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 - #3 July 6 Meeting Summary; ICE Directive On Student Visas; Racism In The Military #3 July 6 Meeting Summary; ICE Directive On Student Visas; Racism In The Military Back View PDF July 16, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #343 8/4 Meeting; No China Initiative; Heartland to China; Court Defiance; Denaturalization #343 8/4 Meeting; No China Initiative; Heartland to China; Court Defiance; Denaturalization In This Issue #343 · 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 1100+ University Faculty on Harm of Revival of China Initiative · Support the 2nd Heartland Leaders Delegation to China – October 2025 · How the Trump Administration is Defying the Courts · DOJ Prioritizing Denaturalization · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Al Green, Member, U.S. Congress (invited) · Munira Abdullahi , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Guangya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Min Fan , Executive Director, US Heartland China Association 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 . 1100+ University Faculty on Harm of Revival of China Initiative In a letter addressed to House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro , Stanford Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson , on behalf of over 100 Stanford faculty and more than 1,000 faculty and senior research staff nationwide, urge Congress to reject efforts to reinstate the Department of Justice’s China Initiative. The professors argue that the initiative, originally launched to counter intellectual property theft by the Chinese government, instead produced unintended and damaging consequences for the U.S. scientific community and broader national interests. They contend that the China Initiative disproportionately targeted scientists of Chinese descent, fostered a climate of fear and suspicion in academia, and discouraged international collaboration. As a result, it had a chilling effect on global scientific exchange and pushed highly trained researchers—especially in STEM fields—to leave the U.S. or avoid coming altogether. This, the letter argues, played into the hands of the Chinese government more than it thwarted espionage, effectively weakening American leadership in science and innovation. Professors Michelson, Kivelson, and their colleagues emphasize that immigrant scientists are a cornerstone of the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Nearly half of the U.S. STEM PhD workforce is foreign-born, with Chinese nationals making up a significant portion. They note that approximately 90% of Chinese STEM PhDs trained in the U.S. choose to stay, often contributing to cutting-edge research and development in academia and industry. While affirming the importance of protecting national security and intellectual property, the authors advocate for a more balanced, targeted approach to risk management—one that avoids casting suspicion broadly on scientists based on ethnicity or nationality. They cite both the 2022 decision by the DOJ to end the China Initiative and the National Academies' recommendation to reduce its lingering harmful effects as evidence of broad expert consensus. The letter stresses that reviving the China Initiative would not serve U.S. interests and would instead jeopardize the country's ability to attract top global talent. The professors urge Congress to prioritize American competitiveness and innovation by fostering a welcoming and inclusive research environment rather than reviving policies that undermine it. The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) issued a strong statement of support for the letter, emphasizing that the China Initiative was not only discriminatory but counterproductive to U.S. innovation and national security. AASF warned that reviving the program would drive away critical global talent, weaken scientific progress, and harm the very competitiveness it purports to protect. Executive Director Gisela Perez Kusakawa stated, “Reinstating the China Initiative would be a grave mistake, not only from a civil rights perspective, but also for America’s future as a global leader in science and technology.” AASF reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all scholars while supporting efforts to maintain U.S. scientific leadership through openness, fairness, and international collaboration.A parallel effort led by Stop AAPI Hate and over 60 civil rights, academic, and advocacy organizations—including APA Justice—echoed these concerns in a joint letter to the same congressional leaders. They urged Congress to remove language in the FY 2026 appropriations bill that would effectively reinstate the China Initiative through the DOJ’s National Security Division. The coalition emphasized the discriminatory nature of the initiative, highlighting its history of racial profiling, unjust prosecutions, and chilling effects on scientific research. They cited high-profile cases such as those of Drs. Anming Hu and Gang Chen as emblematic of the initiative’s failure and harm, and warned that any reinstatement would reverse hard-won progress in civil rights, undermine trust in government, and diminish America’s leadership in science and technology. Support the 2nd Heartland Leaders Delegation to China – October 2025 U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is organizing the 2nd Heartland Leaders Delegation to China this October to attend the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue (YMRD) in Wuhan, Hubei Province. USHCA invites the Chinese American community to nominate local leaders to join this important delegation and support their travel and participation. The Chinese American community has always been a bridge between the U.S. and China - championing dialogue, trust, and enduring relationships. As U.S.-China relations deteriorated over the past decade, Chinese Americans often found us stuck in the middle of two global powers. At this critical junction, people-to-people exchanges are among the most effective ways to restore mutual understanding and trust. In recent years, vital exchange programs have been cut, including the Fulbright program and funding for fact-finding travels to China for U.S. congressional staff and lawmakers. Despite all these challenges, U.S. Heartland China Association launched a new exchange program: the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue (YMRD), a groundbreaking initiative that builds people-to-people and region-to-region connections between the Mississippi River Basin community and the Yangtze River Basin of China. 2023: Strong Beginning launched by Six U.S. Mayors . The inaugural Yangtze-Mississippi Exchange took place in Shanghai in 2023, where a delegation of six U.S. mayors met with their Chinese counterparts. This was the first U.S. Mayors Delegation to visit China post pandemic ( Press Release , Video recap ) and a powerful demonstration of what’s possible when regional leaders engage globally directly. 2024: Building Momentum in Memphis . The Yangtze-Mississippi Exchange, renamed as Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue (YMRD), was held in Memphis , with American mayors hosting more than 30 Chinese delegates from Shanghai, Chongqing, Hubei, and Jiangxi. Local leaders from both countries led key discussions on topics such as climate resilience, climate smart agriculture, and green transportation. The dialogue in Memphis underscored how cities are playing an essential role in advancing practical cooperation with Chinese peers. 2025: Charting the next phase in Wuhan . The 3rd YMRD will be held in Wuhan on October 29-30, 2025. Delegates will have an opportunity to not only visit China (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan) but also to leverage the foundation laid by two prior dialogues to engage with their peers on topics of shared interest in a key region of China. Why Your Support Matters The success of this dialogue depends on the strength of the U.S. delegation and support from the local community as USHCA is dealing with significant funding cuts like many nonprofits in this space. YMRD needs the support of the Chinese American community now more than ever. Here is how you can help: · Nominate local leaders (mayors, county executives, head of local chamber of commerce, business leaders) to join the delegation. · Connect USHCA with local stakeholders interested in exchange and cooperation. · Sponsor or help fund delegate participation and programming. At its core, the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue is about local leadership driving global impact. With your help, we can ensure more voices are at the table, and that meaningful relationships continue to grow across the Pacific. Let’s build the future from the ground up—through shared values, mutual respect, and real-world collaboration. Min Fan 范敏, Executive Director of USHCA, has accepted an invitation to speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025 . For more information or to offer support, please contact Min Fan at mfan@usheartlandchina.org How the Trump Administration is Defying the Courts Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to recent analysis from The Washington Post , the Trump administration is accused of defying court rulings in roughly a third of the more than 160 lawsuits it has lost, raising concerns about its disregard for judicial authority in the U.S. Of the 337 lawsuits filed against the administration since the beginning of Trump’s return to office, courts have ruled against the administration in 165 of the lawsuits. In 57 of those cases, the Post found that the administration is accused of defying or frustrating court oversight. The Trump administration has routinely defied court rulings, provided false information, withheld evidence, quietly circumvented court orders, and devised pretexts to pursue actions that have been blocked. Such conduct is unprecedented for any presidential administration and threatens to undermine the judiciary’s rule as a check on the executive branch. As of yet, no judge has taken punitive action to force compliance. Legal analysts are unsurprised as courts are typically slow to begin contempt proceedings for noncompliance. Furthermore, the judicial system cannot enforce their own rulings — that authority remains with the U.S. Marshals Service. Judges are concerned the U.S. Marshals will not comply with court directives, as an entity of the executive branch whose director is appointed by the president. Immigration cases have seen the most resistance, as evidenced in the case of Kilmar Abrego García . The Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate his return after the administration deported him to a notorious prison in El Salvador despite a court order forbidding his removal to that country. He remained there for almost two months. The administration also clashed with Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg who ordered that deportation flights to El Salvador be turned around. The administration disregarded the order. According to a whistleblower complaint filed by fired Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni , Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told staffers that a judge might try to block them, and that it might be necessary to tell a court “f— you’’ and ignore the order. The Trump administration also disregarded the order of U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher , a Trump appointee, to facilitate the return of a Venezuelan man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador. Other problematic cases regard cuts to federal funding and the workforce. Such clashes involved layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the freezing of all federal grants and loans by the White House Office of Management and Budget, and a ban on transgender people in the military. Judge Boasberg remains the only judge to actively pursue sanctioning the administration for its conduct. The contempt proceedings he instigated were paused without explanation by an appeals court panel three months ago. On January 21, 2025, Just Security started a Litigation Tracker on Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions . The number of cases it is tracking closely resembles Washington Post ’s report although it treats over 100 lawsuits involving the removal of F-1 foreign student visa registration as one. The New York Times also maintains a tracker on Lawsuits against Trump’s Agenda in topical order. The administration’s pattern of disregarding judicial rulings undermines a fundamental principle of democratic governance: that no branch of government is above the law. When court orders are ignored without consequence, it erodes public confidence in the judiciary’s ability to serve as a check on executive power. DOJ Prioritizing Denaturalization Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to an internal memo published online on June 11, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is aggressively prioritizing denaturalization cases and expanding the criteria necessary for pursuing denaturalization cases. The memo lists 10 categories of priority for such cases. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate wrote that denaturalization will be among the agency’s top five enforcement priorities for the civil division. This renewed focus reflects a broader historical pattern. As NPR explains, denaturalization was heavily employed during the McCarthy era of the late 1940s and early 1950s to revoke the citizenship of individuals who concealed criminal convictions or affiliations with prohibited groups—such as Nazis or communists—on their naturalization applications. According to a report published by Cassandra Robertson , a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, there were about 22,000 cases of denaturalization filed a year during the McCarthy era. In 1967, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that found denaturalization “inconsistent with the American form of democracy, because it creates two levels of citizenship.” Between 1990 and 2017, the DOJ filed an average of 11 denaturalization cases per year. However, the practice saw expansion under the Obama administration as they began using new digital tools to find potential denaturalization fraud cases going back decades. Denaturalization grew even more prevalent during President Trump's first term. Irina Manta , a Hofstra University professor and co-author of the report with Robertson, found an average of 42 denaturalization cases filed per year during President Trump’s first term and an average of 16 per year filed during President Biden’s term. The first Trump administration sought to significantly expand the government’s use of denaturalization and chose to file denaturalization cases via civil courts rather than criminal. In 2018, the Trump administration created a new office within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services dedicated to reviewing and initiating denaturalization proceedings against thousands of individuals. Denaturalization, the legal process of revoking U.S. citizenship from a naturalized immigrant, carries significant consequences. Once stripped of citizenship, the individual returns to the immigration status they held before becoming a U.S. citizen. Afterwards, they may face deportation if they do not have lawful immigration status and/or serve jail time if denaturalization was due to a criminal conviction. According to the DOJ memo, there are two grounds for denaturalization: 1. Procurement of naturalization by concealing a material fact or by willful misrepresentation 2. Illegal procurement of naturalization In M aslenjak v. United States in 2017, the Supreme Court unanimously held that only an illegal act that played a role in an individual’s procurement of U.S. citizenship could be grounds for criminal denaturalization. This decision narrowed the scope under which an individual could be denaturalized. According to Robertson, the especially concerning aspect of the DOJ memo is that it directs the federal government to pursue denaturalization efforts via civil litigation. In civil proceedings, the individual subject to denaturalization is not entitled to an attorney, and there is a lower burden of proof for the government to reach. Robertson insists that pursuing denaturalization via civil litigation violates due process and infringes on the rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Sameera Hafiz , policy director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, is especially concerned with the expanded criteria of which crimes put an individual at risk of denaturalization. According to the memo, expanded criteria include national security violations and acts of fraud against individuals or against the government, such as Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud or Medicaid fraud. Hafiz says this is synonymous with “trying to create a second class of U.S. citizens,” where U.S. citizens born in the country are safe and those who were not are at risk of losing their citizenship. The memo also gives U.S. attorneys broader discretion to determine eligible denaturalization cases. Steve Lubet , professor emeritus at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, said the memo grants the federal government “wide discretion” on deciding whom to target, calling the categories “so vague as to be meaningless.” Lubet also raised concerns about the impact of denaturalization on families, particularly children who received U.S. citizenship through a parent whose naturalization was later revoked. Robertson remains concerned about the prioritization of denaturalization as “there just aren’t very many cases that fit within the framework of priorities.” This will cause the administration to focus on “people who have not committed any serious infraction, or maybe any infraction at all.” Concerns remain that the government’s aggressive denaturalization efforts could lead to the revocation of U.S. citizenship of many individuals who made minor or unintentional mistakes in their application. Many of the questions are vague, broad, and unclear. In addition, courts have not specified what constitutes an offense material to the individual obtaining citizenship and could be the basis for a denaturalization proceeding. The focus on denaturalization is the latest effort by the Trump administration to reshape the immigrant landscape in the U.S. Since his return to office, President Trump has also sought to end birthright citizenship and curtail refugee programs. The Denaturalization Fact Sheet produced by the National Immigration Forum is a concise, informative document that explains what denaturalization is, the legal grounds for it, and how the process works. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/07/24 2025 ILF Scholarship & Awards Gala2025/07/25 From Classroom to Commerce: The Value of Chinese Students to American Business2025/07/25-27 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony 2025/07/28 (Digital) Travel Safety and Security Training2025/07/29 C100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Linda Chao Yang2025/07/29 From Heartland to Mainland: 2025 Future Ag Leaders Delegation2025/07/29 Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: American Scholars to China2025/07/31 (Digital) Travel Safety and Security Training2025/07/31-08/10 Asian American International Film Festival2025/08/02-07 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Travel Safety & Security Training on July 28 and 31, 2025 Are you currently overseas and traveling back to the United States later this summer? The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is offering a one-hour information session with the Democracy Security Project (DSP) on how you should mitigate both cyber and physical vulnerabilities while traveling. The team at DSP will offer practical and pragmatic solutions on a number of subjects like handling your devices, data privacy, and border security best practices.The same session is offered twice, on July 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET and July 31 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Register and receive the Zoom information at: · Register for the July 28 meeting here . · Register for the July 31 meeting here . For more information on the event, please email: · AFT Union Leadership Institute ( uli_support@aft.org ) · AFT Higher Education Division ( highereddept@aft.org ) # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF July 24, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #177 4/17 Roundtable; "China Initiative;" Michael McCaul; Xenophobia; Xiaoxing Xi Lecture #177 4/17 Roundtable; "China Initiative;" Michael McCaul; Xenophobia; Xiaoxing Xi Lecture In This Issue #177 2023/04/17 Roundtable on a National Alert Network Can U.S. Research Recover From the "China Initiative?" Texan leading TikTok ban in Congress urges state lawmakers to rein in their own social media legislation Presumed Guilty: The FBI's Baseless Hunt for IP Theft by Chinese Academics CAPAC Chair Warns Anti-China Rhetoric Could Open the Door to Xenophobia 2023/04/17 Roundtable on a National Alert Network WHEN: Monday, April 17, 2023, 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT WHAT: Online Roundtable DESCRIPTION: Inaugural roundtable to establish the purpose and functions of a national media alert network and strike teams to assertively address immediate xenophobic challenges to our freedoms and longer-term proactive actions to ensure fairness and justice for all, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and immigrant communities. About 10 organizations have committed to join Paula Madison in the Roundtable. REGISTRATION: This is an event by invitation only to guests and official representative(s) of AAPI organizations. Members at the Roundtable will be sent a panelist link. Others please register at http://bit.ly/3KvlMI8 BACKGROUND : Asian American and immigrant communities are in turbulent times again, facing enormous challenges such as legalizing discrimination at the state and federal levels, return of the Red Scare and McCarthyism, warrantless surveillance, mini "China Initiative" conducted by the National Institutes of Health, cross-border profiling, continuing fallout from the now-defunct "China Initiative" including New York Police Department Officer Angwang, collateral damage from the U.S.-China relations, and anti-Asian hate and violence. The Roundtable will examine the current landscape and jump-start a national media alert network and strike teams to address these immediate and longer-term challenges.A video of the discussion led by Paula Madison in the April APA Justice monthly meeting is here: http://bit.ly/40gzLHW (1:00:08). Can U.S. Research Recover From the "China Initiative?" According to a report by the Chronicle of Higher Education on April 6, 2023, Matthew Olsen , assistant attorney general for national security, announced the shutdown of the "China Initiative" a little over a year ago.On college campuses, there was hope that Olsen’s February 2022 announcement would bring an end to a dark period when many worried that the future of academic ties with China hung in the balance.Over the past year, the number of allegations of foreign interference reported by federal grant-making agencies has declined, and more cases have been resolved through administrative action instead of prosecution. The rhetoric has also moderated since Trump-administration officials routinely lambasted college leaders for their naïvete in working with Chinese universities and other foreign partners. “There’s been more of a dialogue instead of a shouting match,” said Jeffrey Riedinger , vice provost for global affairs at the University of Washington.But the assistant attorney general’s speech did not end scrutiny of American higher education’s relationship with China or with other countries “of concern,” like Russia. Since then, Congress has approved new disclosure requirements for foreign funds coming to colleges and barred researchers who receive federal grants from taking part in “malign” talent-recruitment plans like China’s Thousand Talents program, which offers visiting appointments and research stipends to foreign scholars. Government agencies have also been crafting new programs and policies to safeguard research and determine risk. If a new chapter began with the conclusion of the "China Initiative," the underlying narrative remains much the same. It’s a Cold War of innovation, and university labs are the new front line, with many policymakers troubled that working with China could advantage a rival. Indeed, mistrust of China is the rare topic that garners bipartisan agreement in Washington these days. “Maybe the volume has been turned down a little, but the tune is still playing,” said Jane Gatewood , vice provost for global engagement at the University of Rochester. The pressure to act is emanating from the nation’s capital, to be sure, but it is also coming from campuses, from faculty members who want better guidance to navigate the uncertainty. Perhaps no group is watching more closely than those most affected by the "China Initiative," Chinese and Asian American researchers.For many of these academics, the fear lingers. Some are unwilling to apply for federal grants in the current climate. And American researchers may be pulling back from working with Chinese colleagues: Since the start of the "China Initiative," joint publications by Chinese and American scientists have declined.“The ending of the 'China Initiative' seemed to give the illusion that the cloud had gone away,” said Jenny J. Lee , a professor of higher education at the University of Arizona who studies Sino-American research collaboration. “But it’s still overhead.”The number of foreign-interference cases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) soared from just five in 2017 to 111 in 2018, the year the "China Initiative" started. For the next three years, the NIH recorded more cases involving allegations of failure to disclose foreign funding, academic affiliations, or other conflicts of interest on grant applications than any other type of research-integrity violation.In nine of 10 such cases, the “country of concern” was China.Last year, the number of foreign-interference cases logged by the NIH dropped sharply, to just 23.The resolution of recent cases by the National Science Foundation, or NSF, reflects the non-prosecutorial approach. Since the end of the "China Initiative," the agency’s Office of Inspector General has found indications of foreign conflicts of interest in at least nine cases involving grantees. But according to memos published by the office, it either closed the cases without pursuing criminal actions or forwarded them to the Justice Department, which decided not to prosecute. Rebecca Keiser , chief of research security strategy and policy for the NSF, said the agency doesn’t want to be in the policing game. “We are not law enforcement,” she said in an interview with The Chronicle . “We set policy.” A driver of current oversight efforts is a national-security directive Trump signed shortly before he left office that orders all federal research-funding agencies to strengthen and standardize their research-security policies. It continues under President Biden. A proposal released by the White House last month requires colleges and other organizations that receive $50 million or more annually in federal-scientific grants to develop research-security plans. It has also published draft guidance that would beef up disclosure rules while making them more consistent across the federal government. Despite the calls for uniform standards, they are not necessarily followed, for example, by NASA.For colleges, the new mandates bring an added burden. The Council on Governmental Relations, an association of research universities, academic medical centers, and independent research institutes, estimates the initial costs of meeting new federal disclosure requirements could be nearly $445,000 for universities with $100 million or more in federal-research funding. For institutions that receive less grant funding, expenses could top $100, 000.College groups would also like government agencies to more clearly articulate what they see as the real research-security risks. Universities’ longstanding practices for monitoring research integrity have typically been geared toward screening for more traditional types of misconduct than for detecting threats from foreign influence, said Tobin Smith , senior vice president for policy at the Association of American Universities. “If there’s fabricated data, that’s easier for us to assess.”Riedinger and his colleagues are calling for more nuanced guidance: What types of individuals, institutions, disciplines, or research areas warrant additional scrutiny? What sorts of programs and affiliations raise red flags? What are the potential vulnerabilities that keep policymakers up at night?Having such guidance is important as colleges create research-security plans, said Kalpen Trivedi , vice provost for global affairs at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. “Tell us, how can we reassure you that we are doing what we can to safeguard science in our universities?” he said. “What represents safe science to you?”Many experts point to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the gold standard. While not all institutions have MIT’s structured approach, most research-university administrators said their institutions now had a process in place for reviewing foreign contracts and partnerships for potential research-security vulnerabilities and for advising faculty members about conflicts that could jeopardize federal grants.Both universities and federal agencies are likely to have to rebuild trust with another group: scientists, especially those of Chinese descent.That may not be easy. Some colleges were seen as offering insufficient support to their faculty members when they came under scrutiny, or even abetting investigations. Many researchers see a lack of clarity in the new rules and are concerned about being penalized for types of international engagement that were previously encouraged. Advocacy groups say discussions about research-security policy have focused too much on the policing of international collaboration and not enough on supporting researchers or educating them about shifting requirements for disclosure.“So far, there is more of a focus on deterrence,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa , executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum. “But what are the positive efforts that would make Asian American scholars feel more protected?”But the damage to research, and to researchers, wrought by the "China Initiative" may be harder to undo. “They are still scared,” said Steven Pei , a professor at the University of Houston and an organizer of the APA Justice Task Force, a group that advocates for Asian American scientists. “People are much more careful.”There is a sense among researchers, Pei and others said, that they could fall under suspicion simply for doing science while Chinese. After all, prominent prosecutions under the China Initiative were of Asian American scientists. Of the NIH foreign-interference cases, three-quarters involved Asian scientists.Of a half-dozen scholars interviewed by The Chronicle , none said they were currently willing to apply for federal grants, because of their anxiety they could be racially profiled. The stakes were too high. Among the scientists investigated by the NIH, nearly two-thirds were removed from federal grants. As Science has previously reported, 42 percent lost their jobs or were forced to resign.Fearful, academics and graduate students of Chinese descent may be pulling back from academic work with China. When the University of Arizona’s Jenny Lee, who conducted a survey of scientists, drilled into the data, she found that their reluctance to engage with China had nothing to do with the nature or sensitivity of their research. “It really came down to whether someone was of Chinese descent, period,” Lee said.There are reports that Chinese American researchers have been stopped at the border and questioned about their work. A special congressional committee has been set up to examine competition with China. And in a speech at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in December, Christopher Wray , the FBI director, defended government investigations of academic ties to China. Gang Chen is one of the scholars who said he would no longer apply for federal funding to support his research. A professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, he was arrested in January 2021 for allegedly hiding his affiliations to and payments from Chinese universities. A federal prosecutor later dropped the charges against Chen, saying it was in the “interests of justice.”The "China Initiative" and other investigations damage academics like him who have collaborations with China, Chen said in an interview. But its effects are more than individual, he said. “This is a fundamental assault on the scientific community. It could hurt and weaken American science.”Not long ago, Chen was back in the headlines. He is credited with having helped discover a new semiconductor material that is being called a game-changer.Read the Chronicle report: http://bit.ly/3UxAD9K In a follow-up report, the Chronicle of Higher Education added the following insights from Dr. Rebecca Keiser of NSF: Undisclosed conflicts could jeopardize public confidence in research outcomes Keiser said she was worried about how research-security investigations affect Chinese and Asian American scientists When it comes to research security, she wants a more collaborative approach It will be tougher to navigate gray areas, but heightened research-security concerns shouldn’t cut off international-academic partnerships Read the Chronicle follow-up report: http://bit.ly/3UDpXGM Texan leading TikTok ban in Congress urges state lawmakers to rein in their own social media legislation According to a report by the Texas Tribune on April 11, 2023, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul , one of the top China hawks in Congress who is leading the charge to restrict TikTok nationwide, warned Texas lawmakers not to discriminate against Chinese Americans and immigrants in their own statewide social media ban legislation.Both McCaul and members of the Texas House introduced bills to curb perceived security threats by Chinese actors in the country via popular social media apps like TikTok, which is owned by a China-based company. McCaul’s bill, the DATA Act, would require the administration to determine whether TikTok or its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, has ever transferred sensitive data to the Chinese government and to ban the app from the U.S. if so.Meanwhile, in the Texas Legislature, Rep. Jared Patterson , R-Frisco, introduced a bill that would blanket ban apps owned by companies headquartered in a number of countries, including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Asian American groups decried the bill as too sweeping, asserting it would cut off many avenues for communication between immigrants and families back in China.It ’s a concern that appears to resonate with McCaul, who pressed members of the Legislature to keep their bills focused on national security concerns and not pass laws so broad that they unfairly impact Chinese Americans and other immigrants.“I’ve urged the state Legislature to be targeted in their approach, not a swath that would catch people that are just fleeing oppression,” McCaul said in an interview with The Texas Tribune . “It’s got to be very careful not to go too far with that and discriminate against, you know, people that are fleeing oppression versus those that are operating under espionage purposes.”McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he held a similar sentiment toward state legislation targeting land ownership by Chinese nationals. Gov. Greg Abbott expressed support earlier this year for banning land sales to certain Chinese citizens, which Asian American groups said could contribute to discrimination in the housing market. McCaul said land purchases by Chinese government actors around military bases was a legitimate security concern, “but again, I would make it targeted towards CCP-owned-and-operated enterprises.”Read the Texas Tribune report: http://bit.ly/3UDC7zq Presumed Guilty: The FBI's Baseless Hunt for IP Theft by Chinese Academics On April 10, 2023, Xiaoxing Xi , Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics at Temple University, gave a lecture on "Presumed Guilty: The FBI's Baseless Hunt for IP Theft by Chinese Academics." Since 2015, he has spoken out actively for open fundamental research and against racial profiling and received the American Physical Society 2020 Andrei Sakharov Prize for his effort.Professor Xi has one consistent message with continuously updated sample cases and official references: Chinese scientists have been treated unfairly. In the Q&A session, a participant recounted her experience at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory when Dr. Wen Ho Lee was incarcerated in solitary confinement for nine months at the turn of the century. Watch the video of Professor Xi's lecture at Iowa State University: https://bit.ly/3KvWg5I (58:52) CAPAC Chair Warns Anti-China Rhetoric Could Open the Door to Xenophobia NPR conducted an interview with Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) on April 12, 2023. According to the NPR report, Rep. Chu responded to the attack from Texas Congressman Lance Gooden, who accused her of disloyalty in an interview with Fox News, by stating that "I was outraged. I was disgusted. And most of all, I was angry because it was so racist. It was based on a centuries-long stereotype that Chinese Americans and Asian Americans more broadly are forever foreigners in their own land, no matter how much they've contributed to this country, no matter whether they're someone like me, born in America. My father fought for the U.S. in World War II in the Army. I've been an elected official for 37 years in this country. How much more American do I have to be to prove that I am an American?"Responding to questions about the "China Initiative," Rep. Chu said, "'The China initiative,' exactly that, where Chinese scientists and researchers were accused of being spies for China on the flimsiest of evidence. Eventually, most of them were exonerated, but their lives were ruined because of this. So as a result, Chinese Americans are indeed very concerned about being the next ones to be accused... The 'China initiative' is a good example of overreach. I mean, obviously, we want to make sure that our national secrets are protected. But what Trump did was to make this a focus on one country. He didn't have a Russia initiative. He didn't have an Iran initiative. No. And in the discussions that I've been on national security, I always remind everybody, the lawmakers as well as the intelligence officials, that there is tremendous consequence to the xenophobia they could cause if they make this a racial issue. We only have to look at the Japanese American internment to see that 120,000 Japanese Americans lost everything that they had based on suspicions that there were spies amongst them. But to this day, not a single case of espionage has been proven."Read the NPR report: http://bit.ly/3KBS3xh 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 April 14, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #91 Rep. Lieu Questions AG; Letter to AG; 11/01 Meeting; New Red Scare; UTK; More #91 Rep. Lieu Questions AG; Letter to AG; 11/01 Meeting; New Red Scare; UTK; More Back View PDF October 25, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

Newsletter - #19 Facebook Streaming Link For 09/30 Webinar #19 Facebook Streaming Link For 09/30 Webinar Back View PDF September 30, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #52 Science, NAS, APS, And AAU Voice Concerns; Actions On Anti-Asian Hate; AAUC Podcast #52 Science, NAS, APS, And AAU Voice Concerns; Actions On Anti-Asian Hate; AAUC Podcast Back View PDF April 2, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #334 6/2 Monthly Meeting; Influence of Hate & Extremism; CAPAC Concerns in U.S. Revoking Visas for Chinese Students; Wu Chien-Shiung #334 6/2 Monthly Meeting; Influence of Hate & Extremism; CAPAC Concerns in U.S. Revoking Visas for Chinese Students; Wu Chien-Shiung In This Issue #334 · 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Influence of Hate and Extremism Grow; Attacked Asian Professor Speaks Out · CAPAC Expressed Concerns in the U.S. Revoking Visas for Chinese Students · Chinese Students at Harvard Cancel Flights, Scramble for Legal Help After Trump Ban · U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Plans for Expanded Social Media Screening · Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Harvard Foreign Student Ban Amid Escalating Clash · Wu Chien-Shiung: The Chinese-American Physicist Who Changed Science But Was Denied the Nobel · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, June 2, 2025 , starting at 1:55 pm ET . In addition to updates by Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited speakers are: · Judy Chu , Member, U.S. House of Representative · Aki Maehara , Professor, Historian, East Los Angeles College · Ya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Juanita Brent , Member, Ohio House of Representative · Christina Ku and Gerald Ohn, Co-Founders, Asian American Civil Rights League · Brian Sun , Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Influence of Hate and Extremism Grow Despite Numbers Decline; Attacked Asian Professor Speaks Out The Associated Press recently reported that the number of hate and extremist groups in the United States slightly declined in 2024, but not because their influence is waning—in fact, the opposite may be true. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), whose annual Year in Hate and Extremism report was released Thursday, many white nationalist, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-government ideologies have become increasingly mainstream, infiltrating politics, education, and public discourse. The SPLC counted 1,371 hate and extremist groups in 2024, down 5% from the previous year. Of these, 533 were active hate groups, a continued decline from the 1,021 peak in 2018. But researchers cautioned against reading this as progress. “The trends have slightly sort of gone up and down but let’s just say generally, since our tracking, have increased,” said Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project. “And that’s not just on a total numbers level but also on a per capita.” One reason for the drop, the SPLC says, is that extremist views are being adopted more widely, reducing the need for formal group structures. These include calls for bans on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, opposition to LGBTQ+ visibility, and the rise in book bans. Anti-government groups rose to 838, with many believing the federal government is “tyrannical.” The SPLC also noted a rise in male supremacist hate groups, growing from nine to 16 in 2024. These groups promote strict gender roles and misogyny. Their emergence coincides with Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the first woman of color to win a major party’s presidential nomination. “We saw intense vilification, the claiming of demonization of Harris,” Rivas said, adding that far-right online spaces falsely portrayed women as unqualified to lead. The report’s release coincided with the public appearance of Aki Maehara , a 71-year-old Japanese American professor at East Los Angeles College who survived a violent hate crime in April. Maehara held a press conference on May 22 at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles to speak publicly about this violent incident he experienced, which is being investigated as a possible hate crime. On April 29, while riding his electric bicycle home in Montebello, Maehara was struck from behind by a car. The driver reportedly shouted anti-Asian slurs, including “Go back to Ch—k-land,” before fleeing the scene. Maehara sustained multiple injuries, including a concussion, fractured cheekbone, neck injury, and extensive bruising. “I am wanting to add my voice to efforts to address fascist, racist violence,” Maehara said during this press conference. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist with Maehara's medical expenses and recovery, raising over $82,000 as of May 27. A change.org page was also set up with the title “Demand Justice for Professor Aki Maehara: Fully Investigate This Hate Crime.” Despite being injured, Maehara has returned to teaching his course on racism in the U.S. and is considering donating part of the nearly money raised for his recovery to other victims of hate violence. “All of your support, concern and care has helped to speed up my healing,” he told supporters. Watch the full YouTube interview with Professor Maehara: Decolonizing Academia: An interview with Professor Aki Maehara, Historian, Activist In this interview, Maehara shared his experiences growing up in East LA, intergenerational trauma, Vietnam and more. CAPAC Expressed Concerns in the U.S. Revoking Visas for Chinese Students In response to Secretary Rubio saying that the U.S. will “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese students, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a statement pressing concerns: “The wholesale revocation of student visas based on national origin — and without an investigation — is xenophobic and wrong. “Turning these students away —many of whom simply wish to learn in a free and democratic society — is not just shortsighted but a betrayal of our values.” According to New York Times , Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the students who will have their visas canceled include people with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and those studying in “critical fields.” He added that the State Department was revising visa criteria to “enhance scrutiny” of all future applications from China, including Hong Kong. The move was certain to send ripples of anxiety across university campuses in the United States. China is the country of origin for the second-largest group of international students in the United States. Chinese Students at Harvard Cancel Trips, Scramble for Legal Help After Trump Ban According to Reuters , Chinese students at Harvard University were left reeling on Friday after the Trump administration blocked the school from enrolling international students, triggering panic, canceled flights, and widespread legal uncertainty. The administration’s order—citing allegations that Harvard had coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), among other claims—would force current foreign students to transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal status. The policy could potentially be expanded to include other universities as well. Zhang , a 24-year-old PhD student in physics, said the Chinese student community felt particularly vulnerable. “I think the Chinese community definitely feels like a more targeted entity compared to other groups,” he said. Fearing escalation, friends even advised him to avoid staying at his apartment in case of immigration enforcement action. “They think it’s possible that an ICE agent can take you from your apartment,” he said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. The uncertainty caused immediate disruptions. Zhang Kaiqi , a 21-year-old master’s student in public health, had packed his bags for a flight back to China when the order hit. “I was sad and irritated. For a moment I thought it was fake news,” he said. He canceled the flight—losing both money and a summer internship with a U.S. NGO in China. Many students were especially concerned about losing visa-linked internships vital for future graduate school applications. Others scrambled for legal advice. Two Chinese students said they were added to WhatsApp groups where panicked peers shared updates and legal tips. One transcript showed a lawyer advising students not to travel domestically or leave the country until official school guidance was issued. A federal judge issued a two-week restraining order, temporarily freezing the ban. The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the action, warning it would damage the U.S.’s international credibility and pledging to protect the rights of Chinese students abroad. “It will only damage the image and international credibility of the United States,” the ministry said. Some Chinese families are now reconsidering the U.S. as an education destination. “It’s likely to be a final nudge toward other destinations,” said Pippa Ebel, an education consultant based in Guangzhou. Incoming Harvard master’s student Zhao , 23, said she may defer or transfer if the situation doesn’t improve. “It’s really disturbed my life plans. I had planned to apply for my U.S. visa in early June, and now I’m not sure what to do,” she said. U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Plans for Expanded Social Media Screening According to Politico , Associated Press , NPR , and others, the U.S. State Department has temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students, signaling a further tightening of the Trump administration’s approach toward international students. The pause, which does not affect applicants with already scheduled interviews, comes as the government prepares to implement more stringent screening of applicants' social media activity. According to a diplomatic cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press, consular sections have been instructed not to add "any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity" until new guidance on expanded vetting is issued. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce defended the move during a Tuesday briefing, saying, “We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise.” The suspension, first reported by Politico , adds to a growing list of measures targeting foreign students. Just last week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, a decision that was swiftly challenged in court and is now temporarily blocked. Earlier this year, the administration also revoked the legal status of thousands of international students, prompting legal battles and widespread concern. Critics argue these measures risk disrupting academic plans and damaging U.S. higher education institutions that rely heavily on international students for both diversity and revenue. Many foreign students pay full tuition, helping universities offset declining federal funding. An anonymous U.S. official told the Associated Press that the current halt is temporary, but uncertainty looms. “This kind of broad suspension without clarity creates a chilling effect on applicants and institutions alike,” the official noted. With the summer and fall terms approaching, the prolonged visa delays could significantly impact enrollment and campus life across the country. Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Harvard Foreign Student Ban Amid Escalating Clash According to Associated Press , CNN , Reuters , New York Times , and others, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from barring Harvard University from enrolling international students—a move the university called unconstitutional retaliation for resisting federal demands. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs temporarily halted the policy, which threatened to strip Harvard of its ability to host international students, who make up roughly a quarter of its student body. In its lawsuit, Harvard argued that the administration’s actions violated the First Amendment and would have an “immediate and devastating effect,” warning that the measure could force thousands of students to transfer or lose legal immigration status while damaging the university’s global standing. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the school said in its filing. A New York Times report sheds light on the escalating conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration. According to the report, the conflict escalated after the Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, demanded extensive data on international students, including coursework, disciplinary records, and even video footage of student protests. While Harvard provided data it was legally required to share, it pushed back on the broader demands, calling them vague, politically motivated, and beyond the scope of federal law. The administration accused Harvard of fostering an unsafe campus environment and alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party—claims the university firmly denied. Former Harvard President Lawrence Summers condemned the government’s actions on X (formerly Twitter), calling them “madness” that risks alienating future global leaders. This confrontation reflects a broader campaign by the Trump administration to reshape the U.S. higher education, with elite universities accused of promoting "woke" ideologies, tolerating antisemitism, and resisting conservative values. Multiple federal agencies—including the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—have launched investigations into Harvard, focusing on admissions practices, compliance with the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, and foreign funding disclosures. Harvard’s legal team contends that universities have a constitutionally protected right to manage their academic communities free from government interference, citing case law that protects not just students and faculty, but institutions themselves. Wu Chien-Shiung: The Chinese-American Physicist Who Changed Science But Was Denied the Nobel In May, during AAPI Heritage Month, the South China Morning Post published a feature story on Wu Chien-Shiung , the legendary Chinese American physicist whose groundbreaking work helped shape modern science—despite a lifetime of discrimination and under-recognition. Born in 1912 in a small village near Shanghai, Wu rose to become one of the most influential experimental physicists of the 20th century. Known as the "Queen of Physics," she played a critical role in the Manhattan Project, helping solve complex problems in uranium enrichment. Her expertise was so well regarded that when Enrico Fermi encountered a technical obstacle, the advice he received was simply: “Ask Miss Wu.” Yet, despite her pivotal contributions, Wu was excluded from the 1957 Nobel Prize awarded to Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang for their theory of parity violation—an idea her meticulous experiments had confirmed. Many scientists and historians have since argued that Wu deserved a share of that honor, if not a Nobel Prize of her own. As an Asian woman in a white male-dominated field, Wu endured systemic discrimination throughout her career. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover even referred to her as “he” in vetting documents, reflecting both racial and gender bias. She was routinely paid less than her male counterparts and had to fight for basic professional respect. Still, she persisted. Later in her life, Wu became a fierce advocate for women in science. “The traditional role of wife and mother and dedicated scientist are compatible,” she once declared, challenging both cultural and institutional barriers. She urged young girls to pursue science and questioned the belief that physics was only for men. Beyond her scientific achievements, Wu also played a quiet diplomatic role. She advised against Taiwan’s nuclear weapons ambitions and helped foster China’s scientific development during a time of strained U.S.-China relations. Though she was omitted from the recent film Oppenheimer and denied the Nobel recognition she deserved, Wu Chien-Shiung’s legacy has only grown. She has been honored with a U.S. postage stamp and a towering statue in her hometown. Wu passed away in 1997, but today she is remembered as one of the greatest experimental physicists of her era—a pioneer whose brilliance and resilience continue to inspire new generations. News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/05/29 U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee - 25 Years Later2025/06/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/06/03 The Second Annual State of the Science Address2025/06/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/06/15-18 2025 Applied Statistics Symposium2025/06/16-24 Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area2025/06/29-30 2025 ICSA China ConferenceVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF May 29, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #224 Henry Kissinger; 12/12 Section 702 Briefing; WH Commission/WH Fellows; DETERRENT Act #224 Henry Kissinger; 12/12 Section 702 Briefing; WH Commission/WH Fellows; DETERRENT Act In This Issue #224 · Invited Report: Dr. Kissinger's Passing and the Debate over His One-China Policy · 12/12 Community Briefing on Section 702 of FISA · President's Advisory Commission Renewed; White House Fellows Program Opens · CAPAC Chair Urges Opposition to DETERRENT Act on House Floor · News and Activities for the Communities Invited Report: Dr. Kissinger's Passing and the Debate over His One-China Policy Author: Juan Zhang , Editor, US-China Perception Monitor/ 中美印象, Carter Center, Juan.Zhang@cartercenter.org On November 29, 2023, Dr. Henry Kissinger , former U.S. Secretary of State, passed away at the age of 100. Dr. Kissinger advised 12 U.S. presidents on foreign policy, from President Kennedy to President Biden . The foreign policies he shaped influenced the lives of billions of people worldwide.This is especially true when it comes to China. In the early 1970s, Dr. Kissinger, with a strategic vision and great wisdom, opened the door for China to engage with the United States. China has since changed profoundly. The one-China policy and strategic ambiguity toward cross-strait was at the heart of the China policy that Dr. Kissinger and his aides crafted. This policy has helped maintain peace in East Asia for decades, laying the foundation for the region's prosperity.In light of growing competition in US-China relations, the policy of strategic ambiguity has become a point of tension. China hawks explicitly call for arming and defending Taiwan. Even President Biden has “misspoken” four times in recent months that the U.S. will come to Taiwan’s defense if China uses force. Under those noises, some experts and former diplomats have started to voice their support for policies that will and have maintained cross-strait peace. In a recent in-depth interview with the US-China Perception Monitor of the Carter Center, Ambassador Winston Lord , the close aide who accompanied Dr. Kissinger on visiting China in 1970s, shared his view on this question: The bipartisan Taiwan policy of nine American Presidents is one of the greatest diplomatic achievements in recent history, and "strategic ambiguity" is an essential part of that policy. …… To switch to "strategic clarity" would destroy a half-century of "One China" policy, upend our relationship with Beijing, and give Taiwan leaders the green light to take provocative actions, assuring that we would come to their defense in case of conflict, no matter what the origins.(Read the full piece: https://uscnpm.org/2023/11/30/ambassador-winston-lord/ ) Furthermore, three top-notch experts on China/Taiwan published a joint article on Foreign Affairs . In their piece, Bonnie S. Glaser , Jessica Chen Weiss , and Thomas J. Christensen argue that the United States cannot rely solely on deterrence to China. It should use a combination of assurance and deterrence. While strengthening deterrence, the United States should assure China that it will not support Taiwan's independence. At the same time, China must continue to explore peaceful unification means. Those points reflect fundamental elements of the strategic ambiguity policy that Dr. Kissinger, Ambassador Lord, and others established decades ago. (Read the full piece: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/taiwan-china-true-sources-deterrence ) Community Briefing on Section 702 of FISA WHAT: Webinar - Community Briefing on Section 702 of FISA: Sweeping Reforms to Warrantless Surveillance Initiative WHEN: December 12, 2023, 2-3 pm ET/11-12 noon PT HOSTS: Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), Advancing Justice | AAJC, APA Justice, Brennan Center for Justice, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) MODERATOR: Eri Andriola , Associate Director of Policy & Litigation, AASF SPEAKERS: · Noah Chauvin, Counsel, Liberty & National Security, Brennan Center for Justice · Joanna YangQing Derman, Director of Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights, and National Security, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, AASF · Andy Wong, Managing Director of Advocacy, CAA DESCRIPTION: The briefing will feature civil rights, national security, and policy experts, who will break down what Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is and how it impacts Asian American communities. Panelists will discuss the key reform bills at play, including the Government Surveillance Reform Act (GSRA) and the Protecting Liberty and Ending Warrantless Surveillance Act (PLEWSA), and how the Asian American community and advocates can get involved on this issue. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/41ejxkG Breaking News: NBC News reported on December 6, 2023, that lawmakers have reached an agreement to temporarily extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The agreement to reauthorize FISA through April 2024 is part of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations over a path forward for the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3Nho4Nv Earlier on December 5, 2023, a post on X, previously Tweeter, by Punchbowl News reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson nixed (more permanent) reauthorization of Section 702 in the NDAA. Read the X post: https://bit.ly/47Mdvdj President's Advisory Commission Renewed; White House Fellows Program Opens On September 29, 2023, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14109 to renew the President's Advisory Commission through September 2025. The action also amends Executive Order 14031 to provide commissioners with new authorities to more effectively communicate their work with the public. Established in May 2021, and co-chaired by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai , the 25-member Commission of AA and NHPI leaders advises the President on ways the public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. Read the White House announcement: https://bit.ly/3T8P2un White House Fellows Program Opens Applications for the Class of 2024-2025 White House Fellows Program is now open through 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 5, 2024. You can apply here now: https://bit.ly/3OGlwb1 . Individual registration is required. On December 7, 2023, starting at 8 pm ET, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) will host an online event for the public to learn how to apply, explore selection criteria, and ask for advice directly from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander alumni panelists. Register for "An Introduction to the White House Fellows Program" here: https://bit.ly/3RbsAxZ Meet The AANHPI Team at The White House From left to right: · Krystal Ka‘ai , Executive Director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders · Neera Tanden , Senior Advisor to the President and White House Staff Secretary · Erika L. Moritsugu , Deputy Assistant to the President and AA and NHPI Senior Liaison · Philip Kim , Senior Advisor, White House Office of Public Engagement They were introduced by Hannah Y. Kim , Asia-Pacific policy adviser to the White House Chief of Staff, in a video celebrating the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month during the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 1, 2023. A summary for the monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/3RwbRa0 . Other speakers at the meeting were · Nisha Ramachandran, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, nisha.ramachandran@mail.house.gov · John Yang 杨重远, President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org · Brenna Isman , Director of Academy Studies, National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) · Paula Williams Madison, Former Print and TV Journalist, Retired NBCUniversal executive CAPAC Chair Urges Opposition to DETERRENT Act on House Floor According to a press release by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) on December 6, 2023, CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) took to the House Floor to urge her colleagues to vote in opposition to H.R. 5933 , the DETERRENT Act.Her remarks as delivered:“As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise in strong opposition to the DETERRENT Act.“The DETERRENT Act would burden higher education institutions and federal agencies by needlessly complicating existing research security measures. Further, the bill would impose unreasonably expansive reporting requirements on individual researchers. What is worst is that it would broadcast their personal information on public databases, therefore casting a chilling effect disproportionately on the Asian American academic community.“From the incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II to racial profiling of Chinese American scientists under the failed China Initiative, countless Asian Americans have had their lives destroyed because our government falsely accused them of being spies. Already, seventy two percent of Asian American academic researchers report feeling unsafe. “Safeguarding national security can be done through commonsense reforms that Democrats have offered that don’t come at the expense of U.S. scientific innovation, global collaboration, and the Asian American community. In fact, Congressmember Bobby Scott has submitted such an amendment that is a commonsense reform. In the meanwhile, this bill, the DETERRENT Act, is a bill that I urge all my colleagues to vote no on.” News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2023/12/06 1882 Foundation Lecture and Reception: We are Americans 2023/12/07 An Introduction to The White House Fellows Program2023/12/10 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting 2023/12/12 Community Briefing on Section 702 of FISA2023/12/17 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly town hall meeting Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF December 7, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

2020 was an unprecedented year that saw our nation increasingly divided and filled with anti-Asian hate. However, it ended with a positive story on humanity in which the heroes and victims in an anti-Chinese hate crime are not even of Chinese origin. December 27, 2020 The year 2020 was one of unprecedented challenges that saw our nation increasingly divided, unable to control the COVID-19 pandemic that was filled with anti-Asian hate and continuing profiling of hundreds if not thousands of Chinese American scientists under investigations and prosecutions. However, it ended with a positive story on humanity in which the heroes and victims in an anti-Chinese hate crime are not even of Chinese origin. On December 27, 2020, a virtual event was held with Professor Steven Pei as the host to conclude a successful GoFundMe campaign , which was reported by the World Journal under the headline 员工勇救亚裔 华人5天募10万 . During the event, Zach Owen and Bawi Cung took the stage to express their appreciation for the generous donations of more than $121,000 from over 2,700 individuals. President Qiang Gan and Treasurer Lin Li of ACP Foundation Dallas reported the state of the finances and various details of the fundraiser. Other organizers for the fundraiser include OCA Greater Houston (H.C. Chang and Cecil Fong); Reagan Hignojos , friend of the Cung Family; United Chinese Americans (Steven Pei); and APAPA Austin Texas Chapter (C.J. Zhao). Bawi Cung and his two boys, aged 2 & 6, were hate crime victims in Midland, TX on March 14, 2020. The suspect thought the Burmese family was Chinese and spreading the coronavirus and attacked them with a knife. As a bystander, Zach Owen disarmed the suspect bare handedly. Unfortunately, Zach’s right palm also suffered permanent injury and has retained only 40% of his grip strength. With the hope to find a better job in the west Texas oil field, Zach came to Midland from Oklahoma. The injury disqualifies him from many oil field jobs. He has also been treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The first $50,000 of donation will still be given to Zach on or before his birthday in mid-January 2021 to pay for his ongoing out-of-pocket medical bills, cover some of the financial deficit incurred due to the reduced working hours during his recovery period, and also help with Zach’s return to a normal life. We need more heroes like Zach Owen. Earlier on June 22, 2020, a coalition of Asian American organizations honored Zach Owen and Bernie Ramirez , a Border Patrol agent who also intervened in the violent anti-Asian stabbing with a special Lily and Vincent Chin Advocacy Award Ceremony . It was followed by the From Vincent Chin to George Floyd Webinar led by Helen Zia, award-winning journalist and community activist, and moderated by Gordon Quan, attorney and former Houston City Council member. On August 10, 2020, Zach Owen testified in the Tri-caucus Congressional Forum on Rise in Anti-Asian Bigotry during the COVID-19 Pandemic ,” which was organized by the Congressional Asian Pacific Americcan Caucus. 2020 was an unprecedented year that saw our nation increasingly divided and filled with anti-Asian hate. However, it ended with a positive story on humanity in which the heroes and victims in an anti-Chinese hate crime are not even of Chinese origin. Previous Next 2020 Ends With A Positive Story

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