Newsletter - #51 "Is This Patriot Enough?"; National Day Of Action And Healing; Upcoming Events #51 "Is This Patriot Enough?"; National Day Of Action And Healing; Upcoming Events Back View PDF March 29, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #328 5/5 Meeting; Census Bureau; Birthright Citizenship; Visas Revoked; 4/17; Litigations + #328 5/5 Meeting; Census Bureau; Birthright Citizenship; Visas Revoked; 4/17; Litigations + In This Issue #328 · 2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Census Bureau Brain Drain and Concerns of U.S. Statistical Integrity · Birthright Citizenship: Amicus Briefs and Supreme Court Hearing · International Student Visas Revoked and Lawsuits · National Days of Actions and Protests · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 5, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited speakers are: · 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); Professor, Yale University · Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 , Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology 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 . Census Bureau Brain Drain and Concerns of U.S. Statistical Integrity Robert L. Santos was the 26th director of the U.S. Census Bureau. He was sworn in on January 5, 2022 and resigned from the office on February 14, 2025. He was also the 116th president of ASA in 2021. On May 5, 2025, Mr. Santos will speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on the growing concerns to the integrity and independence of federal statistics under the Trump administration. According to NPR on April 17, 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau is experiencing significant challenges due to staff departures and survey reductions. These issues have raised concerns about the agency's ability to continue producing reliable statistics, which are crucial for determining federal funding allocations and political representation. The bureau is facing pressure from the Trump administration to reduce its workforce amid a hiring freeze, with staff being offered early retirement and voluntary separation options. Current and former employees warn that these conditions, coupled with long-standing funding and staffing constraints, are putting the bureau under unique strain. These challenges are not isolated to the Census Bureau. Other federal statistical agencies are experiencing similar issues due to budget cuts and administrative pressures. According to the Financial Times , the White House is at war with federal statistics. The disbanding of advisory committees and removal of data from public access have led to concerns about the politicization of economic statistics, threatening the accuracy of vital statistics used for policymaking and financial markets.On April 12, the Washington Post reported that the Social Security Administration purposely and falsely labeled 6,100 living immigrants as dead, which is an illegal act of falsifying government records. On April 14, MIT Technology Review described how Elon Musk's DOGE approach to modernizing federal technology is undermining the integrity and security of critical government systems. By replacing experienced civil servants with untested technologies and personnel, DOGE is dismantling established agencies like the U.S. Digital Service and 18F, which were instrumental in improving government digital services. A specific concern is the termination of DirectFile, a free digital tax filing system developed by the IRS with high user satisfaction rates. The article also warns about the risks of consolidating sensitive data—such as Social Security numbers, tax returns, and health records—into a single, poorly secured system, increasing the likelihood of data breaches and misuse. The cumulative effect of these developments is a diminished capacity of U.S. statistical agencies to produce reliable data. This erosion of data integrity undermines informed decision-making across government and industry, potentially leading to misinformed policies and economic instability.The American Statistical Association (ASA) and George Mason University (GMU) launched a collaborative project titled "Assessing the Health of the Principal Federal Statistical Agencies" in 2024. Year Two of the ASA-GMU project, The Nation’s Data at Risk , monitors the health of the 13 principal federal statistical agencies. It is available at: https://bit.ly/4ih5Qsp . Birthright Citizenship: Amicus Briefs and Supreme Court Hearing According to AP News , NBC News , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, on April 17, 2025, the Supreme Court said it will hear oral arguments on May 15 on whether the Trump administration can take steps to enforce its contentious proposal to end automatic birthright citizenship while litigation continues. The court in a brief order deferred action on an emergency request made by the Trump administration to narrow the scope of injunctions imposed by three district court judges and upheld by the respective appeals courts. The policy for now remains blocked nationwide.The Trump emergency application does not address the legal merits of the plan, but only whether judges had the authority to put it on hold across the entire country. The policy for now remains blocked nationwide. Amicus Briefs on Birthright Citizenship According to a press release from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) on April 11, 2025, 208 House Democrats filed an amicus brief opposing President Trump’s executive order attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship. The brief, submitted in the case State of Washington, et al. v. Trump, et al. , defends the constitutional guarantee under the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to children born on U.S. soil.The amici argue that Trump’s proposed action violates the Constitution, over a century of Supreme Court precedent, and longstanding federal laws that have consistently affirmed this right.“Trump cannot end the Constitutional right to birthright citizenship with the stroke of his pen,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin , a constitutional law expert and Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee. “That would violate the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as decades-old federal statutes codifying this protection.”The full amicus brief is available here: https://bit.ly/3GrOlI1 . On April 9, NAPABA and its partners filed an amicus brief opposing the Trump administration’s birthright citizenship executive order. Two days later, on April 11, AALDEF, the Korematsu Center, the Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice, and a coalition including APA Justice filed a separate brief challenging the same order.For more information, read the blog " The Trump Administration’s 14th Amendment Retcon: ‘Wong Kim Ark’ Does Not Limit Birthright Citizenship " by Edgar Chen and Chris Kwok, its Chinese translation " 特朗普政府重塑《第十四修正案》 ——《黄金德案》并未限制出生公民权 " by Juan Zhang, and APA Justice's full coverage of the Birthright Citizenship issue: https://bit.ly/3CNjtR1 International Student Visas Revoked and Lawsuits According to Inside Higher Ed , as of April 18, 2025, the Trump administration has revoked or altered the legal status of over 1,550 international students and recent graduates in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) across more than 240 U.S. colleges and universities. This action is part of a broader immigration crackdown that has intensified in recent weeks.At least 16 legal challenges have been initiated in multiple states, with at least nine federal judges granting temporary restraining orders to halt deportations and restore students' statuses. · 2025/04/15 Liu v. Noam (1:25-cv-00716) @Southern District of Indiana . Five international students at Purdue University, all of whom are Chinese, sued the federal government after their student visas were revoked earlier this month, joining an American Civil Liberties Union-led lawsuit filed on April 15. The visa revocations come just weeks after Purdue administration provided a Congressional committee with information on the university's 2,043 Chinese students. Two other students from Indiana University and Notre Dame also joined the lawsuit, · 2025/04/11 Jane Doe 1 v. Bondi (1:25-cv-01998) @Northern District of Georgia. On April 17, 2025, Georgia civil rights organizations—CAIR-Georgia, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, and American Civil Liberties Union-Georgia—held a press conference with Kuck Baxter Immigration, a private immigration law firm, condemning the visa revocations of international students. According to Georgia Recorder , on April 18, District Judge Victoria Calvert issued a temporary restraining order that will allow 133 international students and recent graduates studying around the country, including 26 in Georgia, to continue their coursework in the United States for at least the next two weeks. · 2025/04/11 Chen v. Noem (3:25-cv-03292) @Northern District of California . The Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟 (CALDA) filed a lawsuit on behalf of four Chinese students enrolled at UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, University of Cincinnati, and Columbia University. The district court judge will hold a hearing on a motion for a nationwide Temporary Restrining Order (TRO) next. Besides the four student plaintiffs, declarations from 36 international students across the country were also included in the motion. National Days of Actions and Protests April 17, 2025, was Day of Action for Higher Ed. University professors and students led protests on campuses across the U.S. against what they say are broad attacks on higher education, including massive cuts to funding, the expulsion of international students and the stifling of free speech about the war in Gaza. Read more about the Day of Action for Higher Ed: https://bit.ly/4inq17u .According to the Washington Post on April 19, 2025, from Wyoming to Washington and Mississippi to Manhattan, protesters at hundreds of rallies in small towns and big cities gathered to denounce President Donald Trump ’s sweeping policy moves as opposition to the administration continued to coalesce. The more than 700 planned events were part of the “50501” movement , a decentralized campaign that got its name from a February 5 push for “50 protests in 50 states on 1 day.” That effort led to anti-Trump protests at state capitol buildings across the nation known as “Hands Off” rallies on April 5. Hunter Dunn , a spokesperson for 50501, described the group as a “pro-democracy, pro-Constitution, anti-executive overreach, nonviolence grassroots movement.” Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of April 19, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 201 (4 closed cases). Among the latest developments: · 2025/04/15 DOE 1 v. EEOC (1:25-cv-01124) @District of Columbia . Plaintiffs, three law school students, have challenged the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sending letters to 20 law firms, pursuant to President Donald Trump ’s Executive Order (EO) regarding the DEI-related hiring practices of law firms. These letters requested information about these law firms’ hiring practices, including the personally identifiable information of lawyers employed with these firms and law students that have applied for positions at these firms. Plaintiffs allege that these investigations are outside of the authority of the EEOC and violate the Paperwork Reduction Act. They have asked the Court to order the EEOC to stop investigating law firms in excess of their authority and return and delete any information that has already been collected pursuant to the investigation of these firms. · 2025/04/14 Mahdawi v. Trump (2:25-cv-00389) @Vermont . Mahsen Mahdawi , a United States green card holder, has challenged his detention by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), asserting it is unlawful and unconstitutional. On April 14, the district court issued an order that he not be removed from the United States or moved out of the territory of the District of Vermont pending further order of this Court. · 2025/04/14 Association of American Universities v. Department of Energy (1:25-cv-10912) @Massachusetts . Several academic institutions and university associations sued the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Secretary of the DOE challenging a new DOE policy that caps the amount of reimbursements available for federal research grants. The institutions argue that the policy violates federal law and exceeds DOE’s authority. The institutions have asked the courts to declare the policy unlawful and to stop implementation of the policy. · 2025/04/14 Protect Democracy Project v. U.S. Office of Management and Budget (1:25-cv-01111) @District of Columbia . Protect Democracy Project brought suit against the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), alleging that OMB took down a legally-required publicly accessible database and related website that had previously housed documents related to OMB’s apportionment decisions. Protect Democracy requests that the court declare OMB’s decision unlawful and order OMB to restore the website. · 2025/04/14 V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-00066) @U.S. Court of International Trade . Five businesses that rely on international imports filed suit against the Trump administration, challenging the implementation of tariffs under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). They alleged that the imposition of across-the-board tariffs is not authorized under the IEEPA and in any event exceeds the Defendants' executive authority as they were implemented without congressional approval. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/04/21 Where AANHPI Communities Stand at the 100-day Mark2025/04/22 Scholars Not Spies: Fighting for International Academic Workers’ Rights in an Era of Rising US-China Conflict2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/24 CHINA Town Hall: The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy2025/04/24 Federal Employees: Know your Legal Rights2025/04/28 California AANHPI Advocacy Day2025/04/30 Beyond the China Initiative: Civil Rights, National Security, and the Future of AAPI Communities2025/05/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/05/06 Asian American Careers - How to Build Your Personal Network, including Through Strategic Allies2025/05/11 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/12-14 APAICS Annual Summit and GalaVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Where AANHPI Communities Stand at the 100-day Mark WHAT: Where AANHPI Communities Stand at the 100-day Mark WHEN: April 21, 2025, 3:00 pm ET/12:00 noon PT WHERE: Webinar HOSTS: APIAVote, AAPI Data, NCAPA, and AAJA Speakers: · Congresswoman Grace Meng, U.S. representative for New York's 6th congressional district · Sara Sadhwani, Senior Researcher, AAPI Data & Assistant Professor, Pomona College · Karthick Ramakrishnan , Founder and Executive Director, AAPI Data · Gregg Orton , National Director, NCAPA · Bob Sakaniwa , Director of Policy and Advocacy, APIAVote DESCRIPTION: This is the next installment of the Voices of AAPI Communities monthly briefing, where we’ll dive deep into the latest survey insights from AAPI Data and AP-NORC on timely policies. This month's briefing will share exclusive findings from the latest AAPI Data/AP-NORC survey on how AAPI communities are reacting to President Trump’s first 100 days in office. REGISTRATION: apia.vote/april25 3. Erratum Issue #327 of the APA Justice Newsletter misidentified the Chinese name of retired Texas House Representative Martha Wong . It should be 黃朱慧愛. # # # 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 21, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

On January 5, 2021, a coalition of organizations and individuals wrote to President-elect Joe Biden, requesting him to end the China Initiative and take steps to combat racial profiling. Two weeks later, the indictment of MIT Professor Gang Chen ignited the “We Are All Gang Chen” movement. Between September 2020 and June 2021, five organizations partnered to produce a series of five educational webinars to raise nationwide awareness about the China Initiative. January 5, 2021 Table of Contents Overview “We are All Gang Chen” AAJC Delivered 30,000 Signatures to The White House Education Webinar Series to Raise Awareness Partners of the Webinar Series Links and References Overview On January 5, 2021, a group of community organizations, advocacy groups, science associations, and individuals sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden urging the incoming administration to end the Justice Department’s “China Initiative” and take further steps to combat the pervasive racial bias and targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and students by the federal government. Among the signatories are people who have been directly impacted by the government’s unjust prosecutions of Asian Americans. The letter, spearheaded by the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation, Brennan Center for Justice, and APA Justice Task Force, denounces the “China Initiative” for discriminatory investigations and prosecutions of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants, particularly those of Chinese descent working in fields of science. Many of the investigations and prosecutions under this initiative target people with any “nexus to China” rather than on evidence of economic espionage as it purports to do, which has revealed a sharp rise in the profiling and targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists and researchers. Even after not finding any evidence of espionage, federal prosecutors are charging many Asian Americans and Asian immigrants with federal crimes based on administrative errors or minor offenses such as failing to disclose information to universities or research institutions and other activities under the pretext of combating economic espionage. As a result, Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars are ensnared by overzealous prosecutions riddled with racial bias that are ruining careers and leaving lives in shambles. The letter includes a set of recommendations, which first calls for an immediate end to the “China Initiative” and a complete review of all prosecutions and investigations closed prior to prosecution under the initiative. It also urges the incoming administration to review and take measures throughout the Federal Government’s law enforcement, intelligence, and scientific research funding agencies to combat other patterns of racial bias against Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists and federal employees. The letter and list of organizations and individuals that signed on can be found here . “This latest wave of xenophobia against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants follows a long history of Asian Americans and immigrants being stereotyped as “perpetual foreigners,” scapegoated, and profiled as spies disloyal to the United States,” said John C. Yang, Advancing Justice – AAJC’s president and executive director. “Individual cases of wrongful arrests and prosecutions of Asian American scientists and researchers along with racial rhetoric from public officials reveal that racial bias exists and has translated into real harm for the Asian American community.” "Basing criminal investigations on national origin and Chinese ancestry is unconstitutional and a waste of resources," said Glenn Katon, Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus Director of Litigation. "When the government prosecutes scientists and researchers simply so public officials can look tough, no one is made safer. The Biden administration has the chance to protect Asian Americans and Asian immigrants across this country - they should take it." "Racial profiling has proven to be an ineffective, divisive, and counterproductive law enforcement tactic, and yet the Justice Department inexplicably still promotes its use through programs like the ‘China Initiative'," said Brennan Center fellow Michael German, a former FBI agent. "Pressuring all U.S. Attorneys' Offices to initiate 'China Initiative' cases compels racial, ethnic, and national origin profiling, which undermines our security and the rule of law by targeting investigations based on a person's 'nexus to China' rather than evidence of serious wrongdoing." "Foreign-born scientists of Chinese origin have been an integral part of American innovation and global leadership. Our nation can protect our scientific and research security and successfully compete in the global marketplace for international scientific talent, but not by overzealous, xenophobic targeting of top talents that ruins lives and drives them to foreign countries that have been trying to recruit them unsuccessfully," said Professor Steven Pei, a leader for the APA Justice Task Force. “We Are All Gang Chen” On January 20, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professor Gang Chen 陈刚 for failing to disclose contracts, appointments and awards from various entities in the People’s Republic of China to the U.S. Department of Energy. The case stirred controversy from the start, when then-U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling unveiled the charges at a news conference in Boston on the last full day of the Trump administration. “It is not illegal to collaborate with foreign researchers. It’s illegal to lie about it,” Lelling said. “The allegations in the complaint imply that this was not just about greed, but about loyalty to China.” The indictment of Professor Gang Chen galvanized the Asian American and scientific communities and started the “We Are All Gang Chen” movement. Exactly one year later on January 20, 2022, Judge Patti Saris approved the government's motion to dismiss all charges against Professor Chen. Continuing the “We Are Gang Chen” movement, the Asian American Scholar Forum was founded in 2022 as a nonprofit organization to represent a community of Asian Americans and scholars who are united to promote academic belonging, openness, freedom, and equality for all by bringing their unique perspective, expertise, and concerns of Asian American and immigrant scholars directly to courtrooms, newsrooms, universities, federal agencies, the halls of Congress, and the White House. This is a presentation in Professor Chen’s own words on his experience and lessons learned about the absurdity of the wrongful prosecution: 2022 GangChenSlides .pdf Download PDF • 1.59MB AAJC Delivered 30,000 Signatures to The White House On April 9, 2021, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC delivered a petition signed by 29,318 people to the White House, urging President Joe Biden to put an end to the racial profiling of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants and end the Justice Department’s “China Initiative.” Education Webinar Series to Raise Awareness From September 2020 to June 2021, five organizations partnered to produce a series of five educational webinars to raise awareness of a growing number of federal investigations and prosecutions targeting Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants, and Chinese nationals in the U.S. particularly scientists and researchers under the umbrella of the China Initiative. The webinar series examined the ramifications of the "China Initiative" on the civil rights and security of Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants, and Chinese Nationals working in the U.S., as well as the consequences for the broader American society. 2020/09/30 First Webinar: The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative ” (video 1:00:15) 2020/12/02 Second Webinar: Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists (video 1:13:35) 2021/02/24 Third Webinar: Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination: Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present (video 1:16:13) 2021/04/28 Fourth Webinar: Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy: How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative" (video 1:05:36) 2021/06/23 Fifth Webinar: The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" (video 1:12:52) Partners of the Webinar Series Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) advocates for an America which all Americans can benefit equally from, and contribute to, the American dream. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. Advancing Justice | AAJC is a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 in Washington, D.C. The APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem to address racial profiling issues and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian American community. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to reform, revitalize – and when necessary, defend – our country's systems of democracy and justice. Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) is a non-profit and non-partisan organization with a diverse membership representing all communities throughout the nation. It strives to inspire, engage, and empower the public about public policy and how to foster future leaders from minority communities to serve at federal, state, and local levels in the government. United Chinese Americans (UCA) has been a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization since 2017. It is a national federation with 12 chapters and over 30 community partners. The UCA is to enrich and empower Chinese American communities through civic participation, political engagement, youth education and development, preservation of heritage and culture, promoting a better understanding between the United States and China, for the well-being of our community, our country, and our world. Jump to: Overview “We are All Gang Chen” AAJC Delivered 30,000 Signatures to The White House Education Webinar Series to Raise Awareness Partners of the Webinar Series On January 5, 2021, a coalition of organizations and individuals wrote to President-elect Joe Biden, requesting him to end the China Initiative and take steps to combat racial profiling. Two weeks later, the indictment of MIT Professor Gang Chen ignited the “We Are All Gang Chen” movement. Between September 2020 and June 2021, five organizations partnered to produce a series of five educational webinars to raise nationwide awareness about the China Initiative. Previous Next 6. Letter to President-Elect Biden to End China Initiative

Newsletter - #358 Vincent Wang Speech; Maggie Lewis & Pat Eddington Remarks; Trump "Compact" Rejected; + #358 Vincent Wang Speech; Maggie Lewis & Pat Eddington Remarks; Trump "Compact" Rejected; + In This Issue #358 · Vincent Wang's Acceptance Speech · Remarks and Updates by Professor Margaret Lewis · Remarks and Updates from Pat Eddington · Universities Reject Trump's "Compact" · News and Activities for the Communities Vincent Wang's Acceptance Speech Wenkui “Vincent” Wang 王文奎 , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, was inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame at a ceremony and reception held at the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, on October 9, 2025. He was recognized for his leadership in the Ohio Chinese American Association, the Asian American Coalition of Ohio, and the APA Justice Task Force.Below is his acceptance speech in its entirety:"Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you, Ohio Civil Rights Commission. It is a profound honor to stand here today at the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame ceremony along with my fellow Hall of Fame inductees."This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to countless people who have stood shoulder to shoulder in the long unfinished struggle for equal rights and justice for all. "Our story as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is woven deeply into American history - a story of perseverance, contribution, and courage. "From the Chinese laborers who built the transcontinental railroad to the Japanese American soldiers who served in the most decorated unit in US history, and to the scientists and engineers who transformed modern physics and led the treatment breakthroughs in HIV disease and revolutionize artificial intelligence technologies, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have helped shape this nation in every field."Yet, throughout history, our communities have often been seen through the lens of suspicion, painted as perpetual foreigners and threat in our own land, especially in times of conflict and uncertainty."We remember the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. And now the renewed use of Red Scare tactics that cast Chinese Americans as spies without evidence."From the so-called Chinese initiative that unfairly targeted scientists to Ohio House Bill number one and Senate bill number 88, which would bar ownership by certain immigrant groups, dividing our communities and questioning our loyalty to this nation."But we are part of America - its past, its present, and its future."We have always believed in the promise of this country, liberty and justice for all. When our community stood up, we did not stand alone. "We reached out to allies in civil society, to civil rights groups, to faith communities and government, all who believe in the fairness and due process for all Americans. Together, we help bring an end to the controversial China Initiative program."Today we continue to fight Ohio House Bill One and Senate Bill 88. And we have hope that as more Ohioans learn about the truth about these bills, more will stand with us to stop these bills and many other bills targeting immigrants and the minority groups. "Because when people understand what is at stake, they choose fairness over fear. These moments remind us that equality is not self-sustaining. It demands vigilance, courage and solidarity."That is why we need to continue to organize, continue to speak up and to build broad coalition with communities of every background, black, white, Latino, indigenous, and all who share our belief that equal rights, equal opportunity and justice for all."We must also empower our own community to get involved, to serve and to vote. Every ballot cast, every conversation started, every young person who decides to lead brings us one step closer to the America we believe in - a nation where immigrants are valued, where diversity is celebrated, and where everyone has a fair chance of opportunity."Today, I accept this honor not for myself alone, but for everyone who refuses to stay silent in the face of injustices. For those who choose hope over fear, trust over suspicion, and bridges over walls. Together, we'll continue to defend civil rights for all, defend immigrant rights, and strengthen the democratic ideals that binds us all as a nation, as one people. "Thank you so much."Watch the 2025 induction ceremony honoring Vincent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UTMds014Nc (7:43) Remarks and Updates by Professor Margaret Lewis Professor Margaret "Maggie" Lewis 's research focuses on China and Taiwan with an emphasis on criminal justice and human rights as well as on legal issues in the U.S.-China relationship. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the National Committee on United States-China Relations Board of Directors, for which she is also a Public Intellectual Program fellow. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 6, 2025, she returned to update us on her activities and share her perspectives on the C100-USCET-APA Justice webinar series and how organizations and communities might work together. Maggie opened her talk by joining others in thanking Mike German for his continued leadership after “retirement,” humorously noting that figures like Jeremy Wu and Steven Pei show retirement rarely means disengagement. She then paid tribute to her mentor, the late Professor Jerry Cohen —calling him a titan of Chinese law who built bridges and human connections. His passing at 95, she said, was deeply felt, but his influence lives on in the collaborative spirit of those he inspired: “The work continues because Jerry would want nothing less.”Acknowledging today’s discouraging geopolitical climate, Maggie encouraged perseverance and optimism, wishing attendees “中秋快乐” (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival) and adding a lighthearted note about finding joy in the new “happy Taylor Swift” album.She then discussed her current work with the U.S.–China Education Trust (USCET) and academics such as David M. Lampton and Jessica Chen Weiss , emphasizing the importance of people-to-people exchange—especially increasing the number of American graduate students studying and conducting research in China. While Chinese students continue to arrive in the U.S. in large numbers, American participation in China has dwindled to a “trickle.” Graduate-level fieldwork and archival access have become increasingly difficult compared with the relative openness of the 1990s and early 2000s.Maggie stressed that firsthand experience in China provides irreplaceable understanding, contrasting it with the growing reliance on data scraping and satellite imagery in China studies. Without human interaction, she warned, the “texture” and empathy that shaped earlier generations of scholars risk being lost. She reaffirmed her commitment—and that of her colleagues—to keeping people physically crossing borders.She also highlighted new teaching developments: Seton Hall University will soon offer its first course on Asian Americans, which she will teach. The course, framed around law, geopolitics, and identity, will cover topics such as the China Initiative (versions 1.0 to 2.0), transnational repression, birthright citizenship, and technology issues like TikTok. Citing models such as Fordham University’s “Asian Americans and the Law” course by Tom Lee and Judge Denny Chin , she expressed hope that these subjects will spread more widely across law schools. Maggie agreed with Gisela Perez Kusakawa that fostering a new generation of lawyers—civil rights, employment, immigration, and others—who are civically engaged and pro bono-oriented is vital.As a “realistic optimist,” Maggie acknowledged that structural tensions in U.S.–China relations will persist. The goal, she said, is to navigate them intelligently and adapt as conditions evolve.She then updated the group on the National Science Foundation’s SECURE initiative (“Safeguarding the Entire Community of the U.S. Research Ecosystem”), for which she serves on the advisory board of the University of Washington’s main center. The program seeks to integrate research security across disciplines rather than treat it as isolated issues. Initially focused on STEM, these policies now affect the social sciences and humanities as well—restricting, for example, the ability of some state university scholars to use research funds for China-related work.The SECURE network includes partners such as the Hoover Institution, Texas A&M, Emory University, and Northeastern. Maggie also noted that restrictive research and educational policies are emerging at the state level, including in Florida, Texas, and Indiana, where universities like Purdue and Indiana University are adopting tighter research security measures.She concluded by warning that while universities must protect themselves legally, overbroad or reactive policies risk unfairly targeting individuals and accelerating an unnecessary decoupling from China—something that would harm research, education, and mutual understanding alike.A summary of the October 6 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Remarks and Updates from Pat Eddington Pat Eddington is Senior Fellow of Homeland Security and Civil Liberties at Cato Institute. He served nearly a decade at the CIA and later as a senior policy adviser on Capitol Hill, where he worked extensively on intelligence oversight, surveillance, and drone policy. He is a prolific writer and commentator, committed to advancing government transparency, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring accountability in national security policy. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 6, Pat returned to update us on his latest activities and current affairs of our nation.Pat introduced his new book, The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression from McKinley through Eisenhower , which includes analysis through 2023. He shared details about its launch in April and a discount for purchase, joking about the high pricing typical of academic publishers but noting that the paperback is affordable. It is available at Georgetown University Press . Pat’s central message was a stark warning about what he called the existential threat posed by the current “Trump 2.0 regime,” which he said has deliberately fostered a climate of fear and political intimidation that endangers the rule of law and the “very survival of the Republic.” He condemned recent attacks on the judiciary and inflammatory rhetoric from figures like Stephen Miller as part of a campaign to erode democratic norms.At Cato, Pat works with the Criminal Justice and Constitutional Studies teams to file amicus briefs—often in partnership with the ACLU—challenging unconstitutional government actions. He warned about the unprecedented use of Title 32 authority to deploy Red State National Guard units into Democratic-led areas, describing it as a serious abuse of power. Oregon’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit is ongoing, but he expressed skepticism due to the Supreme Court’s frequent reliance on the “shadow docket” to uphold executive overreach.While noting limited tools available to state leaders, Pat praised governors such as Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker for resisting these measures. He also discussed the government shutdown’s impact on federal law enforcement, pointing out that ICE, FBI, DEA, and other agents are working without pay. Ironically, he suggested, the resulting attrition could be a peaceful way to slow down domestic political repression operations.Pat stressed that regardless of politics, Congress must uphold existing laws like the Affordable Care Act and use the appropriations process as its last nonviolent means of checking executive power. He urged Democrats to act decisively—cutting or restricting funding for unauthorized National Guard deployments and aggressive ICE actions—to prevent the nation from sliding into “truly dangerous territory.”He echoed Governor Pritzker’s warning that National Guard deployments are “pretextual,” meant less for law enforcement than for normalizing troops in civilian settings—possibly as a precursor to using them in “election integrity” operations. Pat cited the appointment of election denier Heather Honey to a DHS election security role as further evidence of politicized control over federal institutions.Concluding on a somber note, Pat said he is “deeply fearful for the future of the country.” The crisis, he argued, stems from a century-long accumulation of unchecked presidential power, congressional passivity, and judicial deference—adding, “unfortunately, this is where it’s brought us.”A summary of the October 6 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Universities Reject Trump's "Compact" According to CNN , Insight Into Academia , Los Angeles Times , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, the Trump administration’s latest attempt to reshape higher education through federal leverage has drawn significant backlash, as five major universities—MIT, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and University of Virginia (UVA)—have rejected a proposed “compact” offering preferential funding in exchange for sweeping ideological and policy changes. Sent on October 1, 2025, to nine prominent universities, including Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, University of Texas (UT) Austin, and Arizona, the compact would require institutions to eliminate consideration of sex and ethnicity in admissions, cap international enrollment at 15%, freeze tuition for five years, and redefine gender “according to biological function.” It would also mandate ideological balance on campus, assessments of faculty viewpoints, and reforms to “units that punish conservative ideas.” Signatories would gain priority for federal grants and direct access to White House events.The proposal is part of a broader White House push to exert unprecedented control over universities—long targets in Trump’s cultural and political agenda. University leaders who declined the offer cited threats to core academic values. USC’s interim president Beong-Soo Kim warned the compact would “undermine free inquiry and academic excellence,” while MIT’s Sally Kornbluth said it would “restrict freedom of expression.” Brown President Christina Paxson noted it would “undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance,” and Penn’s J. Larry Jameson emphasized alignment on some issues but “substantive concerns” overall. UVA Interim President Paul Mahoney wrote, "a contractual arrangement predicating assessment on anything other than merit will undermine the integrity of vital, sometimes lifesaving, research and further erode confidence in American higher education.”Other universities remain undecided or cautious. Vanderbilt and Arizona are reviewing the proposal; Dartmouth reaffirmed its commitment to self-governance; and UT Austin expressed openness to collaboration.More than 30 major higher education associations jointly condemned the Trump administration’s proposed Compact, warning that it represents unprecedented federal overreach threatening academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and innovation, and urged the administration to withdraw it. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/10/20 USCET: Building a Career in US-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the Law2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/11/20 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing2025/11/25 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Elaine ChaoVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 2025/10/16 Inaugural Webinar on "Bridging Nations" We extend our sincere thanks to Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch , Governor Gary Locke , and Professor Jessica Chen Weiss for leading an engaging, insightful, and thought-provoking webinar on “ Bridging Nations: People-to-People Exchange in U.S.–China Relations ” held on October 16, 2025. The Committee of 100, U.S.-China Education Trust, and APA Justice co-hosted the event.A video recording will be available soon. This event marked the first in our ongoing webinar series exploring key dimensions of U.S.–China relations and rights for the Asian Pacific American communities. The Winter webinar is tentatively scheduled for mid-January of 2026—stay tuned for details. 3. USCET: Building a Career in US-China Relations and Internship Opportunities WHAT: Building a Career in US-China Relations WHEN: October 20, 2025, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ET WHERE: In person event: Lindner Family Commons, Elliott School of International Affairs, Washington, D.C. HOSTS: The U.S.-China Education Trust, the Black China Caucus, the U.S.-China Business Council, and the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy DESCRIPTION: A panel discussion featuring early and mid-career professionals working on U.S.-China relations in the consulting, think tanks, corporate, non-profit, and government sectors, all drawing upon their China expertise. Panelists will share their experiences, offer practical advice on how to break into the field, and reflect on the skills that have helped them succeed. This event is a unique opportunity for upcoming professionals to hear about various career paths in the U.S.-China field and network with young professionals who share similar interests and passions. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4ovVGY9 *****USCET is now welcoming applications for its spring 2026 internship!Undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students are welcome to apply. This opportunity is ideal for students passionate about U.S.-China relations and cross-cultural dialogue. Interns gain hands-on experience working in a dynamic nonprofit environment dedicated to fostering mutual understanding between the United States and China.The interns work a hybrid and part-time schedule with a time commitment of a minimum of 20 hours per week. The position includes a stipend or academic credit. We encourage all eligible students to apply. Submit your application by November 14, 2025, to employmenta@uscet.org . Click here to learn more about our internship opportunities and application process: https://uscet.org/internships/ # # # 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 October 20, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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Turab Lookman 特拉伯·鲁克曼 Docket ID: 1:19-cr-01439 District Court, D. New Mexico Date filed: May 22, 2019 Date ended: September 10, 2020 Overview On May 22, 2019, Dr. Turab Lookman was indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on three counts of making false statements. Dr. Lookman moved from India to the U.K. at age 13 and later earned a doctorate in theoretical physics from King’s College, University of London. He spent around 20 years as a professor at a Canadian university before joining Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico. He became a U.S. citizen in 2008. Dr. Lookman was recognized as a Laboratory Fellow, one of LANL’s highest awards for its scientific staff. He co-authored over 250 scientific papers and two books. He received LANL's Fellows Prize for Outstanding Research in 2009 and the Distinguished Postdoctoral Mentor Award in 2016. He was terminated from LANL following his arrest. Dr. Lookman was charged with falsely denying his involvement with China's Thousand Talents Program, facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each false statement to federal investigators. Dr. Lookman’s contact with China came partly through the lab’s collaboration with that country on research projects, such as one aimed at discovering new materials that could support nuclear deterrence and the lab’s energy work. In June 2019, a month after Dr. Lookman’s indictment, the Department of Energy issued an order barring department staff and contractors from involvement in a foreign government's talent recruitment program. Federal prosecutors characterized Dr. Lookman as a serious national security threat due to his high-level security clearance, which granted him access to critical facilities and highly sensitive nuclear secrets. They claimed he "had no loyalty to the U.S." Dr. Lookman's lawyer argued that prosecutors exaggerated his access to classified information, asserting that there was no evidence he had unlawfully obtained or intended to share nuclear weapons secrets with any foreign government. Dr. Lookman initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but In January 2020, he accepted a plea agreement to one count of making a false statement with dismissal of the other two charges. On September 11, 2020, Dr. Lookman was sentenced to five years of probation and a $75,000 fine for providing a false statement to the Department of Energy. He was not allowed to leave New Mexico for the term of his probation. Previous Item Next Item

Timeline Back to China Initiative Prev Next Table of Contents Overview FBI Director’s Profiling Approach NIH’s Own “China Initiative” Criminalizing China The Ethnic Targeting of Chinese Scientists Links and References Overview On November 1, 2018, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session announced the launch of the China Initiative to combat national security threats and economic espionage emanating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). “This Initiative will identify priority Chinese trade theft cases, ensure that we have enough resources dedicated to them, and make sure that we bring them to an appropriate conclusion quickly and effectively.” Sessions said. President Donald Trump fired Sessions less than a week later, but the China Initiative remained in operation for 1,210 days until it was ended by the Joe Biden Administration on February 23, 2022. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had no definition of what constitutes a China Initiative case. DOJ created an online report on what it considered to be Chinese Initiative cases. The online report was last updated on November 19, 2021, three months before the initiative officially ended. According to MIT Technology Review , there have been 77 known China Initiative cases impacting 162 individuals. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the cases, MIT Technology Review concluded that the initiative had increasingly charged academics with “research integrity” issues. Nearly 90% of the defendants charged were of Chinese heritage, lending credence to wide-spread allegations that scientists and researchers of Chinese origin were racially profiled and targeted under the China Initiative despite denials by the government. The DOJ China Initiative cases included only indictments and prosecutions. It did not include investigations or surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and other federal law enforcement agencies and grant agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH ran its own China Initiative. By March 23, 2023, a year after the official end of the China Initiative, NIH’s own “China initiative” had upended hundreds of lives and destroyed scores of academic careers. In contrast to the very public criminal prosecutions of academic scientists under the China Initiative, NIH’s version was conducted behind closed doors. FBI Director’s Profiling Approach The first thunder of the New Red Scare came on February 13, 2018, when FBI Director Christopher Wray testified in a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing and targeted all students, scholars and scientists of Chinese origin as a national security threat to the United States. Wray responded to a question in the hearing, “I think in this setting I would just say that the use of nontraditional collectors, especially in the academic setting, whether it’s professors, scientists, students, we see in almost every field office that the FBI has around the country. It’s not just in major cities. It’s in small ones as well. It’s across basically every discipline.” Asian American advocates were outraged by Wray’s presumption that every Chinese professor, scientist, and student was guilty of collecting intelligence for the Chinese government until proven innocent. Conflating the stereotype of “perpetual foreigners” and the loyalty of Asian Americans to the United States, Wray pledged to pursue a “whole-of-society” approach to address the threat of China. His use of the term “non-traditional collectors” for spies parallelled “thousand grains of sand” during the prosecution of Dr. Wen Ho Lee and “fifth column” in referral to Japanese Americans during World War II. Qian Xuesen, also known as Hsue-shen Tsien, a founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, became a victim of the Second Red Scare during the Cold War era, facing accusations of “communist sympathies” despite his contributions to American scientific advancement. Fourteen Asian American community organizations wrote to Wray on March 1, 2018, and called for “an opportunity to discuss how well-intentioned public policies might nonetheless lead to troubling issues of potential bias, racial profiling, and wrongful prosecution.” Wray never responded to the letter. References and Links Wikipedia: Qian Xuesen 2020/02/02 The Intercept: The FBI’s China Obsession - The U.S. Government Secretly Spied on Chinese American Scientists, Upending Lives and Paving the Way for Decades of Discrimination 2019/12/31 Bloomberg: As China Anxiety Rises in U.S., Fears of New Red Scare Emerge 2019/07/20 New York Times: A New Red Scare Is Reshaping Washington 2018/03/23 Huffington Post: FBI Director Defends Remarks That Chinese People In U.S. Pose Threats 2018/03/08 Washington Post Opinion: America’s new — and senseless — Red Scare 2018/03/01 14 Coalition Organizations: Coalition letter to FBI Director Wray 2018/03/01 Committee of 100: Community Organizations Call for Meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray Regarding Profiling of Students, Scholars, and Scientists with Chinese Origins 2018/02/27 Asia Times: FBI director’s grave mistake on targeting Chinese-Americans 2018/02/16 纽约都市新闻网: 华裔议员严厉谴责Rubio和Wray针对中国学生的极端言论 2018/02/15 CAPAC: CAPAC Members on Rubio and Wray’s Remarks Singling Out Chinese Students as National Security Threats 2018/02/14 Inside Higher Ed: The Chinese Student Threat? 2018/02/13 Advancing Justice | AAJC: FBI Director’s Shock Claim: Chinese Students Are a Potential Threat 2018/02/13 U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Hearing on Global Threats and National Security 2016/05/25 60 Minutes: Collateral Damage 2015/05/10 New York Times: Accused of Spying for China, Until She Wasn’t 2000/09/14 New York Times: Statement by Judge in Los Alamos Case, With Apology for Abuse of Power . 1999/12/11 Washington Post: China Prefers the Sand to the Moles 1964/02/02 New York Times: F.B.I. Chief Warns of Red China Spies NIH’s Own “China Initiative” According to the Science Magazine, Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sent a missive to more than 10,000 institutions on August 20, 2018, asserting that "threats to the integrity of U.S. biomedical research exist" and highlighted the failure to disclose "substantial resources from other organizations, including foreign governments." Collins wrote that "in the weeks and months ahead you may be hearing from [NIH] regarding … requests about specific … personnel from your institution." Dubbed as NIH’s own “China Initiative,” NIH began sending letters to dozens of major U.S. research universities in March 2019, asking them to provide information about specific faculty members with NIH funding who are believed to have links to foreign governments that NIH did not know about. Universities reportedly scrambled to respond to the unprecedented queries. Some academic administrators worry the exercise could cast a chill over all types of international scientific collaborations. Others fear that the inquiry may become a vehicle to impugn the loyalty of any faculty member—and especially any foreign-born scientists—who maintain overseas ties. At some institutions, every researcher flagged by NIH was Chinese American. The vaguely worded letters did not contain specific accusations, nor did it explain any aspect of the process. By March 23, 2023, a year after the official end of the China Initiative, Science reported that NIH’s “China initiative” has upended hundreds of lives and destroyed scores of academic careers. In contrast to the very public criminal prosecutions of academic scientists under the China Initiative, NIH’s version was conducted behind closed doors. More than one in five of the 246 scientists targeted were banned from applying for new NIH funding for as long as 4 years—a career-ending setback for most academic researchers. And almost two-thirds were removed from existing NIH grants. Some 81% of the scientists cited in the NIH letters identify as Asian, and 91% of the collaborations under scrutiny were with colleagues in China. In only 14 of the 246 cases—a scant 6%—did the institution fail to find any evidence to back up NIH’s suspicions. NIH is by far the largest funder of academic biomedical research in the United States, and some medical centers receive hundreds of millions of dollars annually from the agency. So when senior administrators heard Michael Lauer, NIH deputy director for extramural research, say a targeted scientist “was not welcome in the NIH ecosystem,” they understood immediately what he meant—and that he was expecting action. “If NIH says there’s a conflict, then there’s a conflict, because NIH is always right,” says David Brenner, who was vice chancellor for health sciences at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in November 2018 when the institution received a letter from Lauer asking it to investigate five medical school faculty members, all born in China. “We were told we have a problem and that it was up to us to fix it.” In a panel discussion hosted by the University of Michigan in March 2024, Professor Ann Chih Lin, asserted that NIH made it clear that if they couldn’t resolve concerns regarding a faculty member and a grant, NIH would not only require universities to repay the grant, but also investigate universities’ entire portfolio of NIH grants. Fearing the loss of grant money, universities often approached the implicated professors and encouraged them to resign voluntarily or retire early. This strategy aimed to avoid a public disciplinary hearing or grievance process, which could bring unwanted attention to the case. Professors involved in such investigations typically refrained from discussing their cases to protect both themselves and the universities, often choosing to depart quietly. References and Links 2024/03/29 University of Michigan News: US universities secretly turned their back on Chinese professors under DOJ’s China Initiative 2023/02/23 Science: Pall of Suspicion 2019/03/01 Science: NIH letters asking about undisclosed foreign ties rattle U.S. universities Criminalizing China The name of China Initiative by itself is problematic. "Using 'China' as the glue connecting cases prosecuted under the Initiative's umbrella creates an overinclusive conception of the threat and attaches a criminal taint to entities that possess 'China-ness,' based on PRC nationality, PRC national origin, Chinese ethnicity, or other expressions of connections with 'China.,'" Professor Margaret Lewis wrote in her article "Criminalizing China" in 2020. Her article further contends that, when assessed in light of the goals of deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and retribution, it is worrisome that the prosecution and punishment of people and entities rests in part on a connection with “China.” A better path is to discard the “China Initiative” framing, focus on cases’ individual characteristics, and enhance the Department of Justice’s interactions with nongovernmental experts. Margaret K. Lewis, Criminalizing China , 111 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 145 (2020). https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc/vol111/iss1/3 The Ethnic Targeting of Chinese Scientists On November 19, 2020, The China Project produced a video titled “ The China Initiative: The ethnic targeting of Chinese scientists and the subsequent brain drain .” (7:30) The China Project talked to lawyers, academics, and victims of the China Initiative for their perspective. Many Chinese and Chinese American researchers feel that the program has placed a target on their back, and that they are being unfairly targeted for their Chinese ethnicity. There are also critics who say the Initiative has done little more than drive talent away from the U.S. Jump to: Overview FBI Director’s Profiling Approach NIH’s Own “China Initiative” Criminalizing China Ethnic Targeting of Chinese Scientists 1. DOJ launched China Initiative November 1, 2018 Timeline Contents Department of Justice: Information About The Department of Justice's China Initiative and A Compilation of China-Related Prosecutions Since 2018 . (last updated November 19, 2021). Margaret K. Lewis, Criminalizing China , 111 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 145 (2020). 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review: The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it. 2020/11/19 The China Project: The China Initiative: The Ethnic Targeting of Chinese Scientists and the Subsequent Brain Drain . (video 7:30) 2020/10/30 The China Project: Scientists in the Crosshairs: What should Chinese and Chinese-American researchers do amid U.S. crackdown on ‘China ties’? (video 21:04) 2018/11/07 New York Times: Jeff Sessions Is Forced Out as Attorney General as Trump Installs Loyalist 2018/11/01 Department of Justice: Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces New Initiative to Combat Chinese Economic Espionage 2018/11/01 Department of Justice: Attorney General Sessions Announces Criminal Enforcement Action and New Initiative to Combat Chinese Economic Espionage (video 36:37) Links and References Timeline Known Cases Impacted Individuals

APA Justice fully supports and is a partner with The Yellow Whistle Project , which officially launched on April 19, Patriots Day, 2021. The project was started by Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and her husband Oscar Tang, Li-En Chong, Ken Tan, Anne Martin-Montgomery, and Cassandra X Montgomery in response to the anti-Asian hate and violence. In nature, yellow signals the advent of spring, bringing hope, optimism, and enlightenment. In America, yellow has been weaponized against Asians as the color of xenophobia. The whistle is a symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination, anti-Asian violence, and racial profiling. It has a universal purpose - to signal alarm and call for help - for all Americans. We are whistleblowing to fight back against the stereotype that Asians are a silent minority. We shall not remain silent, because we belong! Learn more Free whistles are being distributed through a network of outreach partners in New York City and throughout the continental U.S. Priority will be given to 501(C)3 organizations with demonstrated strong community ties. Distribution is managed by regional hubs, including APA Justice. The supply of whistles has been increased from 100,000 to 200,000 and now 500,000. The campaign is turning into a movement and a platform beyond the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. On September 5, 2021, Axios reported on How the yellow whistle became a symbol against anti-Asian hate. Read article See Yellow Whistle activities happening throughout the country "We Belong" Yellow Whistles The Yellow Whistle Campaign Make a Difference

Newsletter - #289 U.S. Heartland China Association Update and Event; Franklin Tao Speaks Out; Pandas; + #289 U.S. Heartland China Association Update and Event; Franklin Tao Speaks Out; Pandas; + In This Issue #289 · Update from US Heartland China Association · "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach" and the Case of Professor Franklin Tao · KSNT News: Professor Franklin Tao Speaks Out · Pandas are Here at the National Zoo in Washington DC · News and Activities for the Communities Update from US Heartland China Association Min Fan , Executive Director of the U.S. Heartland China Association, introduced USHCA to us at the February 2024 monthly meeting. Min Fan warmly invited meeting participants to join an upcoming hybrid event "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach" at the University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence, Kansas. Former KU Professor Franklin Tao and his wife Hong Peng plan to attend and engage in discussions. This event has been in planning for over a year. It involved collaboration with local Chinese American scholars and the National Committee for U.S.-China Relations to ensure a meaningful exchange on pertinent topics. The emphasis is on fostering local engagement and informed debate around broader issues affecting the community.Min underscored the importance of having discussions about U.S.-China relations not just in Washington, D.C., but also in the Heartland. The U.S. Heartland China Association, a bipartisan organization founded by late Senator Adlai Stevenson III of Illinois originally under the name of Midwest U.S. China Association and currently chaired by Former Governor of Missouri Bob Holden , aims to promote stable U.S.-China relations to protect and advance the interests of the Heartland community, such as export market for our agricultural producers, global competitiveness of our businesses, talent attraction in our universities, and the cultural heritage of Chinese Americans In the Heartland. During this past summer, USHCA organized an agricultural delegation to China, which included members from rural areas who had never visited the country before. One delegate from Kentucky returned with a renewed perspective, expressing to his local trade association members and elected officials that China was nothing like the all-negative portrayals in the media. This experience illustrated the potential benefits of people-to-people exchanges in fostering better relations and understanding between the two nations. ( From Heartland to Mainland, reflections and insights , webinar replay) The trip was 100% funded by US Agriculture stakeholders. Min, who is the first Chinese American executive director of the organization, highlighted the scrutiny faced by Chinese Americans in leadership roles within nonprofits focused on U.S.-China relations. She is one of very few Chinese Americans leading a non-profit organization on U.S.-China relations. USHCA also faced political backlash and accusations of undue influence after sending a bipartisan delegation of six Heartland mayors to China ( Press Release , Video recap ). Despite the challenges, the organization continues to work closely with the State Department and other agencies to promote sub-national diplomacy and collaborative efforts around pressing issues like climate change. Min highlighted an upcoming event in Memphis, which aims to engage local partners, NGOs, and academics in a Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue about climate resilience, low carbon agriculture, and green transportation. This initiative seeks to promote balanced discussions in the Heartland, inviting broader community involvement and partnerships. The goal is to engage diverse local stakeholders in more informed conversations about U.S.-China relations and the future of Chinese Americans in this region. In closing, Min expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share insights with the broader community and emphasized the importance of ensuring that diverse voices are heard in discussions that shape the future. She called for continued collaboration and support to facilitate these critical dialogues and foster understanding among all stakeholders involved.A summary of the October 7 monthly meeting, including Min's update, is posted at https://bit.ly/48wdg7D . Farm Policy News: New US-China Trade War Could Cost Farmers Billions According to Farm Policy News on October 17, 2024, United States corn and soybean farmers could lose billions of dollars in annual production value if the US-China trade war induced new tariffs on agriculture products. The study found that “U.S. soybean farmers (could) lose an average of $3.6 to $5.9 billion in annual production value” while “U.S. corn farmers (could) lose an average of $0.9 to $1.4 billion in annual production value” depending on how China would respond to increased U.S. tariffs. “This burden is not limited to the U.S. soybean and corn farmers who lose market share and production value. There is a ripple impact across the U.S., particularly in rural economies where farmers live, purchase inputs, utilize farm and personal services, and purchase household goods,” the study said. The total economic contribution of soybean and corn production could drop between $4.9 billion and $7.9 billion annually, with the most heavily affected sectors including manufacturing and mining of crop protection, fertilizer products, and energy products, as well as real estate and transportation.Read the Farm Policy News report: https://bit.ly/4eR0yT8 "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach" and the Case of Professor Franklin Tao On October 11, 2024, Professor Jack Zhang of the University of Kansas (KU) Department of Political Science, joined by Susan Thornton , Vice Chair of the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA), and a retired senior U.S. diplomat with decades of experience in Eurasia and East Asia, and Kyle Jaros , an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame, for a discussion on building a balanced approach for relations with China. The event was hosted by USHCA and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at KU. Kyle Jaros began by discussing the surge in China-related legislation and other state-level policy actions, which increased to at least 110 or 115 between 2016 and 2023. Probably 25 to 30% of these proposals have been enacted into law. What started out as a handful of tangible concerns has morphed into something that is far more ominous in the minds of many. When asked about the China policies of the Trump and Biden administrations, Susan Thornton stated that one of the key challenges in U.S.-China negotiations is the political divide within the U.S. in Washington. It has often been politically advantageous for lawmakers to exaggerate or promote dramatic, threatening proposals to get attention. While the federal government generally takes a balanced approach in assessing the China threat, politicians have put a lot more emphasis on some aspects of the so-called China threat than are warranted. This overemphasis on the perceived threat from China could lead to unintended consequences, as highlighted by Jack Zhang. Many legislators, both at the national and subnational levels, may not realize that the bills they are drafting and voting on could have adverse effects. One major concern is the effort to revive the China initiative in Congress. The China Initiative was a Department of Justice program that tried to combat espionage and technology theft on university campuses and industry. There is a lot of evidence that the FBI racially profiled Chinese and Asian American researchers, damaged and ruined a lot of careers.During the Q&A session, Hong Peng reminded the audience that her husband, Franklin Tao was a KU professor who was wrongly prosecuted by the China Initiative . After five years of hard fighting by the Taos, the Tenth Circuit Court acquitted the last charge against Franklin on July 11 this year. Justice finally prevailed and Franklin was fully exonerated. The victory was bittersweet for the couple. This fight has cost Franklin nearly everything; the wrongful prosecution destroyed his career that he spent over 20 years building and spending almost 16 hours a day each day working in his lab. The total cost of his legal defense is over 2.3 million. They used up all their savings. They took money out of their retirement accounts, borrowed money from every single friend who could help, and they raised funds through GoFundMe. And currently, they still have over a million in debt.Hong Peng said “We can't choose where we were born and where we came from. But we really should not be scapegoated because of our country of origin. Twenty years ago, we came to the United States to pursue our American dream. We never imagined we would spend five years trapped in this nightmare.” Despite all this, Franklin Tao remained fully occupied, fully dedicated to his scientific work. He has published over 30 papers during those five years. And a few days ago, he had one of his papers accepted by Science . Unfortunately, even until today, he is still fighting to reinstate his faculty position. Hong wondered how the community could help a victim like Franklin to rebuild his career. Kyle Jaros commented that an idea very well worth considering: a kind of amnesty for anybody who was found in violation of minor academic regulations, for example, disclosure of foreign research relationships which was a widespread issue across academia.Compliance and information about compliance was something that academics were not being regularly informed of for a long period of time. And then suddenly there was a huge frame shift. And within a few years, universities very quickly started to ramp up attention to these rules, and then law enforcement got involved and decided to make criminal cases or even kind of national security cases out of what in many instances were very minor. Kyle Jaros hoped that Franklin Tao can make progress in restitution. Susan Thornton thanked Franklin Tao for seeing the whole process through to the end and the acquittal. It is important for our justice system, for our institutions, for our faith in our institutions, which she thinks is coming under a lot of fire in this country and around the world. "I think we owe you a debt of gratitude on that score. We've seen periods of overzealousness of this type in U.S. history before, and then we always must come back and reflect on our errors. More publicity, more shining a light, as you've done tonight by standing up and telling your story, is what we need for people to be aware of," she said. "I hope that this very difficult ordeal can somehow have some kind of silver lining or benefit both for you and your family because you deserve it, but also the contribution that you make to our institutional fabric."Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3UhjmT7 (1:19:06). Read the Franklin Tao story: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm . Ken Lao contributed to this report. KSNT News: Professor Franklin Tao Speaks Out On October 20 2024, KSNT News Inside Kansas Politics featured former Kansas University Professor Franklin Tao , his wife Hong Peng , and Ron Barrett-Gonzalez , KSAAUP (Kansas Conference of American Association of University Professors) Committee A Co-Chair. The interview discussed Professor Tao's legal battle after being wrongfully accused of Chinese espionage under the Trump administration's China initiative. His conviction was overturned by a U.S. appeals court in July 2024. Tao shares his journey, including his academic background and the distressing circumstances surrounding his arrest. Professor Tao’s wife, Hong Peng, described the emotional toll the situation took on their family, highlighting the fear and desperation they faced. The couple endured significant financial damage. Her testimonies revealed the emotional toll the situation has taken on her family, with children experiencing significant distress.Professor Barrett-Gonzalez expressed deep concern over the university's handling of Professor Tao's case. He recalled the horror felt within the academic community when it was revealed that a specific ethnicity of researchers, particularly those of Asian descent, were being disproportionately targeted by the federal initiative. After Professor Tao was acquitted, Professors Barrett-Gonzalez and Rob Catlett, also KSAAUP Committee A Co-Chair, and other faculty members expected the KU administration to promptly reinstate him, recognizing the importance of justice and fairness in academia. However, to their disappointment, the administration opted not to take action, which Professor Barrett-Gonzalez argued is unfairly prolonging the distress for Professor Tao and his family. Professor Barrett-Gonzalez referenced similar cases where universities acted appropriately after faculty were acquitted. For example, Professor Anming Hu in Tennessee facing similar accusations was reinstated following a court ruling, as the university recognized the negative impact on its reputation. In contrast, Professor Barrett-Gonzalez criticized KU for failing to follow suit and reinstate Professor Tao. The discussions between Professors Barrett-Gonzelez and Catlett and university officials centered around what they considered clear violations of civil rights laws, particularly the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on nationality or ethnic origin. They highlighted how the 10th Circuit Court has recognized tenure as a property right, arguing that the university’s actions have violated Professor Tao's Fifth Amendment rights by not providing due process in his dismissal. Professor Barrett-Gonzalez asserted that this treatment reflects a broader ethical failure on the part of the university administration.In closing, Professor Tao underscored his continued dedication to research despite challenges, arguing that he has been wrongfully persecuted and calling for his immediate reinstatement to help restore the university's reputation. The segment concludes with a commitment to continue advocating for justice and fairness in the academic environment.Watch the KSNT News report: https://bit.ly/3YyWeSV (27:57). Professors Barrett-Gonzalez and Catlett spoke at the August 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting, a summary of which is posted here: https://bit.ly/3AHFSO1 Pandas are Here at the National Zoo in Washington DC According to Washington Post , CNN , and multiple media reports, two giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, both three years old, arrived at the National Zoo in Washington DC on October 15, 2024, after an absence of almost a year. They travelled on a specially chartered FedEx Boeing 777 cargo jet dubbed the “Panda Express.” They are here on a 10-year lease, and will make their public debut January 24, 2025, after a quarantine period. While born in Sichuan, Bao Li has deep familial roots in Washington. His mother, Bao Bao, was born a celebrity at the National Zoo in 2013 and returned to China four years later. His grandparents, Meixiang and Tian Tian, lived at the zoo for 23 years until their lease ended last year.“Panda Diplomacy” began with US President Richard Nixon ’s ice-breaking trip to Communist China during the Cold War. In June, the San Diego Zoo also received two giant pandas from China, which marked the first panda loans to the U.S. in two decades. On the same day Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived in Washington, On line livestream of "giant panda cam" from the San Diego Zoo was launched at https://bit.ly/4eRBVWu News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/10/24 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)2024/11/15 AAASE Inaugural Annual Summit2024/11/15 Yangtze-Mississippi Regional DialogueVisit 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. Summary of October 2024 Monthly Meeting Posted The October 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/3BMUjB2 . We thank the following special speakers for their reports and updates: · Congresswoman Grace Meng gave her remarks that were covered in Newsletter #288 on October 21, 2024: https://bit.ly/4070ryi · Casey Lee , Policy Director of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), provided an update on CAPAC on behalf of Nisha Ramachandran, Executive Director of CAPAC. She thanked Congresswoman Grace Meng and her team for leading efforts to prevent the reinstatement of the China Initiative in the FY 2025 appropriations bill. CAPAC remains committed to ensuring the AAPI community's voice is heard in key legislative processes, including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Casey highlighted a recently released video featuring firsthand accounts of the racial profiling and wrongful prosecutions caused by the China Initiative, encouraging its wide distribution to raise awareness. She also acknowledged the collaboration with advocacy groups like AASF, AAJC, and CAA, emphasizing their role in shaping ongoing legislative negotiations to protect the community. · Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director of Asian American Forum (AASF), expressed gratitude to Congresswoman Grace Meng for her leadership in opposing the reinstatement of the China Initiative and supporting the Museum of Asian Pacific American History. She highlighted AASF's success in gathering over 1,000 participants for its award ceremony, celebrating Asian American scholars, and emphasized AASF’s role in policy efforts and the museum’s establishment. Gisela also thanked Casey Lee and CAPAC for educating the public during "China Week," where scholars shared personal stories of facing discrimination. She praised AASF’s advocacy in recognizing civil rights icons and connecting university faculty with policymakers, urging continued community engagement to ensure Asian American voices are heard in shaping national policy. Gisela also mentioned AASF's collaboration with the NIH on transparency efforts and reiterated the importance of the community's involvement in policy discussions. · Min Fan , Executive Director of the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA), gave a report that is covered by today's newsletter. · Texas State Representative Gene Wu gave a report that was covered in Newsletter #288 on October 21, 2024: https://bit.ly/4070ryi Read the October APA Justice monthly meeting summary: https://bit.ly/48wdg7D . Read previous monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP 3. China and World Institute at Johns Hopkins University is Hiring Johns Hopkins University is seeking a Managing Director, China & The World Institute to play a pivotal role in the launch and growth of the new China and the World Institute at School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The mission of the Institute is to bring greater rigor and reason to public and policy discussions on China, spearheading efforts to generate new knowledge and strategic insights to “get China right.” Working closely with and reporting to the inaugural Faculty Director, the Managing Director leads the strategic development, management, and advancement of the Institute, playing a critical role in building a leading center for interdisciplinary research, education, and public engagement on China's role in the world. It is also hiring an Academic Program Manager. Read more about these opportunities at https://bit.ly/40kgtES 4. 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 24, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #149 Events/Conferences; Update on Arrowood; Hateful Trump Name-Calling; New from the Fed #149 Events/Conferences; Update on Arrowood; Hateful Trump Name-Calling; New from the Fed Back View PDF October 7, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #346 Gene Wu; TX SB17 Hearing; Land Restrictions; ICE Crackdown; Science Reports; Fed Data+ #346 Gene Wu; TX SB17 Hearing; Land Restrictions; ICE Crackdown; Science Reports; Fed Data+ In This Issue #346 · Committee of 100 Condemns Loyalty Attacks on Texas Rep. Gene Wu · 08/14 Public Court Hearing on Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Bill SB17 · Restrictions on Chinese Land Ownership in the U.S. · Concerns Over ICE Crackdown Tactics · Science: NIH Funding and Editorial on Columbia Deal · Federal Data at Risk: NASEM Warning, IRS Clash, and BLS Firing · News and Activities for the Communities Committee of 100 Condemns Loyalty Attacks on Texas Rep. Gene Wu On April 8, 2025, the Committee of 100 issued a public statement on Respectful Civil Discourse , condemning rhetoric that questions the loyalty or belonging of Chinese Americans based on ethnicity or political views. The statement cited an August 6 Texas Tribune article reporting that Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton targeted Representative Gene Wu 吳元之 , linking him to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and suggesting he should “go back to China.” “Suggesting that an American lawmaker is aligned with a foreign regime because of his heritage or political advocacy draws on a long and dangerous history of anti-Asian scapegoating and racism in this country,” the Committee of 100 said. “Such statements are outrageous and un-American. Disagreements on public policy are part of a healthy democracy. But invoking race, ethnicity, or foreign associations—especially when aimed at Asian American elected officials—incites xenophobia, invites slurs, and increases the potential for real-world harm.” Wu, leader of the Texas House Democrats, recounted his family’s persecution during China’s Cultural Revolution, noting that accusations of being a “communist spy” are deeply offensive given his family history. In recent months, he has faced escalating racist attacks from GOP officials amid his role in blocking Republican-led redistricting. Republican leaders, including Middleton and Texas GOP Chair Abraham George , have publicly questioned Wu’s loyalty, labeling him “CCP Wu” and accusing him on social media of being an operative of the Chinese Communist Party doing China’s bidding in the Legislature while baselessly questioning his loyalty to Texas and the U.S. Democrats and Asian American leaders warn that such unchecked rhetoric is dangerous, especially as Texas’s Asian American population grows rapidly. In contrast to past instances when racist remarks prompted swift condemnation, top GOP leaders have remained largely silent—signaling a troubling erosion of norms around respectful public discourse. 08/14 Public Court Hearing on Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Bill SB17 On July 3, 2025, the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA 华美维权同盟) filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Chinese nationals alleging Texas state law (SB 17), barring Chinese citizens from buying property in the state, is discriminatory and unconstitutional.A public hearing on Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103) will be held on August 14, 2025, starting at 10:00 am CT at Bob Casey U.S. Courthouse 515 Rusk Avenue, Houston, TX 77002.CALDA is calling on community members to attend the court hearing. “Even just quietly sitting in the back of the courtroom, your presence is the strongest form of support,” CALDA’s call to action states. “This is not only a legal battle but a fight for our right to live with dignity on this land.”The hearing is open to the public, but with only a few dozen seats expected to be available. Standing in the courtroom is not allowed. It is recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes early and enter after passing security screening. The court strictly prohibits carrying any electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Photography, video recording, and audio recording are forbidden. Lockers are provided at the court entrance for storage. The hearing is expected to last 30 to 60 minutes. During this time, attendees must not enter or leave freely, talk, or create noise. Please obey the rules; violators may be removed by court officers.CALDA’s lawsuit compares Texas’s SB 17 law to historically notorious anti-Asian laws like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and California’s 1913 Alien Land Law, both targeting Asian immigrants. Texas had repealed similar discriminatory restrictions in 1965, deeming them unreasonable and discriminatory. SB 17 bans citizens of certain countries—unless they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents—from owning most real estate or signing leases longer than one year in Texas. The law applies even to long-term residents with valid student or work visas, treating them as if they still reside in their country of origin. Violators risk forced property sales, felony charges, imprisonment, and hefty fines.CALDA contends that SB 17 is not an isolated law; it equates “place of birth” with a “national security threat,” treating people of Chinese origin as potential enemies. This is not merely a restriction on foreign nationals but a form of systemic discrimination that marginalizes the entire Chinese community. U.S. history has long shown that once prejudice based on nationality takes root, it spreads and harms the innocent. Among these waves of legislation, SB 17 is neither the beginning nor the end. It is part of a nationwide surge of anti-Chinese laws. We cannot remain silent, retreat, or be absent.SB 17 is set to take effect September 1, 2025. The plaintiffs request the court to rule that SB 17 is preempted by federal law and unconstitutional, to issue temporary and permanent injunctions preventing its enforcement, and to order payment of attorney’s fees and related litigation costs. Restrictions on Chinese Land Ownership in the U.S. Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications AssociateAccording to Nikkei Asia , the U.S. is intensifying its crackdown on Chinese ownership of American agricultural land in the name of national security. Legislative efforts at both the federal and state levels to restrict Chinese property ownership have reached an all-time high.According to a recently released report by the Committee of 100 , U.S. Congress is currently considering 15 alien land bills, and 25 states have passed similar legislation aimed at restricting foreign ownership of property, including but not limited to agricultural land. This year alone, 11 such bills have already been enacted into law, with 129 introduced.Last month, the Department of Agriculture released a seven-point national security plan, enhancing public disclosures of foreign ownership of farmland and working with Congress and states to ban purchases of farmland by foreign adversaries and countries of concern. Agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins pointed specifically to the ownership of American farmland by Chinese nationals as an existential threat. Rollins hinted she might “claw back” land currently owned by Chinese investors.In May, Texas passed Senate Bill 17, prohibiting people and companies from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from purchasing land and other property in the state. It also bars certain people from leasing homes or apartments for more than a year. ACLU Texas maintains this legislation violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause.Florida passed similar legislation in 2023 that bans Chinese citizens from buying most property in the state. The law went into effect on July 1, 2023, although enforcement has been curtailed in specific cases pending legal review. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a temporary injunction blocking the law’s enforcement against two plaintiffs while their appeal is under consideration.In April, West Virginia enacted House Bill 2961, explicitly banning Chinese citizens who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents from owning or possessing real property or mineral rights within the state. Speaking at the August 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting, Joanna YangQing Derman of Advancing Justice | AAJC explained that, while the legislation defines “prohibited foreign party” as individuals from China, the actual ban applies to individuals acting on behalf of companies and does not ban individuals from directly renting or purchasing land for themselves. The bill specifies that a violation of the law allows six months for full divestment of the sale, enforceable by the state court system and the West Virginia attorney general.The Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) represents plaintiffs in lawsuits against the legislation in Florida and Texas. CALDA legal director, Justin Sadowsky , says “the purpose [of the legislation] appears to be harming Chinese people.” Vincent Wang , chair of the Ohio Chinese American Association (OCAA) and APA Justice co-organizer, has been working with Ohio legislators with OCAA to amend proposed legislation in Ohio. The legislation, House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88, would bar U.S. permanent residents from China from purchasing homes or businesses within 25 miles of military bases or critical infrastructure, such as water treatment plants, pipelines, dams, and telecommunication systems.Wang says he and his group have tried to relay to lawmakers the impact the legislation will have on business, employment, and investment in the state. Wang estimates roughly 110,000 people could be impacted if the legislation passes.He added, “While China is on the U.S. ‘foreign adversary’ list, conflating the Chinese government with people of Chinese origin risks racial profiling and discrimination — harming innocent individuals and businesses without meaningfully advancing national security.”Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland dropped last year to 265,000 acres, near the 2019 level, accounting for 0.03% of the 876 million acres nationwide. According to Sarah Bauerle Danzman , a former foreign investment analyst with the State Department and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, such a miniscule proportion poses no national security threat. Concerns Over ICE Crackdown Tactics Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications AssociateAccording to CNN , AsAmNews , and multiple media reports, Yeonsoo Go , a 20-year-old South Korean at Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 31. Five days later, August 4, she was released and reunited with her mother in Federal Plaza in New York.In 2021, Go moved to the U.S. with her mother on a religious worker’s dependent visa. Three years later, she graduated from Scarsdale High School, located in Westchester County, New York. Go’s mother, the Rev. Kyrie Kim , serves as a priest in the Asian ministry of the Episcopal Diocese in New York and is recognized as the first woman ordained in the Seoul Diocese of the Anglican Church of Korea.On July 31, 2025, Go attended a visa hearing in Manhattan with her mother, during which a judge scheduled a hearing for October. However, ICE agents arrested her outside the courthouse immediately after the hearing. She was first held at a nearby federal detention site, then transferred to a facility in Monroe, Louisiana. ICE has not provided an explanation for why she was placed in immigration detention.According to Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin , Go had overstayed a visa that “expired more than two years ago” and was placed in expedited removal proceedings. McLaughlin added, “The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choice — they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported.”However, Go’s current visa is reported to be valid until December, and her hearing on July 31 was part of an effort to extend her status, raising serious questions about the legality and appropriateness of her detention.On August 2, supporters called for Go’s release during a gathering in Manhattan’s Federal Plaza. Friends spoke of her positive attitude and kind heart, noting that Go had been increasingly nervous leading up to her hearing given the current political climate.A Purdue University spokesperson Trevor Peters confirmed the university was aware of the situation and that the dean of students had reached out to Go’s family.Following her release, Republican Representative Mike Lawler wrote on X “Yeonsoo’s case is yet another example of why we must fix our broken immigration system and make it easier for folks to come here and stay, the right way.”Go’s detainment comes just over a week after Tae Heung "Will" Kim , PhD student at Texas A&M University, was first detained at San Francisco International Airport. Kim spent a week sleeping in a chair with the lights on 24/7, before being moved to immigration detention centers in Arizona and then Raymondville, Texas. Kim was denied access to counsel while he was held in San Francisco. Karl Krooth , Kim’s attorney, stated that his client’s detention underscores serious flaws in the immigration system. He noted that Kim was deprived of due process protections typically available through immigration court proceedings, and held in an airport under questionable authority. “CBP [Customs and Border Protection] officers are not neutral arbiters — they are interrogators,” Krooth said. Becky Belcore , co-director of National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), says Kim’s prolonged detention is indicative of a larger crackdown on immigrants’ rights. Earlier in July, Muhanad J. M. Alshrouf was detained by immigration officials for nine days at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, TX. Alshrouf had a valid visa and had no criminal history. CBP officials have not provided reasoning why he was detained.Similarly, CBP officials held naturalized citizen Wilmer Chavarria , a Vermont school district superintendent, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport for hours on July 21, searching his electronic devices. Chavarria was returning from a trip to Nicaragua where he visited family.On August 8, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) addressed a letter to Kristi Noem , Todd Lyons , and Rodney Scott expressing deep concern over the treatment of lawful permanent resident AAPI individuals by CBP and ICE. They pointed to several reports in which individuals — Will Kim, Yeonsoo Go, Lewelyn Dixon , Maximo Londonio , and Yunseo Chung — were detained without due process, suggesting potential violations of constitutional protections. CAPAC also alleges that CBP has violated its own National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search, which requires CBP officials to “hold detainees for the least amount of time required” and, generally, for no more than 72 hours. The cases cited by CAPAC exemplify how CPB has purportedly failed to uphold this code.The CAPAC letter underscores growing concerns about the protection of constitutional rights, serving as a reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to due process. Upholding these principles helps ensure that enforcement practices remain fair and that the rights and dignity of immigrant communities are respected. Breaking News : According to the Intercept , a 32-year-old Chinese immigrant named Chaofeng Ge died by suicide in the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, a privately run ICE detention facility in Pennsylvania. Ge had been detained there for five days after being handed over to ICE following a guilty plea for a credit card fraud-related arrest. The Moshannon facility, operated by the GEO Group and the largest ICE detention center in the Northeast, has faced numerous complaints about abusive conditions, including poor language services that leave detainees, especially Chinese speakers, isolated.Ge was found hanging in a shower room early on August 6, 2025, and despite emergency medical efforts, he was pronounced dead around 6 a.m. His death marks the first ICE detainee death in the Northeast this fiscal year and the third suicide in ICE facilities nationwide this year.The Moshannon center has come under scrutiny for overcrowding, lack of adequate medical and mental health care, and harsh conditions that resemble a prison rather than a temporary holding center. A 2024 Department of Homeland Security investigation found “egregious and unconstitutional conditions,” but its findings were largely ignored after oversight offices were closed.Nationwide , deaths in ICE detention have increased sharply this fiscal year, with 12 detainee deaths reported as of June 2025—more than the previous year and the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The rise in deaths highlights ongoing concerns over ICE detention conditions and treatment of immigrants. Science : NIH Funding and Editorial on Columbia Deal According to Science on July 31, 2025, The Senate Appropriations Committee rejected President Trump’s proposed 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and major reductions to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), instead approving a 2026 funding bill that boosts NIH’s base budget by $400 million (1%) to $47.2 billion and keeps the CDC at $9.15 billion. The bill preserves NIH’s 27 institutes, blocks a cap on indirect research costs, and funds targeted research areas such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. Lawmakers from both parties criticized the administration’s attempts to freeze funds and reorganize agencies, framing the measure as a strong bipartisan defense of biomedical research and public health. The Senate bill must still go to the full Senate for approval and be reconciled with a House of Representatives version. According to a Science editorial titled “ The Columbia deal is a tragic wake-up call ” on July 31, 2025, Columbia University has entered into an agreement with the U.S. government to restore $1.3 billion in annual research funding after the Trump administration raised concerns about antisemitism, admissions practices, faculty hiring, and campus protests. While university leaders framed the deal as a necessary step to free up critical science funding—emphasizing its importance for advancing research that benefits the nation and humanity—it imposes obligations far beyond research oversight. The terms focus heavily on undergraduate education and require Columbia to answer questions on a range of politically sensitive topics. Michael Roth , the president of Wesleyan University, who has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration and has decried the timidity of universities in standing up for higher education, declined to criticize Columbia for entering the agreement, likening it to a parent who understandably had to pay a ransom for their kidnapped child. Many in academia believe that Columbia’s decision has put other universities at risk of being required to meet the same kind of demands. The Columbia case underscores the vulnerability of universities that have become deeply reliant on federal research funding since World War II, often prioritizing financial growth and prestige over safeguarding academic independence. It also illustrates the difficult trade-offs administrators face when balancing core educational principles against the need to secure resources. While Columbia opted to negotiate rather than challenge the government, Brown University has followed a similar path, and Harvard University is fighting its own dispute in court. The real danger, some warn, is that such political and financial pressures—combined with heightened scrutiny of teaching and scholarship—could erode the fundamental mission of higher education: preparing future generations for the public good. Federal Data at Risk: NASEM Warning, IRS Clash, and BLS Firing On August 8, 2025, Marcia McNutt , President of the National Academy of Sciences, and Victor J. Dzau , President of National Academy of Medicine, issued a public statement , emphasizing that federal statistical agencies must remain free from political or other undue influence to maintain public trust and ensure effective decision-making. They highlighted the critical role accurate, objective data plays for businesses, governments, and the public, and reaffirmed long-standing principles—articulated since 1992—requiring agencies to operate independently of political agendas. The statement urges federal leaders to protect the integrity, objectivity, and statutory safeguards that enable these agencies to serve the nation impartially and in the public interest. Related Resources: Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Eighth Edition On August 9, 2025, the Washington Post reported that tensions erupted between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the White House after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asked the IRS to use confidential taxpayer data to locate 40,000 suspected undocumented immigrants. IRS privacy lawyers had opposed the April data-sharing agreement, and Commissioner Billy Long limited cooperation, verifying fewer than 3% of names and refusing to share additional information such as Earned Income Tax Credit claims, citing privacy laws. DHS has suggested future requests could target up to 7 million people. The dispute occurred hours before Long’s abrupt removal as IRS commissioner, though it is unclear if it was a direct cause. Long, a former congressman appointed in June, will become ambassador to Iceland, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent serving as interim commissioner. His short tenure also saw clashes over delaying tax season and eliminating the IRS’s Direct File program. This episode illustrates the type of political pressure NASEM warns could undermine public trust in federal agencies. On August 1, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Dr. Erika McEntarfer from her role as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after alleging the jobs report was “rigged” to harm him and Republicans. In a statement issued by the Economic Policy Institute, Heidi Shierholz , President of EPI, called the claim “preposterous” and warned the move risks politicizing the office of Commissioner by threatening removal if economic data displeases the White House. Taken together, these developments underscore a growing pattern of political interference in statistical and data-driven agencies — a trend that, if unchecked, could erode public confidence in the integrity of government information. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/08/11 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Gary Locke2025/08/12 Teaching and Researching Controversial Topics in the Sciences2025/08/14 Court Hearing on Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103)2025/09/06 The 2025 Asian American Youth Symposium2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/09/08 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Janet YangVisit 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 August 11, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #128 FBI Town Halls; ODNI Report; 6/6 Monthly Meeting; Webinar and Op-Ed; Memorial for Norm #128 FBI Town Halls; ODNI Report; 6/6 Monthly Meeting; Webinar and Op-Ed; Memorial for Norm Back View PDF June 2, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter