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

Meyya Meyyappan Previous Item Next Item

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

COVID-19 This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. The numbers Calls per hour 111 Feedback submitted 22 Average feedback per call 21 As of May 28, 2023, there are 33 states known to have introduced some form of alien land and property bills in the current or recent legislative session. A few have passed and signed into state law; some have died; others are still pending. State-by-state links to the legislations and a companion map are provided below as community resources. They are collected from multiple sources including research by APA Justice, Advancing Justice | AAJC, Committee of 100, National Agricultural Law Center, Project South, media reports, and crowdsourcing. Due to the dynamic nature of these developments, we plan to update the information periodically. We anticipate the introduction or continuation of alien land and property bills into future state legislative sessions. Title Oct. 4th 2023 Tracking Bills Read More Latest developments

Yu Zhou, Li Chen Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #95 "China Initiative;" OSTP; ACLU, Sherry Chen, Mass Surveillance; 11/01 Meeting Summary #95 "China Initiative;" OSTP; ACLU, Sherry Chen, Mass Surveillance; 11/01 Meeting Summary Back View PDF November 10, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Xin Zhao, a prize-winning Ph.D. from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, was forced to flee the U.S. after a federal investigation that included a failed sting, airport stops and an unfounded child-porn search. July 18, 2019 On July 18, 2019, Bloomberg reported on the story of Xin Zhao, a prize-winning Ph.D. from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, whose startup fled the U.S. after a federal investigation that included a failed sting, airport stops and an unfounded child-porn search. “My dream was defeated,” says Zhao, whose crew-cut and boyish face belie the brash candor with which he tells his story. “I came here for freedom and security. Now fear is pushing us back to China.” Inventors with Chinese last names account for one out of every 10 new patents in the U.S. today, up from less than 2% in 1975. While China lost more than 50,000 inventors to emigration from 2002 to 2011, the U.S. welcomed a net gain of more than 190,000, as measured by patent registrations, according to data compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization, an arm of the United Nations. Xin Zhao, a prize-winning Ph.D. from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, was forced to flee the U.S. after a federal investigation that included a failed sting, airport stops and an unfounded child-porn search. Previous Next U.S. Targeting of Chinese Scientists Fueling a Brain Drain

3. Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights 2025-2026 Global Tensions Local Dimensions Wednesday, June 3, 2026 As geopolitical ties between the United States and China remain unsteady, the impact extends beyond diplomacy and into the lived experiences of people at home. For diaspora communities, shifts in foreign policy can shape everything from public perception to legal protections, raising complex questions about identity, belonging, and rights. The third webinar in this series examines the downstream effects of U.S. foreign policy through both a historical and contemporary lens. Drawing parallels across time, the conversation will explore how periods of international strain have influenced domestic policies and legal interpretations—from immigration restrictions to citizenship rights—and how these dynamics continue to evolve today. The session will explore how narratives of rivalry and suspicion can translate into real-world consequences for communities with heritage ties to countries at the center of geopolitical tension. We will discuss the tradeoffs policymakers face and provide a nuanced understanding of how national priorities intersect with civil liberties. Participants are encouraged to bring questions and perspectives as we explore what it means to navigate global tensions at a local, human level. The views expressed by the panelists are their own and do not represent the views of their employer or any organization with which they are affiliated. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #253 Forum with FBI; US-China Tensions; Graduate Assistants United; AASF Video Competition #253 Forum with FBI; US-China Tensions; Graduate Assistants United; AASF Video Competition In This Issue #253 · Forum Announced: "A Dialogue Between Academic/APA Communities With The FBI" · The Impact of U.S.-China Tensions on Asian Americans in Government · Graduate Assistants United Rally Against Florida SB 846 · AASF: Video Competition to Honor Asian American Scientists · News and Activities for the Communities Forum Announced: "A Dialogue Between Academic/APA Communities With The FBI" During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 6, 2024, Nabila Mansoor, President, Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC), and Dr. Kenneth M. Evans, Scholar in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, announced that TMAC and the Baker Institute and Office of Innovation at Rice University will co-host a joint forum with APA Justice on "A Dialogue Between Academic/AAPI Communities with The FBI." WHAT: A Dialogue Between Academic/AAPI Communities with The FBI WHEN: June 6, 2024, 4:00 - 6:00 pm Central Time WHERE: In-person, Rice University, Houston, Texas; virtual Zoom webinar information to be announced HOSTS: Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC); Baker Institute for Public Policy and Office of Innovation at Rice University; APA Justice SPEAKERS: · Neal Lane , Senior Fellow, Baker Institute; Former Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy · Gordon Quan , Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Quan Law Group · David Donatti , Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU of Texas · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum · Jill Murphy , Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, FBI Headquarters · Douglas Williams, Jr. , Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston · Georgette "GiGi" Pickering , Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston · Kelly Choi , Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Houston More information about the forum will be announced when they become available. The Impact of U.S.-China Tensions on Asian Americans in Government A morning session at the Committee 100 conference on April 19, 2024, explored the nuanced potential barriers to career advancement that spin from the tensions with China, the complexities of obtaining security clearances, and the uncomfortable scrutiny regarding loyalty that Asian Americans endure due to concerns over foreign influence.Congressman Andy Kim, a Korean American, was not able to participate in the session due to a vote in the House of Representatives. A clip of his interview with MSNBC in 2021 was played to open the session. Congressman Kim revealed that when he worked at the State Department, he had a top secret security clearance and worked in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he was told one day that he was banned from working on issues related to the Korean Peninsula although he did not apply to work on such issues. It left him with the feeling that his own country didn't trust him for some reason because of his last name and because of his heritage although he was born in the United States. He was banned from working on these issues because of concerns about his loyalty and xenophobia. It was deeply hurtful. It took him some time to be able to talk about the episode because part of him wanted to just keep his head down and keep working and show through his hard work that this is wrong. He eventually came to realize that he cannot just assume that these issues of racism will just get better. We have to stand up and speak out on behalf of the victims and many others who are frightened, he said. Congressman Kim delivered brief remarks at the evening gala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP3RlXrHIcA (2:03). He is married to a Chinese American, and they have two young boys. He also served as a United States National Security Council official under the Obama Administration. Congressman Kim has represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district since 2019 and is running for the U.S. Senate in 2024. Dr. Jiashen You , Chair of the Asian American Government Executive Network (AAGEN), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to promote, expand, and support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander leadership in Government, followed with a 3-slide presentation . Starting with a report published by the Partnership for Public Service, Dr. You quoted a report released by the Partnership for Public Service on trends over 25 years of the Senior Executive Service (SES), the highest level for civil career servants in the federal government. He then shared that the "bamboo ceiling" still exists for Asian Americans to make the leap to an SES, despite the community seeing rapid growth in its share in recent years. He ended the presentation by highlighting the security denial rates for people with family or financial ties to China [link to Bloomberg article https://bit.ly/4b7jWZW . In addition, Dr. You recounted his personal experience hearing about Dr. Wen Ho Lee 's case being widely reported during his semester in college and living in America. Despite being capable of receiving clearance in the past, the impact of the "perpetual foreigner" notion deterred him from applying to many senior-level jobs that require top-secret clearance, leading to an even narrower window of opportunities. This is not an uncommon experience for first-generation Asian American government employees. Carol Lam , Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, presented a primer on security clearance and remarked that federal policy sets out the aggravating and mitigating factors to be considered in denying or granting security clearance. However, those factors take on more or less weight depending on political relationships between the United States and the country of concern, rendering the final decision somewhat subjective. Ms. Lam noted the importance of keeping the nation's attention on potential unfair biases in security clearance decisions in order to prevent those biases from becoming entrenched. Ms. Lam did note one positive development in the form of Secretary of State Blinken's decision in March 2023 to lift many State Department assignment restrictions based on employees' country of origin or familial or financial relationships in that country. Chuck Rosenburg , Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, remarked that all nations in the world spy on each other, including China and the United States, with the possible exception of the "five eyes" nations of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The session was moderated by Paula Madison , Chair and CEO, 88 Madison Media Inc. and a member of the Committee of 100. Graduate Assistants United Rally Against Florida SB 846 Graduate Assistants United (GAU) has been a labor union at the University of Florida (UF) since 1972. It represents 4,400 graduate assistants and research assistants at UF. It was a major organizer of the rally against Florida Senate Bill (SB) 846, which is also called the "Countries of Concern" bill, in Gainesville, Florida, on March 26, 2024. Eva Garcia Ferres , Co-President of GAU, published a report on the rally in the April/May edition of the Gainesville Iguana . According to her report, SB 846 does not specifically prohibit the admission of applicants, but it does create a very important and hostile roadblock for prospective graduate assistants, postdocs, and faculty members. The bill requires an extra screening conducted by a Research Integrity Office. The screening is supposed to verify all attendance, employment, publications, and contributions listed in the application prior to any interview or offer of a position to the applicant.The first problem is logistical. Many graduate applications are due early to late December, and many interviews are offered and conducted around early spring. There are over 4,000 graduate assistants at University of Florida, approximately half of graduate assistants are international students, and of the international student population a substantial portion come from China and Iran. This means that for every application cycle, the Research Integrity Office would need to thoroughly vet and make risk assessments for all applicants within a very limited timeline. The capacity and ability of the Research Integrity Office to do so is questioned. The second point of concern is the lack of transparency regarding the Research Integrity Office and the guidelines they are to use to make the risk assessments. Neither the bill itself nor the Board of Governors’ guidelines provide a definition of risk or a way to measure risk. It thus must fall upon the University and the Research Integrity Office to create the standard and apply it. The offices have not responded to these inquiries.In addition, there are draconian consequences for those who "fail" the screening (i.e., those who are deemed a risk, whatever that may be) because they will be reported to the FBI and any other law enforcement agency as determined by the Board of Governors.The Board of Governors’ guidelines reserve the right to make decisions about applicants and collaborations with entities from the seven countries based on their “value.” The report asks, "How is value determined? What makes the Board of Governors or the Research Integrity Office better suited for determining the value of international applicants and collaborations than the experts in the field?" "We know that applicants are being denied admission offers, that faculty cannot hire their top applicants, and that researchers cannot collaborate with prominent scholarsin the field purely because of nationality," the report said.If departments and faculty cannot hire their top applicants, then research and teaching will suffer. If the University will not accept visiting professors and scholars from“countries of concern,” then the University will miss on key expertise, new perspectives, and important scholarly connections. Learning and innovation are the pillars ofacademia. They are pursued in collaboration and cannot flourish in echo chambers and monoculture settings. They lead to the destruction of academic freedom. Decisions on who to hire, what to teach, and what to research have always been made by experts in the field, but this is no longer the case in Florida, the GAU report concludes.Read the Gainesville Iguana report: https://bit.ly/3ULrHze A lawsuit against Florida SB 846 was filed with the Southern District Court of Florida on March 25, 2024: Yin v. Diaz (1:24-cv-21129) AASF: Video Competition to Honor Asian American Scientists WHAT: Video Competition to Honor Asian American Scientists WHEN: Contest Period: 12:00:01 am Eastern Time (ET) on May 1 through 11:59:59 pm ET on June 7, 2024 ET. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Legal residents of the 50 US states or DC who are age 14 - 18 who participate with their parent or guardian’s consent OFFICIAL RULES: https://bit.ly/4bnrPKN PRIZES : Each prize is a $1,000 Visa gift card. 40 prizes available across various categories. Prizes will be awarded to the parent/guardian of each winner, not the entrant. DESCRIPTION: Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by showcasing the achievements of prominent Asian American scientists. High schoolers are invited to create and share short videos highlighting these scientists, competing for a chance to win a $1,000 visa gift card. Multiple prizes available. HOW TO ENTER: https://bit.ly/3UtbrS5 News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/05/13-14 2024 APAICS Legislative Leadership Summit2024/05/14 2024 APAICS: 30th Annual Awards Gala2024/05/14 Serica Initiative: 7th Annual Women's Gala Dinner2024/05/22 Heritage, Culture, and Community: The Future of America's Chinatowns2024/06/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/06/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/06/06 A Dialogue Between Academic/AAPI Communities with The FBIVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF May 8, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #402 NSF to Ban Most Research with China; National APA Museum; More ICE Shootings; + #402 NSF to Ban Most Research with China; National APA Museum; More ICE Shootings; + In This Issue #402 · NSF Moves to Ban Nearly All Research Collaborations With China · National APA Museum Commission Opens Comments as Trump Administration Report Defends Chinese Exclusion Act · ICE Shootings Mount as Trump Undercuts Reported DHS Vehicle-Stop Pause · News and Activities for the Communities NSF Moves to Ban Nearly All Research Collaborations With China Over the past several months, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has undergone the most significant governance disruption in its 76-year history — a dismantling of independent oversight that coincided with one of the most sweeping policy shifts in the agency's history: a near-total ban on research collaborations with China. Trump Fired the Entire National Science Board It started on April 24, 2026, when President Trump fired all 22 sitting members of the National Science Board (NSB) — the independent body that has jointly overseen NSF alongside its director since the agency's founding in 1950. Members received a terse email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office informing them their positions were "terminated, effective immediately," with no explanation given. The NSB's staggered six-year terms were specifically designed to insulate science funding decisions from short-term political pressure. Dismissed member Keivan Stassun (Vanderbilt) suggested the board's public criticism of Trump's proposed 55% NSF budget cut in May 2025 may have "antagonized the administration." Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), the House Science Committee's ranking Democrat, called the firing "the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science," and later led 31 House Democrats in a letter demanding the board's reinstatement. The move left NSF without both a board and a permanent director — Sethuraman Panchanathan had resigned in April 2025, and Trump's nominee to replace him, Jim O'Neill , still has not been confirmed by the Senate. As of late May 2026, the American Association for the Advancement of Science was still publicly pressing the Senate HELP Committee for an open confirmation hearing, and no replacements for the 22 dismissed NSB seats had been announced. With no confirmed director and no board, day-to-day authority has fallen to career staff: Brian Stone as acting director, and Rebecca Spyke Keiser — NSF's chief of research security — as acting chief of staff. A Sweeping New China Policy Emerged It is against this backdrop of leadership vacancies — an agency with neither a confirmed director nor a seated independent board — that NSF announced a sweeping new policy in July prohibiting U.S. scientists it funds from collaborating with nearly all Chinese research institutions and their employees. The policy, first reported by Science on July 10, 2026, and covered by South China Morning Post on July 14, 2026, marks a major reversal from NSF's earlier approach of weighing risks and benefits on a case-by-case basis. Under the new policy, NSF will bar interactions with employees of "restricted entities" — hundreds of major Chinese universities, national laboratories, and other research institutions identified on lists maintained by the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Senior and key personnel on NSF awards will be prohibited from holding appointments at these institutions, receiving research support from them, or collaborating with them on NSF-funded work. The move replaces NSF's "Trusted Research Using Safeguards and Transparency" (TRUST) framework, introduced in 2024 to assess national security risks in grant proposals while still allowing collaboration to continue. At the time, Keiser — then NSF's chief of research security, now its acting chief of staff — argued that "we cannot continue to lead the world in science and innovation if we are fixated on achieving zero risk." That balancing act now appears to be over, at least with respect to China and other countries deemed national security threats: NSF's new guidance states plainly that "research security risk mitigation for NSF-funded projects involving these restricted entities is not sufficient." It is not publicly known whether the now-vacant National Science Board would have reviewed or weighed in on a policy of this scope had it still been seated — the board's precise role in this type of decision has not been reported. What is clear is that the policy was finalized during a period when NSF's normal channels of independent, external review were unusually thin. The shift also brings NSF in line with the Department of Defense, which tightened its own research security rules in January 2026, following a 2025 investigation by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party that found roughly 1,400 research papers published between June 2023 and June 2025 involved collaboration with Chinese entities — more than half of them affiliated with China's defense research and industrial base. A Pending Broader OMB Rule The restricted-entity list is not comprehensive. Tsinghua University, for instance, is not currently included — despite recently hiring away 2025 Nobel Chemistry laureate Omar Yaghi from UC Berkeley. A broader rule proposed separately by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would bar collaboration with entire "countries of concern," including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, rather than relying on institution-by-institution lists. Political and Diplomatic Reaction Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, praised the policy as "commendable and commonsense," saying it "will protect taxpayer-funded research and innovation," and called on other federal agencies to follow the Pentagon and NSF's lead. China's government pushed back. Liu Chang , a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said U.S.-China science and technology cooperation is "inherently mutually beneficial" and urged American institutions to promote rather than restrict such exchanges. Some U.S. scientists are similarly critical. Stanford physicist Peter Michelson , who last year organized a faculty petition against similar restrictions Moolenaar tried to insert into defense policy legislation, called the NSF policy "very damaging" to U.S. science. China policy expert Denis Simon , former executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, warned that the policy hands Moolenaar "an open playing field to put anybody on the [banned] list." Open Questions Much remains undefined, including what actually counts as a "collaboration." It is unclear whether the ban extends to casual conversations at conferences or to co-authored papers where researchers worked independently. NIH and NASA appear to already be restricting co-authorship with foreign scientists under similar reasoning, and Kevin Wozniak of the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) notes that NIH treats co-authorship as "a factor" — though not necessarily proof — of prohibited collaboration. What is Next NSF is accepting public comments on the policy and plans to finalize it in updated grantee instructions taking effect October 1, 2026 — the start of federal fiscal year 2027, when NSF says the policy will be fully implemented. Keiser and counterparts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Energy's Office of Science are scheduled to testify before Moolenaar's committee on July 15, 2026. Observers, including Simon, say they do not expect the hearing or public feedback to meaningfully alter the policy's course. Whether an eventually reconstituted National Science Board — or a confirmed director — will have any opportunity to revisit the policy remains an open question. National APA Museum Commission Opens Comments as Trump Administration Report Defends Chinese Exclusion Act The National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission is conducting a series of virtual information sessions to gather public input on the creation of a future national museum. These sessions are designed to engage the community, hear feedback, and discuss what a future museum could look like. They include Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community Leaders , South Asian Community Leaders , and Students and Youth sessions. The Commission also encourages you to share your voice by submitting a public comment. Every story, perspective, and experience matters. Together, our voices can help ensure that the many histories, cultures, and contributions of Asian Pacific Americans are recognized and reflected in this important national effort. The Commission’s link to submit a public comment is located here: https://bit.ly/4gJhVct . Please submit your comment by July 31, 2026. The bipartisan Commission, established by Congress in 2022 (Public Law 117-140) and formally launched in June 2025, is completing its nationwide tour. It is entering its final stretch toward an October 2026 report to Congress and the President, which will lay out a comprehensive plan for establishing, funding, and maintaining the museum, including site selection and projected costs. Trump Administration Report Defends the Chinese Exclusion Act Separately, the White House Domestic Policy Council released a report on July 4 titled Saving America's Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage . The report is sharply critical of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, accusing it of portraying American history through a lens of "White supremacy, slavery, conquest, exclusion, hierarchy, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and systemic injustice." Notably, the report specifically defends the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act — the first U.S. law to bar immigration based explicitly on race — against the museum's characterization that the law was racially motivated, criticizing the exhibit's accompanying text for portraying restrictive immigration laws as "a tool of White supremacy." The report emerged from an executive order Trump signed earlier in his term, which had already led to a broader review of Smithsonian exhibitions and operations. According to NPR on July 9, 2026, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch defended the institution's integrity in a memo to staff, emphasizing a commitment to "scholarship, nonpartisanship, independence, accuracy and integrity" in telling the fullness of America's story. The response from Asian American advocates has been swift and critical. Eunice Kwon of the Asian American Research Center at UC Berkeley called the report "a step backwards," noting that Congress formally and unanimously expressed regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act through House and Senate resolutions passed unanimously in 2011 and 2012. Kwon said the administration's effort to recast the law "as an economic dispute" while erasing the racial hostility and violence Chinese immigrants actually faced "is dangerous for our communities." Why This Matters Together Both developments intersect at a pivotal moment for how Asian Pacific American history is told at the federal level: as the Commission works to build the case for a dedicated national museum grounded in authentic, full storytelling — including the difficult chapters — the administration's Smithsonian report suggests a starkly different vision for how federally supported institutions should present that same history. ICE Shootings Mount as Trump Undercuts Reported DHS Vehicle-Stop Pause According to multiple media reports including AP News , Forbes , New York Times , TIME , and Washington Post , three men have died during Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encounters in just over a week — in Houston, Biddeford, Maine, and now Florida — even as President Donald Trump publicly contradicted reports that the agency had moved to suspend most vehicle stops, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s own account of events has shifted since. Separately, Minnesota prosecutors report a breakthrough in their long-stalled investigations into the January killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. What Happened This Month On July 7, an ICE officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo , a Mexican national who had lived in the U.S. for decades, as he drove his construction crew to a Houston job site. DHS said the officer opened fire after Salgado Araujo ignored commands and attempted to ram the officer with his vehicle, but at least two of the passengers in the van have disputed the federal agency's account through their attorney. Former Houston city councilmember Robert Gallegos said Salgado Araujo was "racially profiled" — a man who had raised three sons and run his own homebuilding business. Less than a week later, on July 13, an ICE agent shot and killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero , a 25-year-old Colombian national, after officers tried to stop a vehicle he was driving in Biddeford, Maine. DHS said the officer, "fearing for public safety," fired after Durán Guerrero attempted to flee in the vehicle. But that account shifted from what Sen. Angus King 's office initially relayed: King said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin first told him the officer opened fire because the driver tried to "use his vehicle as a weapon" — a materially different justification than "attempted to flee." King also said Mullin told him officers were serving an arrest warrant, but not for Durán Guerrero himself. Advocacy groups say Durán Guerrero had a wife and young daughter and was authorized to work in the U.S. Neither shooting involved agents wearing body cameras, despite then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem 's February pledge to "rapidly" deploy body cameras nationwide — a rollout that, per DHS, has now reached only about half of ICE field offices. Then on July 14, a third man died during an immigration encounter: a 28-year-old was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer in Florida while fleeing immigration and other federal officers. A Washington Post analysis published July 15 found that at least 17 motorists have been shot during immigration operations since the administration's enforcement ramp-up began — a scale considerably larger than the small number of high-profile cases that have drawn national attention. Separately, John Sandweg , who served as acting ICE director during the Obama administration, estimated roughly 18 traffic-stop shootings during the crackdown to date — a similar, independently-arrived-at figure. Trump Contradicts the Vehicle-Stop Pause — DHS Then Falls in Line Following the Houston and Maine shootings, ICE reportedly moved to suspend most vehicle stops — a change confirmed on the record when Sen. King's office said DHS itself had told them ICE was suspending traffic stops. But President Trump publicly contradicted that plan just a day later. In a social media post on July 15, Trump said ICE agents are "doing a GREAT job, one that has to be done," and insisted the agency must keep conducting stops to remove people he says were let into the country under the previous administration: "We CANNOT give up one of ICE's most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!" Ending the practice, he wrote, would mean "playing right into the criminal's hands." Hours after Trump's post, DHS Secretary Mullin issued his own statement affirming that people in the country illegally would be "arrested and deported" — a response that, rather than clarifying the contradiction, appeared to align the department with Trump's position. As of this writing, it remains unclear whether ICE will formally reverse the suspension and resume most stops, or how the agency intends to reconcile Trump's public statement with the pause it reportedly ordered just a day earlier. Policing experts have long warned that shooting into moving vehicles is inherently dangerous and should almost always be avoided — a pattern critics say has repeated across these incidents, with officers confronting drivers and then citing the vehicle itself as the justification for using force. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said on July 14 she had urged Mullin "to cease all non-urgent vehicle stops," though she also cautioned on X that "it is important to remember that the work ICE does to protect our country goes far beyond immigration enforcement." Collins faces a competitive reelection race in Maine, where hundreds of protesters gathered at her office this week over the Durán Guerrero shooting. Separately, internal dissent has surfaced within ICE itself: senior officials have reportedly blamed Trump's demand for mass arrests for the wave of deadly shootings, with one official warning that officers "pushed to the breaking point" are being forced into fatal confrontations. The killings came days after Trump ordered an arrest surge that swept up more than 10,000 people in five days, with field leadership reportedly told the White House expected 2,000 detentions daily. ICE has said it faces growing resistance to home arrests, as advisers increasingly tell immigrants to stay inside unless agents produce a judicial warrant — a dynamic the agency says pushes officers toward other tactics, including vehicle stops. The Political Stakes The shootings arrive at a politically sensitive moment for the administration. Trump's approval rating on immigration recovered from 38% in February — in the wake of the Good and Pretti killings in Minneapolis — to 42% in June, according to Quinnipiac University polling, even as his overall approval sits at 38%. Immigration remains a relative strength for Trump compared to other issues, but the pattern of shootings has become a flashpoint in competitive races, including Collins's in Maine and several Democratic primaries where candidates are divided over how aggressively to respond. Minnesota Follow-Up: Evidence Turnover in the Good and Pretti Cases Separately, Minnesota prosecutors announced a long-sought breakthrough: the Trump administration turned over evidence long sought by state investigators, including previously withheld hard drives containing statements and body-camera video, as well as Good's badly damaged SUV. Lawyers for Good's family called the transfer "an important and meaningful step towards justice and accountability." Despite the handover, no criminal charges have been filed against the federal agents who shot and killed Good and Pretti. The two Customs and Border Protection officers who killed Pretti were placed on administrative leave shortly after the shooting, but no indictment or known disciplinary action has followed against them or against Jonathan Ross , the ICE agent who shot Good. What's Next Investigations remain ongoing in Houston, Biddeford, Florida, and the two Minneapolis cases, with state and federal authorities continuing to clash over jurisdiction and evidence access. Salgado Araujo's killing marked at least the 21st shooting by immigration agents since Trump's mass deportation campaign began in January 2025, according to the New York Times , as reported by Forbes — underscoring that these incidents form part of a broader, ongoing pattern rather than isolated events. Whether the vehicle-stop pause survives Trump's public pushback, and how DHS intends to reconcile its own reported suspension with the president's explicit demand to continue stops, remains unresolved. This continues to be a fast-developing story with a pattern of shifting federal accounts — DHS's description of the Maine shooting alone has changed at least twice, from "weaponized" to "attempted to flee," even as the administration now appears to be walking back the policy response to the shootings themselves. Readers should expect further developments as investigations proceed. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/08/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/08/05 C100: The Impact of AI on Asian American Careers in Technology 2026/08/07-09 AASF: Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony 2026/08/26 C100: An Advice and Networking Event (Technology)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 APA Justice website at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF July 16, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #340 C100/Paul Cheung; More on Student Visas; Birthright Citizenship; AI Checks on Trump; + #340 C100/Paul Cheung; More on Student Visas; Birthright Citizenship; AI Checks on Trump; + In This Issue #340 · Introduction of C100 President Paul Cheung · Social Media Checks on Student Visa Applications · A Fractured Future for Birthright Citizenship · What Five AI Models Say About President Trump’s Claims · News and Activities for the Communities Introduction of C100 President Paul Cheung At the APA Justice monthly meeting on July 7, 2025, Paul Cheung 鄭文耀 , the new President of the Committee of 100 (C100), offered introductory remarks outlining his professional background and vision for the organization. With over two decades of experience in journalism and philanthropy, Paul previously led digital innovation at the Associated Press and the Miami Herald , and later focused on technology-driven equity initiatives at the Knight Foundation. He emphasized that his career has been defined by building strategic partnerships and using technology to dismantle systemic barriers—whether in journalism, misinformation, or civil rights. Paul sees strong alignment between C100’s mission and that of APA Justice and other advocacy organizations. In his view, defending AAPI rights requires more than passion—it demands strategy, cross-sector collaboration, and coordinated action. Reflecting on his past work covering civil rights and leading foundation programs, he stressed that legal victories alone are not enough unless they are paired with cultural and public narrative change. For C100, that means not only amplifying partners’ work but also helping to shift the broader conversation about Chinese American identity and inclusion.Acknowledging the evolving U.S.–China relationship, Paul pointed out that geopolitical tensions between the two countries will likely persist, regardless of administration. These tensions have direct consequences for Chinese Americans and other immigrant communities. As a result, C100 is rethinking how it approaches its advocacy—not simply by sharing how policy changes impact Asian Americans, but by demonstrating how they affect all Americans. He called for renewed efforts to uplift Chinese American contributions to U.S. history—from birthright citizenship to building the transcontinental railroad—as essential to understanding what is at stake if these communities are sidelined.Looking ahead, Paul emphasized C100’s commitment to working collaboratively with partners to inform and shape policy change. He highlighted the State of Chinese Americans research as one example of a tool that can support broader coalition efforts. Paul welcomed opportunities to meet with APA Justice participants individually to learn about their work and explore synergies. He concluded by thanking APA Justice and its leadership for hosting the conversation and expressed enthusiasm about building deeper partnerships to advance shared goals of equity, inclusion, and constructive dialogue.A video of Paul's talk is posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sQHwSNRMfQ (3:30)A summary of the July 7 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Social Media Checks on Student Visa Applications Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications InternAccording to POLITICO , The Intercept , and other media sources, the State Department’s new student visa social media vetting process includes a list of 20 social media platforms. Applicants are asked to make their accounts public, a task that could prove difficult to accomplish as a quarter of platforms listed in the online application are now defunct.In late June, after a three-week suspension of student visa interviews, the State Department resumed processing with a stricter social media vetting protocol. The process applies to all foreign nationals who apply for F (academic students), M (vocational students), and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants, including applicants who have already been interviewed but have not been finally approved.The State Department directs consular officers to flag “applicants who demonstrate a history of political activism” and directs them to “consider the likelihood they would continue such activity in the United States.” It states that this screening will apply for both new and returning student visa applicants. Consular officers must take “detailed case notes” about their review of applicants’ online presences and “take screenshots to preserve the record against possible later alteration or loss of the information.”The online student visa application requires applicants to provide the usernames for “each social media platform you have used within the last five years” from a list of 20 services. However, many of the services listed have not been operational for years. Some of the listed, obsolete platforms include Vine, which closed in 2017; Google+, which stopped operating in 2019; and the dating site Twoo, which shut down in 2021. Since 2019, most visa applicants have been required to disclose their social media usernames. The Trump administration’s “expanded screening and vetting process” applies to F, M, and J visa applicants. Provided social media accounts will subsequently be checked for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.”Of the seven regional services listed, five are Chinese — Douban (豆瓣), Qzone (QQ空间), Sina Weibo (新浪微博), Tencent Weibo (腾讯微博), and Youku (优酷). Tencent Weibo, a microblogging service, shut down in 2020. The other two regional services are Ask.fm , a Latvian Q&A site, and VKontakte (VK), a Russian social networking, messaging, and entertainment app.Despite including five Chinese services, the list leaves out Tencent’s WeChat (腾讯微信), the most popular social media app in China. The list also does not include TikTok or Truth Social, President Trump’s own social media platform.According to Albert Fox Cahn , founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, “Now those who wanted to study in the U.S. to flee authoritarian governments abroad will have to make their social media public to those same governments to study here.” A Fractured Future for Birthright Citizenship Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications InternOn June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled to allow President Donald Trump to continue to end the process of birthright citizenship in the U.S. Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order (EO) ending birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants and foreign visitors, but it was challenged and temporarily halted by lower courts. In their recent ruling, the Supreme Court did not address the constitutionality of President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, but it did limit the ability of individual judges in lower courts to block federal policies for the entire country. The Supreme Court is now the only court in the country that can block a presidential policy nationwide. Regarding the birthright citizenship executive order, the Supreme Court paused the order’s implementation for 30 days and returned pending lawsuits to lower courts to reassess the scope of relief. After the 30-day pause, the EO will take effect in the 28 states that have not challenged the measure.In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to limit nationwide injunctions, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) issued a statement expressing “deep disappointment” that the ruling “significantly weakens the ability of civil rights organizations to protect communities from unconstitutional federal actions when swift nationwide relief is urgently needed.” CACA’s statement points out that advocates must now fight the same battle in multiple jurisdictions, delaying justice and sowing confusion nationwide. CACA urges Congress to restore the ability of lower courts to provide comprehensive relief and warns civil rights advocates to prepare for a more fractured legal landscape.Read the full CACA statement here . Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) issued a similar press release, asserting that the EO attempts to “unilaterally change the 14th Amendment” and threatens to “erode a foundational principle of American identity,” the constitutional promise of equality and inclusion. Such a measure will have serious consequences for all immigrant communities.Read the full APIAVote press release here .U.S. Senator Tim Kaine , a former civil rights attorney, released the following statement:“President Trump’s attempt to curtail birthright citizenship for those born in the U.S. is clearly unconstitutional. This is why every federal court until now had blocked the executive order from going into effect. But instead of making a straightforward determination on the constitutionality of the EO, the Supreme Court has colluded with the Trump Administration to curtail the Judiciary Branch’s own power to protect Americans from illegal actions by the Executive Branch, starting with undermining birthright citizenship. Now that Trump’s birthright citizenship order may go into effect in 30 days unless more lawsuits are filed, American hospitals and state and local governments will be in limbo about something as basic as issuing birth certificates. Parents of newborns will have to scramble to make sure that they have the paperwork to show their citizenship or immigration status, even as they prepare to welcome a baby into their families. Once again with this Administration, it’s nothing but uncertainty and fear.”Read Senator Tim Kaine's statement here . Chair Grace Meng of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued the following statement:“I am appalled by the Supreme Court’s decision to let the Trump administration push forward with its unconstitutional attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship. This reckless ruling opens the door to a future where states can decide who is an American citizen. The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil—a principle upheld by this very Court over a century ago. Instead of ruling on the merits of this case, the Court has chosen to undermine judges’ abilities to block the administration’s unlawful actions that will only lead to more chaos and division. While legal battles remain, CAPAC will continue to defend the Constitution and the bedrock principles that have allowed generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to call this country home. We will fight this executive order in every courtroom, in every state, across the country.”The American Immigration Council pointed out that after the 30-day pause, enforcement could vary widely by state or circuit, depending on how lower courts proceed. This raises the possibility of a patchwork legal system, where a child born to undocumented or immigrant parents might be a citizen in one state but not another. For example, a baby born to undocumented or immigrant parents in California or Maryland might still be issued a U.S. birth certificate and recognized as a citizen (because of ongoing litigation there). But possibly, a baby born the same day in Texas or Florida might not be recognized as a U.S. citizen — depending on how lower federal courts deal with the existing lawsuits and whether new lawsuits are filed. What Five AI Models Say About President Trump’s Claims On July 1, 2025, the Washington Post published an opinion by a team of senior scholars and researchers from the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, led by Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld . The team asked five leading AI systems—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity—to evaluate 20 regularly repeated claims made by President Donald Trump . All five models debunked 15 of the statements outright, and partially rejected most of the remaining ones. "Artificial intelligence discredited all the Trump claims we presented, fact-checking the president with startling accuracy and objective rigor," the opionion stated.For example, Trump’s assertions about tariffs—such as them not causing consumer price increases—were widely contradicted. ChatGPT noted that proposed tariffs "would likely raise consumer prices," while Grok estimated a 1–2.3% price increase per household. Similarly, his claim about the media being “dishonest” was challenged: Perplexity clarified that while there are errors, the U.S. media in general cannot be deemed “dishonest.” Another key contrast came with his statements on the Capitol riot and the 2020 election. ChatGPT asserted that celebrating the rioters "ignores the facts" and undermines democratic norms, while Gemini confirmed there was “no credible evidence” supporting claims of a stolen election The opinion emphasizes a stark dichotomy: either Trump’s claims are false, or the AI is deeply flawed. The models showed consistency and accuracy in their responses, offering a compelling challenge to his narrative—inviting readers to reflect on whether the problem lies with the politician or the technology. These 14 questions were identified in the opinion: Will Trump’s current tariff policies be inflationary? Is the U.S. being taken advantage of on trade by its international partners? Are Trump’s cryptocurrency investments a conflict of interest? Has the Department of Government Efficiency actually “found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud”? Is Harvard more antisemitic than other universities? Is Trump right that the media is “dishonest” or “tells lies”? Did the “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris that aired in October distort the truth and damage Trump’s candidacy? Was the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 President Joe Biden’s fault? Was the American economy the worst in its history under the Biden presidency? Was the Biden administration responsible for higher levels of inflation following the covid-19 pandemic and through 2024? Did 21 million illegal immigrants enter the United States [during the Biden administration]? And were many of them murderers, human traffickers, gang members, or other sorts of serious criminals? Were the Jan. 6, 2021, rioters who stormed the capitol “patriots” or “heroes”? Was the 2020 presidential election stolen from Trump? Is Trump the most dishonest president in U.S. history? Read the Washington Post opinion: https://bit.ly/44txfn3 News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/07/09 8th Annual Congressional Reception2025/07/10 C100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with David Ho2025/07/10 ACLU's Civil Rights in the Digital Age AI Summit2025/07/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/07/25-27 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony 2025/07/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/07/29 C100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Linda Chao Yang2025/08/02-07 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Committee of 100 Conversations - "Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes" WHAT: Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with David Ho WHEN: July 10, 2025, 6:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: Committee of 100 Speaker : Dr. David Ho, Founding Scientific Director, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center Moderator : Peter Young, CEO and President of Young & Partners; Committee of 100 New York Regional Chair and Board Member DESCRIPTION: Dr. David Ho, pioneering AIDS research scientist, is a Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and the Founding Scientific Director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, whose elegant studies unraveled the dynamic nature of HIV replication in vivo and revolutionized our basic understanding of this horrific disease. This knowledge led him to champion combination antiretroviral therapy, which resulted in unprecedented control of HIV in patients. He will cover highlights and turning points in his career, his view of the factors that led to the innovations he pioneered, and the joys and challenges of scientific research in this country. He has received many awards, including Time Magazine Man of the Year. REGISTRATION : https://www.committee100.org/conversations-david-ho/ WHAT: Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Linda Tsao Yang WHEN: July 29, 2025, 6:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: Committee of 100 Speaker : Linda Tsao Yang, Former U.S. Ambassador and first woman Executive Director appointed to Asian Development Bank Moderator : Calvin Tsao, Architect Principal at Tsao & McKown Architects and Committee of 100 Member DESCRIPTION: Linda Tsao Yang is a pioneer in the oversight of important financial institutions and the first woman and the first minority to represent the United States on the board of a multilateral financial institution. She served as U.S. Executive Director to the board of the Asian Development Bank in Manila, is Chair Emerita of the Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA), was the first minority appointed to serve as California’s Savings and Loan Commissioner; and was also the first minority appointed to the board of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest public pension fund in the United States.Throughout her career she has directed and driven the institutions she has chaired towards policies and practices that were more equitable and enduring, guided by good governance, transparent information disclosure, improved rules on participation and consultation, a robust policies on gender—all at a time when women were virtually absent from senior leadership, let alone executive directorships or boardrooms. REGISTRATION : https://www.committee100.org/conversations-linda-tsao-yang/ 3. AAAS Tracks Federal R&D Workforce On July 8, 2025, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) launched a tracker on the Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) of federal research and development (R&D) workers. The metric adds up full-time, part-time, and other work types to represent a standard 40-hour work week employee. The dashboard compiles the annually reported FTEs for key R&D intensive agencies and programs across the federal government. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Ijajht . # # # 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 July 9, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #110 01/30 Webinar on Gang Chen; 2/7 Monthly Meeting; Franklin Tao; Stop Anti-Asian Hate #110 01/30 Webinar on Gang Chen; 2/7 Monthly Meeting; Franklin Tao; Stop Anti-Asian Hate Back View PDF January 31, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter