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Newsletter - #366 12/1 Meeting; Giving Tuesday; Yanping Chen; Internatonal Students; CAIR Sues; US Data+ #366 12/1 Meeting; Giving Tuesday; Yanping Chen; Internatonal Students; CAIR Sues; US Data+ In This Issue #366 · 2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Giving Tuesday - Consider APA Justice · Herridge Petition in Yanping Chen v FBI et al · International Students Drop | Serica Storytellers · CAIR Sues Texas Officials Over Terror Group Designation · The U.S. Needs Better Data · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, December 1, 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 are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Kin Yan Hui , National President, Chinese American Citizens Alliance · Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Edgar Chen , Special Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the Co-Organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . *****The American Civil Liberties Union is an American nonprofit civil rights organization founded in 1920. Patrick Toomey works on issues related to privacy and surveillance, racial and ethnic discrimination, and the use of novel technologies like artificial intelligence. His litigation and advocacy often focus on national security prosecutions or policies where these issues intersect. Patrick has litigated high-profile cases challenging sweeping surveillance programs operated by U.S. intelligence agencies, and has represented Asian American scientists who have been wrongly investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. government. Patrick returns to provide updates on recent ACLU activities.The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), "The Voice for 80,000 AANHPI Legal Professionals," held its annual convention on November 6-8, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. On November 25, 2025, NAPABA issued a joint statement with local affiliates in response to the Eleventh Circuit split decision upholding Florida’s discriminatory Alien Land Law SB264. As Senior Advisor for NAPABA, Edgar Chen returns to update us on the latest from NAPABA. Giving Tuesday - Consider APA Justice GivingTuesday is an annual global day of generosity that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It serves as a counterpoint to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday by encouraging people to donate to charities, volunteer their time, or perform acts of kindness. Created in 2012, the movement has grown into a large-scale effort that raises billions of dollars for nonprofits and fosters a spirit of giving back. APA Justice has been advancing fairness, equity, and belonging for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for the past 10 years. We identify emerging issues through coalition work, community engagement, and data insights. We educate policymakers and allies through media collaboration, an online resource hub, and regular briefings. And we mobilize communities to advocate for practical solutions and stronger civic participation.Your support strengthens civil rights protections, elevates AAPI voices, and helps build a more inclusive America. Now, as a powered by the Committee of 100 initiative, APA Justice invites you to make a tax-deductible contribution to sustain this work at: https://bit.ly/Donate2APAJustice . Herridge Petition in Yanping Chen v FBI et al On November 14, 2025, former journalist Catherine Herridge filed a petition with the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in the case of Yanping Chen v FBI et al . Herridge was previously held in civil contempt for refusing to identify the confidential sources she used in Fox News reports about a counterintelligence investigation into Dr. Yanping Chen —an investigation that never resulted in any charges. Dr. Chen alleges that federal officials unlawfully leaked her private information to Herridge in violation of the Privacy Act. Herridge was held in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her confidential sources in a Privacy Act lawsuit filed by Dr. Yanping Chen against federal agencies, including the FBI. Dr. Chen alleged that federal officials leaked her private information to Herridge, which was used in Fox News reports about a counterespionage investigation into Dr. Chen, who was never charged for any wrongdoing. Herridge invoked the First Amendment reporter’s privilege to protect her sources, but the District Court ruled that Dr. Chen had met the criteria to overcome the privilege, citing the centrality of the information and exhaustion of alternative sources. Herridge appealed. The three-judge panel of the Appeals Court affirmed the District Court’s decision with a 3-0 ruling, stating that the reporter’s privilege can be overcome in Privacy Act cases when centrality and exhaustion are established.Herridge has now petitioned for a rehearing by the three-judge panel and rehearing en banc by the entire Appeals Court in the DC Circuit. To learn more about the case, read th e summary of the November 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting led by Dr. Chen's attorney Andrew Phillips and the APA Justice web page on Dr. Chen . International Students Drop | Serica Storytellers According to NBC News on November 17, 2025, U.S. colleges and universities experienced a steep 17% decline in new international enrollment for fall 2025 amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.New data from the Institute of International Education confirms this is the largest non-pandemic drop in more than a decade and follows a 7% decrease the previous academic year. More than half of the 825 surveyed institutions reported declines, with 96% citing visa application problems as a major obstacle. Fanta Aw , CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said visa delays and denials have made the U.S. “less competitive” globally, noting that “the U.S. is no longer the central place that students aspire to come to.” She also pointed to the Trump administration’s pause of new student visa interviews in May, which created severe backlogs.The downturn carries significant economic consequences. NAFSA estimates a $1.1 billion loss to the U.S. economy this year due to fewer international students. Last year, international students contributed nearly $43 billion and supported more than 355,000 U.S. jobs by spending on tuition, housing, services, insurance, and local goods. On December 2, 2025, the Serica Initiative will co-host an in-person event with David Wu , President, Baruch College, CUNY, and Frank Wu , President, Queens College, CUNY. As federal visa policies evolve, international students at City University of New York (CUNY) campuses face growing uncertainty. This timely conversation explores how student visa revocations are reshaping New York’s educational landscape. The panel delves into how immigration policy shifts ripple across classrooms, immigrant communities, and the city’s public higher education system — and how institutions can better advocate for and support affected students. The event will be moderated by Joan Kaufman , Senior Director for Academic Programs, the Schwarzman Scholars Program, and held at Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY, 219 W 40th St 3rd floor, New York, NY 10018. For more information and registration, please visit: https://bit.ly/47RWYHn CAIR Sues Texas Officials Over Terror Group Designation On November 20, 2025, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Legal Fund of America filed a lawsuit, Council on American-Islamic Relations Texas Dallas Fort Worth v. Abbott (1:25-cv-01878) , in the U.S. District Court for West Texas against Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton over Abbott’s proclamation designating CAIR as a foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organization on November 18. The designation prevents CAIR from acquiring property in Texas and imposes civil and criminal penalties, which the plaintiffs argue harm their advocacy work, fundraising, and reputation. CAIR argues in the lawsuit that Abbott acted to defame the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR contends that the proclamation violates constitutional rights, including protections for property and free speech, and strongly rejects Abbott’s characterization of CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist” and “transnational criminal” organizations. The lawsuit also notes that CAIR condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, contradicting Abbott’s allegations that CAIR’s executive director “publicly praised and supported” the attack. According to The Guardian , only the U.S. Secretary of State can officially designate foreign terrorist organizations under federal law. Abbott’s proclamation is tied to his broader efforts in Texas related to “foreign adversaries” and land restrictions. It bars CAIR members from purchasing land in Texas and allows Paxton to sue entities linked to CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood, but it does not carry federal immigration consequences, asset freezes, or criminal penalties. Abbott justified the designation by citing a 2007 case involving CAIR and the Holy Land Foundation; CAIR was never indicted and has denied the allegations.According to The Guardian , only the U.S. secretary of state can officially designate foreign terrorist organizations under federal law. Abbott’s proclamation is tied to his broader efforts in Texas related to “foreign adversaries” and land restrictions. It bars CAIR members from purchasing land in Texas and allows Paxton to sue entities linked to CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood, but it does not carry federal immigration consequences, asset freezes, or criminal penalties. Lena Masri , CAIR’s Litigation Director, said the lawsuit is “our first step toward defeating Governor Abbott again so that our nation protects free speech and due process for all Americans.” She warned, “No civil rights organization is safe if a governor can baselessly and unilaterally declare any of them terrorist groups, ban them from buying land, and threaten them with closure.” Several Republican officials previously called for an investigation into CAIR’s funding. CAIR has won three prior cases challenging Abbott’s alleged First Amendment violations. · 2025/11/20 Politico: CAIR Sues Texas Officials over Terror Group Designation · 2025/11/20 Houston Chronicle: Muslim civil rights group CAIR sues Greg Abbott over 'unconstitutional' terrorist designation · 2025/11/18 The Guardian: Texas governor Abbott designates Cair and Muslim Brotherhood terrorist groups · 2025/11/18 New York Times: Texas Governor Declares Muslim Civil Rights Group a ‘Terrorist Organization’ · 2025/11/18 Washington Post: Texas governor declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization The U.S. Needs Better Data According to Barron's on November 22, 2025, good data matter more than ever in a complicated world, and the U.S. is falling behind.The recent 43-day government shutdown exposed how essential—and fragile—America’s federal statistical system has become. When agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics stopped collecting and publishing key indicators, policymakers, businesses, and investors were left without reliable information on unemployment, inflation, retail sales, and more. Although critics have questioned data accuracy in recent years, the shutdown made clear that federal statistics remain the “gold standard.” Yet this gold standard is eroding due to shrinking budgets, declining survey participation, and significant staff losses, all of which lead to larger revisions and slower, less reliable reporting.Part of the challenge lies in structural limitations: much of U.S. economic data still relies on labor-intensive surveys of businesses and households, even as response rates fall and the economy evolves more rapidly. While private firms now generate high-frequency, real-time data—ranging from digital payments to satellite imagery—federal agencies have been slow to adopt these sources due to cost, technical barriers, and the difficulty of processing large, unstructured datasets. Still, promising efforts exist. The Chicago Fed, for example, has blended traditional government data with private-sector sources to provide more timely labor and retail indicators that closely track official statistics.Looking ahead, experts argue that the U.S. needs a more modern, collaborative, and better-funded statistical system. Solutions include expanding blended-data approaches, adopting standardized employer records like those piloted by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, and even consolidating major statistical units into a single national statistics agency—something every other G-7 country already has. Although America’s decentralized system offers some protections against data manipulation, the growing risks of outdated, incomplete, or delayed information are becoming too large to ignore. With the economy and population shifting quickly, safeguarding and enhancing the nation’s data infrastructure is essential for informed decisions by policymakers, businesses, and the public. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/12/01 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing - Estate of Jane Wu v Northwestern University2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/12/02 Serica Storytellers: The Presidents | David Wu & Frank Wu2025/12/08 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Alice Young2026/01/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF November 28, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced the end of the China Initiative. The 1,210 days of the Initiative were extremely damaging to individuals and their families, as well as the Asian American and scientific communities. The end of the China Initiative is a welcomed start to correct the harms it caused. APA Justice is committed to continue its work to address racial profiling and seek justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American communities. February 23, 2022 Table of Contents Overview Caught in the Crossfire Request for Release of DOJ Review Report Community Town Hall Racial Profiling Before and After The China Initiative Links and References Overview On February 23, 2022, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Matthew G. Olsen, announced the end of the “China Initiative,” a program that was meant to address economic espionage but morphed into disproportionately targeting Asian Americans and academic communities for administrative errors and harming academic freedom and open science. While we disagree with Olsen’s self-assessment that the DOJ did not find racial bias in China Initiative cases, we welcome the end of the ill-conceived initiative and DOJ’s openness to listen and respond to community concerns. The work to address racial profiling against Asian Americans is far from over; in fact, it is just beginning. The flawed China Initiative has caused immeasurable damage to victims, and eroded the trust and confidence Asian American and academic communities placed in law enforcement. We urge transparency and accountability going forward. APA Justice is committed to continuing our work on these important issues. Moving forward, we urge the DOJ, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP), and federal funding agencies to engage in dialogue with Asian American and academic community leaders, be responsive to public Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and inquiries, and provide facts and data to support their policies and practices. We hope this is the beginning of real change to reduce systemic prejudice and bias and focus on legitimate national security threats. We are encouraged by the progress made by OSTP to develop and implement fair and consistent reporting requirements that will not “diminish our superpower of attracting global scientific talent” and not “fuel xenophobia against Asian Americans.” More needs to be done for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to be fully engaged with the Asian American and scientific communities. In addition to transparency, APA Justice strongly believes that the federal government must be held accountable for its misconduct and abuse of power. Unfortunately, DOJ has not provided remedies for the impacted communities to heal and regain trust in the government, or offered an apology or support to the scientists who were falsely charged and suffered tremendous damage personally and professionally. The aggressive prosecutions and investigations by the DOJ and FBI have had devastating effects for families, friends, colleagues, and community members. Congress and the public must hold our institutions accountable for misconduct and misguided policies. DOJ must work to rebuild trust with the people it serves, particularly the Asian American and academic communities. They have been terrorized over the past three plus years under the China Initiative. We were encouraged that the DOJ acknowledged the chilling effect across academia, and believe that by advancing transparency and accountability, the U.S. government will send a signal that America is indeed the shining beacon of freedom and justice for all. APA Justice thanks the tremendous support from members of Congress and community partners in civil rights and academia who have worked tirelessly to support the victims and advocate for changes to the China Initiative. APA Justice is committed to fostering the ecosystem to effectively address racial profiling concerns and advocate for justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American communities. Caught in the Crossfire On March 30, 2022, WHYNOT | 歪脑 produced a video titled Caught in the Crossfire for the third and final episode of its "Caught in the Crossfire" series. It followed the case of MIT professor Gang Chen, one of the most prominent scholars being charged under the China Initiative, to show how the program had subjected scientists to loyalty tests. During the China Initiative’s lifespan of three plus years, the focus gradually shifted to academia, targeting a number of researchers and professors with grant fraud charges. Among those who were charged under the initiative, nearly 90% were of Chinese heritage, and many of the cases involving research integrity have been dropped after lengthy and costly legal battles. Concerns about racial profiling were repeatedly refuted by the FBI and the DOJ even as the China Initiative came to an end. The video has three chapters: "We Are All Gang Chen" 我们都是陈刚 The "China Initiative" "中国行动计划"的前生今世 A Scientist's Loyalty 科学家为谁而忠诚 2022/03/30 WHYNOT: How the DOJ's China Initiative subjected scientists to loyalty tests (video 16:39) 2022/03/30 歪脑: 大国夹缝中：“中国行动计划”下科学家面临的忠诚拷问 (video 16:39) Request for Release of DOJ Review Report On March 8, 2022, APA Justice sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, requesting the release of a report on the Department of Justice's (DOJ’s) review of the “China Initiative.” Release of a report on the findings of the review is critically important to ease the broad concerns that the end of “China Initiative” is just in name but does not reflect a change in fact and substance. It is common for the government to produce a written report to memorialize an important review and usually includes the defined scope, issues examined, process and methodology used, findings, recommended changes, decisions, and plans for implementation. Community Town Hall On March 17, 2022, a virtual town hall meeting was held for community members to ask a panel of experts questions about the recent announcement from the Department of Justice to end the China Initiative. The meeting was convened by a coalition led by Advancing Justice | AAJC. It was not recorded. APA Justice issued the following statement for the town hall meeting: “Thank you, Advancing Justice | AAJC, for organizing this town hall. “The APA Justice Task Force fully supports the end of the ‘China Initiative.’ We appreciate the Department of Justice’s openness and willingness to engage, listen, and respond to community concerns. “Ending the “China Initiative” is a promising start to correct the harms caused by the initiative, apply lessons learned, and rebuild community trust and confidence that were lost in our law enforcement and judicial system. “But we emphasize that this is just a start. “We, like many other organizations and individuals, have broad concerns that the end of the initiative is just in name but does not reflect a change in fact and substance. “On March 8, we wrote to Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen and requested the public release of a report memorializing the findings of his review. We raised five basic questions, including the scope of his review, the new role for the National Security Division, the re-start of implicit bias training, the thoroughness of the thousands of existing prosecutions and investigations, and whether the review covered allegations of DOJ and FBI misconduct. “Mr. Olsen’s response will go a long way to help us move forward. We will stay vigilant and continue to stand up and speak out. Our mission is not complete. “We need our government and our university administrations to be transparent, accountable, and operate with fairness and integrity. “APA Justice will focus on three main areas moving forward. “We call for Congress to exercise its oversight role to hold law enforcement and federal agencies accountable. We thank the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) for its continuing leadership. “We fully support the initiative started by the Office of Science and Technology Policy to ensure that the new policies related to research security will not fuel xenophobia or prejudice. “We will urge university administrations to inform, assist, and protect their faculty members. Apply fair and due process. Do not cave and do not throw your faculty members under the bus. “The 1,210 days of the ‘China Initiative’ have been extremely damaging to individuals and their families, as well as the Asian American and scientific communities. “We sincerely hope that the end of the ‘China Initiative’ will bring real change, start the healing process, and rebuild the lost trust. We look forward to work with many of you in this important journey. Thank you.” Racial Profiling Before and After The China Initiative The China Initiative was not the first, nor will it be the last, racial profiling faced by the Asian Pacific American communities in the history of the United States. We are not a perfect nation. Although some progress is made, we must never cease to pursue the ideals and principles of the United States through continuous awareness, education, civic engagement, and holding the government accountable. Visit our Racial Profiling page to learn more about some of the recent history before the China Initiative was launched and the continuing developments and attempts to revive the China Initiative since its end in February 2022. Jump to: Overview Caught in the Crossfire Request for Release of DOJ Review Report Community Town Hall Racial Profiling Before and After The China Initiative Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced the end of the China Initiative. The 1,210 days of the Initiative were extremely damaging to individuals and their families, as well as the Asian American and scientific communities. The end of the China Initiative is a welcomed start to correct the harms it caused. APA Justice is committed to continue its work to address racial profiling and seek justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American communities. Previous Next 12. China Initiative Ends

Newsletter - #370 1/5 Meeting; Officer Angwang; NY Education Equity; Surveillance Reforms; Govt Broken;+ #370 1/5 Meeting; Officer Angwang; NY Education Equity; Surveillance Reforms; Govt Broken;+ In This Issue #370 · 2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting · The Story of Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 · NY Governor Signs “New York AANHPI Education Equity Act” · CDT Leads Coalition for Critical Surveillance Reforms · WP : Federal Government Broken in 2025 · News and Activities for the Communities 2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Rep. Grace Meng 孟昭文 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, is invited to deliver a new year message and a review of 2025. In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Deborah Frankel , Counsel, Bloch & White LLP on Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 · Paul Cheng 鄭文耀 , President, Committee of 100 · Hua Wang 王华 , Chair; Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President, United Chinese Americans · Sharon Wong , National Chair; Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, OCA National Center The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . The Story of Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 , a naturalized U.S. citizen and former Marine, was arrested in 2020 as part of the Department of Justice's China Initiative. As an officer of the New York Police Department (NYPD), he was accused of acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, with prosecutors labeling him an "insider threat." Officer Angwang maintained that his interactions with consulate officials were benign, and his defense argued that the government had misinterpreted and cherry-picked his communications. In January 2023, federal prosecutors dropped all charges "in the interest of justice" after uncovering new information. However, they refused to publicly explain the reversal, citing classified evidence. Although all the federal charges against Officer Angwang were dismissed in January 2023, NYPD failed to reinstate him. Contrary to most internal investigations based on court cases that had been dropped, NYPD continued its internal investigation against him. On January 29, 2024, former New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban ordered the immediate firing of Officer Angwang, saying he disobeyed an order to submit to questioning by internal affairs investigators about the spying case against him under the China Initiative. “It’s extremely disappointing,” Angwang told AP in a phone interview. “I have to continue to fight, not just for me, for anyone who were wrongfully accused … or any potential discrimination victims in the future. I will not give up until I find the justice.” On January 5, 2026, Deborah Frankel , Counsel at Bloch & White LLP, will provide an update on Angwang’s situation at the APA Justice monthly meeting. Read Angwang’s story at the APA Justice website: Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 NY Governor Signs “New York AANHPI Education Equity Act” On December 16, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Legislation S7855E/A8463-E , known as the AANHPI Education Equity Act, a new law designed to assess and strengthen how Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history is taught in New York State schools. The legislation directs the Commissioner of Education to conduct a statewide survey examining how AANHPI history is currently incorporated into social studies curricula. The law also establishes an AANHPI History Advisory Committee to guide future curriculum development and ensure more inclusive and accurate instruction. Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of representation in education, stating: “AANHPI history is New York history, and our classrooms should reflect that fact. … This law ensures that students across the state will have the tools to understand and appreciate the impact of these communities on our nation.” The bill is part of the Governor’s broader initiative to strengthen inclusive history education, alongside instruction on African American, Indigenous, Jewish, and other historically underrepresented communities. Research cited by the administration underscores that comprehensive cultural history education promotes empathy, reduces bias, and fosters a stronger sense of belonging among students. State Senator John Liu , the bill’s Senate sponsor, described the law as a critical step toward long-overdue recognition: “This survey bill is not the endgame, but an important step … by measuring how AANHPI history is currently taught in classrooms, and how it is not.” Assemblymember Grace Lee , the Assembly sponsor, framed the legislation as foundational to telling a fuller national story: “The AANHPI Education Equity Act is about telling the complete American story. … This law affirms that our stories matter, that our children belong.” The law has drawn strong support from federal, state, and local leaders. U.S. Representative Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), noted: “For generations, AANHPI history has been poorly represented in our education system … It is critical for our next generation to understand that AANHPI history IS American history.” Education advocates also praised the measure. The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) called the act “a critical step forward” toward integrating culturally responsive curriculum statewide and ensuring that AANHPI students see their histories and experiences reflected in the classroom. In a press release , Stop AAPI Hate joined Asian American community leaders in celebrating the bill’s signing, marking the culmination of years of organizing and advocacy led by the R.E.A.C.H. Coalition in partnership with Senator Liu and Assemblymember Lee. Community-based organizations within the R.E.A.C.H. Coalition—including CACF, AAARI-CUNY, Caribbean Equality Project, JAHAJEE, KACE, OCA–New York, and Stop AAPI Hate—hailed the legislation as historic and long overdue. Advocates emphasized that the statewide survey will help expose longstanding gaps in curriculum, support culturally responsive teaching, combat ignorance and bias, and foster cross-racial understanding. They also stressed the law’s importance in ensuring that students from diverse and transnational backgrounds see their histories reflected throughout their K–12 education. With the enactment of the AANHPI Education Equity Act, New York takes a meaningful step toward a more inclusive, accurate, and representative education system—one that recognizes the essential role AANHPI communities have played, and continue to play, in shaping both the state and the nation. CDT Leads Coalition for Critical Surveillance Reforms As the April 20, 2026 expiration date for Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) approaches, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is spearheading a bipartisan effort to protect Americans' privacy. On December 10, 2025, a coalition of over two dozen civil liberties organizations sent a formal letter to the House Judiciary Committee urging comprehensive reform before any reauthorization occurs. The coalition’s primary focus is on ending the "Backdoor Search Loophole," which currently allows government agencies to search through vast databases of communications without a warrant. Past misuses have reportedly targeted journalists, campaign donors, and even Members of Congress. To address these vulnerabilities, the coalition is calling for four essential reforms: · Establishing a Warrant Requirement : Mandating a probable cause warrant for U.S. person queries to end warrantless "backdoor" searches. · Closing the Data Broker Loophole : Preventing agencies from bypassing court oversight by simply purchasing sensitive personal data—such as location and browsing history—from commercial brokers. · Narrowing Provider Definitions : Reversing overbroad definitions that could force a wide range of businesses, including law firms and media offices, to assist in warrantless surveillance. · Empowering FISA Court Amici : Improving access for independent experts (amici) to ensure civil liberties are represented in secretive court proceedings. With the legislative clock ticking, these organizations are urging Congress to prioritize the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act and other measures to ensure that government surveillance remains targeted, transparent, and constitutionally sound. Read the CDT statement and coalition letter: https://bit.ly/4qGKXv5 WP : Federal Government Broken in 2025 In 2025, the federal government experienced one of the most sweeping and disruptive transformations in its modern history. During President Donald Trump ’s second term, a rapid series of executive actions and administrative changes fundamentally altered the size, structure, and culture of the federal workforce—an unprecedented dismantling of the civil service. According to an extensive Washington Post investigation, nearly 300,000 federal employees left government service within a single year through firings, forced resignations, early retirement incentives, and new personnel rules. This marked the largest workforce reduction in decades and resulted in the loss of vast institutional knowledge across federal agencies. At the center of the overhaul was a redefinition of how the civil service operates. Long-standing protections designed to ensure a professional, nonpartisan federal workforce were weakened or bypassed. New policies emphasized loyalty to presidential priorities, giving political leadership greater control over hiring, firing, and agency direction. A newly branded entity, the U.S. DOGE Service (Department of Government Efficiency), played a key role in driving these changes, framing them as efforts to eliminate waste and improve accountability. One of the most controversial initiatives was a “deferred resignation” program that offered employees continued pay and benefits if they voluntarily agreed to leave their positions. While the administration promoted the program as a humane and efficient off-ramp, unions and watchdog groups criticized it as coercive and costly, noting that thousands of workers were effectively paid not to work while agencies struggled to function. The human and operational impacts were immediate. Federal employees described an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear as remote work was abruptly curtailed, reporting requirements multiplied, and entire offices were reorganized or eliminated. Agencies responsible for scientific research, environmental protection, public health, and civil rights saw deep cuts or mission changes. In some cases, essential services slowed or broke down as staffing shortages collided with rising public needs. Beyond day-to-day disruptions, the long-term consequences may be more profound. Experts warn that the erosion of career expertise weakened the government’s capacity to respond to crises, enforce regulations, and provide consistent public services. Critics argue the changes amounted to an ideological purge that undermined the nonpartisan foundation of American governance. The Trump administration, however, defended the actions as fulfilling campaign promises to shrink government, cut inefficiency, and restore accountability to taxpayers. By the end of 2025, one thing was clear: the federal government that emerged bore little resemblance to the one that existed just a year earlier. Whether these changes will result in a leaner, more effective government—or leave lasting damage to public institutions—remains a central question for the years ahead. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/01/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao 2026/01/21 Perception and Reality: What U.S.–China Relations Mean for Chinese Americans Today 2026/01/28 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service 2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/02/11 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heros: BD Wong Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF December 29, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #270 08/05 Monthly Meeting; Franklin Tao; NCAPA Policy Platform; "Stop Woke Act" Stopped+ #270 08/05 Monthly Meeting; Franklin Tao; NCAPA Policy Platform; "Stop Woke Act" Stopped+ In This Issue #270 · 2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 2024/07/23 Capitol Hill Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao · NCAPA 2024 Policy Platform · Part of Florida’s "Stop WOKE Act" Permanently Blocked · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, August 5, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Anne S. Chao , Co-founder, Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum; Program Manager, Houston Asian American Archive, Rice University · Franklin Tao , former Professor of Kansas University, Victim of China Initiative; Hong Peng , Wife of Professor Tao · Ron Barrett-Gonzalez , Committee A Co-Chair, Kansas Conference of the American Association of University Professors Sonal Shah , Chief Commissioner, President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI, will join us in a future meeting.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 . *****Anne S. Chao is a modern Chinese historian, and currently an Adjunct Lecturer in the Humanities at Rice University, and co-founder and manager of the Houston Asian American Archive at Rice University. She is a co-founder of the FRIENDS of the National Asian Pacific American Museum , whose goal is to establish a national AAPI museum on the nation's Mall in Washington DC. Anne serves on the boards of the Houston Ballet, Wellesley Colleges, the National Archives Foundation, the Dunhuang Foundation among others. Ann will update us on her activities.Professor Franklin Tao was the first academic scientist indicted under the China Initiative. It took him almost 5 years to clear all 10 charges against him, the last of which was overturned by the 10th Circuit Appeals Court on July 11, 2024. None of the charges were related to espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China. Franklin and his wife Hong will share their thoughts and remarks about their experience and plans. The Kansas Conference of the AAUP is a collection of individual chapters from a variety of institutions of higher education from around the state of Kansas. All of the officers are volunteers with many being trained at the national level in University Governance. The Conference regularly handles issues regarding denial of due process, governance, tenure adjudication and dismissal. With more than 400 AAUP members state-wide, the Conference is the only state-wide body representing all faculty members. Dr. Ron Barrett-Gonzalez will describe the work of KCAAUP. 2024/07/23 Capitol Hill Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao On July 23, 2024, a press conference was held on Capitol Hill following Professor Tao’s recent victory in a federal court appeal. "Unfortunately, I was one of the earliest scientists arrested under the China Initiative. More than 4 years, I was indicted for 10 felony counts. Thanks to my lawyers, we fought the charges. Now, we have finally won. But this victory is bittersweet. I have lost almost everything. My academic career … has been destroyed," Professor Tao said at the press conference. “It has been 1,786 days. Each of those days was lived with fear and desperation,” he said of the period from his arrest to a US appeal court tossing out his conviction on July 11.The 52-year-old chemical engineer said his immediate hope was to return to the University of Kansas, where he was a tenured associate professor before the school fired him after he was convicted of four counts in 2022.Tao’s lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg , said he represented dozens of individuals like Tao who “were caught up and charged in multiple felonies for civil paperwork errors in their grant applications”. “They’re not stealing money. They’re not diverting money. They’re not sharing secrets with anyone who isn’t allowed,” he said. Rep. Judy Chu , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, also spoke at the press conference, "we are at a critical moment for our nation and our community. It is because Chinese Americans, and more broadly Asian Americans, have had target on their back, scapegoated for public health crises, economic downturn, and now national security concerns. So we recognize the full realization of justice with Dr. Tao today, but we must remain vigilant. No American should have to live in fear that their entire life may be turned upside down due to wrongful accusations, unwarranted racial profiling, or ugly xenophobia. There is no room for this prejudice in our government or our country." In recent months, lawmakers and advocacy groups have pushed back against efforts to bring back the China Initiative, including one in a House Republican funding bill that was ultimately removed. Rep. Judy Chu said that she and her team were “constantly on [their] watch” for such efforts.“With few convictions and multiple dismissals, the China Initiative has tragically damaged the lives and careers of too many innocent Americans and has actually hurt the nation’s ability to lead in global scientific research and innovation,” said the Committee of 100, a non-partisan organization of prominent Chinese Americans.Watch the report by Sinovision: https://bit.ly/46p8is4 (video 5:16). Read the South China Post report: https://bit.ly/3zTJk7U NCAPA 2024 Policy Platform The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) has published its 2024 Policy Platform. The 127-page report covers eight policy priorities: · AA and NHPI Visibility · Civil Rights · Education · Empowering AA and NHPI Workers · Health · Housing and Economic Justice · Immigration · Tech and Telecom Recommendations under Civil Rights include · Require law enforcement agencies to conduct cultural competency and anti-profiling training, improve government monitoring of their activities with respect to race and other protected classes, and create effective complaint resolution processes. · Prevent the return of the Department of Justice’s defunct “China Initiative” and any future iterations of such programs and policies · Engage directly with impacted members of the Asian American scholar community, and ensure that due processes are in place both within federal agencies and academic institutions to protect the rights of Asian Americans – particularly those of Chinese descent – who have been subjected to heightened scrutiny as US-China tensions worsen. · Oppose discriminatory land laws introduced at the state and federal levels, with a specific focus on bills that target individuals based on their national origin, race, ethnicity, or color. (also under Housing and Economic Justice) · Ensure that surveillance authorities are not overbroad, overused, and abused to the detriment to vulnerable communities of color. This includes opposing the reauthorization of Sec. 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act without comprehensive reforms, and preventing any future surveillance authorities that lack appropriate checks and balances against prejudice and bias against a person based on their race, ethnicity, national origin or religious background. Recommendations under AA and NHPI Visibility include · Invest in and make public commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across government and private sector hiring. Oppose efforts to dismantle existing programs designed to encourage diverse workforces The 2024 Policy Platform is available at https://bit.ly/3yiCM2k . The NCAPA platform website is located at https://ncapaplatform.org/ Part of Florida’s "Stop WOKE Act" Permanently Blocked According to multiple media reports, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a final order to overturn a Florida law known as “ Stop WOKE Act ” that was pushed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers in 2022 as part of the war on “woke ideology.” It attempted to limit diversity and race-based discussions in private workplaces.In August 2022, Judge Walker issued an injunction that blocked Florida from enforcing parts of the law prohibiting mandatory workplace activities and trainings that suggest a person is privileged or oppressed based on their race, color, sex or national origin. Judge Walker said in a 44-page ruling that the "Stop WOKE Act" violates the First Amendment and is impermissibly vague. He said the law, as applied to diversity, inclusion and bias training in businesses, turns the First Amendment "upside down" because the state is barring speech by prohibiting discussion of certain concepts in training programs. He also refused to issue a stay that would keep the law in effect during any appeal by the state.Judge Walker's decision was upheld by an appeals court in March 2024. His latest order makes his temporary injunction permanent.The challenge to the law was brought in June 2022 by several Florida businesses, represented by Protect Democracy , which describes itself as a “nonpartisan, anti-authoritarianism group.” Shalini Goel Agarwal , counsel for Protect Democracy, said in a post on X, “(This is) a powerful reminder that the First Amendment cannot be warped to serve the interests of elected officials. Censoring business owners from speaking in favor of ideas that politicians don’t like is a move ripped straight from the authoritarian playbook.”Judge Walker also has separately issued a preliminary injunction against part of the law that would restrict the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities. A panel of the appeals court held a hearing in that case in June. 2024/07/29 CNN: Judge permanently blocks part of Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE Act’ 2024/07/27 Fox News: Judge permanently blocks part of Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act' as unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds 2024/07/27 Tallahassee Democrat: Federal judge permanently blocks part of Florida's Stop WOKE Act, pushed by Gov. DeSantis 2024/07/27 CBS News: Federal judge takes final step to overturn Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act' News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/08/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/08/19 DNC Convention, AAPI Briefing & Reception, Chicago, IL2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity SummitThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. TMAC 2024 Community Contribution Award Ceremony On July 26, 2024, the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC) hosted the 2024 Community Contribution Award Ceremony. The event was held at the STV Global Theatre of the Southern News Group in Houston, Texas. Wea Lee , Treasurer of TMAC and Chairman of Southern News Group, opened the ceremony. Congressman Al Green presented a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition to The Committee of 100 and its Interim President Cindy Tsai in honor of their service to the community. 3. APIAVote: Recap of Presidential Town Hall On July 13, 2024, APIAVote held a Presidential Town Hall in Philadelphia, featuring speakers including Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris , Congresswoman Judy Chu , Congressman Ted Lieu , Congresswoman Jill Tokuda , Congresswoman Mazie Hirono , Philadelphia Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmed , anchor & reporter for NBC10 Frances Wang , actress and activist Tamlyn Tomita, and others. Watch video of the event: https://bit.ly/3WGMIfv (2:35:15). A photo album of the event is available at: https://bit.ly/3SravNU . Back View PDF August 1, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #49 House Hearing On Discrimination And Violence Against Asian Americans Today #49 House Hearing On Discrimination And Violence Against Asian Americans Today Back View PDF March 18, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

The University of North Texas has suddenly ended its relationship with visiting scholars receiving funding from China. August 26, 2020 On August 26, 2020, the University of North Texas (UNT) announced that it has ended "its relationship with visiting scholars who receive funding from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC, also known as the Chinese Scholarship Fund)." Access to UNT email, servers, and other materials, as well as the J-1 program under the U.S. Exchange Visit Program, were terminated immediately. In essence, the action expelled these scholars from the United States. On August 31, 2020, Ling-Chi Wang, Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley, wrote a letter to UNT to express "shock and profound concern" over the sudden expulsion of students from the university and the U.S. "In the absence of any legitimate explanation, the expulsion appears to be national origin-based and possibly racially and politically motivated, an action explicitly prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Right Act of 1964," Professor Wang wrote in the letter. On the same day, retired Julie Tang also wrote to UNT to protest the expulsion of Chinese students . "Their summary removal from the College appears to be a serious violation of their constitutional rights to equal protection and due process of the law under the 14th Amendment," Judge Tang said in the letter. UNT President Neal Smatresk had issued a statement on " Moving Forward and Living Our Values as a Diverse, Inclusive Community " on June 17, 2020. "I am steadfastly committed to celebrating our diversity and working toward the changes necessary for our university to lead in the fight against racism and bias so that each and every individual feels like a valued member of our Mean Green family," the statement said. A concerned individual has also sent a protest message to UNT President Smatresk, pointing out that the purge of Chinese scholars is not based on misbehavior but on the source of their funding assistance. The UNT letter is a "get-out-of-Dodge" letter from the "Sheriff" with no pretense of due process. " It is a resurrection of the shameful Chinese Exclusion Acts of the past." On September 3, 2020, the petition to " Take back the decision to end the relationship with the Chinese scholars who fund by CSC " has gathered morfe than 6,000 signatures. It has been reported that UNT expelled 15 Chinese government-backed scholars. It is unknown at this time whether the expulsion is a unilateral decision made by UNT, how many other higher education institutions have taken similar action on their own, or an implemenation of a government policy. Available evidence suggests that it may be related to a 2020/08/18 letter from a State Department official. The University of North Texas has suddenly ended its relationship with visiting scholars receiving funding from China. Previous Next Another Purge of Scholars from China?

Newsletter - #208 Alien Land Laws; Voice from Guam; Asian American History; Statisticians in China; More #208 Alien Land Laws; Voice from Guam; Asian American History; Statisticians in China; More In This Issue #208 Tell Congress NO to Alien Land Laws and the Rounds Amendment A Voice from Guam - "Applying Leverage to Uncle Sam" Asian American History - The AsianWeek Database Project Statisticians in China Speak Up On Transparency of Chinese Government Data News and Activities for The Communities Tell Congress NO to Alien Land Laws and the Rounds Amendment Reminder: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) put out a call for the public to tell Congress: Say NO to Discriminatory Land Laws. Tell your Members of Congress to speak out against any law that falsely equates Chinese people with the Chinese government." We cannot allow history to repeat itself. Take one easy step to tell Congress NO to discriminatory land laws at https://bit.ly/3qRsFOh Breaking News: The National Fair Housing Alliance announced that it will file a lawsuit against the discriminatory alien land law in Florida during the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 11, 2023. Correction : Scott Chang, an attorney for the National Fair Housing Alliance, said that NFHA and other organizations are still investigating and are likely to file a lawsuit against the discriminatory alien land law in Florida during the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 11, 2023 1. Call for Action by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Advancing Justice | AAJC is also urging the public to join the opposition against Senate Amendment 813 otherwise known as the “Rounds Amendment” and say NO to this discriminatory land law. Follow the link here to voice your concerns to Congress. Additional resources on discriminatory land laws can also be found here . The U.S. has seen a resurgence of discriminatory land laws introduced and enacted in states across the country! Similar legislation has also been proposed in Congress and the latest example is the Senate Amendment 813 which has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.Introduced by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-ND), the provision would effectively prohibit foreign nationals from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from owning agricultural land in the United States. It would require the President to block specific types of transactions based on recommendations from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). There are currently no exceptions for visa holders and there is a high standard for a waiver which has to be granted by the President of the United States. The good news is that there is still time to prevent the Rounds amendment from being formally adopted into law.Call your member of Congress and urge them to strike Senate Amendment 813 from the final version of the NDAA. When you talk with your elected official(s), let them know that you oppose continuing the legacy of discriminatory land laws. These types of discriminatory land laws have a long legacy in this country and single out citizens who otherwise have no connection to the actions of their governments, including the countries which have been deemed to be a “foreign adversary.” The amendment was adopted and subsequently included in the Senate version of the NDAA but coalition groups are currently applying pressure to strike out the amendment in conferencing. Help us win this fight! 2. National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Webinar On September 12, 2023, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) hosted a webinar titled " "Alien Land Laws: What's Happening Now and How You Can Take Action." Texas State Representative Gene Wu 吳元之 , who helped defeat Texas’ alien land law proposal, was the featured speaker to offer his insights. The success in Texas, where grassroots efforts narrowly blocked a reckless alien land law bill, underscores the power of collective action. This event was co-hosted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). The webinar covered an in-depth analysis of the alien land laws, strategies on how to engage and counter these measures, call to action on fighting the Rounds Amendment, and a platform to ask questions and share concerns during a Q&A segment.Watch the NIAC webinar: https://bit.ly/45R0EWr (1:03:55) A Voice from Guam - "Applying Leverage to Uncle Sam" According to the Pacific Island Times on September 11, 2023, August was a busy month for federal travel to Guahan (Guam in Chamorro). The island was treated to the “scoping” meetings on the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System (EIAMDS) on Guam. This occurred over three days in early August. The event was well-managed and well-staffed. We had representatives of the Missile Defense Agency that included flag officers and devoted advocates for the system.According to the report, "the organization of the events in poster sessions rather than townhall-style helped provide in-depth information but also avoided a public question and answer session."Criticisms of the planned EIAMDS were inevitable and on-point. The island is being offered a group of 20 'candidate' sites with little explanation about the actual uses of the sites and the intrusions they would make on our day-to-day lives. There was no explanation about which sites were just shooters or radar or sensor sites. There was no explanation about limitations made on uses of airspace and lands near the candidate sites. "There was a lot of discussion about how the island needs protection from ostensible Chinese missiles and the estimation of potential conflict was rated from probable to inevitable. We were told that we live in a dangerous world in which Chinese initiatives are rearranging the geopolitical character of the region. "At the end of the day, we weren’t being asked about whether we agreed with this assessment or how much of our lives and island we were willing to leverage in order to deal with this ominous trend. We were asked to make comments on the 'environmental impacts' of the proposed activity. The basic decision is out of our hands as a colony of the United States. "Many Guahan elected officials privately told me that 'leverage' is the key word. We shouldn’t worry too much. We will be able to leverage this massive intrusion into our lives in order to benefit the island. Leverage is the key word. "Paraphrasing Isaiah in the Bible, we can turn these Pentagon swords into Guam plowshares for our people. I could hardly wait for the opportunity to start leveraging the EIAMDS into hospitals, schools, jobs and businesses. Maybe we could throw in a little political empowerment. Not too much to ask for a vitally important colony which we were constantly told is part of the U.S. homeland. In the discourse over missile defense, Guam is part of America."The House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight field hearing on August 24 at the Guam Hilton. The title of the hearing was 'Peace Through Strength: The Strategic Importance of the Pacific Islands to U.S.-led Global Security.' Called to testify were Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios . The three freely associated states were represented by Foreign Ministers Kaleb Udui Jr. of Palau, Ricky Cantero of the Federated States of Micronesia and Jack Ading of the Marshall Islands. "The purpose of the hearing was basically to build regional support for the U.S.-led Global Security efforts in this part of the world. This means that the Chinese threat across the board demands dramatic American action in order to stabilize the environment and continue U.S. hegemony. The role of the Micronesian islands is key to this effort, especially the recently concluded financial agreements between the United States and the three freely associated states."In order to ensure approval of these agreements by Congress, the identified rationales are the threats posed by China and the necessity of U.S. dominance. This field hearing will be used as part of the corpus of justification for approval of the compacts. The robust financial arrangements that have already been concluded can be seen as the 'leverage' that our Micronesian neighbors have been able to exert in Washington D.C. When and how was the leverage going to be applied by the territories?"Taking center stage were illegal fishing activities by the Chinese, descriptions of Chinese economic penetration in the CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) and Palau and allegations of bribery of officials in the FSM (Federated States of Micronesia)."Leverage is when you point out to the other side the negative consequences of not going along with your plan. There was no leverage, just the usual typical kind of hat-in-hand request, which many Guam officials have done for decades. "There is a rhetorical pattern that many island leaders can’t seem to shake. They think that loving Uncle Sam is a viable strategy for getting respect and assistance. The use of World War II experiences was vital to this approach. "But there is a lesson which everyone needs to know now. In the 21st century, asking Uncle Sam for assistance because we are poor, but loyal islanders neither attracts attention nor does it get rewarded. It is just old hat in Washington D.C. and actually has been since the time of Congressman Antonio B. Won Pat , who did use it effectively for a few years. But he had an audience in Congress that consisted of World War II veterans. That Congress does not exist anymore."The disruption caused by the ascendency of China is real. It has political, economic and strategic dimensions. It is unfortunate that in response to Chinese economic penetration, the primary antidote that Washington D.C. can think of for us is an anti-missile defense system. It took former National Guard General Rod Leon Guerrero to remind us that diplomacy should come first and that the EIAMDS should be a last resort. It isn’t exactly the message of the protestors, but it was closer than all of the other words uttered that day by our leaders."Author of the report is Dr. Robert Underwood, Former President of the University of Guam and Former Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). He is also Commissioner to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Please send your feedback to him at anacletus2010@gmail.com .Read the Pacific Island Times report: https://bit.ly/48c2in2 Asian American History - The AsianWeek Database Project From 1979 to 2009, AsianWeek chronicled the growth and development of Asian Pacific America within American history. Today, the AsianWeek Database Project brings back three decades of news, education, and entertainment surrounding the Asian American community. You can rediscover the people and events documented in the historical pages of the AsianWeek newspaper and website. Anyone can easily access this trove of information — for research, for reference, or to simply remember these important times in the community at: https://www.asianweek.com/ . In a beta version (there are typographical errors in the transcribed text that will be corrected in future versions), AsianWeek reported on "DOE's New Ombudsperson" on March 9, 2000.According to the report, " Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 faces a daunting task as the Energy Department's new ombudsperson, an office created as a result of a January report by the department's task force on racial profiling."He seeks to address the continuing problems within the department, especially among its Asian American staff, about the criminal prosecution of physicist Wen Ho Lee 李文和 . Many Asian Americans have rallied to the defense of Lee, as allegations have been made that he was singled out simply because of his Chinese heritage. "As a result, Wu says one of his goals is restore 'trust and faith through effective actions that would combat racial stereotyping or profiling and other unfair practices in the workplace, making the Energy Department 'a workplace of choice for not just Asian Americans but all Americans.'In an exclusive phone interview with AsianWeek just weeks after taking office, Wu discussed his responsibilities as the person who must 'identify systemic issues; gain some understanding of systematic issues; and recommend to managers or Energy Secretary [ Bill Richardson ] directly policy changes to benefit all managers and employees.'"The report was written by Frank H. Wu 吴华扬 (no relation to Jeremy Wu), an associate professor at Howard University Law School at that time. Today, he is President, Queen's College, City University of New York.Jeremy Wu retired from the federal government and is Founder and Co-Organizer of APA Justice.Dr. Steven Chu 朱棣文 served as the 12th Secretary of Energy under the Obama Administration from January 21, 2009, to April 22, 2013. He is the first person appointed to the U.S. Cabinet after having won a Nobel Prize. He is also the second Chinese American to be a member of the U.S. Cabinet.Bill Richardson passed away on September 1, 2023.Read the beta version of the March 2000 AsianWeek report: https://bit.ly/3sTvvDf Statisticians in China Speak Up On Transparency of Chinese Government Data According to the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), a non-government think tank in Beijing, the decision on August 15, 2023, by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of China to suspend the release of youth unemployment rates caught many by surprise. The NBS spokesperson's explanation for this decision, which cited differing public opinions on the scope and methodology of statistical calculations, was met with sharp skepticism and stinging cynicism.This development has reignited discussions about the government's transparency in statistical reporting. According to China's leading statisticians, while the NBS has made significant efforts to enhance the quality of statistical data, there remains a crucial need for China to draw lessons from the statistical systems of many Western governments. These systems often feature vibrant and open debates between the government and scholars.Statistical data is foundational for effective and sound economic choices, and the government should either make corrections or provide explanations when official figures are in doubt. The discrepancy between official figures and public perception is not uncommon, usually owing to people’s predominant exposure to specific sectors of the economy. This highlights the importance of providing statistical breakdowns that can help mitigate personal biases and boost public acceptance. It is essential for statistical bureaus to tune into the actual needs of the public and the market, and remain responsive by offering clarity on statistical indicators. A book reading event took place on June 18, 2023, nearly two months before the controversial NBS decision. Excerpts of the discussion by three academics are given below. 1. Wu Xiaoying 伍晓鹰, Research Professor of Economics at National School of Development and head of the Growth Lab "it was a daunting challenge to transform an outdated national statistical system designed for a planned economy and under Soviet influences to align with international standards and integrate into the international market and society."National statistical data are public goods... While national statistical agencies produce and manage data with public resources, they are not and should not be the exclusive owners of statistical data. "By reiterating that such data is a public good, we also encourage public scrutiny."Openness and competition are necessary to improve statistical data quality... the pivotal step is to welcome skepticism and recommendations from scholars at academic institutions and other government agencies."We should learn from the statistical system in many Western governments... Instead of complaining that the West dominates the rules, why can't we proactively participate in the rule-setting process?" 2. Huang Yiping 黄益平, Deputy Dean of the National School of Development and Director of the Institute of Digital Finance "China's statistical data, especially the earlier records, is indeed in doubt."Many may not be aware of the efforts statistical departments have taken to enhance data quality. "The NBS has made tremendous efforts to improve the quality of statistical data... This skepticism isn't baseless – manipulation of data did happen in the past."As someone who uses statistical data on a regular basis, I sometimes find a significant discrepancy between official figures and our intuitive perceptions."Despite differences between personal perceptions and the statistical data, the official figures are not necessarily faulty. "It's crucial to tune into what the public and the market really need. Statistics bureaus should ramp up their communication efforts with both groups to clarify data and indicators. "Even if such insights don't resonate with everyone, they can still significantly boost public comprehension and acceptance of data." 3. Xu Xianchun 许宪春, Distinguished Fellow at National School of Development of Peking University "If everyone publicly praises statistical work but privately criticizes the accuracy of the data, that would be unfortunate. I think different voices should be earnestly listened to to identify areas of concern and make necessary improvements."Whether it's for analyzing economic and social development trends, policy formulation, or academic research, government statistical data holds immense significance."If data discrepancies are found, regional statistical departments cannot alter them; corrections must be made at the enterprise level."Read the CCG report: https://bit.ly/48ckCwa News and Activities for The Communities APA Justice Community Calendar APA Justice has launched a Community Calendar to track events and activities of potential interest to the Asian Pacific American and academic communities. Options are available to look at a monthly, weekly, or a daily calendar, as well as an agenda view with event details. You can find the Community Calendar on the front page of the APA Justice website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . 1. National Science Foundation Listening Sessions According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Science Foundation will host two listening sessions on the implementation of the Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice developed by the National Science and Technology Council. The listening sessions, open to the public, aim to collect information perspectives to inform “(1) Federal agencies' finalization of Scientific Integrity Policies, in response to the Framework and its implementation memorandum from the Office of Science and Technology Policy ; (2) Federal agency processes, procedures, and practices related to scientific integrity; and (3) other elements of Federal implementation of the Framework.” The sessions will take place Friday, September 15, 1–3 p.m. ET and Wednesday, September 20, 5–7 p.m. ET. Register for the sessions: https://bit.ly/3PjupIo . The event is posted in the APA Justice Community Calendar: https://bit.ly/45KGyga 2. Teachers Workshop - Teaching Asian American Narratives through Literature WHAT: 2023 Teachers Workshop "Teaching Asian American Narratives through Literature" WHEN: September 27, 2023, 3:30pm PT/6:30 pm ET HOST: 1990 Institute EVENT DETAILS: https://bit.ly/48c4g6K PRESS KIT: https://bit.ly/466d2S2 TARGET GRADES: 6-12 DESCRIPTION: Expert speakers on this subject to help teachers bring a nuanced dialogue on intersectional perspectives into classroom discussions. In particular, we want to encourage teachers to bring oft-missing Asian American perspectives to their students and encourage more inclusive community building and understanding.The event is posted in the APA Justice Community Calendar: https://bit.ly/45KGyga . Back View PDF September 14, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #318 Webinar Recap and More; Funding Freeze Blocked; Supreme Court Order; NYT Editorials; + #318 Webinar Recap and More; Funding Freeze Blocked; Supreme Court Order; NYT Editorials; + In This Issue #318 · Recap of Webinar on Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws · Upcoming Webinars on China Initiative and Racial Profiling · Judge Blocks Trump's Funding Freeze · Supreme Court Rules Against Trump Order on USAID · NYT Editorials on Elon Musk and Rule of Law · News and Activities for the Communities Recap of Webinar on Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws The Committee of 100 and APA Justice co-hosted the second webinar of a series on Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws on March 4, 2025. Video of the event is posted at https://bit.ly/3EOqGke (54:13).The webinar examined the impact of nationality-based homeownership restrictions on real estate professionals and homebuyers, particularly within the Chinese American community. Real estate professionals and advocates are actively pushing back against these discriminatory policies. This webinar offered valuable insights into how these restrictions are reshaping the housing market and what actions can be taken to challenge them. John Trasviña , Former HUD Assistant Secretary for the Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity moderated a conversation with Scott Chang , Senior Counsel for The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and Hope Atuel , Executive Director at Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA). The panel introduced the Fair Housing Act and held an engaging Q&A session with the audience. The Committee of 100 released an update of its interactive tracker on land ownership restriction laws, highlighting that 28 states are currently considering 82 bills that would restrict foreign property ownership. In 2024 alone, 17 land ownership restriction bills was passed into state law. APA Justice maintains a web page on the history and continuing developments on Alien Land Bills .Read the Northwest Asian Weekly report on the webinar: https://bit.ly/41ymVHn . Watch the first webinar on The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfjrVAZrjj8 (1:00:56). Upcoming Webinars on China Initiative and Racial Profiling 1. 03/12 MSU Webinar: The China Initiative On March 12, 2025, please join the webinar hosted by Michigan State University's Asian Pacific American Studies Program for an insightful discussion of the past and present of the China Initiative, a Trump administration program that targeted Asian American scholars and researchers for investigation and prosecution. Dr. Lok Siu of UC Berkeley and Dr. Jeremy Wu of APA Justice will speak at the event moderated by Dr. Kent Weber of Michigan State University. Register to attend: https://bit.ly/4hVaITO 2. 03/21 SFU Webinar: Fighting Racial Profiling and the Criminalization of Academia in North America WHAT : Fighting Racial Profiling and the Criminalization of Academia in North America WHEN : March 21, 2025, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm PT/7:00 pm-9:30 pm ET WHERE : Hybrid event · In Person: Room 7000, SFU Vancouver Harbor Centre Campus, 515 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada · Webinar via Zoom HOST : Simon Fraser University, Labor Studies Program Moderator : Dr. Xinying Hu , Simon Fraser University Speaker : Dr. Anming Hu , University of Tennessee, Knoxville Discussants: · Dr. Jane Wang , University of British Columbia · Dr. Jie Yang , Simon Fraser University DESCRIPTION: Join us for an important discussion on the case of Dr. Anming Hu, a respected scientist who was wrongfully targeted under the previous Trump administration’s China Initiative. Dr. Hu’s case highlights critical issues of racial profiling, academic freedom, and the growing surveillance of scholars in North America. This event will feature insights into Dr. Anming Hu’s case and experience, the broader implications for researchers of Chinese origin, and the fight for justice in academia in North America. We will also discuss what universities, scholars, and policymakers can do to protect academic integrity and prevent future injustices. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3Fd11SD Judge Blocks Trump's Funding Freeze According to AP News and multiple media reports, U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell for the District of Rhode Island has extended an injunction blocking the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially amounting to trillions of dollars. The lawsuit, State of New York v. Trump (1:25-cv-00039) , brought by nearly two dozen Democratic states, challenges the Trump administration’s sweeping pause on federal spending, which has caused confusion and uncertainty nationwide.In his ruling, Judge McConnell found that the executive branch had placed itself above Congress by imposing a categorical spending freeze without legislative approval, stating that such an action “undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government.” He asserted that the executive branch cannot impose a categorical funding freeze without explicit congressional authorization. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha condemned the administration’s actions, arguing that the president’s move sought to subvert the rule of law and override the separation of powers. The funding freeze has impacted a wide range of programs, including critical services such as disaster relief, clean water access, and law enforcement funding. Democratic attorneys general have argued that the freeze has put critical services at risk, including law enforcement funding, healthcare, and childcare. Although the Trump administration rescinded a memo outlining the freeze, states, universities, and nonprofits report that federal agencies continue to withhold funds.Despite earlier court orders, Judge McConnell noted that federal agencies still appeared to be defying his directives. As part of his ruling, he instructed FEMA to submit a status report by March 14 detailing its compliance with the order. The case also raises broader constitutional questions about presidential power over congressionally appropriated funds, with Trump advocating for the Supreme Court to strike down the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Another federal judge, Loren AliKhan , has also extended an injunction against the freeze in a separate case brought by nonprofit groups and small businesses, National Council of Nonprofits v. Office of Management and Budget (1:25-cv-00239) . The rulings mark a significant judicial rebuke of the Trump administration’s efforts to exert control over congressionally appropriated funds. Supreme Court Rules Against Trump Order on USAID As of March 8, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 113 with one closed case.The Trump administration issued an executive order on January 20, 2025, pausing foreign development aid for 90 days, leading to stop-work orders for USAID grants. Two nonprofits, AVAC and JDN, sued, arguing the order was unlawful and harmed their operations. They filed a lawsuit, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. United States Department of State (1:25-cv-00400 ), and sought an injunction and restoration of funding.On February 13, 2025, U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) in this case and Global Health Council v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-00402) , blocking the blanket suspension but not fully overturning the executive order. Plaintiffs later accused the government of noncompliance. The court partially enforced the TRO but did not hold the government in contempt.Further litigation led to a February 25 ruling requiring the administration to pay outstanding invoices and ensure future payments. The Trump administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit and later the Supreme Court, but both rejected its motions. According to the New York Times on March 5, the Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s emergency request to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid. Though the ruling’s language was cautious, it effectively signaled skepticism toward Trump’s plans to reshape government. The court upheld a lower court’s order requiring payments for pre-approved foreign aid projects. The administration had tried to delay compliance, arguing for a case-by-case review. The Supreme Court’s ruling lifted a temporary stay, meaning the government must now follow through on the payments.According to a separate report by the New York Times on the same day, despite the Supreme Court ruling, uncertainty remains for humanitarian and development organizations. For weeks, the administration has sought to dismantle USAID, canceling over 90% of contracts and halting payments for completed work. Thousands of NGOs and companies remain in limbo. While the lawsuit’s plaintiffs argue the ruling should restore all foreign aid, the administration insists it has the authority to restructure or eliminate the agency. NYT Editorials on Elon Musk and Rule of Law 1. 2025/03/08 Musk Doesn’t Understand Why Government Matters Excerpts from the New York Times editorial :" Elon Musk ’s life is a great American success story. Time and again, he has anticipated where the world was headed, helping to create not just new products but new industries. "But Mr. Musk’s fortune rests on more than his individual talent. He built his business empire in a nation with a stable political system and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, and he built it on a foundation of federal subsidies, loans and contracts. Mr. Musk’s companies have received at least $38 billion in government support, according to an analysis by The Washington Post . NASA has invested more than $15 billion in SpaceX; Tesla has collected $11 billion in subsidies to bolster the electric car industry."Now, as an influential adviser to President Trump, Mr. Musk is lawlessly tearing down parts of the very government that enabled his rise. "Mr. Musk claims that the government is a business in need of disruption and that his goal is to eliminate waste and improve efficiency."But DOGE is not building a better government. Instead, its haphazard demolition campaign is undermining the basic work of government and the safety and welfare of the American people. "Even worse is that Mr. Musk, with Mr. Trump’s support, has demonstrated a disregard for the limits that the Constitution places on the president’s power."But in their campaign to shrink the federal government, Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump have defied laws passed by Congress, and they have challenged the authority of the federal courts to adjudicate the legality of their actions. Mr. Trump recently referred to himself as a king and then insisted he had been joking, but there is no ambiguity in his assertion of the power to defy other branches of government. It is a rejection of the checks and balances that have safeguarded our nation for more than 200 years. Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump are not trying to change laws; they are upending the rule of law."Businesses can take risks in pursuit of profit because it’s OK if they fail. Americans can’t afford for the basic functions of government to fail. "The stability of the nation’s laws, and of the government’s role, has caused frustration throughout American history. It is also a kind of secret sauce, facilitating the private-sector investment and risk taking that are the wellspring of the nation’s prosperity."That stability is now under assault. "Mr. Musk has made clear that he holds caution in contempt. But the president, whose power Mr. Musk is wielding, should listen to those in his party who are raising concerns about Mr. Musk’s methods and priorities. There are already signs that the chaos is hurting the economy. Inflation expectations have risen; stock prices have tumbled."Americans like to take risks; to do so, they need a government that is steady and reliable." 2. 2025/03/08 The One Question That Really Matters: If Trump Defies the Courts, Then What? According to an Opinion published by the New York Times , the future of American constitutional democracy may hinge on whether President Donald Trump and his administration comply with court orders. Federal judges have issued numerous rulings against Trump’s policies, but the administration has already ignored some of them. With over 100 legal challenges pending, the Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court’s order to release frozen foreign aid, while another judge forced the release of billions in funds to states. However, the judiciary lacks enforcement power, and if the executive branch refuses to comply, the courts are left powerless. Trump and his allies, including Vice President JD Vance , have suggested that executive authority should not be constrained by judicial rulings, while some Republicans have called for the impeachment of judges who rule against the administration. The push to remove judges over policy disagreements is unprecedented and contradicts past conservative reliance on the courts to block Democratic policies. Historically, presidents have complied with court rulings, even when they strongly disagreed. Franklin Roosevelt accepted Supreme Court decisions striking down parts of the New Deal, Harry Truman obeyed a ruling against his steel mill seizure, and Richard Nixon turned over the White House tapes despite the consequences. However, the Trump administration has sent mixed signals on whether it will follow court mandates, with Trump stating he abides by the courts but also claiming that actions taken in the name of saving the country cannot be illegal. If Trump defies judicial authority, enforcement mechanisms are limited—officials could be held in contempt, but he could pardon them, and federal marshals enforcing civil contempt orders fall under his control. With Congress unlikely to impeach him, Trump could evade accountability, setting up a constitutional crisis that tests whether the United States will continue to function under the rule of law. "Perhaps public opinion will turn against the president and he will back down and comply. Or perhaps, after 238 years, we will see the end of government under the rule of law," the Opinion concludes. Author of the Opinion is Erwin Chemerinsky , dean of the Berkeley School of Law at the University of California and the author of the book “No Democracy Lasts Forever: How the Constitution Threatens the United States.” News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/21 Fighting Racial Profiling and the Criminalization of Academia in North America2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF March 10, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #107 DOJ Drops Gang Chen Case; CAPAC; APA Justice/OSTP Briefing; DOC Scandal/Census Map #107 DOJ Drops Gang Chen Case; CAPAC; APA Justice/OSTP Briefing; DOC Scandal/Census Map Back View PDF January 20, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #312 Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, AAJC/AASF updates, Funding Freezes/Birthright Rulings; + #312 Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, AAJC/AASF updates, Funding Freezes/Birthright Rulings; + In This Issue #312 · Remarks by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch · Updates by Advancing Justice|AAJC and AASF · Judges Block Trump's Funding Freezes as Lawsuits Against His Orders Surge · Third Court Injunction Against Trump's Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship · News and Activities for the Communities Remarks by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch is the Founder and Executive Chair of the US-China Education Trust . She was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to become the first Asian American ambassador in US history.Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 3, 2025, She highlights the urgent need to address the impact of U.S.-China competition on Chinese and Asian American communities. Julia acknowledges the work of APA Justice and its advocacy efforts while emphasizing the necessity of a new initiative that brings together racial justice and foreign policy concerns. Julia notes that discussions on U.S.-China relations often overlook the lived experiences of Chinese and Asian Americans, who face increasing discrimination and scrutiny. By forming broader coalitions, she hopes to bridge the gap between national security concerns and racial justice efforts.Julia references historical instances of racial profiling, such as the Cox Report of 1999 and the wrongful prosecution of Wen Ho Lee , to illustrate how Chinese Americans have long been caught in the crosshairs of U.S.-China tensions. The China Initiative, initially launched under the Trump administration, further exacerbated fears by disproportionately targeting Chinese American academics and researchers. Despite past failures, Julia warns that Congress may seek to revive similar policies, reinforcing a dangerous precedent that equates ethnicity with suspicion. Julia also highlights Beijing’s efforts to exert influence on Chinese diasporas through United Front operations, which seek to blur distinctions between PRC citizens, diaspora Chinese, and Chinese Americans. These tactics, she argues, create further complications for Chinese Americans, who are unfairly perceived as foreign agents or political pawns. The result is an atmosphere of fear, scrutiny, and exclusion, where Chinese Americans must constantly prove their loyalty to the United States.The rise in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic has further deepened the community’s vulnerability. Many Chinese Americans have distanced themselves from U.S.-China policy discussions out of fear, choosing self-preservation over engagement. Julia stresses that this silence weakens the ability of Chinese and Asian Americans to advocate for their rights and contribute meaningfully to shaping U.S.-China relations. Without their voices, the United States risks losing a critical perspective that could help navigate this complex geopolitical rivalry in a way that upholds American values of inclusion and justice. Julia draws a direct link between historical and present-day discrimination, citing the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin as a tragic reminder of the consequences of racial scapegoating. Chin, a Chinese American, was beaten to death with a baseball bat by two white auto workers who blamed Japan for the decline of the U.S. auto industry. His murder, and the lack of justice that followed, underscore the persistent view of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners. Julia also highlights the case of Sherry Chen, a Chinese American scientist wrongfully accused of espionage and fired from her job at the National Weather Service in 2014. Despite being exonerated, Chen’s case exemplifies how racial profiling continues to damage lives and careers. Her legal victory, including nearly $2 million in damages, was a rare but important step toward accountability. However, Julia warns that similar injustices will persist if structural biases are not addressed. USCET aims to create a dialogue that not only acknowledges Beijing’s actions but also holds Washington accountable for policies that harm Asian Americans. The initiative seeks to educate policymakers on the consequences of targeting Chinese Americans, encourage open discussions within the community, and guide the media in reporting on U.S.-China relations responsibly. Julia calls for collaboration between national security and racial justice advocates to tackle both the symptoms and root causes of discrimination against Asian Americans. In closing, she urges APA Justice and other advocacy groups to unite in a powerful coalition that demands the U.S. government address security concerns without endangering Chinese and Asian American lives. The United States, she insists, must meet the challenge of China without sacrificing the rights and dignity of its own citizens.A summary of the February 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting is begin prepared at this time. For past monthly meeting summaries, visit https://bit.ly/4hyOV4i Updates by Advancing Justice|AAJC and AASF During the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 3, 2025, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC provided an update on AAJC's response to the numerous executive orders issued by President Trump since January 20. She stated that these orders aim to militarize borders, expand deportation and detention, punish immigrant advocacy groups and local governments, and misinterpret constitutional and immigration laws. In addition to the ongoing litigation over birthright citizenship, AAJC has partnered with the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and OCA to file a lawsuit challenging Trump's authority to strip citizenship from babies born in the U.S. to parents on temporary visas or who are undocumented. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act. AAJC is also monitoring nearly a dozen new immigration-related laws in Texas, conducting a threat assessment to categorize them from problematic to extremely harmful. The organization is working closely with local partners to equip them with the necessary resources to oppose these laws effectively. These legislative measures are seen as a continuation of policies that restrict immigrant rights and increase enforcement actions at the state level. AAJC has been tracking Trump’s nominations for key government positions and has taken public stances opposing several appointees. The organization has actively opposed Kash Patel for FBI Director, Pam Bondi for Attorney General, and Russell Vought for Director of OMB. Despite their efforts, Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem have already been confirmed as Secretary of Defense and DHS Secretary, respectively, though AAJC also opposed their nominations. AAJC remains deeply engaged in legal, legislative, and political advocacy efforts to counter policies they view as harmful to immigrant communities. They continue to collaborate with legal groups, assess the impact of new laws, and push back against controversial government appointments, ensuring that communities affected by these decisions have the support and representation they need. During the same meeting, Dr. Kai Li , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), provided an update on key concerns and ongoing efforts. He highlighted worries about the Senate hearing on malign foreign influence, particularly remarks by Senator Risch suggesting that every Chinese student could be a spy. Kai noted that Cornell's recent survey on international students with respect to transnational aggression disagreed with the remarks. He warned that restricting student visas from China, especially for AI graduate students, could harm U.S. leadership in science and technology. He suggested conducting more surveys or studies to assess the actual prevalence of transnational aggression among Chinese students. AASF continues to work with federal agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF) to address concerns about potential biases in new policies that may disproportionately affect Asian American faculty. This initiative, which began before January 20, remains active as long as agencies are engaged. The organization is helping facilitate outreach efforts to ensure fair treatment in research funding and academic policies.AASF remains focused on both protecting Chinese students from unjust scrutiny and advocating for Asian American faculty in federal policy decisions. They emphasize the need for data-driven approaches to better understand these issues and prevent discriminatory practices.A summary of the February 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting is begin prepared at this time. For past monthly meeting summaries, visit https://bit.ly/4hyOV4i Judges Block Trump's Funding Freezes as Lawsuits Against His Orders Surge As of February 13, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 63.According to New York Times and multiple media reports, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island said on February 10, 2025, that the White House had defied his order to release billions of dollars in federal grants, marking the first time a judge has expressly declared that the Trump administration is disobeying a judicial mandate. Judge McConnell mandated the immediate restoration of billions of dollars in federal grants and loans that had been halted.“These pauses in funding violate the plain text of the T.R.O.,” Judge McConnell wrote. That earlier ruling ordered the administration not to “pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel or terminate” money that had already been allocated by Congress to the states to pay for Medicaid, school lunches, low-income housing subsidies and other essential services. These funds were intended for various programs, including early childhood education, pollution reduction, and HIV research. The judge's decision emphasized that the administration's broad categorization of the funding freeze lacked specific findings of potential fraud and violated the restraining order. The judge also made clear that White House officials were obligated to comply regardless of how they thought the case might conclude. Another order requiring that the disputed funds be released was issued by Judge Loren AliKhan of the District of Columbia. That case, National Council of Nonprofits v. Office of Management and Budget (1:25-cv-00239) , was filed by a coalition of nonprofits represented by Democracy Forward.According to the Washington Post and multiple media reports, on February 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley for the state of Massachusetts granted a temporary restraining order for the case of Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10338) , blocking the Trump administration from making drastic cuts to biomedical research funding in 22 states that banded together to sue. The judge ordered the National Institutes of Health (NIH) not to implement a funding change the agency had announced in the evening of Friday, February 7, which would dramatically reduce funding to universities and other research organizations for indirect costs related to research. The pause is to remain until otherwise ordered by the court. It only applies to the 22 states party to the lawsuit. A hearing is set for February 21, 2025. On February 10, 2025, university leaders announced that they were also suing to halt the cuts, with the lawsuit Association of American Medical Colleges v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10340) that has the potential to be more far-reaching because the organizations filing it have nationwide reach.A third lawsuit has been filed by organizations representing private and public universities inclduing the Assocation of American Universities (AAU), American Council on Education, and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the University of California system, and 12 private universities. On February 10, 2025, STAT News reported on that since Trump’s return to the White House, many researchers have raised concerns over the administration’s disruption of grant reviews and executive orders that ended federal support for programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. But at an institutional level, major universities have mostly been quiet and reluctant to directly oppose the administration. "Now that Trump is going after the fiscal lifeblood of these institutions, however, that seems to be changing," the STAT News report said. ***** During the APA Justice monthly meeting on July 11, 2022, MIT Professor Yoel Fink who co-authored a faculty letter that sparked the "We Are All Gang Chen" movement nationwide, emphasized the tort in standing complacent in the face of injustice by quoting Martin Niemöller (1892–1984), a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany. "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. "Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. "Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. "Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." Third Court Injunction Against Trump's Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship According to AP News , Reuters , and multiple media reports, U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire has issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Donald Trump 's executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to individuals residing in the country illegally. This decision marks the third such injunction against the order, following similar rulings by federal judges in Seattle and Maryland. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit, New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (1:25-cv00038) , leading to Judge Laplante's ruling, arguing that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which has been consistently interpreted to guarantee birthright citizenship to those born on U.S. soil.According to the Just Security Litigation Tracker , ar least nine lawsuits have been filed against Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship.On February 10, 2025, New York Times reported on Wong Kim Ark as " This Man Won Birthright Citizenship for All. " Today, the decision of United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) is the focus of debate over who can be an American. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/02/13 China Initiative: Impacts and Implications2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/18 Protecting Our Organizations: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Compliance Virtual Training2025/02/23 World Premier of "Quixotic Professor Qiu" with Xiaoxing Xi2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine Held Town Hall and Offer Help to Feds U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner , both of Virginia, held a town hall on February 10, 2025, to address a variety of issues related to President Donald Trump 's executive actions. They have dedicated staff and set up these webpages to assist federal employees, including understanding their rights, filing complaints, and collecting stories about what they are experiencing. · Senator Tim Kaine's Resources for Federal Workers: https://bit.ly/4aVH0fa , (202) 224-4024 · Senator Mark Warner's Resources for Federal Employees: https://bit.ly/4jPaijz , 202-224-2023 3. Reuters: Boston Man Cleared of US Charges He Acted as Chinese Agent According to Reuters and multiple media reports on February 10, 2025, a jury found Litang Liang of Boston, a China-born U.S. citizen, not guilty of U.S. charges that he acted as an unlawful agent of China's government by supplying officials information about individuals, dissidents and groups in the local Chinese community. Lian, 65, was acquitted in federal court of charges in a case brought in 2023 that U.S. authorities had portrayed as part of their commitment to counter efforts by China's government to silence its critics abroad. # # # 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 February 13, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #262 7/1 Monthly Meeting; Rice News/FBI Forum; Hearing on FL SB 846; Chinese Translation; + #262 7/1 Monthly Meeting; Rice News/FBI Forum; Hearing on FL SB 846; Chinese Translation; + In This Issue #262 · 2024/07/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Rice News: FBI, AAPI Leaders Meet at Rice to Address Discrimination toward Asian American Academics · 2024/07/03 Hearing on Preliminary Injunction of Florida SB 846 · WSJ: Mandarin Leaves a Manhattan Courtroom Lost in Translation · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/07/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, July 1, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Neal Lane , Senior Fellow, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University; Former Director of Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), The White House; Former Director, National Science Foundation · Kei Koizumi , Principal Deputy Director for Science, Society, and Policy, OSTP, The White House · Xiaoxing Xi , Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics, Temple University, with invited comments by Kai Li , Paul M. Wythes and Marcia R. Wythes Professor in Computer Science, Princeton University; Vice Chair, Asian American Scholar Forum, and Gang Chen , Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Karla Hagan , Senior Program Officer, Staff Director for National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) 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 . National Academies Roundtable Capstone Workshop The National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable Capstone Workshop on July 16-17, 2024, will present information the Roundtable has gathered since its inception in 2020 through 13 gatherings in Washington, DC and across the U.S. Dr. Karla Hagan will provide additional details about the workshop during the APA Justice monthly meeting on July 1, 2024. Rice News : FBI, AAPI Leaders Meet at Rice to Address Discrimination toward Asian American Academics According to Rice News on June 18, 2024, the FBI leadership participated in a dialogue at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy to address the gaps between national science and technology policy and its implementation, focusing on concerns from the Asian American and academic communities.The event included representatives from Rice, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the Asian American Scholar Forum, the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition, and the APA Justice Task Force. Key speakers included Jill Murphy from the FBI and Paul Cherukuri , Rice’s Chief Innovation Officer, who emphasized the importance of these discussions despite their challenges. The dialogue follows the 2022 termination of the DOJ's China Initiative, which faced criticism for potential bias against Asian American scientists. Issues of discrimination, border entry problems for Chinese researchers, and the need for better protection of research security were highlighted.There have been reports of border entry and exit issues for Chinese graduate students and academic researchers who are green card holders and even American citizens, said Tam Dao , assistant vice president for research security in Rice’s Office of Innovation and a former supervisory special agent overseeing the FBI’s counterintelligence task force.FBI leaders underscored their commitment to protecting all U.S. residents and fostering trust within the community. Panelists agreed on the importance of preventing the transfer of U.S. research to the Chinese government while ensuring a non-discriminatory environment for researchers. Community leaders Gisela Perez Kusakawa and Gordon Quan emphasized the need for continued progress to make the U.S. welcoming for global talent. “We’ve talked today about the implementation steps, the progress we can make. (This) could prove to be one of the most important events that ever occurred on campus, so I’m very appreciative for being a part of it,” said Neal Lane , senior fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute and former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.Read the Rice News report: https://bit.ly/3VLE2Ea . For a summary and a video of the forum, visit https://bit.ly/3wNL2Xi (1:55:24) 2024/07/03 Hearing on Preliminary Injunction of Florida SB 846 According to an update by the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 华美维权同盟 on June 21, 2024, CALDA has represented two Chinese students from Florida International University and a professor from the University of Florida since March 25 in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The legal team filed a Motion for a Preliminary Injunction with the court on April 29. This rapid response strategy, similar to the approach to Florida's SB 264 alien land bill, aims to swiftly curb the ongoing impact of Florida SB 846 , which continues to harm more Chinese-background students, professors, and related academic personnel.The legal team asserts that SB 846 is unconstitutional for three main reasons: · Federal law supersedes state law regarding the work rights of international students, and Florida has no authority to impose additional restrictions · SB 846 clearly discriminates based on immigration status and nationality, failing to pass constitutional strict scrutiny · The bill’s key provisions are vague, violating due process A hearing on our motion for a preliminary injunction will be held: WHEN: July 3, 2024, 10:30 am ET WHERE: 6th floor, C. Clyde Atkins United States Courthouse, 301 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33128 Read the CALDA update: 阻击佛州歧视留学生法案，捍卫华人权益，SB 846最新进展 WSJ : Mandarin Leaves a Manhattan Courtroom Lost in Translation According to the Wall Street Journal on June 18, 2024, the trial of Guo Wengui shows how linguistic issues can trip up China-related cases. Nearly everyone in the lower Manhattan courtroom appears frustrated by a halting process that requires translation of Chinese-language videos, documents and witness testimony. It is one in a series of high-profile China-linked cases that are similarly getting lost in translation. Chinese-language evidence is piling up, unintelligible to attorneys. Translations are slow, and sometimes wrong. There is a limited pool of top-tier Mandarin court interpreters, and they can disagree on English translations. And for both sides in a trial, the work of interpreters provides ammunition for legal wrangling, from gamesmanship to courtroom objections and possible appeals.Introducing any foreign language to a legal case can add confusion to an already complex process. The challenges mount when it is a language like Mandarin that is unintelligible to 99% of people in the U.S.Chinese can be highly nuanced and the same word can have different meanings depending on the context. Quality translation services are limited, even in New York City, which has a sizable ethnic Chinese population. In legal circles, demand for Chinese skills is enormous.Such a challenge helped to torpedo a sensational China Initiative case against an ethnic Tibetan New York policeman, Baimadajie Angwang , charged with spying on behalf of Beijing in 2020. The allegation was built on dozens of intercepted phone calls between the officer and a Chinese consular official - and apparently misconstrued Mandarin colloquialisms. For instance, prosecutors considered the officer's use of a Mandarin word for "boss" as evidence that he was signaling subservience to the Chinese official, while the officer's defense attorney said the term was the defendant's way of expressing gratitude for help on a complex travel visa application. "The fact that it was in a foreign language created an opportunity to use inaccurate translation to fit their story," said the defense attorney, John F. Carman . The case against Officer Angwang was eventually dropped, but his employment was still terminated by the New York Police Department.Read the Wall Street Journal report: https://on.wsj.com/3VBArae NOTE : Chinese written language is in either Traditional or Simplified characters. Traditional characters have been in existence for more than 2,000 years and are used in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Simplified characters were introduced in the 1960s and are used in Mainland China. There is a substantial overlap between Simplified and Traditional Chinese characters, with an estimated 30-40% of the most commonly used characters being identical. Both evolve over time, including their colloquial usage in the Internet age.Mandarin originating from Beijing is the most widely spoken form of the Chinese language and serves as the official language of both the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. However, there are more than 300 regional and minority languages or dialects across the country. For example, Cantonese is predominantly spoken in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province while Shanghainese is spoken in Shanghai and neighboring areas. Science : Record Settlement over China Funding Puts U.S. Research Institutions on Notice According to Science on June 21, 2024, over the past 5 years, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has won only a handful of criminal cases in which it prosecuted scientists alleged to have defrauded the government by not disclosing research support they received from China. But last month DOJ sent a clear message that, despite that poor track record, research institutions will be held accountable for mistakes in monitoring outside support to their faculty.A May 17 settlement with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) requires the medical colossus to pay the government $7.6 million to resolve allegations it mismanaged three grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition to the fine, the settlement requires a top CCF administrator “to personally attest” to the accuracy of all information it submits to NIH. “That is a very meaningful sanction or burden on an institution,” says attorney Michael Vernick of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, who has represented research institutions in similar settlements but was not involved in the CCF case.CCF itself was not the government’s initial target. In 2018, NIH began to investigate CCF cardiovascular geneticist Qing Wang after getting an FBI list of some 3000 scientists the agency believed had received funding through one of the many Chinese programs aimed at attracting world-class scientists, many of Chinese ancestry. In January 2019, NIH asked CCF to investigate those allegations and report back. In April 2020, CCF sent NIH a 17-page summary of its findings. Within days NIH suspended Wang’s $2.8 million grant and CCF terminated his employment. He was arrested on May 13, 2020, charged with making false claims in connection with the grant under the China Initiative. However, in July 2021 DOJ abruptly dropped its effort to prosecute him without explaining its decision. Wang, who grew up in China but trained in the United States and became a U.S. citizen in 2005, has restarted his research career at China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology.To Wang’s lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg , the reason the government threw in the towel is clear: His client had followed the rules and voluntarily disclosed his Chinese support. “He told them everything—both NIH and CCF,” says Zeidenberg, a partner with ArentFox Schiff LLP. The CCF settlement, he adds, simply confirms Wang’s innocence.The CCF settlement eclipses two earlier civil settlements involving alleged nondisclosures between the government and the Van Andel Institute. In those 2019 and 2021 cases, totaling $6.6 million, the scientists involved in the grants were never criminally charged with any wrongdoing. Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/3XzJRpE News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/06/27-30 UCA: 2024 Chinese American Convention2024/07/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/07/01 President's Advisory Commission Public Meeting - Livestreaming2024/07/02 President's Advisory Commission Public Meeting - In Person2024/07/03 Hearing on Preliminary Injunction on Florida SB 846Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Hate Crime Conviction in Texas According to NBC News and WFAA-TV on June 18, 2024, a woman in Plano, Texas, has been convicted on charges of hate crime in connection to a 2022 incident in which several Asian American women were physically and verbally attacked. Esmeralda Upton , 59, was convicted of three misdemeanor assault charges and one misdemeanor charge of terroristic threat. Each of the charges includes a state hate crime enhancement, alleging that Upton chose the victims based on her bias and prejudice against their race and national origin. It comes after Upton was accused of attacking four South Asian women outside a restaurant two years ago. During the altercation, she made racist comments, attempted to hit the women, told them to “go back to India,” video of the incident showed. Upton, who pleaded guilty to the four charges, was sentenced to two years of community supervision probation and 40 days confinement in the Collin County Jail for each of the cases, served concurrently. There is still a pending civil suit against Upton, filed by the victims. Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3KY7Hn6 . Read and watch the report by WFAA-TV : https://bit.ly/4bf8qeH (video 0:44) Back View PDF June 24, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #33 Call For House Hearing; S. 386/H.R. 1044; Anti-Hate Crime Hero; And Much More #33 Call For House Hearing; S. 386/H.R. 1044; Anti-Hate Crime Hero; And Much More Back View PDF December 10, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter