancing knowledge and educating future leaders. To succeed, they must uphold core values, including long-term societal service, pragmatic engagement with national security concerns, a strong defense of academic freedom, and active leadership in shaping global discourse. Navigating this complex landscape requires resilience, vision, and courage, especially as universities play a vital role in bridging political divides and fostering shared understanding across borders. Dr. Chan will explore these issues at the APA Justice monthly meeting on July 7, 2025. State Department Restarts Student Visa Interviews with New Rules (author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Intern)According to the Washington Post and multiple media reports, the State Department has begun student visa interviews after a three-week hiatus, implementing a strict social media vetting process set to take effect in the coming week.The thorough vetting process requires applicants’ social media accounts to be public in order to be scrutinized for perceived hostility towards the U.S. or risk extreme penalties in the application process. State Department staff members have been instructed to “identify applicants who bear hostile attitudes toward our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles; who advocate for, aid or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security; or who perpetrate unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.” The vetting process applies to all foreign nationals who apply for F, M, and J visas, regardless of the institution of study. Affecting not only new candidates but also those whose applications are currently in progress, the new vetting process also includes applicants who have already been interviewed but have not been finally approved.In justification of the policy, the State Department pointed to two executive orders from President Donald Trump , one designed to block hostile foreign actors from entering the country and the other to address antisemitism. The Department reiterated it remains concerned with protecting American institutions of higher education from those who would “steal technical information, exploit U.S. research and development, and spread false information for political or other reasons.”Several critics of the policy have expressed concern over its vague nature, suggesting a broader interpretation could result in the government denying visas from those who deserve them. Several government-affiliated individuals raised concerns about the increased burden on consulates, noting that officials do not have the time to complete the thorough vetting process for every applicant. The agency issued 446,000 student visas in 2023.While education advocates have expressed relief that the three-week hiatus is over, concerns remain that the policy will discourage international students from seeking overseas educational opportunities in the U.S.***** In a separate development, on June 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs of Massachusetts issued an order temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to prevent Harvard University from hosting international students, according to AP News and other outlets. The ruling marks a legal victory for Harvard as it continues to challenge multiple federal sanctions in an ongoing dispute with the White House. While the order preserves Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students while the case proceeds, it does not resolve all legal questions. Judge Burroughs noted that the federal government retains the authority to evaluate Harvard’s eligibility to host international students through standard legal procedures. “We expect the judge to issue a more enduring decision in the coming days,” Harvard said in an email to international students. “Our Schools will continue to make contingency plans to ensure that our international students and scholars can pursue their academic work to the fullest extent possible, should there be any changes to visa eligibility or enrollment status.” News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/06/16-24 Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area2025/06/25 Bridging Relationships with Policymakers2025/06/28-30 2025 ICSA China Conference2025/06/29 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/07/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/07/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/07/25-27 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony 2025/07/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Andrea Chen Appointed Executive Director of the Vincent Chin Institute The Vincent Chin Institute (VCI) has announced the appointment of Andrea Chen as its first Executive Director. VCI was founded in 2023 to continue the mission and work of the past 40 years of movement and building solidarity against anti-Asian violence and all forms of hate.Andrea Chen brings over 20 years of experience driving systemic change through racial justice and economic inclusion initiatives. She served for more than 15 years as CEO and Co-founder of Propeller, a nationally recognized social innovation incubator based in New Orleans, Louisiana. In her role as Executive Director, Andrea Chen will lead three core program areas: Community Organizing, Narrative Change, and Education.A commemoration of the death of Vincent Chin took place the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles on June 23, 2025, the 43rd anniversary of his death. Vincent Chin was murdered in Detroit in an anti-Asian hate crime, sparking a national movement for Asian American civil rights. Speakers at the commemoration include Aki Maehara , professor of Asian American history at East Los Angeles College, who was the victim of an apparent hate crime earlier this year and a speaker at the June 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting. 3. Physics Today Interviews Dr. Xiaoxing Xi In a report by Physics Today on June 20, 2025, physicist Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 recounts how the Cultural Revolution deeply affected his childhood, with his father imprisoned as a “counterrevolutionary” and his education interrupted. After Mao Zedong ’s death, China reopened its universities, and Dr. Xi seized the opportunity to study at Peking University—an experience that set him on the path to becoming a scientist and eventually immigrating to the U.S.These early experiences left Dr. Xi with a strong awareness of political injustice, which shaped his reaction to his own wrongful arrest in the U.S. in 2015. Some have described the United States is going through its own Cultural Revolution today.Read the Physics Today report: https://bit.ly/3HV6EGp # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF June 24, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #328 5/5 Meeting; Census Bureau; Birthright Citizenship; Visas Revoked; 4/17; Litigations + #328 5/5 Meeting; Census Bureau; Birthright Citizenship; Visas Revoked; 4/17; Litigations + In This Issue #328 · 2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Census Bureau Brain Drain and Concerns of U.S. Statistical Integrity · Birthright Citizenship: Amicus Briefs and Supreme Court Hearing · International Student Visas Revoked and Lawsuits · National Days of Actions and Protests · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · 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), invited 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 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 . Census Bureau Brain Drain and Concerns of U.S. Statistical Integrity Robert L. Santos was the 26th director of the U.S. Census Bureau. He was sworn in on January 5, 2022 and resigned from the office on February 14, 2025. He was also the 116th president of ASA in 2021. On May 5, 2025, Mr. Santos will speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on the growing concerns to the integrity and independence of federal statistics under the Trump administration. According to NPR on April 17, 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau is experiencing significant challenges due to staff departures and survey reductions. These issues have raised concerns about the agency's ability to continue producing reliable statistics, which are crucial for determining federal funding allocations and political representation. The bureau is facing pressure from the Trump administration to reduce its workforce amid a hiring freeze, with staff being offered early retirement and voluntary separation options. Current and former employees warn that these conditions, coupled with long-standing funding and staffing constraints, are putting the bureau under unique strain. These challenges are not isolated to the Census Bureau. Other federal statistical agencies are experiencing similar issues due to budget cuts and administrative pressures. According to the Financial Times , the White House is at war with federal statistics. The disbanding of advisory committees and removal of data from public access have led to concerns about the politicization of economic statistics, threatening the accuracy of vital statistics used for policymaking and financial markets.On April 12, the Washington Post reported that the Social Security Administration purposely and falsely labeled 6,100 living immigrants as dead, which is an illegal act of falsifying government records. On April 14, MIT Technology Review described how Elon Musk's DOGE approach to modernizing federal technology is undermining the integrity and security of critical government systems. By replacing experienced civil servants with untested technologies and personnel, DOGE is dismantling established agencies like the U.S. Digital Service and 18F, which were instrumental in improving government digital services. A specific concern is the termination of DirectFile, a free digital tax filing system developed by the IRS with high user satisfaction rates. The article also warns about the risks of consolidating sensitive data—such as Social Security numbers, tax returns, and health records—into a single, poorly secured system, increasing the likelihood of data breaches and misuse. The cumulative effect of these developments is a diminished capacity of U.S. statistical agencies to produce reliable data. This erosion of data integrity undermines informed decision-making across government and industry, potentially leading to misinformed policies and economic instability.The American Statistical Association (ASA) and George Mason University (GMU) launched a collaborative project titled "Assessing the Health of the Principal Federal Statistical Agencies" in 2024. Year Two of the ASA-GMU project, The Nation’s Data at Risk , monitors the health of the 13 principal federal statistical agencies. It is available at: https://bit.ly/4ih5Qsp . Birthright Citizenship: Amicus Briefs and Supreme Court Hearing According to AP News , NBC News , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, on April 17, 2025, the Supreme Court said it will hear oral arguments on May 15 on whether the Trump administration can take steps to enforce its contentious proposal to end automatic birthright citizenship while litigation continues. The court in a brief order deferred action on an emergency request made by the Trump administration to narrow the scope of injunctions imposed by three district court judges and upheld by the respective appeals courts. The policy for now remains blocked nationwide.The Trump emergency application does not address the legal merits of the plan, but only whether judges had the authority to put it on hold across the entire country. The policy for now remains blocked nationwide. Amicus Briefs on Birthright Citizenship According to a press release from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) on April 11, 2025, 208 House Democrats filed an amicus brief opposing President Trump’s executive order attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship. The brief, submitted in the case State of Washington, et al. v. Trump, et al. , defends the constitutional guarantee under the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to children born on U.S. soil.The amici argue that Trump’s proposed action violates the Constitution, over a century of Supreme Court precedent, and longstanding federal laws that have consistently affirmed this right.“Trump cannot end the Constitutional right to birthright citizenship with the stroke of his pen,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin , a constitutional law expert and Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee. “That would violate the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as decades-old federal statutes codifying this protection.”The full amicus brief is available here: https://bit.ly/3GrOlI1 . On April 9, NAPABA and its partners filed an amicus brief opposing the Trump administration’s birthright citizenship executive order. Two days later, on April 11, AALDEF, the Korematsu Center, the Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice, and a coalition including APA Justice filed a separate brief challenging the same order.For more information, read the blog " The Trump Administration’s 14th Amendment Retcon: ‘Wong Kim Ark’ Does Not Limit Birthright Citizenship " by Edgar Chen and Chris Kwok, its Chinese translation " 特朗普政府重塑《第十四修正案》 ——《黄金德案》并未限制出生公民权 " by Juan Zhang, and APA Justice's full coverage of the Birthright Citizenship issue: https://bit.ly/3CNjtR1 International Student Visas Revoked and Lawsuits According to Inside Higher Ed , as of April 18, 2025, the Trump administration has revoked or altered the legal status of over 1,550 international students and recent graduates in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) across more than 240 U.S. colleges and universities. This action is part of a broader immigration crackdown that has intensified in recent weeks.At least 16 legal challenges have been initiated in multiple states, with at least nine federal judges granting temporary restraining orders to halt deportations and restore students' statuses. · 2025/04/15 Liu v. Noam (1:25-cv-00716) @Southern District of Indiana . Five international students at Purdue University, all of whom are Chinese, sued the federal government after their student visas were revoked earlier this month, joining an American Civil Liberties Union-led lawsuit filed on April 15. The visa revocations come just weeks after Purdue administration provided a Congressional committee with information on the university's 2,043 Chinese students. Two other students from Indiana University and Notre Dame also joined the lawsuit, · 2025/04/11 Jane Doe 1 v. Bondi (1:25-cv-01998) @Northern District of Georgia. On April 17, 2025, Georgia civil rights organizations—CAIR-Georgia, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, and American Civil Liberties Union-Georgia—held a press conference with Kuck Baxter Immigration, a private immigration law firm, condemning the visa revocations of international students. According to Georgia Recorder , on April 18, District Judge Victoria Calvert issued a temporary restraining order that will allow 133 international students and recent graduates studying around the country, including 26 in Georgia, to continue their coursework in the United States for at least the next two weeks. · 2025/04/11 Chen v. Noem (3:25-cv-03292) @Northern District of California . The Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟 (CALDA) filed a lawsuit on behalf of four Chinese students enrolled at UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, University of Cincinnati, and Columbia University. The district court judge will hold a hearing on a motion for a nationwide Temporary Restrining Order (TRO) next. Besides the four student plaintiffs, declarations from 36 international students across the country were also included in the motion. National Days of Actions and Protests April 17, 2025, was Day of Action for Higher Ed. University professors and students led protests on campuses across the U.S. against what they say are broad attacks on higher education, including massive cuts to funding, the expulsion of international students and the stifling of free speech about the war in Gaza. Read more about the Day of Action for Higher Ed: https://bit.ly/4inq17u .According to the Washington Post on April 19, 2025, from Wyoming to Washington and Mississippi to Manhattan, protesters at hundreds of rallies in small towns and big cities gathered to denounce President Donald Trump ’s sweeping policy moves as opposition to the administration continued to coalesce. The more than 700 planned events were part of the “50501” movement , a decentralized campaign that got its name from a February 5 push for “50 protests in 50 states on 1 day.” That effort led to anti-Trump protests at state capitol buildings across the nation known as “Hands Off” rallies on April 5. Hunter Dunn , a spokesperson for 50501, described the group as a “pro-democracy, pro-Constitution, anti-executive overreach, nonviolence grassroots movement.” Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of April 19, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 201 (4 closed cases). Among the latest developments: · 2025/04/15 DOE 1 v. EEOC (1:25-cv-01124) @District of Columbia . Plaintiffs, three law school students, have challenged the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sending letters to 20 law firms, pursuant to President Donald Trump ’s Executive Order (EO) regarding the DEI-related hiring practices of law firms. These letters requested information about these law firms’ hiring practices, including the personally identifiable information of lawyers employed with these firms and law students that have applied for positions at these firms. Plaintiffs allege that these investigations are outside of the authority of the EEOC and violate the Paperwork Reduction Act. They have asked the Court to order the EEOC to stop investigating law firms in excess of their authority and return and delete any information that has already been collected pursuant to the investigation of these firms. · 2025/04/14 Mahdawi v. Trump (2:25-cv-00389) @Vermont . Mahsen Mahdawi , a United States green card holder, has challenged his detention by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), asserting it is unlawful and unconstitutional. On April 14, the district court issued an order that he not be removed from the United States or moved out of the territory of the District of Vermont pending further order of this Court. · 2025/04/14 Association of American Universities v. Department of Energy (1:25-cv-10912) @Massachusetts . Several academic institutions and university associations sued the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Secretary of the DOE challenging a new DOE policy that caps the amount of reimbursements available for federal research grants. The institutions argue that the policy violates federal law and exceeds DOE’s authority. The institutions have asked the courts to declare the policy unlawful and to stop implementation of the policy. · 2025/04/14 Protect Democracy Project v. U.S. Office of Management and Budget (1:25-cv-01111) @District of Columbia . Protect Democracy Project brought suit against the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), alleging that OMB took down a legally-required publicly accessible database and related website that had previously housed documents related to OMB’s apportionment decisions. Protect Democracy requests that the court declare OMB’s decision unlawful and order OMB to restore the website. · 2025/04/14 V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-00066) @U.S. Court of International Trade . Five businesses that rely on international imports filed suit against the Trump administration, challenging the implementation of tariffs under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). They alleged that the imposition of across-the-board tariffs is not authorized under the IEEPA and in any event exceeds the Defendants' executive authority as they were implemented without congressional approval. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/04/21 Where AANHPI Communities Stand at the 100-day Mark2025/04/22 Scholars Not Spies: Fighting for International Academic Workers’ Rights in an Era of Rising US-China Conflict2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/24 CHINA Town Hall: The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy2025/04/24 Federal Employees: Know your Legal Rights2025/04/28 California AANHPI Advocacy Day2025/04/30 Beyond the China Initiative: Civil Rights, National Security, and the Future of AAPI Communities2025/05/04 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 Allies2025/05/11 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/12-14 APAICS Annual Summit and GalaVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Where AANHPI Communities Stand at the 100-day Mark WHAT: Where AANHPI Communities Stand at the 100-day Mark WHEN: April 21, 2025, 3:00 pm ET/12:00 noon PT WHERE: Webinar HOSTS: APIAVote, AAPI Data, NCAPA, and AAJA Speakers: · Congresswoman Grace Meng, U.S. representative for New York's 6th congressional district · Sara Sadhwani, Senior Researcher, AAPI Data & Assistant Professor, Pomona College · Karthick Ramakrishnan , Founder and Executive Director, AAPI Data · Gregg Orton , National Director, NCAPA · Bob Sakaniwa , Director of Policy and Advocacy, APIAVote DESCRIPTION: This is the next installment of the Voices of AAPI Communities monthly briefing, where we’ll dive deep into the latest survey insights from AAPI Data and AP-NORC on timely policies. This month's briefing will share exclusive findings from the latest AAPI Data/AP-NORC survey on how AAPI communities are reacting to President Trump’s first 100 days in office. REGISTRATION: apia.vote/april25 3. Erratum Issue #327 of the APA Justice Newsletter misidentified the Chinese name of retired Texas House Representative Martha Wong . It should be 黃朱慧愛. # # # 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 21, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #96 Updates On Sherry Chen, Franklin Tao, Charles Lieber; Latest On Campaign; Events + #96 Updates On Sherry Chen, Franklin Tao, Charles Lieber; Latest On Campaign; Events + Back View PDF November 18, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #36 Sign-Ons Extended; Event For Zach; "New Red Scare" Wins Award; 01/04 Meeting; More #36 Sign-Ons Extended; Event For Zach; "New Red Scare" Wins Award; 01/04 Meeting; More Back View PDF December 22, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #281 Rejecting China Consensus; Balanced Policies; Alarm on Anti-Asian Laws; Newsletters; + #281 Rejecting China Consensus; Balanced Policies; Alarm on Anti-Asian Laws; Newsletters; + In This Issue #281 · The Case Against the China Consensus · A Program for Progressive China Policy · China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach · Anti-Asian Laws in America - Past, Present, and What's Coming · APA Justice Newsletters Web Page Moving to New Website · News and Activities for the Communities The Case Against the China Consensus Jessica Chen Weiss is David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute Center for China Analysis, and a former member of the U.S. State Department’s Policy Planning Staff.In Jessica Chen Weiss's latest article on Foreign Affairs on September 16, 2024, "The Case Against the China Consensus," she critiques the prevailing U.S. approach to China, emphasizing open-ended competition without a clear definition of success.Weiss argues that bipartisan rhetoric increasingly treats China as an existential threat, pushing aside nuanced debate and overshadowing diplomatic and cooperative opportunities. She warns that such a zero-sum mindset risks escalating tensions, including a potential conflict over Taiwan, and could undermine U.S. values and interests. "If policymakers overplay competition with Beijing, they risk more than raising the likelihood of war and jeopardizing efforts to address the many transnational challenges that threaten both the United States and China. They also risk setting the United States on a path to what could become a pyrrhic victory, in which the country undermines its own long-term interests and values in the name of thwarting its rival," wrote Weiss.Instead, Weiss advocates for a balanced strategy that combines credible deterrence with diplomacy, economic integration, and cooperation on shared global challenges. She stresses the importance of pragmatic engagement and avoiding policies that isolate the U.S. from Chinese innovation and global supply chains. As for the issue of Taiwan, Weiss wrote, "deterrence, particularly in the Taiwan Strait, can be achieved only with the backing of strong diplomacy that combines credible threats and credible assurances. And both deterrence and prosperity require some degree of economic integration and technological interdependence." The article highlights the need for a strategic recalibration in U.S.-China relations, focusing on coexistence rather than dominance, and emphasizes the risks of overplaying competition, which could harm both nations' long-term prosperity and security. "U.S. policymakers should seek a more durable basis for coexistence, striking a careful balance to ensure that efforts to address the real threats from China do not undermine the very values and interests they aim to protect, " Weiss wrote.In her article, Weiss especially pointed out the negative impact of deteriorating bilateral relations on Chinese Americans. She wrote, "People born in China or of Chinese descent should not be categorically treated as a fifth column in the United States; the diaspora has been a hotbed for resistance, which is precisely why the Chinese Communist Party is so bent on monitoring and intimidating it. And if the United States were to go so far as to enact bans or visa restrictions on the basis of national origin, it would compromise the very principles of nondiscrimination and equality before the law that embody the American ideal "Read the Foreign Affairs article: https://fam.ag/3TzhV21 . Juan Zhang , editor at US-China Perception Monitor, contributed this report. A Program for Progressive China Policy During the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 9, 2024, Sandy Shan , Director, Justice Is Global, and Tori Bateman , Director of Advocacy, Quincy Institute, gave a joint presentation on Quincy Institute Brief #62 , "A Program for Progressive China Policy." Sandy Shan began the discussion by highlighting the urgency for a constructive U.S. policy toward China. She emphasized the need to move away from the current confrontational and hawkish stance, which has exacerbated tensions between the two nations and fueled xenophobia against Asian and Asian American communities in the U.S. The forum took place as the House launched “China Week,” underlining the timeliness of the conversation.The Quincy Institute brief was authored by Jake Warner and co-produced by Justice Is Global and the Institute for Policy Studies. It reflects five years of dialogue among progressive groups, drawing on the expertise of specialists in climate, labor, peace, and Asian Pacific American communities. The brief seeks to address gaps in current U.S. policies, dominated by nationalist and militaristic rhetoric, by offering a more thoughtful framework for dealing with China's rise.The brief acknowledges legitimate concerns about China’s actions, including its human rights record and the impact of its policies on American workers. However, it warns that a confrontational approach risks empowering authoritarian forces in both the U.S. and China while undermining broader progressive goals like global economic equity and environmental sustainability. Instead, the brief advocates for a policy that reduces geopolitical tensions and promotes shared prosperity.Tori Bateman expanded on this framework, describing the Quincy Institute’s transpartisan focus on foreign policy. She expressed concern about the growing hawkish rhetoric on Capitol Hill, especially during "China Week." Tori emphasized that while many bills address real issues, they often fail to solve underlying problems and instead increase tensions. The Quincy Institute is engaging with lawmakers to promote a more balanced approach, urging Congress to focus on areas like climate cooperation and educational exchanges instead of exclusionary policies. A summary for the September 2024 monthly meeting is being prepared and will be posted at https://www.apajustice.org/ after review by the speakers. Past monthly meeting summaries are available at https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP .Read the Quincy Institute brief at https://bit.ly/3T2XJVY China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach On October 10, 2024, the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) and the Kansas University (KU) Department of Political Science will co-host a hybrid event on "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach."As China’s influence grows around the world, skepticism in the United States grows in tandem with it. Evidence of this is seen throughout the Heartland of America, where anti-China legislation and rhetoric have grown over the years. Professor Jack Zhang of the KU Department of Political Science will be joined by Susan Thornton , Vice Chair of the U.S. Heartland China Association and a retired senior U.S. diplomat with decades of experience in Eurasia and East Asia, and Kyle Jaros , an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame, for a discussion on building a balanced approach for relations with China.In June 2024, the 4th Annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable was held in China for the first time. Co-organized by USHCA and multiple Chinese partners, the broad-based bilateral agricultural platform drew senior leaders spanning government, trade, business, education, and think tanks from both countries to convene around the theme: Global Food Security and Agricultural Cooperation. Major American agriculture players and producers of soy, rice, corn, sorghum, dairy, and beef from 9 different states were among those who traveled to China to participate.First launched in 2021, the annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable honors three legendary agriculture scientists who made significant contributions to our world: Norman Borlaug , Yuan Longping , and George Washington Carver . USHCA launched the first U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable virtually with the belief that U.S.-China cooperation is essential for our planet to successfully deal with the critical global challenges of our time. The 4th Annual U.S.-China Agricultural Roundtable reinforced the ongoing agriculture partnership between China and the U.S. while elevating the importance of collaboration to tackle global challenges through sustainable practices, technological innovation, and educational exchanges. Amid global food security concerns, this collaboration serves as a vital demonstration of international cooperation to enhance global food stability and foster understanding. Given both the U.S. and China’s pivotal roles as leading agricultural producers, consumers, and importers, sustained dialogue between the two nations is crucial for shaping resilient food systems and protecting food security worldwide.The in-person portion of the October 10 event is at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS 66045. Watch the event online at https://bit.ly/3zkTyhT . Min Fan , Executive Director of USHCA, has accepted our invitation to speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting to be held on Monday, October 7, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Anti-Asian Laws in America - Past, Present, and What's Coming On September 8, 2024, Texas State Representative Gene Wu hosted a Town Hall on "Anti-Asian Laws in America - Past. Present, and What's Coming." During the Town Hall, State Rep. Gene Wu outlined the resurgence of anti-Asian and anti-immigrant laws, particularly targeting Chinese and Japanese communities, in states like Texas. He referenced a history of such laws, dating back to the late 1800s, which banned immigrants from owning property, participating in business, and obtaining citizenship. Though many of these laws were repealed by the 1960s, new legislation in Texas and other states mirrors these discriminatory laws, signaling a renewed threat to Asian Americans.State Rep. Gene Wu emphasized that current laws echo historical patterns, portraying Asian immigrants as spies or traitors without evidence. Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative policy document that focuses heavily on China, mentions China 800 times compared to Russia’s 100 mentions. Project 2025 seeks to impose restrictions on Chinese nationals and Asian Americans, particularly in areas of land ownership, business, and education.The community was urged to wake up to this threat, as these new legislative efforts have already been introduced in multiple states. For instance, Texas has established new committees solely to push bills that restrict Chinese land ownership and educational access, following a broader national trend. This is compared to past laws that targeted Japanese Americans during World War II, even when most were U.S.-born citizens. The urgency is underscored by Project 2025's broader intent to reshape national security policy with a disproportionate focus on China, while impacting Asian Americans domestically.State Rep. Gene Wu has accepted our invitation to speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting to be held on Monday, October 7, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET.Watch State Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall: https://bit.ly/4edgbDV (50:44). Read his presentation: https://bit.ly/3ZzweHR APA Justice Newsletters Web Page Moving to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we are moving the Newsletters 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 . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/09/23 Media Training for Election Season2024/09/23 President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI Public Meeting 2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 2024/09/25-26 APAICS Technology Summit2024/09/26 White House Initiative AA& NHPI Policy Summit2024/09/27 The War for Chinese Talent in America: The Politics of Technology and Knowledge in Sino-U.S. Relations2024/09/29 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/02 C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Initiative2024/10/06 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/10/08 Media Training for Election Season2024/10/10 China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced ApproachThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Committee of 100 Next Generation Leaders Program Class of 2025 Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Next Generation Leaders (NGL) class. The 2025 NGL class will be announced and spotlighted at Committee of 100's 2025 Conference & Gala, which will take place in Los Angeles in April 2025. Launched in 2014, Committee of 100's NGL program convenes an exceptional group of change-makers and rising leaders from diverse sectors, leveraging a collective sense of service and purpose to elevate the impact of each individual. Currently, there are over 200 NGL alumni across a multitude of sectors who make up a vibrant and diverse network. Individuals who demonstrate a remarkable history of professional and personal excellence and are between 25-40 years old are encouraged to apply. To apply for the Committee of 100 Next Generation Leaders Class of 2025, click here . Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) can be found here . The deadline to submit applications is January 10, 2025 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. 3. Incoming and Outgoing Executive Directors of WHIAANHPI Helen Beaudreau has been appointed as the incoming Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), succeeding Krystal Ka‘ai , who held the position since May 2021. Back View PDF September 23, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #43 Third Webinar; Xiaoxing Xi; Gang Chen; Fundraising Results; More #43 Third Webinar; Xiaoxing Xi; Gang Chen; Fundraising Results; More Back View PDF February 15, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #130 New OSTP Director; 6/6 Meeting Summary; ODNI Report; DOS-Led "China House"; More #130 New OSTP Director; 6/6 Meeting Summary; ODNI Report; DOS-Led "China House"; More Back View PDF June 21, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #34 House Hearing Call; SCOTUS Ruling And Right To Sue; Diversity Concerns; More #34 House Hearing Call; SCOTUS Ruling And Right To Sue; Diversity Concerns; More Back View PDF December 14, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #295 Webinar on Alien Land Laws; Gene Wu on Texas EO; Yanping Chen Case Hearing; Students + #295 Webinar on Alien Land Laws; Gene Wu on Texas EO; Yanping Chen Case Hearing; Students + In This Issue #295 · 12/11 Webinar: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities · State Representative Gene Wu Response to Texas Executive Order · Appeals Court Hears Dr. Yanping Chen's Case · Indians Become Biggest International Student Group in U.S. · News and Activities for the Communities 12/11 Webinar: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Historically discriminatory policies are reemerging in state legislatures across the U.S. Originally designed to prevent non-citizens, particularly those from AAPI communities, from owning property, these laws are now being reframed as safeguards to national security.On December 11, 2024, the Committee of 100 and APA Justice will co-host a webinar to discuss whether these laws properly address national security concerns or whether they are merely a pretext that infringes upon civil rights and liberties under the guise of protection. A panel of legal experts and advocates will delve into the history of alien land laws, examine their renewed impact on vulnerable communities and discuss key cases, including a law passed in Florida. This event is essential for anyone committed to upholding justice and equity in America. To learn more about current land ownership exclusion legislations, visit Committee of 100’s interactive map , which details specific bills, status, and text. Also, visit APA Justice Alien Land Bills webpage for the latest developments on current lawsuits challenging these laws and more. WHAT : From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities WHEN: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOSTS: Committee of 100, APA Justice Moderator: Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100 Speakers: · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Gene Wu , Texas State Representative Closing Remarks: Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice; Member, Committee of 100 FOR MORE INFORMATION/REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p State Representative Gene Wu Response to Texas Executive Order According to Texas Tribune on November 18, 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to target individuals conducting influence operations for the Chinese government. This response addresses “Operation Fox Hunt,” a Chinese initiative allegedly used to intimidate dissidents and forcibly return them to China. Abbott emphasized Texas’s commitment to protecting the state’s Chinese community from harassment by the Chinese Communist Party. The U.S. Department of Justice has prosecuted cases linked to this operation. State Rep. Gene Wu , D-Houston, who was born in China and immigrated to the United States applauded Abbott's move. Wu issued a statement " I applaud Governor Abbott's newfound commitment to protecting the civil rights of Chinese Americans and Chinese immigrants and dissidents in our state. The ability to speak your mind and live freely are the core promises of the American Dream; and any who seek to take that away stand against Texas values. I would also encourage Governor Abbott to share his new commitment to protecting the civil rights of Chinese immigrants and dissidents with the Senators and Representatives in his own party who have recently filed legislation to take away the civil rights of Chinese immigrants and dissidents. Laws that would strip away the rights of an entire community to buy a home, to start a business, to go to school, or even get a job–based purely on where they were born. Attacks from Texas Republicans on the civil liberties of Chinese immigrants are no less dangerous to the Chinese dissident community. The loss of safety and security, even by different means, sends the same message. " In 2023, Wu criticized Texas Republicans for pushing legislation that would ban citizens and foreign entities from countries including China from buying land in Texas. He urged Abbott to also support Chinese immigrants by opposing such legislation.Read the Texas Tribune report: https://bit.ly/40ScNL2 . Read Rep. Gene Wu's statement: https://bit.ly/4eIWpQn On November 20, 2024, State Representative Gene Wu was interviewed by KVUE and discussed Texas Governor Abbot's orders targeting China. He expressed concerns about Abbott’s approach, suggesting it may politicize the issue and harm Chinese Texans. Wu emphasized that existing laws are sufficient to address these threats and urged the Governor to focus on meaningful infrastructure improvements instead of divisive policies. Wu linked alien land legislation to historical laws that fueled prejudice, such as those preceding Japanese internment, and warned they undermine Chinese dissidents who fled oppression, stating that: "These bills ... just label an entire community as being threats ... without accusation, without evidence ... saying that these communities, because of where they're from, we will just blanketly say that we should ban all of them from being able to even buy a home, start a business, or farm." Watch the KVUE interview: https://bit.ly/3Okv781 (9:01) Appeals Court Hears Dr. Yanping Chen's Case According to Yahoo News on November 18, 2024, a U.S. Appeals Court is unlikely to overturn penalties against former Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge , who faces fines and possibly jail time for refusing to disclose her source in stories about Dr. Yanping Chen . Herridge’s 2017 reporting involved leaks from an FBI investigation into Chen, who claims the leaks harmed her reputation. Chen later sued several federal agencies and subpoenaed Herridge to identify her source, but Herridge declined, citing journalistic protections. U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper had previously ordered Herridge to pay an $800 daily fine for defying the subpoena, though enforcement was delayed pending her appeal. If Herridge loses the appeal, Chen’s lawyers could seek harsher penalties, including potential jail time. This legal standoff raises significant questions about the balance between press freedoms and privacy rights in the context of leaked information. During oral arguments at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, two judges appeared unconvinced by Herridge’s arguments for lifting the contempt order, expressing doubts about the scope of protections for journalists. A third judge highlighted concerns over defining journalistic privilege in an era dominated by social media, asking how such privileges apply to less traditional media platforms and individuals claiming journalistic roles. The case could become a major press freedom test during President Donald Trump ’s second term. While Trump cannot directly intervene to remove Herridge’s penalties, he could instruct the Justice Department to settle Chen’s underlying lawsuit, effectively nullifying her subpoena against Herridge. Trump has previously praised Herridge’s investigative reporting, particularly when it aligned with his political narratives.Read the Yahoo News report: https://yhoo.it/3ZdoURF . Read Dr. Yanping Chen's case: https://bit.ly/3Xi4hms Indians Become Biggest International Student Group in U.S. According to CNN, NBC News, South China Morning Post, and other media reports, while India and China still make up over half of all international students in the US, India has overtaken China as the top source for international students in the US for the first time in about 15 years, according to new data released by the Institute of International Education and the U.S. State Department. A total of 331,602 Indians studied in the US during the 2023-24 school year, compared with 277,398 Chinese. Indian students saw a 23 percent increase from the previous academic year, while Chinese students saw a 4 percent decrease. The number of Chinese university students in the US rose from about 98,200 in 2009 to a record high of 369,500 in 2019.The decline of students from China reflects significant shifts in both policy and public perception, with many Chinese students and families worrying about safety, racism and discrimination, and immigration difficulties – especially as more options open up in other countries, including in China itself.In the late 2000s and early 2010s, when Chinese students first began surging overseas, China was rapidly transforming from a poverty-stricken nation to an economic superpower, thanks to an “opening up” initiative that began in the late 1970s and saw sweeping reforms. It changed China’s relationship with the world. After China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and hosted a successful Olympic Games in 2008, “there was this upturn in US-China relations – everyone had a really optimistic view of what China could be,” said Mallie Prytherch , a researcher at the University of Hong Kong’s Center on Contemporary China and the World. “So there was a lot of openness in accepting students into America.” But the launch of the "China Initiative," onslaught of racism, and anti-Asian hate crimes during Donald Trump ’s first presidency and the Covid-19 pandemic meant students became disillusioned with the idea of the American Dream. The downward spiral was reflected in policy, too: Trump imposed an executive order canceling the Fulbright exchange program with China, then introduced a ban that effectively prevents graduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students from several Chinese universities from gaining visas to the US. In 2020, the US revoked visas for more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers deemed security risks. When President Joe Biden took office, many of those Trump-era policies were kept in place – making it difficult for Chinese graduate students and researchers to secure a visa.There have been more immigration-friendly policies in other nations, like Canada, the UK and Australia. Chinese parents have more options to choose from in terms of where they want to go, and what universities are willing to accept their children. Simply staying in China is also one of the options, where universities are growing in prestige. Many Chinese professors previously based in the US are now returning to teach in China – partly because of the difficult conditions they faced in the US, but also because of the improvement in Chinese educational quality. Despite the tightening of immigration rules under the last two administrations, some US officials are still trying to encourage the flow of students. “I want to confirm that we very much welcome students from China to the US. We have the largest number of Chinese students studying outside of China here. We do know that US universities are continuing to value Chinese students,” said Marianne Craven of the State Department. 2024/11/21 CNN: Indian international students in the US outnumber Chinese for the first time in 15 years 2024/11/19 NBC News: Indians become biggest international student group in U.S., surpassing Chinese for first time since 2009 2024/11/18 South China Morning Post: As number of Chinese students in US keeps falling, Indians move to top of list 2024/11/18 Institute of International Education and State Department: Report on International Exchange (video 43:59) News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/11/24 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/12/08-10 National Immigrant Inclusion Conference2024/12/08 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Laws2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Census Bureau Implements New Standard On November 4, 2024, the Census Bureau announced that it will implement the finalized 2024 Statistical Policy Directive (SPD) 15 published by the Office of Management and Budget on March 28, 2024, in the 2027 American Community Survey (ACS) data collection cycle.Read the Census Bureau announcement: https://bit.ly/4fZjKy2 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 November 22, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter