Newsletter - #232 2/5 Monthly Meeting; AI Safety Cooperation; Carter Legacy; China Initiative 2.0; + #232 2/5 Monthly Meeting; AI Safety Cooperation; Carter Legacy; China Initiative 2.0; + In This Issue #232 · 2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · White House OSTP Director on US-China AI Safety Cooperation · Invited Report - A Speech by David Lampton: The Carter Legacy and Beyond · Possible Reinstatement of the China Initiative Denounced · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, February 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), invited and confirmed speakers are: · Erika Moritsugu (invited), Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, The White House, will kick off the Lunar New Year by reviewing the Year of the Rabbit (2023) and looking forward to the Year of the Dragon (2024). · Lora Lumpe, Chief Executive Officer, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, will tell us about the Quincy Institute and its plans and activities. The Quincy Institute promotes ideas that move U.S. foreign policy away from endless war, toward military restraint and diplomacy in the pursuit of international peace in a world where peace is the norm and war is the exception. On November 13, 2023, it led a coalition of diverse organizations in a letter to Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping calling for more stable and productive bilateral ties. · Min Fan 范敏, Executive Director, US Heartland China Association (USHCA) will introduce USHCA and describe its mission and activities. USHCA covers 20 states that stretch from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. 430 Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in 84 of the cities within the Heartland region. Mayors of the region lead 37 of the 100 largest cities in the United States. The original organization was founded in 2003 as the Midwest China Association by U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson (IL); John Rogers, lawyer and professor; and Governor Bob Holden (MO), former Chairman of the Midwest Governors Association. USHCA led a bipartisan delegation of six U.S. mayors representing communities along the Mississippi River Basin to visit their counterparts in China in 2023 - the first since the pandemic. · Sandy Shan, Executive Director, Justice is Global, will share how individuals and organizations can help support grassroot rollout of a US-China climate cooperation bill this spring. In 2020 and 2022 , Justice is Global conducted two community canvassing projects that engaged swing state voters susceptible to anti-immigrant sentiments in conversations about the future of US-China cooperation. The positive outcomes from these two projects informed Justice is Global’s current work in supporting the rollout of a climate cooperation bill. 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 White House OSTP Director on US-China AI Safety Cooperation According to the Financial Times , Arati Prabhakar , Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said the US will work with China on the safety of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in the coming months. The two countries are committed to working together to lessen the risks of AI and assess its capabilities.“Steps have been taken to engage in that process,” Prabhakar said of future collaboration with China on AI. “We have to try to work [with Beijing].” “We are at a moment where everyone understands that AI is the most powerful technology . . . every country is bracing to use it to build a future that reflects their values,” said Prabhakar, who advises President Joe Biden on issues including AI regulation. “But I think the one place we can all really agree is we want to have a technology base that is safe and effective,” she added. “So I think that is a good place for collaboration.”The regulatory frameworks for AI vary between the two nations. China, for instance, has issued comprehensive guidelines for AI development, with a particular emphasis on content control. By contrast, in October last year, Biden issued a sweeping executive order with a specific focus on addressing threats related to national security and consumer privacy.Read the Financial Times report: https://on.ft.com/3UfwlWm In an editorial published online on January 25, 2024, Science reported that "the power and accuracy of computational protein design have been increasing rapidly with the incorporation of AI approaches. This promises to transform biotechnology, enabling advances across sustainability and medicine. However, as with all major revolutionary changes, this technology is vulnerable to misuse and the production of dangerous biological agents." "Enhanced security need not threaten information sharing or transparent communication, the hallmarks of modern science; the use of biosecurity as an excuse to not share new methods and advances should be discouraged by science funders, publishers, and policy-makers. Rather, security in this fast-moving field should be framed as maximizing progress to address pressing societal concerns," the editorial concludes. Read the Science editorial: https://bit.ly/47UHcIm The Science editorial referred to a global AI Safety Summit in the United Kingdom in November, 2023. The editorial emphasized that the "road to regulating AI is likely to be long and complicated." At the Summit, representatives from 28 countries worldwide including the United States, China, European Union, and other nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, endorsed The Bletchley Declaration on AI safety. This declaration acknowledges the need to comprehend and collaboratively address potential risks associated with AI. Its goal is to ensure the development and deployment of AI in a safe and responsible manner for the benefit of the international community. At the conclusion of the Summit, South Korea committed to co-hosting a mini virtual summit within the next six months, followed by France hosting the subsequent in-person Summit half a year later.Read more about the AI Safety Summit: https://bit.ly/3SlWYqe Invited Report - A Speech by David Lampton: The Carter Legacy and Beyond Author: Juan Zhang , Editor, US-China Perception Monitor/ 中美印象, Carter Center, Juan.Zhang@cartercenter.org Professor David Lampton is a towering figure in America's collective effort to understand China and to maintain a peaceful and productive relationship with China. At the Inaugural Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations, Lampton offered an excellent description of President Jimmy Carter 's remarkable contributions to global peace, with a particular emphasis on the normalization of relations between the United States and China. Lampton elaborated on how four leadership approaches of President Carter have all played a big role in his visionary China policy. These approaches "served our nation and the world well." Dr. Yawei Liu , Senior Advisor at the Carter Center’s China Focus, lauded Lampton's speech as the most comprehensive summary of President Carter's contributions to peace and prosperity in the U.S. China and the world. To read the full speech, please click here . To find Professor Lampton’s latest book Living US-China Relations: From Cold War to Cold War . Click here . Possible Reinstatement of the China Initiative Denounced On January 26, 2024, the Committee of 100 (C100), an outspoken critic of the China Initiative, issued the following statement from Interim President and Executive Director Cindy Tsai :“The China Initiative was a failed program that fueled racial animosity, xenophobia, and suspicion towards the AAPI community and Chinese Americans in particular. Reimplementing this program would send shockwaves of fear across the AAPI community. We welcome the opportunity to work with Congressional leaders to recognize, address, and prevent future harms to the AAPI community and continue the dialogue towards a shared vision of a better, more secure and inclusive America.” In October of 2021, C100 and researchers from the University of Arizona unveiled a joint research project focused on race and ethnicity in science and research. The survey data showed that the China Initiative was producing a wave of fear among scientists of Chinese descent, where scientists have described cutting ties with their collaborators in China, no longer hiring Chinese postdocs, and limiting communications with scholars in China, even at the expense of their own research projects. Additionally, research jointly led by C100 and legal scholar Andrew Chongseh Kim shed light on significant racial disparities in the implementation of the Economic Espionage Act (EEA) of 1996 and under the China initiative. Data from the research was drawn from nearly 300 defendants across nearly 200 separate cases. Half of the defendants with Western names (49%) convicted under the EEA were given sentences of probation only, with no incarceration. In contrast, the vast majority of defendants of Asian descent (75%) were sent to prison, in particular defendants of Chinese descent (80%). Additionally, Chinese and Asian defendants convicted of economic espionage received average sentences of 27 and 23 months respectively, roughly twice as long as the average sentence of 12 months for defendants with Western names. Read the C100 press release: https://bit.ly/4bpO6si Excerpts from a Boston Globe opinion by Professor MIT Professor Gang Chen 陈刚 on January 16, 2024,"In January 2021, I was wrongfully indicted under the China Initiative launched in 2018 by the US Department of Justice. The indictment contained a laundry list of normal activities for a university professor, such as reviewing proposals and writing recommendation letters. Thankfully, MIT — where I’m a professor of mechanical engineering — and the scientific community came to my defense, with a rallying cry 'We are all Gang Chen.' After a year of grueling legal proceedings, the DOJ finally dropped my case."One month later, in February 2022, the DOJ terminated the Trump administration’s China Initiative, admitting that it created a 'harmful perception' of bias against people with 'racial, ethnic, or familial ties to China.'"Despite the harm the initiative created, the House Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bill, H.R. 5893, seeks to mandate the DOJ to reinstate the China Initiative."The proposal is another stab at a deep wound in my heart that has yet to heal. Despite the warm welcome back to campus from colleagues at MIT, my wrongful prosecution has done irreversible damage to my family, my career, and the United States. "Politically motivated, racially biased criminal justice initiatives lead to wrongful prosecutions. The China Initiative led to numerous wrongful prosecutions of scientists of Chinese origin. When catching real spies proved to be difficult and time-consuming, federal agents turned their attention to straw man targets — university professors. Espionage is the antithesis of open science — one operates in the shadows, shrouded in secrecy, and the other seeks truth and consensus through exploration and collaboration. Researchers at universities in the United States do not conduct classified research on campus. We carry out basic research and publish our findings for all to see. "Some initiatives by the government, such as the China Initiative and the National Institutes of Health’s investigation into academics’ collaborations with China, weaken rather than strengthen US national security. American scientific prowess has been built on the United States’ ability to attract the best and the brightest minds from around the world."Passage of the House’s appropriation bill as it’s currently written would once again push out talent and human capital at the expense of scientific advancement and national security. The China Initiative harmed Americans and failed our national interests miserably. Let us not repeat history with the same mistakes." News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/02/01 CAMDC Deadline for Essay Contest2024/02/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/02/10 New Year's Day of the Year of the Dragon2024/03/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/03/04 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. AAGEN 2024 Leadership Workshop WHAT: In-person event - AAGEN 2024 Leadership Workshop: “Identity, Integrity, and Influence - How to Lead in Uncertain Times” WHEN: Thursday, May 2, 2024, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm ETWHERE: Partnership For Public Service - 600 14th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005HOST: Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN)DESCRIPTION: Join other professionals and leaders from across government for a professional development training event with interactive panel discussions focused on developing leadership resiliency to build a strong and healthy workforce. Come for individual advice from Senior Executives in the Coaching/Resume Review sessions and hear inspiring AANHPI leaders from the White House and other federal agencies share their leadership stories and career advice. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: https://bit.ly/3UiHMwrREGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/47MG2yB 3. Lunar New Year is a Holiday in Some States According to Denverite , on June 2, 2023, Lunar New Year became an official state holiday after Governor Jared Polis signed a bill and will be celebrated by Coloradans the first Friday of every February. Vương-Sandoval , chair of the Lunar New Year Allies Advisory Group, spearheaded the bill, continuing her efforts to bolster and display Denver’s large Vietnamese and Asian community. The City of Denver recently apologized for its role in an anti-Chinese/Asian riot of 1880 that resulted in the death of Look Young, a Chinese laundry worker, and the destruction of historic Chinatown, a once-thriving community of Chinese-owned properties; The area is now LoDo. Colorado is the second state, after California, to recognize Lunar New Year as an observed holiday. According to NBC News on September 12, 2023, the Lunar New Year will now be observed in all public schools in the state of New York, following legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul . “It is not just a day off from school — it is an opportunity for our children to learn about and celebrate their own or different cultures and traditions,” Hochul said in a news release. New York is home to the second largest Asian population in the U.S., which is the fastest-growing racial and ethnic group nationwide, with 1.9 million residents, The new legislation comes months after New York City Mayor Eric Adams added Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, to its list of public school holidays.On January 12, 2024, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a joint resolution AJR201/SJR111, designating the first new moon of the first month of the lunar calendar as Lunar New Year in New Jersey. The holiday has been recognized and celebrated internationally for thousands of years by Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders to welcome good fortune in the new year. 4. Asian American Mayor of Wichita Lily Wu was sworn in as Wichita’s 103rd mayor on January 8, 2024. She is the first woman elected to a full term and the first Asian-American mayor of the largest city in Kansas. Mayor Lily speaks Cantonese and Spanish, was born in Guatemala, and immigrated to Wichita, Kansas with her family in 1993. On her 30th anniversary of coming to America, she announced her candidacy for mayor. She champions an inclusive vision for the entire city focused on ensuring public safety, strengthening the economy, restoring trust in City Hall and building a united community. Prior to being elected, Mayor Lily spent 12 years as a journalist, serving as an anchor and reporter for Wichita television stations KAKE and KWCH 12 News. Read the NextShark report: https://yhoo.it/3Omi3iO Back View PDF January 29, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

2. Bridging Nations: Global Competition for Talent & International Students 2025-2026 Global Tensions Local Dimensions Thursday, February 26, 2026 WHAT : Global Competition for Talent & International Students WHEN : February 26, 2026, 8:00 pm ET WHERE : Webinar HOSTS : APA Justice, Committee of 100, US-China Education Trust Moderator : Margaret K. Lewis 陸梅吉 , Professor of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law Speakers: Fanta Aw , Executive Director and CEO of Association of International Educators (NAFSA) Steven Chu 朱棣文 , Professor of Stanford University and former U.S. Secretary of Energy DESCRIPTION : As geopolitical competition intensifies between the United States and China, the flow of talent and students across borders has become a critical flashpoint. International students – particularly those from China – have enriched American universities, driven innovation, and strengthened people-to-people ties. Yet today, visa restrictions, security concerns, and shifting immigration policies are reshaping the landscape. At the same time, China and other nations are competing aggressively to attract global talent, transforming higher education into an arena of strategic competition. Chinese American students and scholars increasingly find themselves caught in the middle – facing heightened scrutiny, profiling, and questions about their loyalty. This webinar will examine how the U.S.-China relationship is affecting international student mobility, university partnerships, and the global competition for talent. What are the implications of competition for American universities, research ecosystems, and soft power? How are students and scholars navigating new restrictions and uncertainties? How can policies balance openness and U.S. competitiveness? Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #113 2/7 Meeting Summary; Gang Chen Talks; Take Action; IHRN Statement; ODNI Accountability #113 2/7 Meeting Summary; Gang Chen Talks; Take Action; IHRN Statement; ODNI Accountability Back View PDF February 14, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #301 1/6 Monthly Meeting; Honoring President Carter; 12/11 C100 Webinar; AAAS Updates; More #301 1/6 Monthly Meeting; Honoring President Carter; 12/11 C100 Webinar; AAAS Updates; More In This Issue #301 · 2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) · 2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Bills · Updates from AAAS · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 6, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Dr. Kai Li , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited and confirmed speakers are: · Congresswoman Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) (invited) · Judith Terayu , Executive Director, CAPAC · Sudip Parikh , Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals · Robert S. Chang , Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, University of California Irvine School of Law · Yawei Liu , Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter 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 APAJustice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . ***** Dr. Yawei Liu , Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center, has agreed to speak at the January 6 monthly meeting Yawei has ben involved with the Carter Center for over 25 years. He directs the Center’s China Focus Program. He is also chief editor of the Center’s U.S.-China Perception Monitor and China-America Stories websites. Yawei will give his tributes as we honor the legacies of former President Jimmy Carter and describe the China Focus Program and its activities. Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) President Joe Biden has declared January 9, 2025, a national day of mourning, ordering federal offices to close and flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days to honor former President Jimmy Carter 's legacy. Memorial Schedule: · January 4-7: President Carter's remains will lie in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta, allowing the public to pay their respects. · January 7: A motorcade will transport his remains to Washington, D.C. · January 7-9: President Carter will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, providing an opportunity for national mourning. · January 9: A state funeral service is scheduled at the Washington National Cathedral, with President Joe Biden expected to deliver the eulogy. · Post-Funeral: Following the Washington service, President Carter's remains will return to Georgia for a private funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, culminating in his interment at his home. Legacies of President Jimmy Carter His many legacies include: 1. Camp David Accords : President Carter brokered a historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1978. The Camp David Accords, signed on September 17, 1978, marked a groundbreaking achievement in Middle East diplomacy. Carter's tireless efforts brought Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat together for 13 days of intense negotiations at Camp David. The resulting treaty ended decades of conflict between Israel and Egypt, establishing a framework for peace that has endured for over four decades. 2. Human Rights Advocacy : President Carter emphasized human rights as a core aspect of U.S. foreign policy. His commitment to human rights marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. He established the State Department's Human Rights Bureau and made human rights a central consideration in diplomatic relations. President Carter's advocacy helped raise awareness about human rights abuses worldwide. 3. Post-Presidency Humanitarian Work : President Carter's dedication to humanitarian causes has improved lives worldwide. Since leaving office, he has continued to work tirelessly on humanitarian initiatives through the Carter Center. Founded in 1982, the Center focuses on promoting democracy, human rights, and global health. Carter's efforts have helped eradicate diseases, promote fair elections, and support human rights defenders worldwide. His commitment to humanitarian work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. 4. Environmental Protection : President Carter's commitment to environmental protection led to significant legislative achievements. His administration prioritized environmental protection, resulting in landmark legislation including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and the Superfund law. ANILCA protected millions of acres of wilderness, while the Superfund law enabled the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. His environmental policies set a precedent for future administrations. 5. Energy Policy : President Carter's administration developed a comprehensive national energy policy. In response to the 1970s energy crisis, his administration developed a comprehensive national energy policy to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, promote energy conservation, and develop alternative energy sources. Key initiatives included deregulating the energy industry, imposing fuel efficiency standards, and investing in renewable energy technologies. Carter's energy policy laid the groundwork for future efforts to address energy security and climate change. 6. Panama Canal Treaties : President Carter successfully negotiated the transfer of the Panama Canal from U.S. to Panamanian control. The Panama Canal Treaties, signed in 1977, provided for the transfer of ownership of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama by the end of 1999. This diplomatic achievement demonstrated Carter's commitment to respecting the sovereignty of other nations and promoting peaceful cooperation. 7. Diplomatic Relations with China : President Carter established formal diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, ending decades of isolation. The breakthrough paved the way for expanded economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between the two nations. 8. Carter Center's Election Monitoring : The Carter Center promotes democracy worldwide by monitoring elections and ensuring their integrity. The Carter Center has become a leading authority on election monitoring, promoting democratic elections and transparent governance worldwide. Since 1989, the Center has observed over 100 elections in more than 30 countries, helping to ensure the integrity of electoral processes and promoting peaceful transitions of power. 9. Habitat for Humanity : President Carter's partnership with Habitat for Humanity has helped provide affordable housing for countless individuals and families worldwide. Since 1984, he has worked with Habitat for Humanity to build and renovate homes for low-income families. His commitment to affordable housing has inspired countless volunteers and helped improve the lives of millions. 10. Moral Leadership : President Carter's commitment to moral leadership and his willingness to take unpopular stands have inspired generations. Throughout his career, his leadership style, guided by a strong sense of morality and justice, has inspired generations of leaders and citizens. His moral leadership has been recognized globally, earning him numerous awards and accolades. 11. Advancements in Healthcare : The Carter administration's healthcare initiatives, including the creation of the Department of Health and Human Services, improved healthcare access and quality. This reorganization streamlined healthcare policy and administration, improving access to healthcare services for millions of Americans. His administration expanded community health centers, increased funding for healthcare research. 12. Federal Government Reform : President Carter's efforts to reform the federal government, including the creation of the Department of Education and the Senior Executive Service, aimed to increase efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and promote accountability. Key initiatives included the creation of the Department of Education and the Senior Executive Service (SES). The SES reformed the federal government's personnel management system, providing more flexibility in hiring and promoting top executives. Additional Information President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy ; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Married in 1946, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter 's enduring marriage and partnership have been a hallmark of their remarkable lives. They shared a lifelong commitment to public service, human rights, and humanitarian work. Their 77-year marriage came to a close with Rosalynn's passing on November 19, 2023, at the age of 96.President Carter is known to be a man of unwavering integrity, compassion, and humility. His strong Christian faith and rural Georgia upbringing have instilled in him a deep sense of morality, empathy, and responsibility. He has a quick wit and a gentle smile, exuding a quiet confidence and authenticity that has earned him the respect and admiration of people around the world. His home in Plains, Georgia, holds a special place in his heart. The modest, two-story house, built in 1961, has been the Carter family's residence since 1960. After leaving the White House in 1981, Jimmy and Rosalynn returned to Plains, where they continue to live part-time. The house is now part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.Members of the public are encouraged to visit the official tribute website to the life of President Carter at www.jimmycartertribute.org . This site includes the official online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.The Carter family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307. 2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Bills On December 12, 2024, the Committee of 100 and APA Justice co-hosted a webinar titled "From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities." It focused on the resurgence of "alien land laws," historically discriminatory policies that are reemerging in state legislatures across the United States. The discussion covered whether the alien land laws properly address national security concerns or serve as a pretext that infringes upon civil rights and liberties under the guise of protection. The webinar marked the first joint event where APA Justice partnered as a member-driven, "powered by" affiliate with the Committee of 100. Cindy Tsai , Interim President of the Committee of 100, gave opening remarks and moderated the webinar. Panelists included · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Gene Wu , Chair, Texas House Democratic Caucus; Member, Texas House of Representatives Congressman Ted Lieu , Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, gave summary remarks. Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer of APA Justice and Member of the Committee of 100, gave closing remarks.Alien land laws are discriminatory policies that historically targeted specific immigrant groups, particularly Asian communities, by restricting their ability to own property. These laws were originally enacted to prevent Japanese immigrants from owning land, reflecting deep-seated racial prejudices of the time. The resurgence of such laws in recent years has raised significant concerns. Florida enacted a law banning non-resident Chinese nationals from purchasing property. The reintroduction of these laws is a stark reminder of how history can repeat itself if we are not proactive in safeguarding civil rights. These laws not only perpetuate racial discrimination but also violate constitutional protections against discrimination. Read more about the webinar and background: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p . Watch the video of the webinar at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfjrVAZrjj8 (1:00:56).Professor Robert S. Chang , Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, University of California Irvine School of Law, will speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, to provide a basic description of a recent District Court preliminary injunction against two state laws that restricted foreign ownership of property and data centers in Arkansas.If you have been impacted by the alien land laws in your state or have a story to tell, please contact us at contact@apajustice.org . Updates from AAAS Dr. Sudip Parikh , Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals, will also speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025. He last spoke at the September 2023 APA Justice monthly meeting, covering open science, basic research, and US-China collaboration when the renewal of the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement was delayed. Founded in 1848, AAAS was the first permanent organization established to promote the development of science and engineering at the national level and to represent the interests of all its disciplines.Sudip said in a recent AAAS statement, "at a time of tremendous scientific promise, scientific advances are critical to ensuring future prosperity and to solving problems that jeopardize the health of the planet and the wellbeing of people. But, as knowledge and expertise are increasingly called into question, our ability to seize this momentum is at risk. To maintain U.S. global competitiveness and put the world on positive footing, we must redouble our collective efforts to advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. This means stepping out of silos to connect researchers with leaders across sectors, across the country, and across the globe. AAAS is uniquely positioned to lead the way. In our 176-year history, we have stood at the intersection of science across disciplines and public good. We have built essential relationships that have prepared us for this next era and the challenges and opportunities it will bring to our community." The 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting with the theme of "Science Shaping Tomorrow" is scheduled to take place from February 13 to 15, 2025, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Read more about the event at: https://bit.ly/3BQVi3y Sudip will update us about these and other AAAS activities and developments at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/01/15 Master Class: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Organizational Equity Initiatives in the Current Environment2024/01/16 Master Classes: Asian American Career Lessons2025/01/19 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. 2. No 大年三十 This Year - Blame the Moon! January 29 will be New Year Day for the start of the Year of Snake, but there is no 大年三十 (da nian san shi) – the 30th day of the 12th lunar month. In fact, there will be no da nian san shi until February 2, 2030, when the Year of the Rooster makes way for the Year of the Dog. In the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the first day of each month begins with a new moon, where the moon is least visible to us. A full moon appears around the fifteenth day of each month, and the moon wanes as the month ends.On January 1, 2025, the South China Morning Post provided an explanation. Read https://bit.ly/4gTrthE As the moon’s orbit around Earth does not follow a perfect circle, the interval from one new moon to the next is not fixed. Instead, a lunar month ranges from around 29.27 days to 29.82 days, with an average length of 29.53 days. To correct for, and adjust to, the differences, the traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into “big months” lasting 30 days and “small months” lasting 29 days. The last lunar month is typically a big month, which is why the eve of Lunar New Year is referred to colloquially as “the 30th day of the big year” – da nian san shi. But having a shorter twelfth lunar month is not particularly rare – the month was also a small month in 2022, 2016, and 2013. What makes the coming one special is that it marks the first of five consecutive years to have the twelfth lunar month only lasting 29 days. This means that technically, according to the traditional Chinese calendar, there will be no Lunar New Year’s Eve again until 2030.Interestingly, because of the quirk in the lunisolar calendar, calculations suggest there will be two Lunar New Years in the year 2262.Blame The Moon! Now that we have that cleared away, let's start preparing the celebrations! # # # 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 January 2, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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Newsletter - #223 12/4 Meeting; China Initiative/Section 702; Call for WH Apology; Student Exchanges; + #223 12/4 Meeting; China Initiative/Section 702; Call for WH Apology; Student Exchanges; + In This Issue #223 · 2023/12/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · No More "China Initiative" or Section 702 Warrantless Surveillance · Call for a White House Statement of Apology on the Chinese Exclusion Act · NYT: Can U.S.-China Student Exchanges Survive Geopolitics? · News and Activities for the Communities 2023/12/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, December 4, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Matt Jones , Partner, WilmerHale LLP. Matt represents Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 , a naturalized U.S, citizen and founder of the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Virginia. Matt spoke about Dr. Chen's case at the November 2022 APA Justice monthly meeting . He will give us an update on the latest development. · Michael Bloch , Partner, Bloch and White LLP. Michael represents Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 , an ethnic Tibetan from China who served in Afghanistan as a U.S. marine and later joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) as an officer. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Angwang was arrested in September 2020, charged with acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government under the now-defunct "China Initiative." Michael will give us an update on Angwang's case. A Q&A and discussion session will follow the reports by Matt Jones and Michael Bloch. Confirmed discussants include: · Bethany Li , Legal Director, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) · Paula Madison 罗笑娜, Retired, NBCUniversal Executive; Entrepreneur; Journalist · Brian Sun 孙自华, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP · Helen Zia 谢汉兰, Activist, Author, and Former Journalist Brian Sun was part of the legal team representing Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 in the criminal trial in 2000. Brian later represented Dr. Lee and won a settlement in a civil lawsuit when Dr. Lee sued the government under the Privacy Act in 2006. Helen Zia co-authored with Dr. Lee and published a book titled " My Country Versus Me " in 2002.The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org No More "China Initiative" or Section 702 Warrantless Surveillance 1. No More "China Initiative" - Sign-on Letter There is a recent proposal in the US House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies (CJS) to reinstate the "China Initiative." The "China Initiative" was launched under the Trump Administration on November 1, 2018. It led to the racial profiling and unjust prosecution of U.S.-based Chinese American and immigrant scholars, scientists and researchers. It upended the careers and lives of many, as well as reports such as this Proceedings of National Academy of Science report showing that it created a chilling effect on Asian Americans deterring many from engaging in ordinary activities, like traveling or corresponding with loved ones, for fear of being wrongfully targeted. The "China Initiative" officially ended under the Biden Administration on February 23, 2022. On March 23, 2023, Science described how The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted its own “China initiative” that has upended hundreds of lives and destroyed scores of academic careers. Plainly put, it is unacceptable for Congress to bring it back.A coalition letter has been prepared to urge Congress to oppose bringing the "China Initiative" back from the dead. Like-minded organizations are urged to sign on by December 7, 2023. APA Justice is a co-signer of the coalition letter.For more information and support, contact Gisela Perez Kusakawa at gpkusakawa@aasforum.org , Joanna Derman at jderman@advancingjustice-aajc.org , or Kenny Nguyen at knguyen@stopaapihate.org . Read the open letter to Congress: https://bit.ly/3uCGBgx . Read about the "China Initiative:" https://bit.ly/2ZC12up 2. No More Section 702 Warrantless Surveillance On November 28, 2023, a national coalition of 92 civil rights and racial justice organizations sent a letter to all 535 members of Congress, opposing reauthorizing of FISA Section 702 in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024. APA Justice is a co-signer of the letter. "Reporting indicates certain Congressional leaders are pushing not only to briefly extend this spying power to provide more time for Congress to debate how it should be reformed, but are further considering reauthorizing legislation, likely for a longer period, from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). Not only was this legislation not included in either NDAA passed by the House or Senate, it has yet to even be introduced or its legislative text published," the letter said. In addition, · Public outlines of the HPSCI legislation reveal that it would serve to expand surveillance of people in the United States in several alarming ways, from targeting immigrants to reviving provisions of the PATRIOT Act that expired years ago. · It would fail to address alarming threats to civil rights, like the government’s purchase of massive amounts of data about American communities without court orders, while depriving members of Congress the opportunity to meaningfully address these threats. · The HPSCI bill would reauthorize Section 702 without in any way addressing the vast majority of the government’s abuses of the authority — abuses that are actively undermining civil rights. In conclusion, Section 702 must not be reauthorized without a meaningful opportunity for members of Congress to reform the authority and other related warrantless surveillance practices. Including in must-pass legislation any extension would sell out the communities that have been most often wrongfully targeted by these agencies and warrantless spying powers generally. Adding legislation to reauthorize Section 702 during conference that has not been debated by either House or Senate Judiciary Committee or either chamber would amount to a profound procedural and substantive failure. Stop AAPI Hate urges like-minded organizations and individuals to amplify the coalition letter by making use of a Social Media Toolkit with sample language and graphics.For more information, contact Andy Wong at andywong@caasf.org . Read the coalition letter: https://bit.ly/410Sf0Y . Read the WIRED report on this topic: https://bit.ly/3uBqJLj . Concerned individuals may also send their opposition of warrantless surveillance to their Congressional members here: https://bit.ly/3EFkg3R . Call for a White House Statement of Apology on the Chinese Exclusion Act On December 17, 2023, it will be the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. This date holds great significance for the Chinese and Asian Pacific American communities across the country, as it marks the end of a dark era of discrimination and injustice. For more than two generations, the Chinese Exclusion Act tore apart families, denied the Chinese their citizenship and thus their voting rights, and subjected them to discrimination, hate, riots, and even murder. The Chinese community in America, as a result, suffered greatly, and the scars of this legislation continue to be felt to this day. In 2022, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt , the White House issued a well-received presidential proclamation apologizing for the harm caused to Japanese Americans. This gesture of remorse came 34 years after the US Congress passed a law in 1988 to apologize and provide reparations to the Japanese American community. United Chinese Americans (UCA) has organized an open letter to President Joe Biden, calling for the White House to issue a statement of apology on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Like-minded individuals and organizations are urged to sign on to the letter. APA Justice co-signed the letter.Read and sign on to the UCA letter: https://bit.ly/3T5jxRG NYT: Can U.S.-China Student Exchanges Survive Geopolitics? According to the New York Times on November 28, 2023, at a college fair organized by the United States Embassy, the students and their parents hovered over rows of booths advertising American universities. As a mascot of a bald eagle worked the crowd, they posed eagerly for photos.But beneath the festive atmosphere thrummed a note of anxiety. Did America still want Chinese students? And were Chinese students sure they wanted to go to America?Students have been traveling between China and the United States for generations, propelled by ambition, curiosity and a belief that their time abroad could help them better their and their countries’ futures. The first Chinese student to graduate from an American university, Yung Wing , arrived at Yale in 1850 and later helped send 120 more students to America.For the last three years, the number of Chinese students in the United States has fallen. The number of American students in China, meanwhile, plummeted during the pandemic to a mere 350 as of this year compared to more than 11,000 in 2019.Both Beijing and Washington have acknowledged the importance of restoring exchanges. During his trip to San Francisco this month, China’s leader, Xi Jinping , declared that China was “ready to invite” 50,000 Americans to study in China over the next five years. The American ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns , has insisted that the United States welcomes Chinese students. But the official rhetoric belies obstacles that both governments have continued to erect, driven by the same nationalism and concerns about national security that have derailed other parts of the relationship. Chinese propaganda regularly depicts the United States as dangerously crime-ridden, and many Chinese are also worried by increased reports of visa denials or border interrogations in the U.S. upon arrival. For Americans, the appeal of visiting China has dimmed under Mr. Xi, an authoritarian leader who has stoked anti-foreign sentiment. The U.S. government has also prohibited some American students from studying there, and some language-learning programs that it funds have moved from mainland China to Taiwan. Scholarly collaborations at all levels have been eroded by the geopolitical tensions. Chinese university students are still a robust presence in the United States, with nearly 290,000 in the 2022-23 school year. But many Chinese are concerned about programs like the Justice Department’s now-scrapped China Initiative, which critics said discriminated against scientists of Chinese descent.Other students have had visas revoked or denied under a Trump-era order known as Proclamation 10043 , upheld by the Biden administration, that bans students from certain Chinese universities from graduate study in the United States. Washington says those universities — the list is not public — have ties to China’s military.By making Chinese students feel unwelcome, the United States is hurting one of its historic strengths. The flow of Americans to China has always been much smaller. But Washington recognized the importance of increasing it. In 2010, President Barack Obama launched an initiative to send 100,000 American students to China over five years, who the State Department said would be “the next generation of American experts on China.”The Biden administration has also not reinstated the Fulbright program in China, which President Donald J. Trump suspended. Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/47VlAvQ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2023/12/02 A Virtual Fireside Chat 2023/12/03 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting2023/12/04 APA Justice December 2023 monthly meeting 2023/12/05 The Role of Chinese Students in America2023/12/06 1882 Foundation Lecture and Reception: We are Americans 2023/12/10 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting2023/12/12 Community Briefing on Section 702 Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. A Growing Virginia Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus On November 28, 2023, the Virginia Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus (VAAPI Caucus) hosted a stakeholder listening session ahead of the 60-day Virginia state legislative session starting on January 10, 2024. State Delegate Kathy Tran serves as the Chair of VAAPI Caucus. State Senator Ghazala Hashmi is Vice Chair. The 2024 VAAPI Caucus has 8 members - 3 state senators and 5 state delegates. 3. UCA Virtual Fireside Chat - Journey to Public Service WHAT: Webinar on "A Virtual Fireside Chat with Representatives Ya Liu, Lily Qi and Chao Wu" WHEN: Saturday, December 2, 2023, 7:00 pm ET/04:00 pm PTDESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3sPpEPDHOST : United Chinese Americans (UCA)MODERATOR: Haipei Shue , President of UCA SPEAKERS: · Ya Liu, Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Lily Qi, Member, Maryland House of Delegates · Chao Wu, Member, Maryland House of Delegates REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3N5JY5W 4. The Serica Initiative Continues; The China Project Ends On November 7, 2023, The China Project (formerly SupChina) announced its shutdown due to many accusations in both the U.S. and China of working for nefarious purposes for the government of the other. Launched in 2016 with the aim of informing the world about China with a breadth and depth that general interest news organizations cannot devote to one country. It has incurred enormous legal costs and made it increasingly difficult to attract investors, advertisers, and sponsors. On November 29, 2023, The Serica Initiative , The China Project’s New York-based sister nonprofit organization, announced that it will carry forward the mission to both advocating for greater Asian American inclusion and advancing positive social impact in U.S.-China relations. Back View PDF December 2, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #388 Special Edition: What We Need to Know about Mass Surveillance and ICE Crackdown #388 Special Edition: What We Need to Know about Mass Surveillance and ICE Crackdown In This Issue #388 This special edition highlights the March 24, 2026 webinar, “ Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know .” A recording of the webinar is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoTNDznWVc4 (1:04:32) The webinar examined the intersection of mass surveillance and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. It featured Mayor Kaohly Her of St. Paul, Minnesota, alongside a panel of experts discussing current surveillance programs and their real-world impacts. Expanding surveillance authorities and immigration enforcement are increasingly converging in ways that significantly affect AAPI communities and raise urgent civil liberties concerns. The webinar was co-hosted by APA Justice Task Force , Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC , Asian American Scholar Forum , and Committee of 100 . It was moderated by Michael German , a retired fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice and former FBI special agent focused on law enforcement and intelligence oversight and reform. Bringing together four distinct perspectives—a mayor, a civil liberties litigator, a wrongfully targeted scientist, and a civil rights leader—the discussion helped the community better understand what is happening, why it matters, and what actions can be taken. Opening Remarks by Mayor Kaohly Her Mayor Kaohly Her — the first Asian American and first woman elected mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota — opened the March 24 webinar with a firsthand account that was both deeply personal and deeply alarming, offering a ground-level view of what the ICE crackdown has meant for her city and its communities. Mayor Her made clear from the outset that what the rest of the country has recently witnessed in Minnesota was not new to the AAPI community. As far back as April of last year, while still serving as a state legislator, she convened a meeting with ICE representatives who provided virtually no information about their operations — where they were going, who they were targeting, or what they were doing. Yet community members were already reporting detentions. "We knew in our communities, especially our Southeast Asian communities, that they were already being targeted," she said. "No one was paying attention to it at all." By summer, the situation had intensified dramatically. Mayor Her described weekends in which the AAPI community was "targeted heavily," with families so frightened that individuals scheduled for immigration check-ins simply stopped going — choosing instead to go into hiding for the foreseeable future. American citizens were being swept up. Businesses saw revenues drop by 60 to 70 percent. Children were moved to remote learning as schools shut down. People stopped going to the doctor out of fear of leaving their homes. "It was worse on the ground than what you all were seeing on the news," she said of the period from November through February. By January, however, St. Paul had built a remarkable grassroots response. Constitutional observer training sessions that once drew 30 or 40 people were filling rooms with hundreds. Volunteers built a sophisticated network — using Signal and coordinated radio frequencies — to track suspected ICE vehicles by following them from the Whipple building (a federal office complex located in the Twin Cities area. It houses various government agencies including ICE), logging license plates, and alerting community members in real time when those vehicles appeared in their neighborhoods. The city joined lawsuits alongside other municipalities, worked with the governor and attorney general to quadruple the number of clemency hearings from one to four per year, and partnered with foundations and private entities to distribute $4 million in relief to affected nonprofits and businesses. Mayor Her also described ongoing efforts to quantify the full economic and social cost of the enforcement operations — from lost business revenue to healthcare system impacts — to build the case for state-level relief. The Minnesota legislature is currently considering a relief package for emergency rent support and broader economic recovery. For those who want to help, Mayor Her encouraged financial contributions to the foundations supporting St. Paul communities, purchasing gift cards from affected local businesses, and connecting with community resources through the city's United Way 211 Immigration Resources and Hotline and its official City’s Response to Federal ‘Operation Metro Surge’ page. Mayor Her’s closing message was one of both exhaustion and resolve. After describing the extraordinary mobilization St. Paul had undertaken over the preceding months, she indicated that the community is now focused on the work of rebuilding — supporting residents, businesses, and organizations as they recover from the intense period of enforcement activity and fear that had gripped the city. Watch Mayor Her’s remarks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqHLYymP2Gk (14:13) ***** JFK Profile in Courage Award to People of Twin Cities On March 19, 2026, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced the 2026 Profile in Courage Award honoring the people of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, for demonstrating exceptional courage in defending their communities during a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation. The award will be presented on May 31, 2026, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Saira Hussain’s Opening Remarks Saira Hussain , Senior Staff Attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), outlined the scope of U.S. surveillance authorities, focusing on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the collection of Americans’ communications without a warrant when targeting individuals abroad. She described the program’s pending expiration as a difficult policy tradeoff: letting it lapse risks losing existing safeguards, while current reform proposals remain insufficient to protect civil liberties. EFF supports stronger reforms, including the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act to close the “data broker loophole.” She also highlighted expanding surveillance tied to immigration enforcement, including social media monitoring programs that may penalize disfavored speech, raising First Amendment concerns. Increased data sharing across agencies—such as IRS, DMV, and utilities—enables ICE to assemble detailed personal profiles, underscoring the need for clear limits to prevent information collected for one purpose from being repurposed for another. Founded in 1990, the Electronic Frontier Foundation is a leading nonprofit defending civil liberties in the digital world, advancing privacy, free expression, and innovation through litigation, policy advocacy, and technology development. Important resources from EFF: · Digital Privacy at the U.S. Border: Protecting Data on Your Devices · Section 702 reauthorization · Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act · Lawsuit against the State Department and DHS’s social media monitoring program of visa holders and permanent residents for “disfavored” speech · Other surveillance tools that ICE has access to · Surveillance Self-Defense Professor Xiaoxing Xi’s Opening Remarks Professor Xiaoxing Xi , a leading expert in superconductor technologies at Temple University, shared his experience of being wrongfully arrested in 2015 after federal authorities misinterpreted academic communications as evidence of espionage. Although charges were dropped within months, the personal, financial, and professional impact was lasting. He emphasized that innocence does not prevent harm once an investigation begins, particularly for individuals with international ties. He also raised concerns about surveillance authorities under Section 702, which can enable access to Americans’ communications without a warrant and may be applied beyond their intended scope. His case illustrates the need for stronger safeguards and accountability. Professor Xi is currently involved in litigation challenging the government’s use of Section 702 and related authorities. He was awarded the 2020 Andrei Sakharov Prize by the American Physical Society for his advocacy for open scientific exchange. John C. Yang’s Opening Remarks John C. Yang , President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, emphasized that policies like Section 702 have real human consequences, including wrongful investigations and lasting community harm. He placed these concerns within a broader historical pattern in which Asian Americans are treated as “perpetual foreigners,” particularly during periods of national security tension. He warned that similar dynamics are reemerging today amid U.S.-China tensions. He noted that current immigration enforcement and geopolitical dynamics are creating widespread anxiety in AAPI communities. To address these challenges, he outlined a three-part strategy: advocacy, education, and empowerment—advancing policy reforms, combating misinformation, supporting litigation, and strengthening civic engagement. Highlights of Panel Discussions Panelists discussed practical steps individuals and communities can take in response to expanding surveillance and enforcement practices. Saira Hussain noted that border authorities continue to assert broad powers to search electronic devices, creating uncertainty for travelers. She encouraged “surveillance self-defense,” including using strong passwords, limiting sensitive data on devices, and preparing in advance. She also outlined tradeoffs based on legal status: U.S. citizens may refuse to provide passwords but risk device seizure, while visa holders may face denial of entry. These realities require individuals to assess risk and plan accordingly. Professor Xi provided an update on his lawsuit, now in discovery, and highlighted ongoing concerns about failed prosecutions, unclear standards, and the broader human toll. Panelists emphasized that surveillance practices, once normalized, can expand beyond any single community. In closing, they urged sustained civic engagement—educating others, supporting advocacy efforts, and contacting elected officials to push for reforms, including changes to Section 702. In a democratic society, public awareness and participation are essential to safeguarding privacy, due process, and civil liberties. Resources from APA Justice For readers seeking deeper historical context, Madeleine Gable , Communications Associate, and Charlotte Ding , Product Developer, APA Justice, have led the creation of a comprehensive webpage on warrantless surveillance in the U.S., along with an interactive timeline. While the timeline focuses on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), it begins in 1967 and incorporates relevant context up until the present. The timeline is divided into five intervals of over 30 stories: I. Pre-FISA II. The origin (1978-2007) III. Codification and the rise of “incidental collection” (2008-2017) IV. The China Initiative and racial profiling (2017-2023) V. Modern reform and the 2026 reauthorization (2024-present) I. Pre-FISA Prior to the enactment of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 1978, concerns over government surveillance malpractice began to emerge in the 1960s, causing both lawmakers and the American public to devote more attention to national security and the protection of civil liberties. II. The Origin (1978–2007) This section describes the events following the initial enactment of FISA, including Executive Order 12333 and the events of the case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee . Additionally, this section discusses 9/11 and its implications on national security policy and subsequent controversy. III. Codification and the Rise of "Incidental Collection" (2008–2017) In 2008, Congress enacted the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which included a new section, Section 702, that authorizes the targeting of non-U.S. citizens reasonably believed to be abroad. This approach often involves “backdoor searches” that collect information on U.S. persons (including AAPI individuals) without a warrant. This section also chronicles the Snowden disclosures and the formation of various social justice organizations, including APA Justice. IV. The China Initiative & Racial Profiling (2018–2023) In November of 2018, the Department of Justice launched the China Initiative, a broad enforcement effort intended to counter alleged economic espionage and intellectual property theft linked to China. Over time, dozens of cases that disproportionately impacted academics of Asian descent under this initiative collapsed or were dismissed, revealing patterns of racial profiling, overreach, and insufficient evidence. V. Modern Reform and the 2026 Reauthorization (2024–Present) The final section recounts the extension of Section 702 and subsequent government reform and controversy, culminating with the expiration of Section 702 on April 20, 2026. In the weeks leading up to the expiration of Section 702, APA Justice will continue to update the webpage and the timeline with the most relevant information. · APA Justice timeline: Timeline Visualization of U.S. Mass Surveillance · APA Justice webpage: Warrantless Surveillance Additional Information Beyond the webinar, related developments underscore the broader national context: · No Kings Day . On March 28, 2026, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her joined a major rally with over 100,000 demonstrators at the Minnesota Capitol as part of nationwide protests emphasizing democratic values, civic participation, and the rule of law. Watch her remarks starting at around 2:08:20 in this video https://www.nokings.org/ (4:09:05). · Section 702 Reauthorization . With Section 702 set to expire on April 20, 2026, debate in Congress is focused on reform proposals addressing warrantless surveillance and oversight. Brennan Center for Justice has published a Resource Page outlining its use, proposed reforms, and the reauthorization process at: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/section-702-foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-fisa-2026-resource-page . · Impact on AAPI Communities . A coalition led by Advancing Justice | AAJC has published a fact sheet on the Impact of Section 702 on Asian Americans , highlighting how Section 702 has expanded over time, enabling “incidental” collection and backdoor searches that disproportionately affect Asian American and related communities, particularly amid geopolitical tensions. Reform efforts focus on requiring warrants, closing data broker loopholes, and limiting overly broad surveillance authorities. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/04/03 The China Debate We’re Not Having: Politics, Technology, and the Road Ahead 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future TogetherVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 03/26 NAPABA Webinar Video Posted On March 26, 2026, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) hosted a webinar titled “SCOTUS Oral Argument Preview: Who is Allowed to be a U.S. Citizen? Defending Birthright Citizenship and the Role of Asian American History.” The program previewed the U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara , a case addressing the scope of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. On April 1, 2026. Watch the video: https://vimeo.com/1177775020 (1:00:53). # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF April 2, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #163 Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay; Anti-Texas SB147 Rallies; Fred Korematsu #163 Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay; Anti-Texas SB147 Rallies; Fred Korematsu In This Issue #163 Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay Protests Grow Against Texas Senate Bill 147 and New Related Bills Sign-on Letter to Honor Fred Korematsu Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay At a time when the Asian American communities and the rest of America were celebrating the lunar new year, two senseless mass shootings in California shook first Monterey Park on January 21, 2023, and then Half Moon Bay on January 24, 2023. According to media reports, 11 persons, five Asian men and six Asian women age between 57 and 76, died in a dance studio in Monterey Park, about seven miles east of the Downtown Los Angeles civic center. Nine other people were injured. The suspect, a 72-year Asian man, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was prevented from attacking another dance club in Alhambra. Three days later, five men and two women, all reportedly either Asian or Hispanic, were shot and killed at two mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay, about 30 miles south of San Francisco. The suspect, a 66-year old man of Chinese origin, was arrested after driving to a police station. He had worked at one of the mushroom farms and was formally charged with premeditated murder.Motives for both mass shootings are being investigated at this time.Monterey Park is a city of about 60,000 people on the eastern edge of Los Angeles and is composed of 65% Asians - mostly immigrants from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, or first-generation Asian Americans. A 1994 book by Professor Timothy P. Fong at Sacramento State University describes Monterey Park as the "First Suburban Chinatown." In recent years, several publications have named the city as one of the U.S.'s best places to live . Lily Lee Chen was the first female Chinese American mayor in the United States when she became mayor of Monterey Park in 1983. Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, represents the 28th congressional district which includes Monterey Park. She previously served as mayor for three terms and city council of Monterey Park. Yahoo News reported that Rep. Chu spoke to the media outside the Monterey Park Civic Center and was at a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the mass shooting. In a statement released by her office, Rep. Chu said, “This shooting in my hometown of Monterey Park has torn a hole through all of our hearts. My thoughts and condolences go to the victims of this horrific crime, and to their families and loved ones who woke up this morning to the worst news imaginable. I can't even comprehend the pain and suffering they are going through."While there is so much we do not yet know, we do know this occurred at a time that should have been very special to Asian Americans in this country and around the world. Lunar New Year is the highlight of the year for Asian American communities, and a time of celebration and of being with our families. In fact, it is horrific to think that only hours before, and only one block away, I joined with thousands of people and many elected officials at the opening of the Lunar New Year Festival. But now, Asian Americans in the Monterey Park community and nationwide are in mourning and are terrified instead of celebrating."If there is one thing I know, it is that Monterey Park is resilient. Our community is strong, and we will get through this terrible event together.” On January 22, 2023, President Joe Biden issued a statement on the mass shooting in Monterey Park and directed U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless attack. "I directed my Homeland Security Advisor to mobilize full federal support to local and state authorities as they continue to respond and investigate this shooting. As we await more crucial information from law enforcement, I want to assure the community of Monterey Park and the broader area that we will support you in every way we can," according to the statement. On January 24, 2023, PBS News Hour interviewed Erika L. Moritsugu , Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, who was in Monterey Park. "It's important to show up, in the first instance, when there's a crisis and a tragedy that befalls the community that's already felt under siege and in terror, to be present. And that's one of the reasons why the president asked me to come here immediately in the wake of the tragedy, even as it was still unfolding, to be with the community, to deliver his messages of healing and condolences on behalf of him and Dr. Biden, but also because I am a member of the community. This is my community too." said Moritsugu. According to USA Today and NBC News ,, Vice President Kamala Harris , a former California senator, arrived outside of the dance studio in Monterey Park on January 25, 2023, stopping to take a look at each of the victims' names and pictures from the deadly mass shooting before placing a bouquet in front of the memorial. Harris told reporters the nation is mourning the loss of the 11 people killed and nine others injured, while also advocating for stricter gun control laws. "Tragically we keep saying the same things," Harris said. "Congress must act. Should they? Yes. Can they? Yes." In a report by Ding Ding TV (video 21:44) on January 24, 2023, AAPI community leaders in California gave their reactions and statements on the mass shootings. They included Joel Wong 黄锦斻 (Chairman of National Asian Americans United), Maeley Tom 唐美梨 (Founding President, Joint California Legislative Caucus Institute), Ken Fong 方瑞贤 (Founder and Chairman of Kenson Ventures), Dennis Wu 伍宗德 (Chairman of SF Cause), Wilson Chu 苏元吉 (Board member of SF Cause), Carmen Montano (Mayor of Milpitas), Anthony Ng 吴柱梁 (Executive Director of CLUSA), and Carl Chan 陈锡澎 (President of Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation).Maeley Tom said: “I do agree that these past years of living under the threat of anti Asian violence has taken its toll on the mental health of the Asian community, especially the elders, though not condoning this as a reason for the two tragic incidences. But our community is really on edge, angry and frustrated.” Ken Fong stated: “It reminded us of the serious emotional trauma of the APIs that we are facing now. Not that we are condoning this kind of desperate action, you and I have to pay close attention to it and let our elected representatives know about the seriousness. It is most likely other ethnic groups have similar problems, but these two side by side API mass killings have brought this long simmering mental instability to the surface.” AASF Webinar Postponed to February 2 . Due to the two mass shootings leading to the deaths and injuries of multiple Asian Americans and immigrants, the Asian American Scholar Forum is moving the "Know Your Rights on Airport Enforcement and Border Harassment" webinar to Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 8:00 pm ET. Register to attend: http://bit.ly/3ZMVUhX Protests Grow Against Texas Senate Bill 147 and New Related Bills On January 29, 2023, two Anti-Asian Bill Rally will be held in Austin and Dallas, Texas, respectively. Read more at https://bit.ly/402lG1w . On January 23, 2023, Texas Representative Angie Chen Button 陳筱玲 announced that she has joined State Representatives Cody Harris and Jacey Jetton in support of House Bill 1075 , recently filed legislation that would prohibit foreign governments or any entity owned or controlled by a foreign government from purchasing agricultural land in Texas."Like so many other Texans who immigrated here for a better life, I came to America because it afforded me new opportunities, including the right to own property and freely purchase a safe and stable home in which to rase my family. This is a right that all Texans, regardless of race, color, or creed, should have," stated State Representative Angie Chen Button.Under HB 1075 by Rep. Harris, all individuals and American-owned businesses will maintain their right to purchase ag property in the State of Texas. As filed, the legislation applies to all foreign governments or government-controlled entities equally.On January 23, 2023, Texas Senate Bill 552 was introduced. The title of the bill is "Relating to prohibiting contracts or other agreements with certain foreign-owned companies in connection with agricultural land."On January 23, 2023, a rally was held at the Houston City Hall to p rotest against the discriminatory Texas Senate Bill 147. According to multiple media reports, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said during the press conference that with Houston being a very diverse city, the bill would affect a lot of individuals who immigrated here from those targeted countries. "Senate Bill 147 is just down right wrong," he said. "It is more divisive than anything else. Houston, the most diverse city in the United States, stands as one to say that we all should stand against 147 – this is not the way to start 2023."“After an unprecedented rise in anti-Asian hate around the nation, our communities continue to struggle against not only violence within our society, but with political persecution as well," State Representative Gene Wu 吳元之 said in a statement. “SB 147 is discriminatory, hateful, and brings back painful reminders of laws passed a hundred years ago that specifically prevented Chinese individuals from owning property, starting businesses, or even marrying the person they love." Wu is an Asian-American who immigrated from China as a child. He said his family moved here to have a better life for themselves, not to be targeted.Congressional members Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green also spoke at the rally. The Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, CAIR-Houston, and other leaders were also at the press conference. Texas SB147 would affect people like Niloufar Hafzi who was born in the U.S. but also has citizenship in Iran. "I shouldn’t have to choose between being able to visit my family and having that citizenship and being able to have property rights here," said Hafzi. Many are worried this bill would bring along more racism. APA Justice is monitoring the continuing development of Texas SB147, community responses, and media repots at: https://bit.ly/402lG1w . It includes a link to Immigration History's " Alien Land Laws In California (1913 & 1920) " and the text of California's original 1913 Alien Land Law. Franklin Odo , who served as the director of the Asian Pacific American Program at the Smithsonian Institution from the program's inception in 1997 until his retirement in 2010, wrote the following commentary:California led the way for fifteen states to pass legislation preventing “aliens ineligible to citizenship” from owning land. Although occasionally used against other Asians, these laws were directly aimed at Japanese immigrants, who were perceived as gaining undue economic power through agricultural holdings. Legislation using the words “Asian” or “Japanese” would clearly be unconstitutional, hence the circumlocution. Violators would have their property revert to control by the state. But at least some Japanese manage to evade the law, and the legislature moved in 1920 to strengthen its provisions as well as prohibit the practice of immigrant Japanese (as guardians) placing land in the legal hands of their citizen children. The Supreme Court declared such laws constitutional in 1923, and California’s law remained on the books until 1956, although court cases had invalidated the 1920 and 1913 Alien Land Laws in Oyama v, California (1948) and Fuji Sei v. State of California (1952).Excerpt from: Odo, F. (ed.) (2002). The columbia documentary history of the Asian American experience . New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Sign-on Letter to Honor Fred Korematsu Demand Justice has prepared an open letter to Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth and Representatives Mark Takano and Jill Tokuda , in support of following legislation to recognize Fred Korematsu ’s legacy as a civil rights hero: Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act , which would prohibit detention or imprisonment based solely on an actual or perceived protected characteristic of an individual. Recognizing the importance of establishing a national "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution," which will help to ensure that Fred Korematsu's legacy is remembered and honored, and that the lessons of the internment are not forgotten. Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act, which will honor Fred Korematsu for his decades-long fight for justice, and will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting civil liberties for all Americans. According to the Smithsonian Magazine , on Memorial Day 1942, Fred Korematsu was walking down a street in San Leandro, California, with his girlfriend when police arrested him on suspicion that he was Japanese. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans. In all, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were detained and forcefully removed from their homes without charges or due process for years. The lawsuit brought by Fred Korematsu, an American citizen of Japanese descent, fought the implementation of that order, challenging the mass violation of civil liberties on the basis of race. Korematsu stood against these unfounded and racist actions. At the time, our institutions — our democracy — failed him. The Supreme Court, intended as a bulwark against Executive power run amok, upheld Korematsu’s detention in Korematsu v. United States in 1944, with a 6-3 majority. However, the dissent by Justice Frank Murphy spoke the truth that the United States, grudgingly and slowly, would come to recognize through executive, judicial, and legislative action. Justice Murphy declared the order to detain Japanese Americans the “legalization of racism.” The imprisonment of Americans of Japanese ancestry, and its legal sanction, is now recognized as a grave injustice and a violation of civil liberties. Its basis was rank racism and xenophobia combined with undue deference to the Executive branch, not facts. While the racist basis of the internment decision was discovered in the early 1980s, leading to Korematsu’s conviction being overturned after 40 years, the decision remains a dangerous precedent used to justify discrimination against other communities. Sign on to the Demand Justice open letter by noon Friday, January 27, 2023: https://bit.ly/3JgDq3o . If there are questions, please contact Hajar Hammado, policy advisor, Demand Progress Action, at hajar@demandprogress.org .Read about the Fred Korematsu story at Fred T. Korematsu Institute: Fred Korematsu's Story 2017/01/30 Smithsonian Magazine: Fred Korematsu Fought Against Japanese Internment in the Supreme Court… and Lost Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF January 26, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #258 6/3 Monthly Meeting; Chinese Students; Clear&Fair Law Enforcement; 6/6 Forum with FBI+ #258 6/3 Monthly Meeting; Chinese Students; Clear&Fair Law Enforcement; 6/6 Forum with FBI+ In This Issue #258 · 2024/06/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Bloomberg: Expulsions of Chinese Students Spread Confusion from Yale to UVA · An Urgent Call for Clear and Fair Law Enforcement Guidelines and Procedures for Research Security · 06/06: An Open and Public Community Forum with The FBI · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/06/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, June 3, 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: · Tam Dao , Assistant Vice President for Research Security, Office of Innovation, Rice University, will report on the future of the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Research on Research Security program · Haipei Shue , President, United Chinese Americans, will report on the 2024 Chinese American Convention · Jeremy Wu , Co-Organizer, APA Justice, will preview an alpha version of a web page on the story of exonerated Professor Anming Hu · Anming Hu , Professor, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, will give an update of his situation and his family since the end of his ordeal under the China Initiative. 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 . Bloomberg: Expulsions of Chinese Students Spread Confusion from Yale to UVA According to Bloomberg on May 29, 2024, Customs agents at US airports have barred entry to at least 20 students and scholars with valid visas since November in ‘more insidious’ version of disbanded China Initiative. Susan , a second-year Ph.D. student in biomedical imaging at the University of Virginia, faced relentless questioning from a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent upon her return from visiting her parents in China. Accused of ties to the Chinese Communist Party, her student visa was abruptly canceled, forcing her to purchase a $1,400 ticket back to Beijing and barring her from the U.S. for five years. Her experience is part of a broader trend where at least 20 Chinese students from prestigious universities have had their visas revoked since November. The Chinese government and lawyers confirmed these accounts, highlighting the lack of transparency and public accountability in these decisions. These actions contradict the efforts to foster educational and cultural exchanges endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping .The expulsions reveal internal divisions within the Biden administration, where Customs agents under the Department of Homeland Security are canceling visas approved by the State Department. The Biden administration ended the controversial China Initiative but has continued similar practices covertly, impacting Ph.D. students and researchers without public scrutiny. Susan and others, like Meng Fei , a fifth-year Ph.D. student at Yale, have faced racial and gender discrimination, with their exclusions linked to vague national security concerns under Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10043 . This proclamation targets students with alleged ties to Chinese military-civil fusion, yet the specifics remain undisclosed, causing confusion and fear among affected students. Universities like the University of Virginia and Yale are striving to support their students by seeking clarity and providing legal assistance. However, the ongoing lack of clear guidelines and coordination between federal agencies leaves many students in limbo, disrupting their academic and personal lives. As the U.S. grapples with balancing national security and academic freedom, the impact on foreign-born researchers like Susan underscores the need for transparent and consistent policies to ensure fairness and uphold the integrity of educational exchanges. Two years ago, the Biden administration ended a controversial Trump-era policy known as the China Initiative that purported to root out spies but resulted in more ruined careers than successful prosecutions. Now that program has been succeeded by a piecemeal effort — one that’s largely hidden from public view. Instead of targeting prominent academics, Customs agents are expelling Ph.D. and postdoctoral students, as well as company employees, by secret administrative actions with no public accountability or right to appeal. Marta Meng , founder of the Meng Law Group in Covina, California, who represents Susan and three other expelled students seeking to overturn their bans, said no reason was given to her clients or in transcripts of the airport interviews that she has reviewed. Dan Berger , Meng Fei's lawyer, said he can’t understand why his client would have been subject to PP 10043, as nothing in her background indicates ties to any of the banned universities or to state funding, and her visa was renewed by the State Department just last year. That’s a problem for learning institutions, said Toby Smith , who handles government relations and public policy at the Association of American Universities, which acts on behalf of 71 research universities including the University of Virginia, Yale and other schools with recently banned students. “Despite asking for additional clarity, the specific items that would result in visa denial for Chinese graduate students under Proclamation 10043 have never been disclosed to our universities,” he said. “So we have been left only to speculate as to what might spark such denials.” The secrecy makes what’s going on “much more insidious now,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa , executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum , a nonprofit organization that promotes academic freedom. “The end of the China Initiative wasn’t the end, they’re just not calling it that anymore,” said Ivan Kanapathy , senior vice president at Beacon Global Strategies, a national security advisory firm in Washington, and a former National Security Council official in the Trump administration. When the Biden administration ended the China Initiative, it said that a 2021 national security memorandum about vetting foreign students would remain in effect. It instructs the State Department to work with Homeland Security to ensure that the granting of visas reflects “the changing nature of risks” to US research. But it doesn’t specify what those risks are or how the agencies should be coordinating enforcement. “The question is, who is coordinating the whole thing, the guidelines and procedures for law enforcement,” said Steven Pei , an electrical engineering professor at the University of Houston and co-organizer of the Asian Pacific American Justice Task Force , which advocates against racial discrimination. “We are trying hard to balance national security, US competitiveness with China in high tech and civil rights,” he said. “But this top-level policy has not trickled down.”Read the Bloomberg report: https://bloom.bg/3wRL4O3 An Urgent Call for Clear and Fair Law Enforcement Guidelines and Procedures for Research Security Neal Lane* , Steven Pei* , and Jeremy Wu* posted a public commentary, calling for the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and other federal law enforcement agencies to coordinate their policies using comparable principles and set clear, fair guidelines and procedures. Our scientific success is rooted in core values, including collaboration, honesty, transparency, integrity, the fair competition of ideas, and the protection of intellectual capital. Some foreign entities do not share these values and are working to illicitly acquire our research and innovation. This necessitates laws – and law enforcement.But it is vital that law enforcement guidelines and procedures be clear and fair for maintaining public trust, upholding individual rights, and promoting accountability and consistency within the justice system. Otherwise, we can expect our competitive edge in science and technology to wane, as well as our standing as a leading democracy.With its sharp focus on research security, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has set a balanced path to guide policies of federal agencies that support research. There is a similar need for the FBI, HSI, and other federal law enforcement agencies to coordinate their policies using comparable principles and set clear, fair guidelines and procedures.Given OSTP’s unique role and capability within the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), it should also coordinate with all key law enforcement agencies to close the apparent gap in communication between national science and technology policy set by NSTC and agents at the forefront of law enforcement. In doing so, it can protect America’s security and economic competitiveness while minimizing the unintended negative impact and associated chilling effects on the science and technology community. * Dr. Neal Lane is Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute, Rice University, and Former Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House. Dr. Steven Pei is Co-Organizer of APA Justice; Founding Chair of United Chinese Americans; and Professor at the University of Houston. Dr. Jeremy Wu is Co-Organizer of APA Justice; Member of Committee of 100; and Retired from the Federal Government. Read the full commentary: https://bit.ly/3yDRaSB 06/06: An Open and Public Community Forum with The FBI On June 6, 2024, the Baker Institute and the Office of Innovation at Rice University, the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition, and APA Justice will co-host a hybrid forum titled " A Dialogue Between the Academic and Asian American Communities and the FBI ." Registration for in-person attendance and Zoom webinar is now open. In 2022, the Department of Justice ended its China Initiative — a strategy to counter Chinese espionage and threats to U.S. research security — after academic and civil rights groups raised concerns about bias and damage to the United States’ scientific enterprise. However, there were several recent media reports of border entry issues for Chinese graduate students and academic researchers who are green card-holders and even American citizens. This event brings together Jill Murphy, deputy assistant director of counterintelligence at the FBI, and the leadership of the FBI’s Houston field office for a dialogue with members of the academic and Asian American communities. It will examine gaps between national science and technology policy and its implementation. It will also explore the possibility of establishing a regular communication channel between the academic and Asian American communities with FBI field offices. Register to join the forum in person: https://bit.ly/4aFwvuK . Register to join the forum via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3wjg759 . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/05/31 A Discussion on the History of Discrimination Against Asian Americans2024/06/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/06/06 A Dialogue Between Academic/AAPI Communities with The FBI2024/06/20 U.S.-China Relations: Untangling Campaign Rhetoric & Understanding Policy – Teachers Workshop2024/06/20-22 Social Equity Leadership ConferenceVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. MOCA Forum: A Discussion on the History of Discrimination Against Asian Americans WHAT: A Discussion on the History of Discrimination Against Asian Americans WHEN: May 31, 2024, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET WHERE: 215 Centre Street, New York, NY HOST: Museum of Chinese in America MODERATOR: Scott Wong. Reporter, NBC News SPEAKERS: · Christopher P. Lu, U.S. Representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform · Mark Takano, Member, U.S. House of Representatives DESCRIPTION: From the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese incarceration to recent hate crimes, a discussion on the history of discrimination against Asian Americans. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3yG2ltY 3. WHIAANHPI Celebrates 25th Anniversary On June 7, 1999, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13125 establishing a White House Initiative and presidential advisory commission dedicated to improving the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Over the course of 25 years and five presidential administrations, the size and scope of these entities have evolved. But the full story of how they came to be has rarely been told. On May 17, 2024, The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) posted a documentary video titled "Lasting Legacies - The White House Initiative on AA and NHPIs Turns 25” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9nw4TL80yI (10:29) 4. Two New Pandas Coming to Washington DC According to multiple media reports, months after the nation’s capital bid an emotional farewell to its giant pandas, the National Zoo is expecting a renewed surge in panda-mania with the announcement that two more of the furry black-and-white icons will be coming to Washington DC.A fresh agreement had been struck with the Chinese government, and a pair of adult pandas would be arriving from China by the end of the year. The incoming pair are Bao Li and Qing Bao. Both are two years old.Pandas have been a symbol of U.S.-China friendship since Beijing sent a pair to the National Zoo in 1972, ahead of the normalization of bilateral relations. Later, Beijing loaned pandas to other U.S. zoos, with proceeds going back to panda conservation programs. Back View PDF May 31, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #254 Citizenship Question; Lawsuit vs Florida SB 264; AA State Legislators; WIRED Report; + #254 Citizenship Question; Lawsuit vs Florida SB 264; AA State Legislators; WIRED Report; + In This Issue #254 · House Vote on "The Equal Representation Act" · Florida's Land Law Impacting Homebuyers and Industry Prompts Another Lawsuit · Trailblazing Asian American State Legislators · "Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act" and WIRED Report · News and Activities for the Communities House Vote on "The Equal Representation Act" During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 6, 2024, Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), alerted the attendees that a vote on H.R. 7109 , the Equal Representation Act, in the House of Representatives was coming up. On May 8, 2024, Chairs of the Tri-Caucus, including CAPAC, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), recommended their Members vote against this legislation in a joint statement . H.R. 7109 passed the House by a vote of 206-202 along the party line. According to NPR , a growing number of Republican lawmakers are making a renewed push for an unprecedented change to the country's election maps. Their proposals call for excluding millions of non-U.S. citizens from the census results that determine each state's share of House seats and Electoral College votes. In the current Congress, GOP lawmakers have filed at least a dozen measures related to using the next once-a-decade head count to tally how many noncitizens are living in the country, and then subtracting some or all of those U.S. residents from what are known as the congressional apportionment counts.Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, referenced the Supreme Court's unanimous 2016 decision in the redistricting case known as Evenwel v. Abbott , which said that the 14th Amendment "calls for the apportionment of congressional districts based on total population" - the "whole number of persons in each state." Since the country's first population tally in 1790 — when one of the first lines of the Constitution required that an enslaved person be counted as "three fifths" of a free person and "Indians not taxed" not to be counted at all — both citizens and noncitizens living in the United States have been included in the apportionment counts, which the federal government has used to determine the size of each state's congressional delegation and slate of presidential electors.After the Civil War, the 14th Amendment called for the count to include the "whole number of persons in each state." (It took decades before the Census Bureau stopped omitting some American Indians from that tally.)According to The Hill , the government and nonprofits have dedicated years to education efforts encouraging noncitizens to respond to the Census, noting participation is never a basis for immigration enforcement.“A citizen’s only census, as this legislation intends, is reckless, cynical, and frankly, illegal,” Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) said on the House floor. “It is not the Census Bureau’s job to keep track of immigration status.”In a statement of administration policy , the Biden administration said it “strongly opposes” the measure “which would preclude the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau from performing its constitutionally mandated responsibility to count the number of persons in the United States in the decennial census.”The Supreme Court ruled against a last-minute effort by the Trump administration to add the citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Media reports:2024/05/08 NPR : Republicans in Congress are trying to reshape election maps by excluding noncitizens report 2024/05/08 The Hill: House GOP passes bill to add citizenship question to census 2024/05/08 Government Executive: The House has voted to bring back a citizenship question to the census 2024/05/08 AP News: Republicans renew push to exclude noncitizens from the census that helps determine political power 2024/05/08 Forbes: 'An Insult': Jamie Raskin Trashes GOP Effort To Include Citizenship Question On The Census (7:36) Florida's Land Law Impacting Homebuyers and Industry Prompts Another Lawsuit The New York Times reported on May 6, 2024, that Florida's recent legislation, SB 264, restricting home purchases by Chinese citizens is increasingly affecting both buyers and the state's real estate sector.According to the report, more than three dozen states have enacted or are considering similar laws restricting land purchases by Chinese citizens and companies, arguing that such transactions are a growing threat to national security and that the federal government has failed to stop Chinese Communist Party influence in America. Florida’s law, which went into effect in July, is among the furthest reaching. In addition to barring Chinese entities from buying agricultural land, it effectively prohibits most Chinese individuals without a green card from purchasing residential property.The New York Times conducted more than a dozen interviews. Chinese residents in Florida voiced frustrations about being cut off from the ultimate American dream. Other residents of Chinese descent said they faced discrimination as they tried to buy a home. Some said they lived in fear over whether they may have inadvertently violated the law. The report further pointed out that the law has also had an apparent chilling effect on the real estate industry, an important part of the state’s economy. Developers often rely on Chinese investors to help build projects in Florida, and the law appears to have barred such financing, prompting pushback from a prominent real estate lobbying group. Chinese interests own less than 1 percent of foreign-held agricultural land in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. National security experts said that the specific threat posed by Chinese people owning homes has not been clearly articulated. Civil rights groups and residents have challenged the Florida law in federal court on grounds that it violates the Equal Protection Clause and the Fair Housing Act, and that it undercuts the federal government powers on foreign affairs. “There’s no evidence that Chinese homeownership poses harm to national security,” said Ashley Gorski , senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, one of several groups that brought the suit.In addition, according to a press release on May 6, 2024, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, Inc., and the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beach filed a fair housing discrimination suit in federal court in Miami challenging Florida’s SB 264.“Xenophobia has no place in our country—and let there be no mistake, that’s precisely what SB 264 is,” said Noah Baron , Assistant Director of Litigation at Advancing Justice - AAJC. “This legislation echoes last century’s ‘alien land laws,’ which also restricted the property rights of Asian Americans on the basis of stereotypes and prejudice. The United States must not continue down this dangerous road; we know where it leads because we have traveled it before: during World War II when unfounded suspicions of Japanese Americans led to the forced imprisonment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans by the U.S. government and going as far back as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.” The lawsuit filed by Relman Colfax, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, and Courtney Cunningham asserts that SB 264 violates the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits acts that are motivated by a person’s national origin or have a disproportionate harmful effect on people from specific countries. As described in the complaint, SB 264 is based on stereotyped and xenophobic generalizations, and is transparently motivated by discrimination against people from the seven targeted countries.Read the New York Times full report: https://nyti.ms/4bldrmi . Read the NFHA press release: https://bit.ly/3UQqGpB . Read the Advancing Justice | AAJC press release: https://bit.ly/3QD0o7Y .Lawsuits against Florida SB 264: · SHEN v. SIMPSON (4:23-cv-00208) , filed on March 22, 2023 · National Fair Housing Alliance, Inc. v. Secretary of Commerce (1:24-cv-21749) , filed on May 6, 2024 Juan Zhang, editor at US-China Perception Monitor, contributed to this report. Trailblazing Asian American State Legislators According to the 19th News , When Dr. Michelle Au mounted her first run for office in Georgia, a political operative said she shouldn’t “waste too much of her time” reaching out to Asian American voters. “Asian people don’t vote,” she was told. Au — elected as a state senator in 2020 and then, after new district lines were drawn, as state representative in 2022 — knows that this is not only inaccurate, but a dangerous miscalculation for anyone who wants to win races in Georgia. There are now more than 328,000 eligible AAPI voters in the state, making up just over 4 percent of the electorate. In Fulton County, where Au’s district is, AAPI voters constitute 10.5 percent of the eligible voter share. Dr. Michelle Au chairs the Georgia legislature’s first AAPI caucus, which is the largest state AAPI legislative caucus in the continental United States. Read the 19th News report: https://bit.ly/4buqUbv According to KGW8-TV , Mae Yih broke barriers to become the first Chinese-born woman in the United States elected to a state legislative chamber. She graduated from Barnard College in New York and was married in 1953. With her husband's job, Mae would soon find herself moving to Albany, Oregon. It was a place neither of them had ever heard of. "We had to look it up on map," said Yih. She became active on the school boards where her sons went to school and admits she was controversial. She would get noticed and soon get an invitation from the Democratic Party to run for office. "I was able to defeat a 14-year incumbent to be elected to the legislature. That's how I got started." She served 6 years in the Oregon House of Representatives (1977–1983) and 20 years in the Oregon Senate (1983–2003). She believes it's important for Asian Americans to keep breaking barriers, especially in politics. "We need more elected Asian Americans in government to uphold equal opportunity and equal justice for all," Yih said. At 95 years old, Mae Yih enjoys staying active. Read the KGW8-TV report and watch the video: https://bit.ly/4bpLgT2 (3:57). On May 6, 2024, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation marking May as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in Michigan. “Michigan is a beacon of opportunity where people from all over the world came to for economic opportunity and success,” said Governor Whitmer. “In Michigan, we not only value and respect our differences, but we embrace them." Featured in the Proclamation were state Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), state Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), state Representative Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton), and state Representative Mai Xiong (D-Warren). Read Governor Whitmer's press statement: https://bit.ly/4bry00n "Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act" and WIRED Report During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 6, 2024, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act was signed into law, reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). It did not include two of the priorities: 1. Requiring the government to obtain a warrant to search through Americans sensitive communications and 2. Closing the data broker loophole. It was not the pursued policy outcome. However, Joanna highlighted that intervention by many AAPI groups has achieved results and paves the way for the longer term, including very strong House and Senate champions on the issue and a clean reauthorization that was not included in a must-pass vehicle. Reauthorization will come up again in two years.According to a report by WIRED on May 8, 2024, a top FBI official is encouraging employees to continue to investigate Americans using a warrantless foreign surveillance program known as Section 702 in an effort to justify the bureau’s spy powers. Obtained by WIRED , an April 20 email authored by FBI deputy director Paul Abbate to employees states: “To continue to demonstrate why tools like this are essential to our mission, we need to use them, while also holding ourselves accountable for doing so properly and in compliance with legal requirements.” Added Abbate: “I urge everyone to continue to look for ways to appropriately use US person queries to advance the mission, with the added confidence that this new pre-approval requirement will help ensure that those queries are fully compliant with the law.” “The deputy director's email seems to show that the FBI is actively pushing for more surveillance of Americans, not out of necessity but as a default,” says US representative Zoe Lofgren , a Democrat from California. “This directly contradicts earlier assertions from the FBI during the debate over Section 702’s reauthorization.”The limits of the 702 program remain murky, even to congressional members insisting that it should not be curbed further. The Senate Intelligence Committee chair, Mark Warner , acknowledged to reporters this week that language in Section 702 needs to be “fixed,” even though he voted last month to make the current language law.FISA experts had warned for months that new language introduced by the House Intelligence Committee is far too vague in the way it describes the categories of businesses the US government can compel, fearing that the government would obtain the power to force anyone with access to a target’s online communications into snooping on the NSA’s behalf—IT workers and data center staff among them.A trade group representing Google, Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft, among some of the world's other largest technology companies, concurred last month, arguing that the new version of the surveillance program threatens to “dramatically expand the scope of entities and individuals” subject to Section 702 orders.“We are working on it,” Warner told The Record on Monday. “I am absolutely committed to getting that fixed,” he said, suggesting the best time to do so would be “in the next intelligence bill.”Read the WIRED report: https://bit.ly/4dwJDoE 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 Dinner 2024/05/14 National Historic Landmark Committee Meeting 2024/05/22 Heritage, Culture, and Community: The Future of America's Chinatowns2024/06/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. National Historic Landmark Committee Meeting The National Historic Landmark (NHL) Committee under the National Park Service will meet virtually May 14-15, 2024. The Committee will consider eleven new nominations for National Historic Landmark designation, three updated nominations, and one withdrawal. One of the new nominations is Summit Camp, Tahoe National Forest, CA The Committee will recommend NHL actions to refer to the National Park System Advisory Board (NPSAB) for consideration. At its subsequent meeting, the NPSAB will vote on whether to recommend that the Secretary of the Interior proceed with these proposed designations, updated documentation, and withdrawal of designation. Read the meeting agenda and register to attend at https://bit.ly/3WB4bGq 3. Save the Date: 2024 National AAPI Leadership Summit & Presidential Town Hall APIAVote will hold its 2024 National AAPI Leadership Summit on July 11-12, 2024 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, where partners, experts, and communities nationwide converge to explore key issues and mobilize the AAPI community for the 2024 elections. The Summit will culminate with the Presidential Town Hall on July 13, 2024, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. This event connects presidential candidates with AAPI community leaders and organizers to discuss crucial issues. For more information, contact admin@apiavote.org Back View PDF May 10, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Nearly two years later, a 21-year-old Texas man who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. February 24, 2022 On February 24, 2022, the Washington Post published Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges . A 21-year-old Texas man, Jose Gomez III, who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child because he thought they were Chinese — and therefore, he said, responsible for the coronavirus pandemic — has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. He slashed the 6-year-old boy’s face. “The blade entered millimeters from [the boy’s] right eye, split his right ear, and wrapped around to the back of his skull,” prosecutors said. Gomez then stabbed a White employee who had intervened to stop the attack. Justice Department officials said that while Gomez was pinned down after being subdued, he yelled to the family, “Get out of America!” Gomez later told local authorities that he had never seen the father before but had perceived him as a “threat” because he supposedly “came from the country who started spreading the disease around.” He admitted to trying to kill the father and the 6-year-old in an effort to “stop the threat.” Gomez pleaded guilty to three counts of committing a hate crime and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a total of $750,000 in fines. Nearly two years later, a 21-year-old Texas man who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. Previous Next Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges

During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. January 9, 2023 During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022 which was highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement after 10 years of fighting for justice. "Despite all of these wins, we know the work continues to ensure that we are engaging with our partners, the Administration across federal agencies, and my colleagues at Congress; to ensure that our communities are not facing anti-Asian discrimination and racial profiling. To that end, CAPAC will continue to prioritize calling out blatantly xenophobic anti-China rhetoric and pushing back on policies that unfairly target Chinese American communities, which we unfortunately are expecting to see much more in the year ahead," Rep. Chu said. The APA Justice Task Force was formed in 2015 in response to Rep. Chu's call for a platform to connect elected officials with concerned organizations and individuals. It is dedicated 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLxSG7jNbco Subscribe to the APA Justice YouTube Channel and watch additional APA Justice videos. During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. Previous Next Rep. Judy Chu's New Year Greetings and 2022 Review