Newsletter - #187: 6/5 Meeting; Alien Land Bills; NYT Opinion; Paula Madison; OSTP Listening Sessions #187: 6/5 Meeting; Alien Land Bills; NYT Opinion; Paula Madison; OSTP Listening Sessions In This Issue #187 2023/06/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Latest on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills Opinion: Like It or Not, America Needs Chinese Scientists The Inspiring Journey of an Asian American Media Trailblazer White House Listening Sessions with Early Career Researcher Communities and NSPM-33 023/06/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, June 5, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), speakers include: Elizabeth Goitein , Senior Director, Liberty & National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, on Warrantless Surveillance - Reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, with updates on Civil Lawsuit Against Florida Alien Land Law, with comments by Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Bethany Li , Legal Director, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President, United Chinese Americans, with updates on Alien Land Bills and comments by Gene Wu 吳元之 , Member of the Texas House of Representatives. The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. 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 . Latest on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills 1. APA Justice Updates Its Tracking of State Alien Land Bills and Laws APA Justice updated its tracking map and table on May 30, 2023: https://bit.ly/3oo5zxF .According to KHOU-11 on May 29, 2023, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called an immediate special session Monday just hours after the House and Senate adjourned from the 88th legislative session. It will be the first special session of several, Abbott said. Abbott said the first special session will focus on cutting property taxes and border control by increasing penalties for human smugglers and those operating stash houses. Dates and times have not been announced for the other special sessions. Each session will last 30 days. Read and watch the KHOU-11 report: https://bit.ly/43aUYVH The South Carolina General Assembly went into special session after the regular session ended on May 11, 2023. According to AP News on May 11, 2023, in theory, anything can be dealt with during the special session. But in 2023, only a few outstanding issues are likely to come up as it is the first year of the two-year sessions and bills stay alive wherever they are in the legislative process until the 2024 session begins. Read the AP News report: https://bit.ly/3OLOtEK 2. 500+ Asian Americans Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month in Texas Legislature According to 世界新聞網 , the Asian Real Estate Association of America Houston Chapter (AREAA Houston) joined representatives from Dallas; Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese ethnic leaders; and local Asians to celebrate the AANHPI Heritage Month in Austin, the state capital of Texas, on May 9, 2023. Over 500 people attended the event.Texas state legislative members participated in the festivities. Group leaders met with the governor. A large crowd watched and discussed the proceedings of the AANHPI Heritage Month in the Texas Senate while officials introduced the functions of the government and answered questions in the state government auditorium. A meeting was also held with the Texas Association of Realtors concerning Texas Senate Bill 147.Read the 世界新聞網 report: https://bit.ly/3N8m3Dp (Chinese) and watch the video: https://bit.ly/3N9RKMS (7:04). Opinion: Like It or Not, America Needs Chinese Scientists According to a New York Times opinion on May 25, 2023, the Chinese Communist Party has accomplished something rare in U.S. politics these days: uniting Democrats and Republicans around a common enemy. Unfortunately, frenzied concern about Chinese influence threatens America’s ability to attract the top talent it needs to maintain global leadership in science and higher education. The damage caused by the Department of Justice’s now-disbanded "China Initiative" still reverberates. Designed to counter economic espionage and national security threats from China, it resulted — in some cases — in researchers and academics of Chinese descent being placed under house arrest or taken away in handcuffs on charges of hiding ties to China, cases that ended in acquittal or were later dropped.The program resulted in few prosecutions before being shut down last year. But it upended lives and careers, and created an atmosphere of fear. Some ethnic Chinese scientists disproportionately feel that their ethnicity and connections to China inhibit their professional progress and their chances of obtaining — and willingness to apply for — research funding in the United States. A survey of scientists of Chinese descent at American universities released last year found that significant percentages of respondents felt unwelcome in the United States, with 86 percent saying the current climate makes it more difficult for the United States to attract top international students than it was five years ago.This should be setting off alarm bells in Washington. Economic and military advantage is contingent on superior science, technology and innovation — and the competition for talent is global. Concerns over academic collaboration with China are legitimate. China’s government has contributed to the deterioration of academic cooperation. But let’s not race China to the bottom. If America fails to attract top international research talent, that harms U.S. prospects for scientific advancement and, ultimately, American economic and national strength.There is no doubt that present circumstances call for more transparency among scholars. Universities need to lead this change, whereby scholars pay greater attention to the implications of collaborating with foreign scientists. But we can’t let this get in the way of ensuring that the United States remains the best place in the world to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics and entices graduates from abroad to remain here after completing their degrees.Yet the number of U.S. visas granted to Chinese students has plummeted. To reverse this, visa processes should be streamlined, backlogs cleared and talented individuals given expanded opportunities to obtain green cards. America is training and educating some of the world’s brightest people; we need to get more of them and keep them here.Likewise, more Americans need to be learning about China. The number of American students studying in China was already declining from a peak of about 15,000 in 2011-12; during the pandemic that plummeted to less than 400. China is, and will continue to be, a critical global player; understanding its internal dynamics will be important for people operating in a range of fields. Yet we are at risk of having an entire generation of Americans who know little about China.We should immediately restart the Fulbright program in China, which sent thousands of Chinese and Americans between the two countries for research and learning until it was halted during the Trump administration, and increase federal funding for Chinese studies programs at our universities. Keeping American higher education open to the world is not about helping China to become strong, nor should we delude ourselves about Beijing’s intentions. It’s about exuding confidence in the strength and virtues of our system to ensure that America remains the best country in the world for learning and research. Dan Murphy , author of the opinion, is executive director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School and former executive director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard.Read the New York Times opinion: https://nyti.ms/3BZpWUS The Inspiring Journey of an Asian American Media Trailblazer On May 25, 2023, the U.S. General Consulate in Guangzhou hosted an in-person conversation with media trailblazer Paula Williams Madison in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Ms. Madison discussed her career as a woman in media and journalism, her identity as both an African American and Asian American, and her documentary Finding Samuel Lowe 《寻找罗定朝》, which tells the story of her search to locate her Chinese grandfather's descendants in China. Read the announcement by the US Embassy in China: https://bit.ly/3NhcJ0l (Chinese)According to reports by Shenzhen Daily and 南方都市报 , the Los Angeles-Guangzhou Sister City Association and Asia Pacific and American Network sponsored the AANHPI Heritage Month 2023 Gala at the LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, China, on May 27, 2023. Madison was honored for her commitment to diversity, representation, and social justice. Lisa K. Heller , U.S. Consul General in Guangzhou, praised Madison for breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes, stating that “it is through the exchange of ideas and stories like Paula’s that we can build bridges of understanding between people and nations.”"My name is Luo Xiaona 罗笑娜 , I am a Hakka, Jamaican, and Chinese American. I am African American. I am a descendant of the Luo family, and I am very happy that I have finally found my home and my roots," Paula said at the gala."When we were young, dinner at a friend's house was pig's trotters and collard greens. Every dinner we had was rice and cabbage that other children had never seen. Others had paintings in their homes, and our mother hung a Chinese serigraph in a bamboo frame in the small living room. She also likes to play with furniture and some objects to make a Fengshui layout," Madison said. Madison describes her reconnection with her Hakka roots in Longgang 龙岗, Shenzhen as “a life-changing experience.” “Suddenly, I went from someone with almost no relatives to a person with families all around the world,” said the 71-year-old Madison. She was referring to her sprawling Chinese family with relatives living on different continents. It has been 11 years since the emotional family reunion took place in 2012 at their ancestral village.Throughout her career as a journalist, media executive and business owner, Madison has been an active opponent of anti-Black and anti-Asian discrimination. Growing up in a majority Black community with a half-Chinese mother, Madison was acutely aware of racism towards Blacks and Chinese from an early age. Madison’s remedy for a world that is becoming even more divided today is communication and exchanges. “Salvation will come on the level of just people,” she says.Read the Shenzhen Daily report: https://bit.ly/43Eo3bR (English). Read the 南方都市报 report: https://bit.ly/43jd9IP (Chinese) and Weixin report: https://bit.ly/43kQ6xn (Chinese). White House Listening Sessions with Early Career Researcher Communities and NSPM-33 The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced that it will hold listening sessions in June. The sessions intend to elevate the needs, priorities, and experiences of those who will shape and inherit the future: the early career researcher community. A series of virtual listening sessions will explore perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for advancing open science in the United States and solutions that might be implemented by the U.S. Government. The sessions will be open to the public and may be recorded for OSTP’s use. Registration is required to attend. The upcoming listening sessions will be as follows: 2023/06/05 1-3 pm ET: Open Science Possibilities for Equitable Participation and Access: Perspectives from Early Career Researchers at Emerging Research Institutions. Registration: https://bit.ly/45KMLtk 2023/06/06 3-5 pm ET: Open Science Possibilities for Career Advancement: Perspectives from Early Career Researchers on Opportunities and Challenges in Career Progression and Trajectory. Registration: https://bit.ly/43lGO4g 2023/06/12 1-3 pm ET: Open Science Possibilities for Training and Capacity Building: Perspectives from the Early Career Researcher-Supporting Community. Registration: https://bit.ly/45F33DU If you would like to provide information in addition to or in lieu of participation in the listening session, you may send a brief message to the public email address OpenScience@OSTP.eop.gov . In addition, OSTP and Federal agency partners will hold listening sessions on the draft National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) Research Security Programs Standard Requirement to offer the higher education and broader research community the opportunity to provide verbal feedback to the Federal Register notice. These sessions will be open to the public and may be recorded for OSTP’s use. Registration is required to attend. The upcoming listening sessions will be as follows: 2023/06/05 1:00-2:30 pm ET: Research Security Programs Standard Requirement Listening Session One: Working with the Higher Education Community toward NSPM-33 Implementation. Registration: https://bit.ly/3MHArRP 2023/06/12 1:00-2:30 pm ET: Research Security Programs Standard Requirement Listening Session Two: Working with the Higher Education Community toward NSPM-33 Implementation. Registration: https://bit.ly/3MKkR7N Read the White House announcement: https://bit.ly/3OR4BEU Thousands of early-career NIH researchers forming union for first time. According to a report by Nature on June 1, 2023, thousands of early-career researchers at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have kickstarted the process to form a union. They are calling on the NIH — the world’s largest biomedical funder — to raise pay and improve benefits, as well as to bolster its policies and procedures against harassment and excessive workloads. Read the Nature report: https://go.nature.com/3qrzPs8 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 June 2, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #288 US Rep. Grace Meng Remarks; TX Rep Gene Wu on Vigilance; Exclusion Legacy; C100 Update #288 US Rep. Grace Meng Remarks; TX Rep Gene Wu on Vigilance; Exclusion Legacy; C100 Update In This Issue #288 · Congresswoman Grace Meng Remarks at APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Texas Rep. Gene Wu Urges Community Vigilance, Solidarity, and Action · The Legacy of Exclusion, Racism, and Xenophobia · C100 Updates AAPI Curriculum Research Project · News and Activities for the Communities Congresswoman Grace Meng Remarks at APA Justice Monthly Meeting Congresswoman Grace Meng gave remarks during the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 7, 2024. Congresswoman Grace Meng is serving her sixth term representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is the first and only Asian American Member of Congress from New York State. Grace serves on the House Appropriations Committee, where she is New York's senior member and is the Vice Ranking Member. During the monthly meeting, Congresswoman Meng delivered a heartfelt message, beginning by expressing gratitude for the invitation and recognition of her fellow colleagues. She gave special praise to Texas State Representative Gene Wu for his leadership and advocacy for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community during these challenging times. Congresswoman Meng also highlighted the critical role of Chair Judy Chu , Senator Mazie Hirono , and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), who have been working tirelessly to combat discriminatory legislation. Congresswoman Meng voiced her concern over the intensifying anti-China rhetoric in Congress. She specifically mentioned the recent attempt by House Republicans to pass a bill that could reinstate the China Initiative, which unfairly targeted individuals of Chinese descent under the guise of national security. While the bill is unlikely to pass in the Senate, Congresswoman Meng emphasized that such efforts continue to harm the AAPI community. In response, Congresswoman Meng and CAPAC urged Congressional leadership to remove language that would restart the China Initiative from the final government spending bill for 2025. She commended organizations like the Asian American Scholar Forum, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and APA Justice for their advocacy during “China Week” and beyond, and gave a special mention to Casey Lee for her contributions. Congresswoman Meng also raised alarm about Project 2025, a Republican policy roadmap that includes reinstating the China Initiative and ending family-based immigration, a move that would disproportionately impact Asian American communities. Project 2025 also calls for cutting funding to vital programs like food assistance and healthcare, directly affecting vulnerable populations, including the 4.5 million AAPI Medicaid recipients. It also targets reductions in the H1B visa program, which would harm skilled workers, many of whom are from AAPI communities. Congresswoman Meng stressed that these issues are not about party politics but about safeguarding the future and well-being of our community. Despite these challenges, Congresswoman Meng remains committed to fighting discriminatory policies and advancing progressive initiatives. One such initiative is the creation of the National Museum of Asian Pacific American History in Washington DC. The first legislation to establish the museum as part of the Smithsonian Institution was passed in 2022, and Congresswoman Meng is excited to continue working on this project. The museum will preserve and celebrate the rich histories and cultures of Asian Pacific Americans. In closing, Congresswoman Meng reflected on the hardships the AAPI community has faced, particularly during the pandemic, and urged continued unity and collaboration to address the challenges ahead.We thank Congresswoman Meng for her leadership and public service. Watch her talk at https://bit.ly/3Ysvaof (8:08). A summary of the October 7 monthly meeting is being finalized at this time. Texas Rep. Gene Wu Urges Community Vigilance, Solidarity, and Action Texas State Representative Gene Wu reminded the community of the necessity for vigilance, solidarity, and action in the face of rising anti-Asian sentiments and discriminatory legislation during the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 7, 2024. Gene serves the constituents of District 137 in the Texas House and is also an attorney in private practice. A dedicated advocate for the Asian Pacific American community in Texas and across the nation, Gene is committed to raising awareness and fostering dialogue about the pressing issues facing Asian Americans today. He regularly hosts town hall meetings and travels nationwide to engage with communities and promote understanding.Gene began his remarks by expressing profound gratitude to Congresswoman Grace Meng for her unwavering leadership in advocating for the Asian American community. He underscored the urgent need for awareness regarding the rising anti-Asian sentiment and legislation that disproportionately impacts Chinese Americans. This acknowledgment of the broader context of discrimination serves as a foundation for his call to action.Highlighting his recent travels to states like Tennessee and Florida, Gene shared his experiences engaging with Asian American communities and raising awareness about these critical issues. In Tennessee, for instance, a law was initially enacted that barred all immigrants from purchasing land but was later amended to specifically target Chinese individuals. This shift exemplifies a troubling trend across the United States, where anti-Chinese and anti-Asian measures are increasingly pervasive. Gene noted that there are currently 24 states with some form of anti-Asian land law legislation, with 13 of these states imposing restrictions explicitly against Chinese individuals. He traced this alarming trend back to historical patterns of discrimination, recalling how anti-Asian sentiments have roots that extend to the 1850s when waves of Chinese and Japanese immigrants faced similar oppressive laws.Drawing parallels between past and present discrimination, Gene recounted how laws from the late 19th and early 20th centuries specifically targeted Asian communities. Often justified under the guise of national security, these laws include the infamous Chinese Exclusion Act and other discriminatory measures against Japanese immigrants. He highlighted that such practices were not only legislated but also deeply embedded in societal attitudes toward Asian Americans. Gene cautioned that many within the community might dismiss these discriminatory practices as benign, believing they only affect specific groups like those from mainland China. He emphasized that this perspective is fundamentally flawed, as it sets a dangerous precedent where discrimination can escalate unchecked.Reflecting on significant historical moments when anti-Asian sentiments were codified into law, Gene recalled restrictions placed on Chinese women in the 1870s aimed at controlling population growth and the anti-alien laws passed in California in the early 1900s. He stressed that many of these laws remained in effect until the mid-20th century, highlighting a long-standing legacy of dehumanization and discrimination against Asian communities in America. Gene pointed out that the modern narrative of suspicion and fear directed at Chinese Americans is not a new phenomenon but rather a continuation of historical patterns of vilification and scapegoating. He called attention to the inflammatory rhetoric from prominent political figures, including Donald Trump and JD Vance , who portray Chinese Americans as threats to national security. Such rhetoric perpetuates a cycle of fear and distrust that not only harms Chinese Americans but also has broader implications for all Asian communities. Gene warned that this kind of vilification can lead to severe consequences, drawing parallels to the injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II when many were forcibly relocated to internment camps despite being U.S. citizens. Challenging the notion that only certain Asian groups are targeted by discrimination, Gene asserted that all Asian Americans are perceived as potential threats in a climate of suspicion. He urged the community to acknowledge this shared vulnerability and the necessity for solidarity among Asian Americans of all backgrounds. The historical context of discrimination serves as a crucial reminder that complacency can lead to dire repercussions. Gene called for heightened awareness and activism within the Asian American community, emphasizing that understanding the history of discrimination is vital to effectively combating the resurgence of these harmful ideologies.Gene also addressed the recent surge in anti-Asian violence that escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gene asserted that the violence and discrimination faced by Asian Americans, irrespective of their specific ethnic backgrounds, underscores the urgency of collectively addressing these pressing issues. He emphasized that current societal attitudes toward Asian Americans are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader historical narrative of discrimination that demands attention and action. In conclusion, Gene issued a rallying call for the Asian American community to awaken from complacency and recognize the challenges that lie ahead. He implored individuals to confront the systemic nature of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans, urging them to advocate for themselves and their communities. The resurgence of old hate signals that the struggles faced by Asian Americans in the past are far from over. It is crucial for everyone, especially the Asian American community, to unite in combating these threats. Gene's message serves as a vital reminder of the necessity for vigilance, solidarity, and action in the face of rising anti-Asian sentiments and discriminatory legislation.We thank Texas Rep. Wu for his leadership and public service. A video of his talk will be made available soon, along with a summary of the October 7 monthly meeting that is being finalized at this time. On October 18, 2024, the Houston Chronicle highlighted Texas State Representative Gene Wu and raised this question, "Asian Americans are Texas' fastest growing population. How ill that impact the elections?" In the upcoming 2024 Texas elections, the rapidly growing Asian American population is becoming an increasingly significant voting bloc. Both Democrats and Republicans are working to engage this diverse community, which has historically been under-represented in political outreach. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) now make up 4% of the Texas electorate, with substantial growth across multiple counties. While this group has leaned Democratic in recent years, there is significant diversity within the community, with variations in political preferences across ethnic groups. Both parties see the potential for the AAPI vote to be decisive in close races, but challenges such as language barriers and underinvestment in outreach persist. As Texas continues to grow and diversify, the AAPI electorate could play a crucial role in shaping the state's political landscape.Read the Houston Chronicle report: https://bit.ly/3A99Pqv The Legacy of Exclusion, Racism, and Xenophobia The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 stands as a glaring reminder of our nation’s darker history. As the first federal immigration law aimed at excluding a specific ethnic group based on race and nationality, it arose from a climate of anti-Chinese sentiment during the late 19th century. Chinese immigrants, who primarily sought work in mining and railroad construction, were scapegoated as “parasites,” blamed for taking jobs from white workers and undermining the societal norm of a “Country of White Men.” Other Asian groups, such as Japanese and South Asian immigrants, also faced restrictive measures later on.The Supreme Court’s landmark decision in the Chinese Exclusion Case of 1889 (Chae Chan Ping v. United States) upheld the federal government’s authority to restrict immigration, validating laws, even in ways that targeted specific racial or national groups. This created a precedent for ongoing anti-Chinese and broader anti-Asian sentiment, which persisted for decades and laid the groundwork for racially exclusionary immigration policies.Subsequent legislation, such as the Immigration Act of 1924, further codified these racial preferences, establishing quotas that favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe while severely restricting those from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943 during World War II, largely to strengthen ties with China as an ally. However, even then, the Magnuson Act limited immigration of Chinese persons to a mere 105 individuals annually, offering little more than a symbolic gesture toward equality.The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a significant turning point, abolishing the national origins quota system and prioritizing immigrants based on family reunification and skills rather than race or national origin. In 2011, Rep. Judy Chu , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, introduced a resolution expressing regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act. This initiative united various organizations under the 1882 Project , which included Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Committee of 100, Japanese American Citizens League, the National Council of Chinese Americans, and OCA, serving on the Steering Committee. It led to a remarkable moment in 2021 and 2022 when both the Senate and the House unanimously passed the resolution to acknowledge historical injustices. Read about the 1882 Project: https://bit.ly/3j7StPa The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) published a report titled " The Impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on the Economic Development of the Western U.S." in October 2024. The paper investigates the economic consequences of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. The Act reduced the number of Chinese workers of all skill levels residing in the U.S. It also reduced the labor supply and the quality of jobs held by white and U.S.-born workers, the intended beneficiaries of the Act, and reduced manufacturing output. The results suggest that the Chinese Exclusion Act slowed economic growth in western states until at least 1940. Read the NBER report: https://bit.ly/405zbjy According to Reason on the NBER report October 7, 2024, one of the main rationales for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act was to benefit white workers, who were supposedly victimized by competition from the Chinese. The NBER study shows that it did not achieve that goal. Mass deportations of immigrants destroy more jobs for native-born citizens than they create. The Chinese Exclusion Act benefited "local" white miners competing with Chinese miners. But such effects were outweighed by the much larger number of white workers who benefited from Chinese migration, including the associated job opportunities it created. The economy is not a zero-sum game, and the interests of workers from different ethnic and racial groups are more mutually reinforcing than conflicting. Read the Reason report: https://bit.ly/4f9v7TU C100 Updates AAPI Curriculum Research Project On October 17, 2024, the Committee of 100 (C100) announced an update to its ongoing AAPI Curriculum Research Project, which tracks state legislation and local education standards that require or encourage the teaching of AAPI history in K-12 schools. Launched in 2022, this project is updated annually. New to this year's update is an interactive map that provides summaries of legislations and education standards related to AAPI or ethnic studies for each state, along with the name and full text of each statue.“For almost two centuries, the AAPI community has made significant contributions to the U.S., yet Asian Americans are still battling the stereotype of being perpetual foreigners,” said Cindy Tsai , Interim President of C100. “Public schools play a crucial role in shaping informed citizens. However, in many states, schools don’t teach students about the contributions of Asian Americans, even though Asian American history is American history. If children aren’t taught this, how can they grow into citizens who understand the experiences and challenges faced by all Americans?” According to the C100, as of October 3, 2024: · 12 states have statutes that require AAPI studies curriculum · 4 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require AAPI studies curriculum · 15 states have academic standards that require AAPI studies · 22 states have statutes that require ethnic studies curriculum · 3 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require ethnic studies curriculum · 33 states have academic standards that require ethnic studies · 8 states have no statutes, recently introduced bills, or academic standards that require or make optional AAPI studies or ethnic studies curriculum For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4fd9EcO News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/10/22 Engage with AAAS: 2024 U.S. Elections2024/10/24 Why Do Legislators Brawl? Lawmaking, Fist Fighting and Messaging in Taiwan 2024/10/25-27 Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the American Studies Network2024/10/26 Common Ground and Banquet2024/10/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/06 Asian American Women in Media and Music2024/11/10 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/12 Threats to International Engagement and Academic Freedom2024/11/14 An Advice and Networking Event (Financial Services, Investing and Consulting)Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. NOTE: Because the regular scheduled day falls on the eve of Election Day, we have moved the next APA Justice monthly meeting to Monday, November 18, 2024. 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 . 2. USCET Internships The U.S.-China Education Trust is seeking intern(s) for Spring 2025 to support its communications and programs. Undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students are welcome to apply. The internships offer an opportunity to gain experience in the nonprofit sector and develop expertise in the field of US-China relations. The interns work a hybrid and flexible part-time schedule to accommodate their student schedules. The position includes a stipend or academic credit. Send in your applications by November 8, 2024, 11:59PM ET. For more information, contact https://bit.ly/3Nz4Tyi 3. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moved to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF October 21, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #389 Monthly Meeting Today; Trump-Xi Summit; FY2027 Science Budget; SCOTUS Hearing; + #389 Monthly Meeting Today; Trump-Xi Summit; FY2027 Science Budget; SCOTUS Hearing; + In This Issue #389 · APA Justice April Monthly Meeting is Today · 05/14-15 Trump-Xi Summit · FY2027 Science Budget and America’s Brain Drain · 04/01 Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship · News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice April Monthly Meeting is Today The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held today, Monday, April 6, 2026, 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 to welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Eric Zheng , President, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai · Susan A. Thornton , Vice Chair, U.S. Heartland China Association · Susan Shirk , Research Professor; Director Emeritus, 21st Century China Center, University of California, San Diego Although the Trump-Xi summit has been postponed to May 14-15, 2026, U.S.-China relations remain the most consequential global issue of our time — with profound implications for trade, education, international exchange, and the well-being of Chinese Americans, Asian Americans, and immigrant communities nationwide. This meeting will bring together some of the most informed voices on these issues for a timely and wide-ranging conversation. The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . 05/14-15 Trump-Xi Summit The Trump-Xi summit, originally scheduled for late March 2026, has been postponed to May 14–15, 2026. Both Washington and Beijing are currently signaling that the delay is due to logistical reasons related to the ongoing war in Iran, rather than a breakdown in bilateral relations. The U.S. Perspective Washington is framing the meeting as a high-stakes opportunity to maintain stability despite geopolitical distractions. · Reason for Delay : President Trump postponed the trip to remain in Washington as commander-in-chief during the U.S. war with Iran. · Diplomatic Strategy : The White House has indicated that cabinet-level officials will travel to China in the coming weeks to prepare, though U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently cast doubt on the necessity of such pre-meetings. · Focus Areas : Key priorities include managing tariffs, high-tech export controls, and ensuring China follows through on its agricultural purchase commitments such as soybeans. The Chinese Perspective Beijing is viewing the summit with a mix of cautious optimism and strategic frustration. · Measured Response : Chinese officials have been "measured" regarding the delay, emphasizing that dialogue is vital to preventing "globally damaging miscalculations". · Frustrations : Reports suggest Beijing is irked by a "last-minute scramble" and perceived insufficient U.S. preparation, which they fear may limit the summit to narrow trade deals rather than broader strategic issues. · Core Interests : President Xi is expected to push for a softening of the U.S. stance on Taiwan and seek a "total reset" of ties following the 2025 trade truce. Related Developments · Trade Probes : In the lead-up to May, China has launched fresh trade investigations into U.S. practices as calibrated countermeasures to earlier Trump administration probes. · Taiwan Visits : A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation plans to visit Taipei before the May summit to demonstrate "unwavering commitment," a move Beijing typically views as a provocation. · KMT Chair Visits China : Cheng Li-wun 鄭麗文 , Chair of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT)—also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party—is scheduled to lead a delegation to China from April 7 to 12, 2026. It marks the first trip by a sitting KMT leader to the mainland in a decade. FY2027 Science Budget and America’s Brain Drain According to multiple reports, for the second consecutive year, the Trump administration has proposed dramatic cuts to the budgets of major U.S. science agencies. The White House's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, released April 3, would make some of the deepest reductions in the history of American science funding. The proposed cuts are stark. The National Science Foundation would see its budget slashed by nearly 55%, from $8.8 billion to $4 billion. The Environmental Protection Agency would face a similar cut of more than 50%. NASA would lose 23% of its total budget and nearly half of its science division funding, with more than 40 projects terminated. The National Institutes of Health would lose 13%, and three of its 27 institutes — including those focused on minority health and health disparities, international research, and alternative medicine — would be shut down entirely. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research office would be eliminated altogether. The administration's stated rationale is to redirect resources toward presidential priorities — the military budget would increase 44% to $1.5 trillion — while maintaining targeted funding for artificial intelligence and quantum computing research at the defense and energy departments. However, even basic AI and quantum research at NSF would be cut by 32% and 37% respectively. To partially offset military budget increase, the administration called for $73 billion in reduced domestic spending, a 10% cut spread across several federal agencies that support social services, health, research, housing and education programs. A new and troubling element in this year's proposal is a ban on using federal funds for academic journal subscriptions and publishing fees, without defining what constitutes "expensive" or "prohibitively high" costs. Scientists have reacted with alarm. "We cannot cut the pipeline and expect the output to continue," said glaciologist Leigh Stearns of the University of Pennsylvania. "This is how the US loses its scientific leadership — with a reckless budget line." NASA's proposed cuts were described as "an extinction-level event for science" by the Planetary Society's chief of space policy. Importantly, it is Congress — not the president — that ultimately controls the federal budget. Congress rejected similar proposals last year, restoring funding for many of the programs the White House sought to eliminate. Budget negotiations for fiscal year 2027 could last well into the fall, particularly given Congressional elections in November. Fiscal year 2027 starts on October 1, 2026. For the AAPI community, the proposed elimination of NIH's institute on minority health and health disparities is of particular concern, as is the broader chilling effect these cuts would have on the academic and scientific community — including the Asian American researchers and scientists who have already been disproportionately targeted by surveillance, racial profiling, and the legacy of the China Initiative. Read the statements and reports by American Association for the Advancement of Science , Association of American Medical Colleges , Association of American Universities , Nature , The Planetary Society , and The Science Coalition . A New York Times report describes a growing risk of a U.S. “brain drain” as scientists leave the country due to cuts in research funding and stricter immigration policies. It highlights the case of robotics engineer Wali Malik , who moved to Austria to lead a new lab and recruited other top researchers from leading U.S. institutions. Experts warn that declining investment and talent loss could harm U.S. innovation and economic growth, while countries like Canada, China, and those in the European Union are actively attracting displaced scientists with new funding programs. Although the U.S. remains a major hub for research and venture capital, concerns are rising that reduced support for science could weaken its long-term leadership, even as some researchers weigh lower salaries abroad against greater stability and quality of life. 04/01 Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship On April 1, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a closely watched case challenging President Donald Trump ’s executive order to limit birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. A decision is expected in June or July and could have far-reaching implications for constitutional rights, immigration policy, and longstanding legal precedent. Outside the Court, demonstrators gathered in significant numbers, reflecting the intensity of public interest and concern. Advocacy organizations, including APIAVote and Stop AAPI Hate, joined a broad coalition of civil rights groups emphasizing the potential impact on immigrant communities, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Legal experts have underscored the high stakes. Cecillia Wang 王德棻 , a birthright citizen born in Oregon to Taiwanese immigrant parents and National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argued at the Supreme Court that the case tests a foundational principle of equal citizenship, warning that narrowing birthright protections could create uncertainty and unequal treatment under the law. The ACLU and allied organizations have been actively engaged in legal advocacy and public education around the issue. If there is one line to take away from the Supreme Court hearing, it might be these words spoken by Chief Justice John Roberts : “It’s a new world. It’s the same Constitution.” Roberts’ words came as a retort to an argument from Solicitor General John Sauer , who sought to defend Trump’s executive order in the face of the Constitution, the law and precedent that have long stood for a basic premise of American life: If you’re born here, you’re a citizen. Asian Law Caucus , located in San Francisco where Wong Kim Ark 黄金德 led and won a historic Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Executive Order. Members of Congress have also weighed in. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has voiced strong support for preserving birthright citizenship, including Chair Grace Meng 孟昭文 ’s statement and amicus briefs, highlighting its importance to immigrant communities and American identity. Rep. Ro Khanna , Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, issued a statement in response to the Trump Administration’s attempts to end birthright citizenship. Born in Philadelphia to Indian parents, Rep. Khanna said, “For centuries, Chinese Americans have helped build this country. From workers on the transcontinental railroad to particle physicist Chien-Shiung Wu 吳健雄 , to architect I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 , thousands of Chinese Americans have contributed immeasurably to our nation’s innovation, culture, and success. Continuing to attract immigrant contributions is paramount to American exceptionalism. “Way back in 1869, Frederick Douglass argued passionately for Chinese immigration and for a diverse, ‘composite’ American nationality. After being enslaved for nearly twenty years, he spoke in support of a multiracial democracy including Chinese immigrants, saying ‘the fact that the Chinese and other nations desire to come and do come is a proof of their capacity for improvement and of their fitness to come.’ “I am proud to work alongside groups like Stop AAPI Hate, the Asian American Scholar Forum, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and OCA National to protect birthright citizenship, uphold American diversity, and rebuke any and all anti-immigrant hate.” Across sectors, the hearing has reinforced concerns about how shifts in constitutional interpretation could affect not only immigration policy but also broader civil liberties. As the Court deliberates, advocacy groups are continuing outreach efforts to inform communities, encourage civic participation, and prepare for potential outcomes. Further updates will be provided as the Court approaches its decision later this summer. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future TogetherVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Iowa Residents Rallied against State Bill HF2513 On March 21, at 4:00 PM local time, over 150 residents from multiple regions in Iowa including Iowa City, Ames and Des Moines gathered at the state capitol to express their deep concern and opposition to HF2513 , a bill currently advancing through the Iowa state legislature. The bill has sparked widespread controversy as it seeks to restrict the eligibility of Chinese nationals on H-1B work visas to be employed at Iowa’s public universities. The event was co-organized by the Iowa City Area Chinese Association (ICACA), the Chinese Faculty and Staff Association of Central Iowa, the Iowa Chinese Association, the Ames Chinese Association, the APAPA Eastern Iowa Chapter, and United Chinese Americans (UCA). The coalition warns that HF2513 invokes "national security" as a pretext for state–sponsored discrimination. The rally quickly drew the attention of several mainstream Iowa media outlets and has resonated strongly within both the Chinese American community and the broader public. · Iowa Public Radio: University employees protest bill restricting hiring of H-1B workers from adversary nations · Local 5 WOI-DT: Rally held in protest of bill that would restrict colleges in hiring people of 'foreign adversaries' # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF April 6, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #342 Citizenship Order Blocked; Monthly Meeting Recap; Perkins Coie on Government Scrutiny+ #342 Citizenship Order Blocked; Monthly Meeting Recap; Perkins Coie on Government Scrutiny+ In This Issue #342 · Legal Challenges Continue to Block Trump’s Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship · Summary of 2025/07/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting (in progress) · Facing Government Scrutiny? Read This from Perkins Coie · News and Activities for the Communities Legal Challenges Continue to Block Trump’s Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship According to AP , CNN , Just Security , and multiple media reports, President Trump’s January 20, 2025, Executive Order 14160, which seeks to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil with non‑citizen parents, remains blocked by federal court rulings despite a recent Supreme Court decision that limited the reach of nationwide injunctions.On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court held that individual district judges may no longer issue universal nationwide injunctions. However, it clarified that class-action injunctions remain valid, preserving a legal pathway for nationwide relief under certain circumstances.One such ruling came from U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante in New Hampshire, who certified a class of affected children and issued a nationwide injunction that remains in effect pending appeal. Although the Supreme Court’s decision would have allowed the order to take effect on July 27 in states not covered by separate injunctions, Judge LaPlante’s ruling ensures continued nationwide protection.“The judge’s order protects every single child whose citizenship was called into question by this illegal executive order,” Cody Wofsy , the ACLU attorney representing children who would be affected by Trump’s restrictions, said. “The government has not appealed and has not sought emergency relief so this injunction is now in effect everywhere in the country.”Elsewhere, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin of Massachusetts is weighing whether to maintain a previously issued nationwide injunction or to narrow or stay it in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. During a recent hearing, Judge Sorokin appeared skeptical of the government’s arguments. Using an analogy about a noisy neighbor and a hastily proposed wall to block sound, he questioned how the government intended to comply with the law: “What you are telling me is we will do it but, in response to my question, you have no answer how you will do it,” he said. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman of Maryland stated in an opinion on July 18 that she would grant class action status on behalf of all children affected by the executive order and grant a preliminary injunction blocking it. But she did not immediately rule, noting a previous decision of hers to block the order was on appeal to the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court and that court would have to return the case to her. Judge Boardman said an immediate ruling from her would “promote judicial efficiency and economy because it would enable the Fourth Circuit to consider the merits of a class-wide preliminary injunction sooner rather than later.” At the core of these lawsuits is the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 in response to the Dred Scott decision, which denied citizenship to African Americans. In United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), the Supreme Court affirmed that children born in the U.S. to non-citizen immigrant parents are citizens by birth, unless their parents are foreign diplomats or enemy occupiers. This precedent remains a foundational element of birthright citizenship law—and the focal point of the current legal battles. Summary of 2025/07/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting (in progress) The APA Justice monthly meeting on July 7, 2025, featured timely and urgent presentations from several distinguished speakers addressing the challenges facing higher education, civil rights, and immigrant communities amid escalating political pressures. Below is a summary of the remarks from four of the speakers: 1. Lynn Pasquerella, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) President Lynn Pasquerella expressed deep concern about the future of American higher education and democracy. She pointed out that this is a moment of enormous significance that brings a renewed sense of urgency to our nation’s historic mission of educating for democracy. It is also a time of growing moral distress, in which campus leaders feel coerced into making decisions they believe are unethical decisions and they feel they have no choice but to make. They are continually forced to confront the question: How much individual injustice should be tolerated for the sake of long-term reform? As a result, for many, that moral distress has morphed into a kind of moral injury—arising from the continuous erosion of their moral compass and the ongoing challenges to their deeply held values characterized by deepening ideological divides. Development of Existential Threat to Higher Education 2023 brought attacks on DEI, a Supreme Court decision banning race-based admissions, and legislation introduced in 42 states to implement educational gag orders—limiting speech around race, gender, and other so-called “divisive concepts.” At the end of that year, the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn were called before the Congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce to answer for and atone for alleged antisemitism on their campuses—accusations attributed to their institutions’ emphasis on DEI. At the December 5 hearings on Capitol Hill, Representative Virginia Foxx’s opening statement was not only against those university presidents, but against higher education as a whole. Those hearings foreshadowed the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term, marked by unprecedented government overreach and political intrusion into nearly every aspect of college and university operations. This included the withdrawal of billions of dollars in federal research funding, caps on indirect costs for grants awarded by NIH and the Department of Energy, and the elimination of spending on research topics like race, transgender health, women’s issues, climate change, misinformation, and COVID-19. Within his first two and a half weeks in office, four executive orders were signed directly targeting transgender individuals. And within another two weeks, a Dear Colleague letter from the Department of Education directed colleges and universities to eliminate all DEI initiatives in hiring, curriculum, and co-curricular activities. A separate executive order mandated that higher education accrediting bodies remove all DEI-related standards, claiming that "radical left" accreditors had allowed campuses to be overrun by “Marxist maniacs and lunatics.” Targeting of Chinese and International Students We saw hundreds of international students detained and thousands more have their visas terminated. Limits were removed on ICE agents’ activities on college campuses. In states like Florida, campus security officers were given authority to perform immigration enforcement functions. Despite First Amendment protections, the President threatened the arrest and deportation of international students and faculty who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. Funding for study abroad and international scholarships was suspended. Harvard was warned that its ability to admit international students would be revoked unless it provided detailed records on all such students. Although Harvard complied, a month later Secretary Kristi Noem declared that international students would no longer be eligible for admission to Harvard, and existing international students were told they must transfer immediately or face visa termination. Travel bans were implemented for citizens of 12 countries, and heightened visa restrictions were placed on those from seven others. On June 9, the government announced that all student visa applicants—regardless of country of origin—must unlock their social media accounts for review. One consequence of this has been that colleges and universities with high international student populations now face credit risk. Moody’s has warned of downgrades to credit ratings—particularly for the 11% of American institutions where international students make up more than 20% of the student body. The reemerging climate of fear and intimidation for Chinese students—echoes of the 77 cases brought by the Department of Justice under the "China Initiative." Although most cases were dismissed due to lack of evidence, the chilling effect on Chinese and Asian American researchers remains. During the program’s enforcement, departures of Asian researchers from the U.S. increased by 75%. Although the initiative ended in 2022, recent attempts to revive it have reaffirmed a deep sense of uncertainty among Asian and Asian American students. Efforts led by Marco Rubio and others, which many see as the weaponization of a population that has contributed significantly to the nation's economic development and academic excellence by bringing in global talent and diverse perspectives. During the last academic year, 200,398 Chinese students were studying in the U.S.—122,778 of them graduate students in STEM fields. These are the very students now being targeted. What has unfolded constitutes an existential threat to American colleges and universities—institutions founded on the principles of the free exchange of ideas, the unfettered pursuit of truth, and independence from unwarranted governmental and political interference. Call to Action In April 2025, AAC&U, alongside the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, released a statement entitled A Call for Constructive Engagement , outlining what is at stake for America’s prosperity should the critical partnership between government and higher education continue to unravel. For the first time, sitting presidents of colleges and universities came together in large numbers to respond to attacks from the Trump administration. The statement made clear that while presidents and leaders of scholarly societies are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight, they will stand together against efforts to restrict or undermine the freedoms fundamental to American higher education. The process leading to the statement revealed the pressures campus leaders are experiencing. AAC&U held two virtual meetings where 193 campus leaders came together. Many spoke of needing board approval to speak out, others described pressure from state governors, and many feared media backlash. Yet nearly all cited growing demands from faculty and students to defend their institutions’ core principles and push back against efforts to control curriculum or restrict freedom of expression. We know from the recent removal of the President of the University of Virginia that concern over government overreach is real. That incident reaffirmed a conviction that emerged: If everyone exercises a little moral courage, no one person has to be the hero. This is a moment for all of us to come together across sectors and lead with moral courage. When one university is threatened, it is the responsibility of all institutions to respond. As philosopher John Dewey reminds us—democracy is not just a system of government, but a way of life. It depends on an educated and engaged citizenry, capable of making independent judgments, challenging authority, and participating meaningfully in public discourse. 2. Tony Chan 陳繁昌, Former President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Former President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology After having spent 20 years teaching at UCLA, Tony spent the following 15 years abroad—including six years as the President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Tony talked about his article, The Role of Research Universities in a Changing World Order , which was recently published in Not Alone by Elsevier. Recent Developments Since the article was written in early 2025 Much has changed since March—Harvard’s authority to admit international students and its tax-exempt status are under threat, visa policies have shifted, and there have been dramatic funding cuts to the NIH and NSF. The NSF’s Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, where Tony once served, faces a proposed 75% cut. This level of disruption affects all research universities and makes long-term planning nearly impossible. We have also seen a wave of university president resignations. The landscape is shifting rapidly, and academia is scrambling to respond. It is no longer just about campus governance—it is about our role in society and in global competitiveness. Tony framed his article around East-West academic competition—particularly between the U.S. and China, though India now plays a growing role. Talent Flow and Research Collaboration Recently, Tony co-founded a virtual platform called " Dialogue on Asian Universities ” (DAU). On June 23, DAU had its 11th dialogue, titled Tectonic Shift in the Global Talent Chain: The Forces of Technology and Geopolitics , where Tony moderated a conversation between the presidents of two Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)—Delhi and Mumbai—and a leading AI researcher from Tsinghua University, formerly a senior VP at Microsoft in Redmond. Ten years ago, 90% of IIT graduates came to the U.S. Today, that trend has reversed: 90% stay in India, where opportunities are booming. The same is true in China, which is actively attracting returnees at the peak of their careers. Chinese students once saw the U.S. as the obvious destination. Now, many are reconsidering—questioning whether it’s worth investing years here under such uncertainty. There is a push from the U.S.—visa hurdles, political hostility—and a growing pull from home countries. Tony gave two striking examples: 1. DeepSeek, a competitive AI model to ChatGPT, was built in China by graduates who never studied abroad. That is a wake-up call. 2. Meta has been hiring talent away from OpenAI—many of these AI researchers are young, Chinese-born, and U.S.-trained. So while the government tries to limit student visas, industry thrives on the very people being pushed out. There is a major contradiction. When it comes to research collaboration, the trend has also reversed. Fifteen years ago, U.S. faculty were eager to collaborate globally—especially with China. Now, fears over dual-use technologies and national security have shut many doors. This is understandable to a degree, but we have managed dual-use issues before—through clearances and containment. What we have now is a blanket policy that hinders not just collaboration with China, but progress on global challenges like climate, energy, and health. Joint ventures are collapsing. Multiple American-Chinese university partnerships—at Berkeley, Michigan, and Georgia Tech—have closed under political pressure. Others are likely considering exit strategies. Recommendations Universities represent something deeper: values, leadership, and change in society. What is happening now has broader implications—for all of society. Here is the irony: the Chinese system is often criticized for authoritarianism, lack of free speech, and human rights issues. Yet, in recent years, Tony has seen a disturbing erosion of these very things in the U.S. He offered four recommendations: 1. Academia must remember its core mission —to serve society and humanity for the long term. Bending to short-term political pressure may be expedient but risks undermining academic integrity, reputation, and the ability to attract talent. 2. Universities must adapt to shifting geopolitical and economic realities . Ignoring national security concerns is not an option. But universities should propose pragmatic frameworks that enable collaboration within necessary constraints. 3. Reaffirm academic freedom . Without that, there is no point in having American-style universities. 4. Leadership requires courage . It is easier to do nothing. But if you are in a leadership position, that is not an option. If you cannot lead, you should step aside. The bigger question is: how did we let it get this far without the public engaging? When we speak, people assume it is self-interest. We need third-party voices to make the case for why academia matters—beyond campus walls. 3. Clay Zhu 朱可亮, Founder and President, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) Clay provided updates on two major lawsuits challenging government actions targeting Chinese students and property buyers. In early April, CALDA learned about the mass termination of student status for thousands of international students, most of whom are from China. In response, CALDA filed a case, Chen v. Noem (4:25-cv-03292) , in the Northern District of California. On May 22, the judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction . As a result, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) statuses of most affected students have been restored. However, CALDA also discovered that, simultaneously, DHS and ICE had terminated the students' SEVIS statuses, and the State Department had revoked their student visas. CALDA does not yet have an exact count of how many students are affected but plans to amend the complaint to add the State Department as an additional defendant, in an effort to restore the revoked visas. Due to the recent Supreme Court decision in CASA Inc. v. Trump (8:25-cv-00201) , CALDA may also need to further amend the complaint to pursue the case as a class action. Meanwhile, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 (SB17) into law on June 20, 2025. The bill restricts certain foreign purchases of real property in Texas. CALDA filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and a motion for class certification the day before Independence Day. This is one of the first cases filed under the recent Supreme Court ruling in CASA v. Trump, which prompted CALDA to file these lawsuits on a class-action basis. CALDA is currently awaiting a judge assignment and hearing date. Since the law takes effect on September 1, there is less than two months to obtain a court decision—followed potentially by an appeal. Clay, expressing both gratitude for American opportunities and frustration at current policies, emphasized that CALDA’s legal efforts aim to protect constitutional rights and ensure due process for affected Chinese individuals. 4. Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, jderman@advancingjustice-aajc.org Without going into the details of Texas Senate Bill SB17, Joanna highlighted several other top-line actions from AAJC. On July 2, AAJC transmitted a bipartisan letter from AAPI leaders to members of Congress, urging broader protection for the safety of the AAPI community. It was signed by senior former government and elected officials, as well as community and public service leaders. (Please contact Joanna if you would like a copy of the letter.)AAJC, along with the Asian American Scholars Forum (AASF), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and Stop AAPI Hate, also led a coalition letter representing 64 organizations addressed to Secretary Marco Rubio . His newly proposed visa policy—issued without meaningful clarity—harms the safety and well-being of students, undermines American values, and jeopardizes the nation’s academic, technological, and economic leadership. The letter called for a halt to the implementation of the May 28 policy announcement to “aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese international students,” including those in “critical fields.”There have also been several Supreme Court decisions in recent weeks. AAJC, along with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and OCA, condemned the recent Supreme Court ruling in CASA v. Trump, which significantly limits the ability of lower courts to issue "universal injunctions." Executive Order 14160, which seeks to end birthright citizenship for individuals born in the United States whose parents had certain immigration statuses, may now go into effect on a case-by-case basis. AAJC remains confident that related litigation will result in the Executive Order being ruled unconstitutional. AAJC has also issued press statements on other Supreme Court decisions, which can be found on the AAJC website. Facing Government Scrutiny? Read This from Perkins Coie On June 26, 2025, Perkins Coie LLP, a large international law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington, hosted Compliance Collective webinars aimed at helping nonprofit and university leaders stay ahead of the curve when it comes to government investigations and inquiries. With oversight from executive agencies and legislative bodies on the rise, organizations in the nonprofit and higher education sectors are increasingly likely to encounter subpoenas, information requests, and other official actions. These sessions offered practical advice and up-to-date strategies to ensure leaders are well-prepared to respond effectively and protect their institutions.The webinars focused on two principal avenues of risk: (1) revocation of tax-exempt status by the IRS, and (2) law enforcement and regulatory inquiries, including subpoenas, congressional investigations, and government raids. These risks are increasingly intertwined, with legislative and executive actions targeting activities perceived as contrary to public policy or law. Perkins Coie has shared two documents summarizing the insights from the webinars: · Essential Strategies for Navigating Government Inquiries o Legal Frameworks and Areas of Exposure o Practical Guidance for Risk Assessment and Response o Developing Robust Policies and Procedures · Search Warrants: Dos and Don’ts Perkins Coie concludes that in an increasingly uncertain regulatory environment, nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions must proactively identify and assess their unique risks, establish clear protocols for government interactions, and ensure ongoing board and management engagement. Tailored compliance strategies, informed by legal counsel and aligned with organizational mission and risk tolerance, are essential to navigating the evolving landscape of government scrutiny. Perkins Coie welcomes interested parties to contact any of the following presenters or Perkins Coie representative for more in-depth guidance or legal support. · Jamie Schafer, Partner, JSchafer@perkinscoie.com · Jean-Jacques Cabou, Firmwide Co-Chair, White Collar & Investigations Practice, Partner, JCabou@perkinscoie.com · Angela Jones, Deputy General Counsel, Partner, AJones@perkinscoie.com · Richard Sevcik, Firmwide Chair, Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice, Partner, RSevcik@perkinscoie.com News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/07/25-27 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony 2025/07/29 C100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Linda Chao Yang2025/07/29 From Heartland to Mainland: 2025 Future Ag Leaders Delegation2025/07/31-08/10 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. 1990 Institute Youth Symposium WHAT: 1990 Institute Youth Symposium — Roots and Wings: Celebrating Asian American Youth with the Power of Community WHEN: September 6, 2025, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm PT WHERE: College of San Mateo, 1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94401 HOST: 1990 Institute DESCRIPTION: This inaugural Youth Symposium is more than a one-day event. It is our first large-scale, cross-generational outreach initiative and marks a major milestone for the 1990 Institute as we navigate this fast-changing and challenging time, and position ourselves as a leader in addressing the most pressing and relevant issues impacting our community. It builds upon 1990’s legacy educational programming and supports our core mission. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4m79Q0D # # # 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 21, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #136 New Legislations; Update and Town Hall on Anti-Asian Hate Crimes; NIH Dialogue; More #136 New Legislations; Update and Town Hall on Anti-Asian Hate Crimes; NIH Dialogue; More Back View PDF August 11, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #148 "China Initiative" Cases Crumble; Caught in Tension/Hate; 10/03 Meeting; 09/12 Summary #148 "China Initiative" Cases Crumble; Caught in Tension/Hate; 10/03 Meeting; 09/12 Summary Back View PDF September 30, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #352 Register for 10/16 Webinar; AAJC, APIAVote, and OCA Updates; CALDA New Lawsuit v SB17+ #352 Register for 10/16 Webinar; AAJC, APIAVote, and OCA Updates; CALDA New Lawsuit v SB17+ In This Issue #352 · Register to Attend Inaugural Webinar on October 16, 2025 · Update from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC · Update from APIAVote · Update from OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates · CALDA Appeals and Files New Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law · News and Activities for the Communities Register to Attend Inaugural Webinar on October 16, 2025 Cindy Tsai 蔡欣玲 , Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Committee of 100 (C100), and Rosie Levine 卢晓玫 , Executive Director of the U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET), announced the launch of a joint webinar series, titled " Global Tensions, Local Dimensions - Navigating the U.S.-China Relationship, " at the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025.The inaugural webinar will take place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET on Zoom , featuring Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch 張之香 and Gary Locke 骆家辉 , in conversation with Jessica Chen Weiss 白潔曦, David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS.Register to attend the webinar titled " Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations ," by scanning the QR code above or clicking this link: https://bit.ly/20251016Webinar About the Series and Webinar From the ping-pong diplomacy that preceded formal diplomatic ties in the 1970’s to the robust educational exchanges that flourished in the reform era in the 1990’s, people-to-people connections have provided continuity during periods of political tension in the U.S.-China relationship. Yet in today's environment of strategic competition, people-to-people engagements, such as academic partnerships, student exchanges, business networks, and diaspora community ties, are increasingly restricted in the name of national security. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, whose families and networks often span both countries, increasingly find themselves in the crosshairs.This webinar will focus on the past, present, and future of people-to-people ties between the United States and China, as well as the implications for AAPI communities and U.S. policy. At a time of strained U.S.-China ties, and a concurrent rise in incidents of profiling and violence directed toward the AAPI community in the United States, this discussion will explore how U.S. foreign policy intersects with domestic policy and rights. About the Co-Hosts · C100 is a nonpartisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, science, and the arts. Founded in 1990 by I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 and other distinguished leaders, C100 works to advance the full participation of Chinese Americans in U.S. society and to foster constructive dialogue between the United States and Greater China. As Cindy noted, global interactions have direct consequences for AAPI communities at home. · USCET , founded in 1998 by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, is a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit dedicated to promoting mutual understanding between the United States and China through education and exchange. USCET strengthens American Studies in China, supports professional development for educators, and creates dialogue among students, scholars, and policymakers. Rosie noted that USCET’s first-ever public statement was issued to express concern over proposed restrictions on international student visas. · APA Justice , advocate of over 10 years for fairness, equity, and justice for Asian Americans and beyond, is also a co-host of this series. Update from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC During the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill, highlighting harmful House language directing the Department of Justice to reinstate the China Initiative. AAJC is responding comprehensively. · Civil Society Letter : An updated letter with more than 80 organizational sign-ons has been sent to Congress. · Bicameral Letter : Representative Judy Chu and Senator Mazie Hirono led a bicameral letter urging opposition to reinstatement, also with the same broad organizational endorsements. In addition, AAJC and coalition partners AASF, Stop AAPI Hate, and CAA are launching a call campaign. Supporters are encouraged to mobilize their bases to phone back and mail all Democratic senators. The goal is to prevent the harmful China Initiative language from appearing in the Senate bill, ensuring it remains only in the House version. Continued calls and emails will be critical throughout this month until the Senate vote. AAJC is closely coordinating with allies on the Hill and provide updates on timing. On September 11, 2025, AsAmNews reported that a proposal to revive the defunct China Initiative—a Trump-era program aimed at curbing Chinese economic espionage but widely criticized for unfairly targeting Chinese scientists—is advancing through Congress. On September 11, the House Appropriations Committee voted 34–28 to include the measure in a larger appropriations bill.Asian American leaders warn reinstating the Initiative would repeat past harms. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) condemned it for fueling racial profiling and dual-loyalty tropes. Civil rights groups point to high-profile failed prosecutions of Chinese scientists such as Gang Chen 陈刚 (MIT), Anming Hu 胡安明 (University of Tennessee), and Franklin Tao 陶丰 (University of Kansas), noting the chilling effect beyond the scientific community. “People don’t know, just by looking at you, whether you’re from China or not,” said Cindy Tsai , general counsel and Executive VP of the Committee of 100. “This really goes back to the safety issue and the sense of belonging for those who have been part of this country.”More than 80 Asian American organizations including APA Justice issued a joint letter opposing the bill. Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, warned it would undermine U.S. competitiveness by driving away scientific talent. Joanna Derman of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) urged the public to educate themselves and press Congress to strip the measure: “We’ve seen how that can result in unfair and harmful discrimination against Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and academics. So by putting [it] in the appropriation bill, pretty much anybody who votes for the appropriation bill can deny that they supported the China Initiative, because it’s part of a larger bill.” Update from APIAVote APIAVote is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civic engagement in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. In today’s hyper-partisan climate, some ask whether a C3 message can still resonate. Bob Sakaniwa , Director of Policy and Advocacy at APIAVote, answered yes during the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025. Now more than ever, trusted messengers are essential. Communities look to organizations like APIAVote not to tilt the political scales, but to highlight how policies directly shape AAPI lives. Bob emphasized that while 501(c)(4) activity and more overtly partisan efforts have their place, C3 organizations occupy a unique and vital role. They can elevate the dialogue, build trust across divides, and push conversations toward inclusion and solutions.Reflecting on 2024, the picture for AAPI civic participation was mixed. In 2020, turnout reached historic highs. But in 2024, participation slipped—driven by uncertainty, disillusionment with both parties, and the draining effects of misinformation. Still, there were bright spots: AAPI voters led the nation in new registrations, with more first-time registrants than any other group. With 15 million eligible AAPI voters, there remains enormous untapped potential. And after nearly a year of political upheaval, more people are connecting the dots between policies and daily life—recognizing why civic engagement matters. APIAVote sees opportunities for a rebound this year and an even bigger surge heading into the 2026 midterms.At the same time, threats to voting rights are real and growing. Chief among them is the push—through legislation and executive orders—for documentary proof of citizenship to vote. This bureaucratic barrier amounts to voter suppression, fueled by the false narrative of widespread non-citizen voting. The facts say otherwise. Yet the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would impose such requirements, has already passed the House. Fortunately, the Senate has shown little interest so far.Meanwhile, the Trump administration issued an executive order with the same aim. It is currently tied up in the courts, and APIAVote—along with OCA and represented by AAJC—is a plaintiff challenging it. Another front is the push to roll back birthright citizenship. Both efforts strike at the heart of who belongs in our democracy and carry profound implications for AAPI families.Looking ahead, APIAVote is closely monitoring state-level contests. In New Jersey and Virginia, upcoming races may serve as early indicators of public sentiment toward the administration. And in California, voters will decide this November on a major redistricting proposition, a response to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting carried out under presidential direction. While redistricting is often framed in partisan terms, APIAVote sees it fundamentally as an issue of representation: voters should choose their leaders, not the other way around.Bob closed with a reminder that September 16 is National Voter Registration Day. APIAVote and its partners will be working nationwide to send a clear message: the first step in making your voice heard is registering to vote. With millions of AAPI voices still untapped, this is our moment to ensure our communities are not only present at the polls, but powerful in shaping America’s future. Update from OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates Founded in 1973, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national member-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. with 35+ chapters and affiliates across the U.S. At the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025, Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, recapped OCA’s 2025 convention in Seattle, spotlighting the State of the U.S. Constitution plenary, which featured Karen Narasaki (longtime civil rights advocate and former U.S. Commission on Civil Rights commissioner), Karthik Ramakrishnan (academic and founder of AAPI Data), and William Xu , a former OCA intern who later served as a public defender and now works as a judge advocate. Together, they explored impact litigation, public narrative change, and pathways for community involvement. The convention also engaged audiences through workshops like Helen Zia ’s session on AAPI crisis communications, addressing censorship, the politicization of terms such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the challenge of intergenerational dialogue around politically charged language—like “tariffs,” which have real consequences for families and businesses. A screening of John Osaki ’s film Making Waves , on preserving ethnic studies and critical race theory, was another highlight. Thu encouraged chapters to bring the film to local communities. Thu reported that OCA is co-plaintiff in three ongoing lawsuits: one on birthright citizenship, one challenging cuts to the Department of Education, and one with APIAVote on voting rights. All cases are pending before the courts. Thu also described OCA’s Leadership Summit program, historically held in D.C. for select members to receive advocacy and public speaking training and participate in Hill visits. This year, OCA expanded the model into two-day regional leadership summits—open to all ages—combining training with visits to state capitols or local congressional offices. Recent summits were held in Boston and Las Vegas, with upcoming events in Phoenix (November), New York City, and Houston in 2026. OCA covers program costs, while local chapters help with logistics and outreach. Finally, OCA is partnering with National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) members to educate communities on healthcare budget cuts, particularly the impact on Medicare and Medicaid. Many community members are unaware of their coverage links (e.g., CHIP and Medicaid), so OCA is working to clarify these changes and provide next steps for affected families. CALDA Appeals and Files New Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law 1. Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103) According to a post by the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (华美维权同盟), CALDA led a lawsuit against the Texas government seeking to overturn Texas SB 17, an anti-Chinese land law. A federal judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds in August. The judge held that the two plaintiffs represented by CALDA had resided in Texas for many years and thus could not be considered “domiciled in China.” Since SB 17 does not restrict them, their rights were not harmed, and therefore they lacked standing to sue.CALDA believes the judge’s ruling was wrong. The decision’s interpretation of “domicile” for individuals on non-immigrant visas conflicts with existing law and creates further ambiguity. Because violating SB 17 carries felony consequences, such vagueness may lead to overly strict enforcement, causing broader harm to Chinese communities.Some Texas banks and mortgage companies have already adopted internal policies refusing home loans to any Chinese nationals without green cards—going beyond the law itself. For many Chinese residents, the law’s terms are hard to interpret, and in the current political climate, such gray areas invite abuse, fear, and discrimination. Even those on non-immigrant visas who stay in Texas only temporarily still fall under SB 17 and face housing discrimination.At its core, SB 17 is not about national security but about treating all Chinese people as potential threats. By relying on procedural grounds, the judge avoided the real constitutional question: does SB 17 violate equal protection by stripping a group of the right to buy or rent property based solely on nationality or country of origin? This is the heart of the case and the reason CALDA filed the lawsuit.Following the August ruling, CALDA immediately filed an appeal. Both sides are now submitting briefs, and the appeals court has scheduled a hearing for November 4, with a ruling expected thereafter. 2. Huang v. Paxton (1:25-cv-01509) On September 16, 2025, CALDA filed a second lawsuit in federal court in Austin. This new case includes three plaintiffs: two Chinese citizens holding B1/B2 visas who are only in the U.S. for short-term visits but purchased investment properties in Texas, and one Chinese student who has been in the U.S. for just a year, currently renting in Texas while attending college. Because none of these plaintiffs have long-term continuous U.S. residence, the judge will find it harder to dismiss the case for lack of standing.CALDA will soon request a court hearing to seek a preliminary injunction to block SB 17. CALDA vows not to stop until this discriminatory law is struck down. Against the backdrop of U.S.–China tensions, Chinese Americans face unprecedented uncertainty. Texas SB 17, Florida SB 264, and Ohio HB 1 and SB 88 reflect a nationwide anti-Chinese trend. Meanwhile, the long-dormant “China Initiative” has resurfaced, stirring deep anxiety among Chinese researchers and students.Once discrimination is institutionalized, it tends to spread. These laws are like dominoes: if the first is not stopped, the chain reaction will inevitably expand. Challenging SB 17 is not only about one state law—it represents defending the basic rights of Chinese communities and resisting systemic exclusion in America. For this reason, CALDA views litigation as a crucial tool of advocacy, turning fear about the future into collective action and legal precedent for change.This is a difficult and protracted struggle. We must unite more strength and resources to confront powerful opponents. CALDA calls for continued support to secure a future free from discrimination, where fairness and justice are true guarantees for all Chinese Americans. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/09/18 CAPAC Press Conference2025/09/23 Committee of 100: Is Deglobalization Inevitable?2025/10/03 Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation2025/10/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/10/16 Bridging Nations: The Power of People-to-People Exchange in U.S.-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the LawVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. May 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Summary of the APA Justice May 2025 meeting is now posted at https://bit.ly/4pxi6ti . We thank the following distinguished speakers for sharing their comments and insights: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 , Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology · Robert Fisher , Partner, Nixon Peabody · William Tong 湯偉麟 , Attorney General, State of Connecticut · Robert L. Santos , Former Director, U.S. Census Bureau; Former President, American Statistical Association · Haifan Lin 林海帆 , President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA); Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Yale University 3. CAPAC Press Conference WHAT : CAPAC Press Conference on Economic Toll of Trump’s Tariffs on Asian American Communities WHEN : September 18, 2025, 10:30 am ET WHERE : Studio A – HVC117 and live stream: https://www.facebook.com/events/1874102480195831/ HOST : Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) SPEAKERS : · Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) · Second Vice Chair Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) · Chair Emerita Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) · Vice Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36) · Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) · Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) DESCRIPTION : On August 29, a federal appeals court ruled that most of Trump’s tariffs are illegal but allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the case moves through the appeals process. The Supreme Court agreed to consider the appeal on an expedited timeline. Meanwhile, tariffs continue to create uncertainty for small businesses and consumers—including for Asian-owned businesses that import agricultural goods, cultural products, and traditional medicines that cannot be produced domestically.Asian American entrepreneurs own 11 percent of small businesses in the U.S. and nearly 20 percent of restaurants. Chinatown businesses in particular have reported lower demand and increased costs for goods, with some hiking prices by an average of 50 percent. According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, consumer prices rose 0.4 percent in August, driving the annual inflation rate to 2.9 percent, the highest since January, in part due to Trump’s tariffs. RSVP : Please RSVP in advance to james.kwon@mail.house.gov 3. ACF: Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation WHAT : Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation WHEN : October 3, 2025, 9:30 am - 12:00 noon ET WHERE : Kenney Link Auditorium, Johns Hopkins SAIS, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20001 HOST : Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF) PROGRAM: · 9:30am: Opening Remarks · 9:45am: Session 1—Covering China from Within: Problems and Processes · 11:00am:: Session 2—China, America, and the World: New Frontiers · 12:00pm: Networking Lunch DESCRIPTION : The Johns Hopkins SAIS Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF) and the Overseas Press Club of America will jointly host an in-person event examining the state of journalistic and academic coverage of China.The first session will consider the hurdles that journalists and academics face when operating within China at present, and their evolving approaches to reporting and research. A second panel will assess the challenges that global correspondents and researchers face as they cover China's global activities and influence, especially when the issues that intersect China's global role—including artificial intelligence, trade and investment, and new energy—are themselves complex and rapidly evolving.What are the perspectives of top journalists and researchers on the current state of reporting on China? What do we know and not know – and what assumptions and narratives may need revision? What are our collective blind spots? What strategies can help strengthen the quality of research and reporting, and more accurately frame the scope and scale of the China challenge for U.S. audiences? REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3KtwClu # # # 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 September 18, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #27 Biden-Harris Elected; Second Webinar On Science Policy; Upcoming Events​ #27 Biden-Harris Elected; Second Webinar On Science Policy; Upcoming Events Back View PDF November 9, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #322 4/7 Monthly Meeting; Texas Rallies; Litigations; NAPABA/ABA statements; AAPI History + #322 4/7 Monthly Meeting; Texas Rallies; Litigations; NAPABA/ABA statements; AAPI History + In This Issue #322 · 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 2025/03/29-30 Texas Tri-City Rallies · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · NAPABA and ABA Statements on Rule of Law · C100 Updates Data on Laws Requiring The Teaching of AAPI History in School Curricula · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 7, 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), confirmed speakers are: · Mark Takano , First Vice Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Member, U.S. House of Representatives · Erwin Chemerinsky , Dean, Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley · Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100 · X. Edward Guo , President, Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE) 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 . Congressman Mark Takano will make his remarks via recorded video on unprecedented challenges to our communities.In a recent opinion published by the New York Times , Dean Erwin Chemerinsky raised an alarming question: "if Trump defies the Courts, then what?" He also commented on President Trump's unprecedented demands on Columbia University. Dean Chemerinsky will share his thoughts on these recent developments and more.The Committee of 100 (C100) is a nonprofit leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans dedicated to advancing U.S.-China relations and promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in American society. On April 25-26, 2025, it will host its annual conference and gala in Los Angeles to share insights on the state of Chinese Americans and the current and future condition of the U.S.-China relationship. Interim President Cindy Tsai returns to update us on recent developments with C100 and the annual event. Professor X. Edward Guo, Stanley Dicker Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Medical Sciences at Columbia University, is current President of Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE). Professor Guo will introduce AAASE and comment on recent developments in higher education and research communities. 2025/03/29-30 Texas Tri-City Rallies Texas grassroots groups with support of diverse national organizations will hold rallies in all three major cities this weekend to oppose Alien Land Bills - Senate Bill 17 (SB17) and House Bill 17 (HB17): · Saturday, 3/29 at 11 a.m. Texas Capitol Grounds East Steps, Austin, TX · Sunday, 3/30 at 2 p.m. zTAO Marketplace, 2049 Coit Rd #300 , Plano, TX · Sunday, 3/30 at 2 p.m. 9015 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX In an open letter addressed to Texas state senators and representatives, the groups denounce SB17, HB 17 and similar legislation as unconstitutional and discriminatory, as they target individuals based on their national origin, infringing upon rights protected by both the U.S. and Texas constitutions. It further argues that such legislation could discourage foreign investment and talent, leading to economic drawbacks for the state. In addition, the letter highlights concerns that these bills conflate individuals with foreign governments, potentially penalizing those without political affiliations, and lack factual evidence to justify their implementation. The organizers warn that enacting these laws may foster discrimination against Asian and immigrant communities.Drawing historical parallels, the letter references the 59th Texas Legislature's 1965 decision to abolish "alien land laws," cautioning against repeating past mistakes. It concludes with a call to action for legislators to oppose these bills to uphold constitutional protections and promote inclusivity within the state. Read the coalition open letter posted by United Chinese Americans: https://ucausa.org/ and call your legislators in Texas.The Yellow Whistle™ with the message "We Belong" will be distributed at all three rallies in Texas. The Yellow Whistle Project was launched in April 2022 after an Asian woman was brutally attacked in anti-Asian hate incident in front of a building in New York when the doormen closed the door instead of intervening. The Yellow Whistle is a symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination and anti-Asian violence. The whistle is a simple gadget with a universal purpose—to signal alarm and call for help—for all Americans. We shall not remain silent, because WE BELONG™. Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of March 27, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 146 (3 closed cases). According to the New York Times Tracker , at least 53 of the court rulings have at least temporarily paused some of the administration’s initiatives.These are some of the latest developments: · Block on Alien Enemies Act Deportations Upheld . In a 2-1 decision, the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., today denied the Trump administration’s request to lift the temporary restraining order against Trump's executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act. The Plaintiffs led by ACLU, Democracy Forward, and the ACLU of the District of Columbia. have filed a Notice that they intended to file a new Motion for Preliminary Injunction on Friday, March 28, to incorporate “additional factual material so that there is a more complete record.” · Deportation of Columbia University Student Blocked . On March 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald of the Southern District of New York granted Yunseo Chung 's attorneys a temporary restraining order, preventing her from being arrested or deported. Chung is a 21-year-old Columbia University student and legal permanent resident who has been involved in pro-Palestinian protests. She came to the U.S. with her family from South Korea at the age of 7. On March 27, TIME Magazine reported these other students targeted by Trump’s immigration enforcement over campus activism: Rumeysa Ozturk , a Turkish international student on a valid F-1 visa for her PhD studies at Tufts University in Boston, became the latest high-profile target of ICE after her arrest, which witnesses caught on video, outside her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 26. Badar Khan Suri , an Indian citizen studying and teaching at Georgetown University on a valid J-1 visa, was detained by ICE on March 17. A lawsuit, Suri v. Trump (1:25-cv-00480) , has been filed in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia. Momodou Taal , a 31-year-old Cornell University graduate student and dual U.K. and Gambian citizen, had his student visa revoked on March 14 and now faces the threat of deportation. Mahmoud Khalil was arrested at his home by ICE agents on March 8, 2025, and remains in custody as of March 27 at a Louisiana detention facility. Khalil, a Palestinian, moved to the U.S. in 2022 to attend Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, completing his master’s degree studies in December 2024. He married an American woman—making him eligible for a green card—who is eight months pregnant with their first child. Preservation of Signal Records on Military Strikes Ordered . On March 25, 2025, American Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog organization, filed American Oversight v. Hegseth (1:25-cv-00883) against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior Trump administration officials, seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to prevent the deletion of critical national security communications related to a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military operations about a planned strike against Yemen's Houthis on March 11-15, 2025. Administration officials made apparently misleading or false claims that were contradicted by the Editor-in-Chief of the Atlantic . On March 27, Chief Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia ordered the Trump administration to preserve the Signal messages. The case raises serious concerns about potential violations of national security protocols and federal records laws. NAPABA and ABA Statements on Rule of Law On March 7, 2025, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) issued an advocacy update . It reaffirmed "[o]ur mission is broad. NAPABA is both a national civil rights organization and a preeminent bar association. We are the national voice for the AANHPI legal profession, promoting justice, equity, and opportunity for AANHPIs. We foster professional development, legal scholarship, advocacy, and community involvement."The NAPABA statement outlines significant legal and policy developments impacting the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. The organization is closely monitoring threats to the rule of law, including government intimidation of judges, law firms, and federal attorneys. It highlights recent executive orders that have targeted major law firms and restricted their access to government buildings and officials. The report expresses concern over the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, including the elimination of the White House Initiative on AANHPIs and restrictions on DEI programs in private institutions. NAPABA argues that these actions undermine fundamental rights, erode professional protections, and reverse decades of progress in ensuring equal opportunities for underrepresented communities. The NAPABA update also focuses on policy rollbacks affecting vulnerable populations. The revocation of Executive Order 13166, which previously mandated language access guarantees for limited English proficient individuals, creates uncertainty for AANHPI immigrants who rely on government services. The administration's restrictive immigration policies, including expanded expedited removal authority and curtailment of asylum rights, disproportionately impact immigrant communities. NAPABA further condemns recent executive actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community, stating that such measures promote discrimination and weaken legal protections. In response to these challenges, the organization reaffirms its commitment to defending civil rights, advocating for equal justice, and ensuring that marginalized communities are not left vulnerable to government overreach.Read the NAPABA statement: https://bit.ly/424d6Bl On March 26, 2025, NAPABA joined the American Bar Association and a coalition of bar organizations across the nation in the following statement to defend the rule of law and reject efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession: "We endorse the sentiments expressed by the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in his 2024 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary, '[w]ithin the past year we have also seen the need for state and federal bar associations to come to the defense of a federal district judge whose decisions in a high-profile case prompted an elected official to call for her impeachment. Attempts to intimidate judges for their rulings in cases are inappropriate and should be vigorously opposed.'"We support the right of people to advance their interests in courts of law when they have been wronged. We reject the notion that the U.S. government can punish lawyers and law firms who represent certain clients or punish judges who rule certain ways. We cannot accept government actions that seek to twist the scales of justice in this manner."We reject efforts to undermine the courts and the profession. We will not stay silent in the face of efforts to remake the legal profession into something that rewards those who agree with the government and punishes those who do not. Words and actions matter. And the intimidating words and actions we have heard and seen must end. They are designed to cow our country’s judges, our country’s courts and our legal profession."There are clear choices facing our profession. We can choose to remain silent and allow these acts to continue or we can stand for the rule of law and the values we hold dear. We call upon the entire profession, including lawyers in private practice from Main Street to Wall Street, as well as those in corporations and who serve in elected positions, to speak out against intimidation." If lawyers do not speak, who will speak for our judges? Who will protect our bedrock of justice? If we do not speak now, when will we speak? Now is the time. That is why we stand together with the ABA in support of the rule of law. "Read the ABA statement: https://bit.ly/43zP97z C100 Updates Data on Laws Requiring The Teaching of AAPI History in School Curricula On March 25, 2025, the Committee of 100 (C100) released updated data on its public policy research project that identifies and classifies state-level statutes, ongoing bills, and academic standards of K-12 curriculum pertaining to the study of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, as well as other non-white racial and ethnic groups. It includes an interactive map where users may select and filter among statutes, academic standards, and pending bills to meet their needs using the dropdown menus. As of March 25, 2025, · 12 states have statutes that require AAPI studies curriculum (no change since October 3, 2024 data) · 7 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require AAPI studies curriculum (an increase of 3 states since October 3, 2024 data) · 16 states have academic standards that require AAPI studies (an increase of 1 state since October 3, 2024 data) · 23 states have statutes that require ethnic studies curriculum (an increase of 1 state since October 3, 2024 data) · 12 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require ethnic studies curriculum (an increase of 9 states since October 3, 2024 data) · 37 states have academic standards that require ethnic studies (an increase of 4 states since October 3, 2024 data) · 6 states have no statutes, recently introduced bills, or academic standards that require or make optional AAPI studies or ethnic studies curriculum (a decrease of 2 states since October 3, 2024 data) Visit the C100 announcement and interactive map: https://bit.ly/4l351FE News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar 2025/03/29 No to Discrimination and Alien Land Bills - Austin, Texas2025/03/30 No to Discrimination and Alien Land Bills - Plano, Texas2025/03/30 No to Discrimination and Alien Land Bills - Houston, Texas2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/15 China Connections: A Conversation with Emily Feng2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF March 28, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #263 Return of Anming Hu; AAJC on Land Laws; Spying on USPS Mail; Vincent Chin's Legacy; + #263 Return of Anming Hu; AAJC on Land Laws; Spying on USPS Mail; Vincent Chin's Legacy; + In This Issue #263 · The Return of Exonerated Professor Anming Hu · Advancing Justice | AAJC Speaks Up on Discriminatory Land Laws · WP : Law Enforcement is Spying on Thousands of Americans' Mail · FBI Released 602 Pages of Its Vincent Chin Files · News and Activities for the Communities The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom today, July 1, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to Nisha Ramachandran , Joanna YangQing Derman , and Gisela Perez Kusakawa . confirmed invited speakers include Neal Lane , Kei Koizumi , Xiaoxing Xi , and Karla Hagan . Please register to attend. 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 . The Return of Exonerated Professor Anming Hu Professor Anming Hu returned and spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on June 3, 2024. It has been almost three years since he was fully acquitted of all charges against him under the now-defunct China Initiative.Professor Hu was born in China, a naturalized Canadian citizen, and Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK).On February 27, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of Professor Hu. He was the second China Initiative case involving a U.S. university professor of Asian ancestry. He was charged with three counts each of wire fraud and making false statements, but not espionage. The charges stemmed from his purported failure to disclose affiliations with a Chinese university while receiving funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).At the time of his arrest, he was a tenured professor. After his arrest, UTK suspended him without pay and then terminated his employment on October 8, 2020.Professor Hu was the first academic to go to trial under the China Initiative. A mistrial was declared on June 16, 2021, after the jury deadlocked. On September 9, 2021, Judge Thomas Varlan acquitted Professor Hu of all charges in his indictment. “The government has failed to provide sufficient evidence from which any rational jury could find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that defendant had specific intent to defraud NASA by hiding his affiliation with BJUT [Beijing University of Technology] from UTK," the judge wrote.On October 14, 2021, UTK offered to reinstate Professor Hu. On February 1, 2022, Professor Hu returned to his laboratory. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on June 6, 2024, Professor Hu provided updates on his situation and his family's well being since his return to UTK. He expressed gratitude to his attorney Phil Lomonaco , members of the UTK Faculty Senate, Congressional representatives, CAPAC, and various Asian American justice organizations for their support.Professor Hu spent a year rebuilding his lab with startup support from the university's leadership. He acquired new equipment and repaired old, damaged devices. Despite recovering about 95% of his equipment, nearly 50% were malfunctioning and 30% were completely damaged.With help from collaborators, two of his PhD students graduated in 2022 and 2023.Professor Hu focused on applying for external funds and hiring new students. He secured one federal and one industrial fund, enabling him to hire one new PhD student and two undergraduates. However, his lab size is still only about 30% of its previous capacity, and it may take another one to two years to fully recover.The wrongful prosecution caused significant mental and physical harm to his family. They continue to struggle with sleep issues and anxiety, and Professor Hu sometimes needs medication to sleep. His wife still becomes anxious when receiving phone calls in the afternoon, a reminder of the day Professor Hu was arrested.In the past two years, the family has shared their experience with colleagues, friends, and church groups. Professor Hu also participated in panel discussions on the China Initiative and civil rights. Despite his reinstatement, the US government continued to falsely accuse him of being part of China's Thousand Talents Program. With support from lawyers and Congressional representatives Judy Chu , Ted Lieu , and Jamie Raskin , his U.S. permanent residency was approved in March 2024. Recently, his older son's green card was also approved.A summary for the June 3 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. APA Justice has compiled Professor Hu's story as an impacted scientist under the China Initiative. It is posted for beta review for its content, navigation, and links at https://bit.ly/44V5tOG . Please send your comments and feedback to contact@apajustice.org . Advancing Justice | AAJC Speaks Up on Discriminatory Land Laws During the APA Justice monthly meeting on June 3, 2024, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that John Yang , President and Executive Director of AAJC, testified before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee on May 29. The hearing addressed three interim charges or topics, one of which was foreign investment in Texas land. John Yang emphasized AAJC’s deep concern about the resurgence of discriminatory land laws under the guise of national security. He underscored the historical context of AAPI discrimination and called for robust research to accurately identify the issues these land laws aim to address. John successfully countered harmful and overbroad anti-China rhetoric that conflates Chinese individuals with the Chinese government. Overall, it was a successful testimony, with special credit to Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ) for facilitating the opportunity and playing a critical role in coordinating the response. John Yang’s written testimony is posted here: https://bit.ly/3zkxgwe . A summary for the June 3 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. WP : Law Enforcement is Spying on Thousands of Americans' Mail According to the Washington Post on June 24, 2024, · The U.S. Postal Service shares mail data with law enforcement without warrants. · More than 60,000 requests have been received since 2015, with a 97% acceptance rate. · A group of senators want judicial oversight, but the chief inspector declined to change the policy. The U.S. Postal Service has shared information from thousands of Americans’ letters and packages with law enforcement every year for the past decade, conveying the names, addresses and other details from the outside of boxes and envelopes without requiring a court order.Postal inspectors say they fulfill such requests only when mail monitoring can help find a fugitive or investigate a crime. But a decade’s worth of records, provided exclusively to The Washington Post in response to a congressional probe, show Postal Service officials have received more than 60,000 requests from federal agents and police officers since 2015, and that they rarely say no.Each request can cover days or weeks of mail sent to or from a person or address, and 97 percent of the requests were approved, according to the data. Postal inspectors recorded more than 312,000 letters and packages between 2015 and 2023, the records show.The IRS, FBI and the Department of Homeland Security were among the top requesters. In a letter in May 2023, a group of eight senators, including Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), urged the agency to require a federal judge to approve the requests and to share more details on the program, saying officials there had chosen to “provide this surveillance service and to keep postal customers in the dark about the fact they have been subjected to monitoring.”In a response earlier this month, the chief postal inspector, Gary Barksdale , declined to change the policy but provided nearly a decade’s worth of data showing that postal inspectors, federal agencies, and state and local police forces made an average of about 6,700 requests a year, and that inspectors additionally recorded data from about another 35,000 pieces of mail a year, on average.The practice, he added, had been legally authorized since 1879, a year after the Supreme Court ruled that government officials needed a warrant before opening any sealed letter.Wyden said in a statement, “These new statistics show that thousands of Americans are subjected to warrantless surveillance each year, and that the Postal Inspection Service rubber stamps practically all of the requests they receive.” He also criticized the agency for “refusing to raise its standards and require law enforcement agencies monitoring the outside of Americans’ mail to get a court order, which is already required to monitor emails and texts.”In their letter last year, the senators said that even the exteriors of mail could be deeply revealing for many Americans, giving clues about the people they talk to, the bills they pay, the churches they attend, the political views they subscribe to and the social causes they support.Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3Xxr9yO FBI Released 602 Pages of Its Vincent Chin Files Without explanation, the FBI released 602 pages of its files on Vincent Chin during the week of his murder 42 years ago. Helen Zia published an essay at the Vincent Chin Institute about its good, bad, and ugly on June 26, 2024. This is an AI-assisted summary of her essay: The Good · Community Support and Advocacy : The essay highlights the significant support and advocacy from the Asian American community and various organizations in seeking justice for Vincent Chin. · Awareness of Anti-Asian Hate : The release of the FBI documents and the efforts to commemorate Vincent Chin's legacy help raise awareness of anti-Asian hate and the historical context of such violence. · Legacy and Education : The essay emphasizes the importance of educating others about Vincent Chin's case and the ongoing fight against racial prejudice, contributing to a more informed and empathetic society. The Bad · Incomplete Investigation : The FBI documents are incomplete, missing critical details from the Wayne County criminal proceedings and failing to interview key witnesses, which hindered the investigation and justice process. · Inadequate Judicial Response : The essay criticizes the judicial system's response, particularly the sentencing judge's decision to release the attackers on probation and fines, which highlights systemic racial biases. · Media Bias : The essay points out how media coverage at the time failed to grasp or acknowledge the anti-Asian prejudice involved in the case, often casting doubt on the racial motivations behind the crime. The Ugly · Racially Motivated Violence : The brutal attack on Vincent Chin, driven by racial hatred and scapegoating during an economic recession, represents the ugly reality of racially motivated violence and bigotry. · Traumatic Aftermath : The essay describes the trauma endured by Vincent Chin's family and the Asian American community, exacerbated by the lack of justice and recognition from the judicial system. · Enduring Prejudice : The essay underscores the persistent ignorance and harmful stereotypes surrounding Asian Americans, both in the past and present, highlighting the ongoing struggle against racial prejudice and discrimination. Overall, the essay provides a detailed account of the events surrounding Vincent Chin's death, the community's response, and the broader implications for understanding and combating racial hatred. Read Helen Zia's essay: https://bit.ly/4eN4Nzg . Read the 602-page FBI case file: https://bit.ly/3RQobSt Vincent Chin's Legacy on Asian American Activism According to the Washington Post on June 26, 2024, when Vincent Chin , a Chinese American groom-to-be, was bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat by two white Detroit autoworkers in 1982, his loved ones’ cries for justice fell on deaf ears. The autoworkers who attacked Vincent Chin did so under the false belief that he was Japanese, attributing the auto industry’s hardships to foreign competition from Japan.It took twelve full days before the media reported his killing — without recognizing the racism involved, remembers Curtis Chin , the nephew of Vincent Chin’s best man. Nine months later, judge Charles Kaufman handed the perpetrators just three years’ probation and a $3,780 fine, reasoning that “These aren’t the kind of men you send to jail.”Despite media silence and a lenient sentence for the perpetrators, Chin's case galvanized Asian Americans to unite across ethnic lines.Today , advocates still ensure that Vincent Chin’s name is never forgotten. In the wake of his death anniversary, and amid increasing xenophobia worldwide, his story provides guiding light for the struggle toward equality.Curtis Chin found his calling in the experience, and instead of taking over Chung’s — his family’s restaurant of five decades — spent the next 30 years elevating Asian American voices as a writer and a filmmaker. In his memoir and his documentary, “Vincent Who?,” Curtis Chin recounts Vincent Chin’s story and the racial animosity of 1980s Detroit.For Helen Zia , an activist who moved to Detroit in 1976 and took up work at an auto plant, Chin’s case laid bare the glaring injustices that Asian Americans faced: “There were two legal organizations in the whole country, one in New York and one in California,” Zia says. “We were in Detroit, and they couldn’t help us.” Zia rallied leaders from Detroit’s Chinatown and local lawyers to support Vincent Chin's mother Lily Chin and co-founded the American Citizens for Justice, which helped secure a federal trial for Vincent Chin. Zia launched the Vincent Chin Institute in 2022 to fill the void Asian American Detroiters found themselves in four decades ago through advocacy, education, and resources for Asian Americans in underserved areas.In the 21st century, the killing of Vincent Chin continues to energize Asian American advocacy and presence. Law students reenact his trial to highlight legal shortcomings. Hollywood has adapted his case into films like “Hold Still, Vincent” and “Who Killed Vincent Chin?”The fear of foreign economic threat parallels modern “anti-China hysteria and scapegoating,” says Stop AAPI Hate co-founder Cynthia Choi , pointing to how COVID-19 was racialized and fueled attacks on Asians across the country. The Vincent Chin case remains a cornerstone for Asian American advocacy, inspiring films, reenactments, and organizations like Stop AAPI Hate, which combats rising xenophobia and discrimination. Despite the progress achieved, advocates against anti-Asian hate assert that there is still considerable work ahead in every sector, from the workplace to the entertainment industry. The comprehensive history of Asian Americans, for instance, continues to be excluded from core K-12 history curricula in the United States. Some advocates like John Yang , the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC, are turning their attention to what they say is a new form of anti-Asian hate: a growing number of bills preventing some Chinese citizens from buying and owning land. “Everyone is concerned about whether an Asian American is truly an American, and so they’re not being shown the same houses, they’re not being afforded the same opportunities,” Yang says. Wilson Lee , co-founder of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Boston Lodge and the Chinese American Heritage Foundation, has organized a vigil for Vincent Chin every June 23 for the past six years. “We’re in it for the long haul,” Lee tells the Associated Press . “Because it’s the right thing to do, not because it’s the popular thing to do.”On June 21, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued a press statement marking the 42nd Anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin: https://bit.ly/4cdUAKT Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3VHk4Jf . Visit the Vincent Chin Institute website: https://bit.ly/39Bu0QQ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/07/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/07/01 President's Advisory Commission Public Meeting - Livestreaming2024/07/02 President's Advisory Commission Public Meeting - In Person2024/07/03 Hearing on Preliminary Injunction on Florida SB 8462024/07/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/07/11-12 National AAPI Leadership Summit2024/07/13 APIAVote: Presidential Town Hall, Philadelphia PA2024/07/15 APIAVote: RNC Convention, AAPI Briefing &Reception, Milwaukee, WI2024/07/16-17 National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable - Capstone2024/08/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. New Appointments at Johns Hopkins University Starting July 1, 2024, Professor Jessica Chen Weiss joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC as the David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies and the inaugural director of a new institute on the evolving role of China in the world to be established this fall at SAIS, bringing together scholars, practitioners and experts from the private sector to foster deeper understanding and informed policy making. Professor Chen Weiss comes to SAIS from Cornell University, where she was the Michael J. Zak Professor for China and Asia-Pacific Studies in the Department of Government. From August 2021 to July 2022, she served as senior advisor to the Secretary's Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. State Department on a Council on Foreign Relations Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars.Also starting July 1, 2024, Jeremy Lee Wallace has been named the A. Doak Barnett Professor of China Studies, also starting July 1, 2024; and he will be affiliated with the new institute at SAIS as well as the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins. Read the Johns Hopkins University announcement: https://bit.ly/4beT3CJ Back View PDF July 1, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #92 Franklin Tao Trial; Chronicle Report on UTK/MIT; 11/01 Meeting; Events + Developments #92 Franklin Tao Trial; Chronicle Report on UTK/MIT; 11/01 Meeting; Events + Developments Back View PDF October 28, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #347 USHCA/AAJC Updates; 4th Court Blocks Birthright Citizenship EO; Immigration; TX SB17;+ #347 USHCA/AAJC Updates; 4th Court Blocks Birthright Citizenship EO; Immigration; TX SB17;+ In This Issue #347 · Update from the U.S. Heartland China Association · Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC · Fourth District Court Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Restrictions · Reuters : Refugee Cap of 40,000 with Focus on White South Africans · Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law Dismissed · News and Activities for the Communities Update from the U.S. Heartland China Association Min Fan 范敏 , Executive Director, U.S. Heartland China Association, returned to speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on August 4, 2025.The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is a bipartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering constructive engagement between the U.S. Heartland and China. Contrary to assumptions based on its name, the organization was not founded by Chinese Americans. It was established by the late U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson of Illinois and is now chaired by former Missouri Governor Bob Holden . USHCA explicitly does not engage in lobbying or political advocacy, adhering strictly to its nonprofit charter.USHCA serves as a neutral platform to promote dialogue, education, cultural exchange, and economic engagement between Middle America and China. The organization recognizes that many communities in the Heartland— particularly rural areas and underserved minority populations — have historically had limited access to international and cross-cultural education, especially regarding China. USHCA seeks to fill this gap by connecting communities, promoting awareness, and building people-to-people ties.Min is the first Chinese American to lead USHCA. When she joined the association at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, USHCA had limited ties to the broader Chinese American community, despite its long-standing role as a cultural and diplomatic bridge. By partnering with national Chinese American networks, USHCA led a large-scale Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) relief effort. Over 800,000 pieces of PPE were collected and distributed across the Heartland, including to rural and underserved health clinics. This initiative helped address severe shortages and brought together volunteers through state agencies and nonprofit groups. It also introduced many Heartland residents to Chinese Americans for the first time—a transformative experience for all involved. Min recognized the need to explain why U.S.-China relations matter at the local level. USHCA publishes a comprehensive report, “ Why U.S.-China Relations Matter to the Heartland ,” that quantifies the multifaceted relationship that each of the 21 states in the Heartland region has with China, such as: · Hundreds of millions (up to half a billion dollars in some cases) contributed by Chinese international students to state economies. · Jobs created through Chinese investment and exports. · Historical ties between Heartland communities and China dating back generations. Although the report does not constitute political advocacy, it has become a practical tool for local stakeholders, elected officials, and educators to explain the relevance of U.S.-China relations in concrete, community-focused terms.Beyond policy and economic dialogue, USHCA supports cultural exchange and education. It promotes the work of Chinese language teachers in Heartland states like Kentucky and Missouri—even as demand for Mandarin instruction declines nationally. The association also supports cultural projects, such as the “Far East Deep South” documentary tour along the Mississippi River , to strengthen cultural awareness of the long history of Chinese Americans in the Mississippi River basin community. A centerpiece of USHCA’s current efforts is the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue , launched in 2023. This subnational diplomacy initiative connects local leaders in the Heartland with their counterparts in China. The first round included six U.S. mayors visiting China to initiate discussions on economic development, climate resilience, and public health. In 2024, a reciprocal delegation from China visited Memphis, Tennessee, where the original U.S. mayors and other community leaders hosted a series of dialogues. In 2025, the third round of this initiative is set to take place in Wuhan, Hubei Province—a symbolic and strategic location. These dialogues are deliberately kept out of the media spotlight to ensure continuity and a neutral learning experience for the American delegates. USHCA, like many organizations working in the U.S.-China space, is operating under increasing political scrutiny from both sides. The association has faced indirect attacks by groups such as State Armor. Some of the U.S. mayors who previously participated in USHCA-led trips to China had experienced harassment on social media or being criticized by their political opponents.These developments underscore a broader trend where China-related efforts — even cultural or educational — are weaponized in political discourse, especially during election cycles.Due to the expiration of its initial grant funding, USHCA is now reaching out to the community for two key forms of support: · Leadership Identification : Helping the organization identify open-minded local officials and civic leaders interested in engaging with Chinese counterparts. · Financial Support : Providing or sourcing funding to allow local delegations to continue participating in the Yangtze-Mississippi Dialogue and other exchange programs. Despite political headwinds, USHCA continues to witness strong interest from local leaders across the Heartland. Many mayors and nonprofit leaders are eager to address shared global challenges—including climate change, healthcare access, and economic revitalization—through international cooperation. USHCA believes these dialogues can promote a more nuanced understanding and help reshape the narrative surrounding China, shifting away from confrontation and toward mutual understanding and stability.USHCA remains a critical actor in maintaining and nurturing people-to-people diplomacy at a time of strained U.S.-China relations. Through programs like the Yangtze-Mississippi Dialogue, cultural education efforts, and community-driven initiatives, the organization continues to serve as a rare but vital bridge between the American interior and one of the world’s most consequential nations. Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, is a regular invited speaker at APA Justice monthly meetings. On August 4, 2025, she gave the following update: 1. Monitoring of China Initiative Language in CJS Appropriations Report Joanna reaffirmed Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC’s vigilance in tracking attempts to reintroduce elements of the discontinued China Initiative through language in the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee report. The China Initiative was widely criticized for encouraging racial profiling, particularly of individuals of Chinese descent in academic and scientific communities. AAJC is working with partner organizations to oppose any provisions that attempt to revive these discriminatory practices. 2. Advocacy Letter to Congress A joint letter—led by AAJC in partnership with Stop AAPI Hate, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)—was submitted to Congress, urging the removal of harmful language tied to the China Initiative. However, the full Appropriations Committee vote has been postponed until after the House returns from the August recess. AAJC plans to recirculate the letter to gather additional organizational endorsements in the interim.Groups that missed the initial tight turnaround are encouraged to sign on during this extended opportunity. 3. Clarification on West Virginia Land Law – HB 2961 AAJC addressed concerns regarding HB 2961, a land law enacted in West Virginia on April 28, 2025, which has raised questions among community organizations.The law defines a "prohibited foreign party" to include individuals from China, but the ban applies only to those acting on behalf of foreign-owned entities—not individuals purchasing land for personal use. It affects all types of real estate, including mineral rights, when transactions involve entities under foreign control. In the event of a violation, the law allows six months for divestment, enforced by state courts and the West Virginia Attorney General.AAJC remains committed to defending the rights of Asian American communities and is actively engaged in legislative advocacy to combat discriminatory policies. Organizations are urged to stay informed, join collective efforts, and support ongoing monitoring and response strategies. Fourth District Court Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Restrictions Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications AssociateAccording to CBS News , The Hill , Maryland Matters , and multiple media reports, a federal judge in Maryland blocked President Trump’s executive order (EO) targeting birthright citizenship on August 7, 2025. This marks the fourth such decision since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June limiting nationwide injunctions.Previously, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman indicated she planned to issue a nationwide injunction blocking the restrictions, but she did not have jurisdiction at the time because the case was under the authority of an appeals court. Last week, the appeals court remanded the case to her for ruling.The June Supreme Court ruling did not directly address the constitutionality of President Trump’s executive order, instead ruling that lower courts exceeded their authority by issuing nationwide injunctions. However, the justices did maintain that lower courts could issue nationwide stays if the lawsuits were class-action suits, which is what Judge Boardman did.Judge Boardman identified a class of children born on U.S. soil who “unquestionably would be citizens but for the Executive Order.” She added that the EO was “almost certainly unconstitutional” by violating the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to “all persons” born in the U.S.President Trump’s executive order seeks to deny birthright citizenship to children without at least one parent who is a citizen or permanent legal resident.Judge Boardman’s ruling followed The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals , and the District Courts in New Hampshire and Massachusetts . Read more about the Birthright Citizenship issue at https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/birthright-citizenship . Reuters : Refugee Cap of 40,000 with Focus on White South Africans According to an exclusive report by Reuters on August 15, 2025, the Trump administration is weighing a refugee admissions cap of about 40,000 for fiscal year 2026, with an unprecedented majority—some 30,000 slots—earmarked for white South African Afrikaners. This marks a sharp shift in U.S. refugee policy, which has traditionally emphasized global humanitarian priorities and bipartisan support. The proposed cap would be far lower than the 100,000 admissions under President Biden in 2024 but higher than Trump’s record-low 15,000 ceiling in 2021. While Trump has argued that Afrikaners face discrimination and violence in South Africa, the South African government has rejected those claims. Officials also noted that smaller caps, as low as 12,000, were discussed, and that some admissions could go to Afghans, Ukrainians, or other groups.Implementation has faced challenges. The State Department has laid off refugee program staff, forcing inexperienced Health and Human Services (HHS) workers to take on refugee screening and assistance. Early arrivals from South Africa have already reported hardship, with reduced benefits, difficulty obtaining Social Security numbers, and limited access to jobs or housing. Refugees expressed frustration at spending thousands of dollars to cover basic needs after Trump cut support programs that previously lasted a year down to just four months. White House officials stressed that no final decision has been made and that refugee caps will be determined in September. Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law Dismissed Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to AsAmNews , Daily Guardian , South China Morning Post , and multiple media reports, Federal Judge Charles Eskridge dismissed a lawsuit against Texas’ recently passed alien land law, Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing. On July 3, 2025, the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Chinese nationals, Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103) , arguing SB 17 discriminates against Chinese people based on race and ethnicity and creates fear for those trying to secure housing while living in Texas legally. The lawsuit also asserts that the bill violates federal preemption, the principle that state law cannot supersede conflicting federal law. Set to take effect on September 1, 2025, SB 17 prohibits noncitizens from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from purchasing homes, acquiring land, or leasing apartments in Texas. It also grants the governor the authority to add other countries to the list. The bill applies to all “real property,” not just land near critical infrastructure, but it does not apply to dual citizens, permanent residents, and individuals legally residing in the U.S. on temporary work or student visas. For citizens of China, the restriction is especially severe. While students or workers on visas are still free to purchase their principal residence, they are prohibited from acquiring holiday homes or investment properties. Leasing too is restricted, with lease contracts limited to terms shorter than one year. Proponents of the bill insist it is necessary to ensure national security by targeting governments and companies deemed hostile by the federal government. However, opponents of the bill argue it is unconstitutional and discriminatory, promoting racial profiling and xenophobia. Gene Wu , Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, called the bill “a loud and clear message that Asians don’t belong in this country.” The Texas Attorney General’s office successfully contended that the law is not discriminatory and that the court lacks jurisdiction over police powers exercised “to protect Texans from foreign governments that intend to harm them.” Following Judge Eskridge’s decision, CALDA announced that it would appeal. According to Justin Sadowsky , lead counsel for CALDA, “Chinese people in this state of Texas will be terrified of so much as renting a place to live, because if it turns out this law does apply to them it is a state jail felony, and they can end up in jail for two years.” Prior to the hearing, a press conference was held in front of the courthouse, featuring speakers from a variety of advocacy organizations. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/08/19 China Connections - Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: Chinese Scholars to America2025/09/06 The 2025 Asian American Youth Symposium2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/09/08 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Janet Yang2025/09/09 China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China2025/09/16-17 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. USCET Events on 8/19 and 9/9 WHEN: August 19, 2025, 8:00 - 9:15 pm ET WHAT: China Connections - Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: Chinese Scholars to America WHERE: Webinar REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3UzJuIL WHEN : September 9, 2025, 5:30 - 7:00 pm ET WHAT: China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China WHERE: Lindner Family Commons, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Washington DC REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/45zuRKE 3. 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit WHEN: September 16-17, 2025 WHAT: 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit WHERE: · Sept 16 : Holiday Inn National Airport · Sept 17 : U.S. Capitol – Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2044 REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4fDJ9hO # # # 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 August 19, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter