60 top scientific organizations are calling for balance between an open scientific environment and economic and national security. September 4, 2019 On September 4, 2019, 60 top science, engineering and international education organizations - representing hundreds of thousands of scientists, engineers and educators around the world - sent an open letter to five top federal officials in charge of science programs, calling for fairer treatment of foreign-born scientists in the face of policies that could put a chill on the participation of foreign nationals in the scientific enterprise. The letter was addressed to Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier , Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House; Dr. France Córdova, Director of the National Science Foundation; Dr. Francis Collins , Director of the National Institute of Health; Dr. Chris Fall, Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy; and Dr. Michael Griffin , Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. "Finding the appropriate balance between our nation’s security and an open, collaborative scientific environment requires focus and due diligence," the letter said. "Any response should consider the impact on both the overall scientific enterprise and on individual scientists and its development should include the input of the science and engineering community." Otherwise, "many scientists—both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals—who properly follow codes of conduct, regulations, policies and laws, may inappropriately be harmed in response to the misconduct and illegal actions of others." The co-signers of the letter ask the federal officials to "consider a wide range of stakeholder perspectives as your agencies work together through the new NSTC ( National Science and Technology Council ) Joint Committee on Research Environments to develop policies and procedures that address issues related to international researchers’ participation in the U.S. scientific enterprise, and we would welcome the opportunity to work with you." multisociety-letter-on-foreign-influence_9-4-2019 .pdf Download PDF • 73KB 60 top scientific organizations are calling for balance between an open scientific environment and economic and national security. Previous Next Top Scientific Organizations Call for Fairer Treatment of Foreign-born Scientists

Newsletter - #184: Section 702 Violations; Paid Interns; Alien Land Bills; DeSantis; Community News #184: Section 702 Violations; Paid Interns; Alien Land Bills; DeSantis; Community News In This Issue #184 Warrantless Surveillance - More Violations of Section 702 Revealed APA Justice Seeks Up to Two Motivated Paid Interns Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills Florida Governor DeSantis Criticized for Mandating Asian American History While Banning Courses on "Systemic Racism" News and Events for the Communities Warrantless Surveillance - More Violations of Section 702 Revealed On May 19, 2023, multiple media including AP News , Washington Post , and New York Times , FBI analysts improperly and repeatedly used a warrantless surveillance program to search for information about hundreds of Americans who came under scrutiny in connection with two politically charged episodes of civil unrest: the protests after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The violations occurred more than 278,000 times and were detailed in a secret court order issued last year by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has legal oversight of the U.S. government’s spy powers. The surveillance program, known as Section 702 under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), empowers the government to collect, without a warrant and from American companies like Google and AT&T, the communications of foreigners abroad who are targeted for intelligence purposes — even when they are talking with or about Americans.Intelligence and law enforcement officials can search the database of communications intercepted under Section 702 using the names or other identifiers of Americans, but only under certain circumstances. The FBI has repeatedly failed to comply with those limits.Section 702 expires at the end of the year unless it is renewed by Congress.Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a longtime critic of what he says is dangerous overreach by U.S. intelligence officials, decried what he called the “shocking abuses of FISA Section 702.” He said that the abuses have been going on for years and that officials are still withholding key details from the public. “There is important, secret information about how the government has interpreted Section 702 that Congress and the American people need to see before the law is renewed,” Wyden said in a written statement.“You can tell your department, not a chance in hell we’re going to be reauthorizing that thing without some major, major reforms,” Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah told Attorney General Merrick B. Garland at a Justice Department oversight hearing earlier this year.“Today’s disclosures underscore the need for Congress to rein in the FBI’s egregious abuses of this law, including warrantless searches using the names of people who donated to a congressional candidate,” said Patrick Toomey , deputy director of the ACLU’s National Security Project. “These unlawful searches undermine our core constitutional rights and threaten the bedrock of our democracy. It’s clear the FBI can’t be left to police itself.”The ACLU represents Professor Xiaoxing Xi , who is suing the government over its dismissed prosecution of him for supposedly sharing sensitive technology with scientists in China. New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang reportedly also fell victim to Section 702 under the now-defunct "China Initiative."Privacy and civil rights advocates have revived a proposal to require the government to obtain a warrant from the surveillance court before it may search the Section 702 repository using an American’s identifiers. Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, who backs that idea, said the violations disclosed in the opinion, particularly for the political campaign donors and those arrested in connection with the racial justice protests, showed the necessity of that proposal. “The opinion provides frightening proof of the need for a warrant requirement before agencies conduct U.S. person queries,” she said. Elizabeth Goitein has accepted APA Justice's invitation to speak on this topic at the June 5 monthly meeting. Please send a request to contact@apajustice.org if you wish to join the by-invitation-only meeting. Read more about warrantless surveillance and Section 702 at https://bit.ly/3O6T43Q APA Justice Seeks Up to Two Motivated Paid Interns APA Justice is looking for up to two motivated paid website design and content management interns to join our team for the summer months. The successful candidates will assist in designing, developing, and maintaining the APA Justice website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . The interns will work closely with the co-organizers and other members of the organization to ensure that the website reflects our mission and values and provides a user-friendly experience for all visitors. These are paid internship positions that allow for working remotely and flexible hours, and option to extend to part time positions beyond the summer. Responsibilities include the innovative development of a virtual library and related content. The job description is here: https://bit.ly/438Oh6c . Interested candidates should send their resume and questions to contact@apajustice.org . Cornell University is Seeking A Research Associate & Program Coordinator for Its China U.S. Policy (CUSP) Initiative. This is a 2-year term appointment with benefits and the possibility of extension depending on funding. Professor Jessica Chen Weiss is Director. Review of applications will begin June 1. Interviews will take place early to mid-June. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2023 with an end date of June 30, 2025. Learn more about the job and apply at https://bit.ly/3MnFPJz Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills 1. 33 States are Now Known to Have Introduced Alien Land and Property Bills As of May 20, 2023, there are 33 states known to have introduced some form of alien land and property bills in the current or recent legislative session. A few have passed and signed into state law; some have died; others are still pending.State-by-state links to the legislations and a companion map are provided as community resources at https://bit.ly/402lG1w . They are collected from multiple sources including APA Justice, Committee of 100, National Agricultural Law Center, Project South, and crowdsourcing. Due to the dynamic nature of these developments, we plan to update the information periodically. We anticipate the continuation and introduction of alien land and property bills into future state legislative sessions. The map and a list of state legislations are posted at https://bit.ly/402lG1w 2. Alien Land Bill in Alabama - House Bill 379 According to WHNT-TV19 on May 19, 2023, a bill that would have initially prevented Chinese citizens from buying a home in Alabama underwent some major changes after a committee hearing this week. The “Alabama Property Protection Act” changed to ban just government entities from “countries of concern” from buying land near military bases. But some Chinese American Alabamians said they still have some concerns with the new version of the bill. Lily Moore is a realtor in Montgomery and a U.S. citizen living in Alabama for the last 25 years. She said the first version of this bill concerned her not only as someone from China but as a real estate agent who would have had to question homebuyers.“It could be like a Caucasian that looks like an Asian. I think of my job as not a realtor anymore,” Moore said. “It’s like an investigator for FBI.”After she and many others voiced concerns, the bill changed — no longer preventing people from China from buying land in Alabama but targeting instead government entities from countries on a federal sanctions list, including China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.Moore and Linyuan Guo-Brennan with the Central Alabama Association of Chinese Americans said they are glad to see the changes to the bill but are still concerned that the mere listing of the countries could lead to discrimination, even though the bill is now aimed at government actors.“This is one way, or most effective way, to enforce systemic discrimination,” Guo-Brennan said. “The members of the Chinese American community have already feel that we are the political pawns of the two parties playing politics.”The length of the regular Alabama legislative session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days. The bill will next be considered by the House to either concur with the substitute bill or make changes. Tuesday May 23 will begin day 24 out of 30 meeting days for the legislative session.Read the WHNT-TV19 report: https://bit.ly/3opbrq7 "Alabama not a sweet home for Asians." According to an opinion published by AL.com on May 18, 2023, at the onset of this Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month in May, the House of Representatives in the State of Alabama approved HB-379, also known as the Alabama Property Protection Act. This legislation specifically aims to prohibit Chinese citizens, Chinese companies, and the Chinese government from acquiring property. Such a measure flagrantly infringes upon the civil rights of Chinese individuals residing in the state and demonstrates a blatant disregard for the principles upheld by the Fair Housing Act.It is crucial to halt the ratification of this bill before law-abiding citizens are unjustly deprived of their ability to purchase homes or engage in economic activities. While one may assume that such xenophobic legislation belongs to a bygone era, it is essential to acknowledge that Alien Land Acts have persisted until modern times.During this AAPI Heritage Month, it is essential to celebrate the remarkable achievements and invaluable contributions of the AAPI community. We must resist the regression into xenophobic laws that mirror a bygone century. Our unwavering belief rests upon the establishment of a just and inclusive society that upholds the rights and dignity of all individuals, irrespective of their ethnicity. It is incumbent upon us to reject the existence of discriminatory legislation, as none of us would desire to witness the marginalization of foreign American nationals in their respective countries or the unjust exclusion of American corporations from foreign market investments.The author of the opinion, Dr. Ken Yang, holds an MD and PhD and lives in Birmingham where he has been a research scientist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham the past 19 years.Read Dr. Yang's opinion at AL.com : https://bit.ly/3IuxcMl 3. Alien Land Bills in Arizona - Senate Bills 1115, 1112 and House Bill 2376 According to LegiScan and Arizona Capitol Times on March 3, 2023, Arizona Senate passed Senate Bill 1115 by a margin of 16-14 that would prohibit land sales to the government, companies, and citizens of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria or Venezuela. The bill was sent to the Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of the Arizona House of Representatives and failed to advance on a 3-6 vote on March 30, 2023. Arizona SB1112 was introduced on January 19, 2023, to originally target China, but was expanded in the government committee to ban individuals from a list of countries from buying property in Arizona. It passed the committee on a 5-3 vote, but has seen no further action. Arizona House Bill 2376 was introduced on January 18, 2023. It passed the Arizona House on a 43-17 vote on February 22, 2023. The bill is currently pending at the Arizona Senate Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee. 4. Alien Land Bill in Louisiana - House Bill 537 On May 15, 2023, the Civil Law and Procedure Committee of the Louisiana House of Representatives held a hearing that included Louisiana House Bill 537 . High school graduate Abigail Hu 's testimony started at 3:12:45 and ended at 3:16:16. The Louisiana House has scheduled floor debate for May 23, 2023.Watch the Louisiana House of Representatives proceedings: https://bit.ly/3IuWFoG (video 3:34:11). Florida Governor DeSantis Criticized for Mandating Asian American History While Banning Courses on "Systemic Racism" According to a report by NBC News on May 18, 2023, a new law in Florida mandates the teaching of Asian American and Pacific Islander history in public schools. But many Asian Americans are not celebrating, pointing to how other marginalized communities are being affected by the state heavily limiting the instruction of systemic racism and gender identity in the classroom. Asian American academics and civil rights organizations are speaking out after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill last week, requiring that Asian American and Pacific Islander history to be included in the K-12 curriculum. The measure coincides with another bill signed into law to no longer permit public colleges to spend money on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It also limits the way race and gender will be taught in the state’s higher education institutions. Gregg Orton , national director of National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, a coalition of dozens of AAPI organizations, said the history law is far from a “win” for the Asian American community, adding that “racial justice can’t be a zero-sum game for communities of color.”“When you advance a bill that uplifts AAPI communities, but don’t want to acknowledge the fact that in the same state, there are real intentional efforts to invisiblize or erase Black history, or [critical race theory], you are on the wrong side of history,” Orton said. “With Florida, it’s hard to draw any other conclusion than they are actively trying to use the Asian American Pacific Islander community as a wedge here.” Make Us Visible, the group that spearheaded the push, has been working on the legislation for more than two years, according to Mimi Chan , president of the Florida chapter. All students in the state, from grades K-12, will "benefit from this legislation because moving forward all histories will be taught together," she said in a statement provided to NBC News.The history mandate would require the teaching of Japanese American incarceration in World War II, immigration, citizenship and the “contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to American society.” Conversely, the anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion bill, effective July 1, will ban the teaching of courses that legislators say “distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics.” It also bans “theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.” The bills come after state officials rejected an Advanced Placement African American studies course in January, leading the College Board to water down its framework for the curriculum. Pawan Dhingra , president of the Association for Asian American Studies, said that the effort from activists to implement Asian American studies in schools is admirable. However, the greater context around race education in the state can’t be ignored, he said. The language in the higher education bill, particularly its use of “identity politics,” Dhingra said, in part dismisses many groups’ real experiences and meaningful critiques. “What they’re saying is basically denying that there’s just real injustice going on,” he said. Moreover, Asian American history is intertwined and inextricably tied to others’ experiences, challenges and struggles, Russell Jeung , professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University, said. Omitting those aspects of education would create an untruthful representation, he said. Manjusha P. Kulkarni , co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, similarly noted that Asian American experiences cannot be separated from that of Black, Indigenous and other groups, calling into question what “version” of history will be taught in schools. Kulkarni said: “We cannot address racism and hate in a silo. We know that our communities are interconnected.”She added that the history mandate also coincides with DeSantis’ signing of SB264, a law that in part prohibits Chinese nationals who do not have U.S. citizenship from buying property or land in the state. “DeSantis and the Florida officials are not truly interested in seeing our full humanity. And that raises further questions about what the bill signing of AAPI history means,” she said. For now, the experts say, progress is still distant.“I don’t want to discount the eagerness and the desire and hunger for our community to see advancements like this,” Orton said of the history mandate. “But it can’t be done at the expense of others.”Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3WpTGnu According to multiple media reports including AP News , CBS News , CNN , and New York Times , the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Equality Florida have issued travel advisories for Florida, warning potential tourists that recent laws and policies championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”Florida is one of the most popular states in the U.S. for tourists, and tourism is one of its biggest industries. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year. Tourism supports 1.6 million full-time and part-time jobs, and visitors spent $98.8 billion in Florida in 2019. News for the Communities 1. For First Time, FBI San Diego’s Special Agent in Charge is Asian American According to Fox5-San Diego on May 18, 2023, for the first time at FBI San Diego, the bureau’s top cop or special agent in charge (SAC) is of Asian American descent. SAC Stacey Moy grew up in San Diego. Moy had humble beginnings as a kid from Solana Beach, a third generation Chinese American whose father worked for the Navy. He found his fit in the U.S. Navy, graduating from the Naval Academy in 1998. He was commissioned and served as an officer in the Surface Warfare and Naval Special Warfare communities. Moy joined the FBI as a special agent in 2004 and served on the SWAT team. He was promoted to top leadership positions in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco before becoming Special Agent in Charge in San Diego. Moy’s second in command is Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Kim , who is Korean American. Only a little over 3% of the FBI special agents are AAPI. The FBI has reportedly created Diversity Advisory Committees to help improve and increase diversity within its rank. Watch and read the Fox5-San Diego report: https://bit.ly/3pZKsSH 2. Asian American Fellows Elected to the National Academy of Sciences In addition to MIT Professor Gang Chen , other known Asian American fellows elected to the 2023 National Academy of Sciences include: Chao, Moses V. ; professor, Department of Cell Biology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiology, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York City Lin, Xihong ; coordinating director, program in quantitative genomics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and professor of statistics, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard University, Boston Pan, Duojia ; investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and professor and department chair of physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas Sundaresan, Venkatesan ; Distinguished Professor, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis Ting, Alice ; professor of genetics, biology, and, by courtesy, chemistry, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. Tye, Bik-Kwoon ; professor, molecular biology and genetics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. Venkatesh, Akshay ; Robert and Luisa Fernholz Professor, School of Mathematics, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J. Wang, Michelle D. ; investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and James Gilbert White Distinguished Professor of the Physical Sciences, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. Xiao, Shuhai ; professor of geobiology, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Zeng, Hongkui ; executive vice president and director, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle Zhou, Min ; Walter and Shirley Wang Endowed Chair in US‐China Relations and Communications, Department of Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles Read the 2023 National Academy of Sciences announcement: https://bit.ly/3Oz32Lw Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF May 22, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

Newsletter - #2 SCMP Report, NSF Exclusive, Injunction Against ICE Directive Filed, And More #2 SCMP Report, NSF Exclusive, Injunction Against ICE Directive Filed, And More Back View PDF July 9, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

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

On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. December 2, 2021 Table of Contents Overview DOJ Changed Its Online Records Matt Olsen to Conduct DOJ Review APA Justice Reported DOJ Change of Records Links and References Overview On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published the first of two investigative reports titled The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it . According to the report, the US government’s China Initiative sought to protect national security. MIT Technology Review reveals how far it has strayed from its goals. Among its major findings are: The DOJ has neither officially defined the China Initiative nor explained what leads it to label a case as part of the initiative The initiative’s focus increasingly has moved away from economic espionage and hacking cases to “research integrity” issues, such as failures to fully disclose foreign affiliations on forms A significant number of research integrity cases have been dropped or dismissed Only about a quarter of people and institutions charged under the China Initiative have been convicted Many cases have little or no obvious connection to national security or the theft of trade secrets Nearly 90% of the defendants charged under the initiative are of Chinese heritage Although new activity appears to have slowed since Donald Trump lost the 2020 US presidential election, prosecutions and new cases continue under the Biden administration The Department of Justice does not list all cases believed to be part of the China Initiative on its webpage and has deleted others linked to the project. DOJ Changed Its Online Records Also on December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published the second of its two investigative reports titled We built a database to understand the China Initiative. Then the government changed its records . Since the US government launched the China Initiative in 2018, the main source of information about it has been press releases on the Department of Justice’s China Initiative webpage announcing arrests, charges, and indictments. But the record is incomplete. APA Justice and other civil rights groups have been tracking the reported cases and changes made to the initiative’s webpage out of concerns about its potential for racial profiling. They have seen gaps and inconsistencies in the DOJ’s messaging. “I’d like to see a balance sheet,” said Jeremy Wu, who held senior civil rights and ethics positions in the US government before co-founding the APA Justice Task Force, one of the groups that is independently tracking the China Initiative. “What did we gain? How many spies did we catch, compared to how much damage that has [been] done not only to individuals, but also to the future of American science and technology?” The MIT Technology Review database is not that balance sheet. But it is an important step toward answering some of the questions Wu poses—questions that the US government has not answered. Rather, it has added to the confusion: two days after MIT Technology Review reached out with a request for comment, DOJ made major updates to its webpage, removing cases that do not support its narrative of a successful counterintelligence effort. A link to the MIT Technology Review database is located here: https://bit.ly/3xYhp5T Matt Olsen to Conduct DOJ Review During a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice on October 21, 2021, Rep. Ted raised the concerns of racial profiling by citing the acquitted case of Professor Anming Hu as an example and requested Attorney General Merrick Garland to review the China Initiative. In response, Garland committed Matt Olsen to conduct a review upon Olsen’s confirmation as the next Assistant Attorney General for National Security. Watch Rep. Ted Lieu’s questions during the hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BcwIK269zs (video from 2:52:28 to 2:57:53) Matthew Olsen was sworn in on November 1, 2021. He filled the position vacated by John Demers. APA Justice Reported DOJ Change of Records On November 24, 2021, APA Justice sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland , making two requests on the pending review of the China Initiative: To ensure credibility and integrity for the review process, we request the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the official scope and boundaries of the “China Initiative” and a complete list and a formal count of the “China Initiative” cases since the program was launched in November 2018. An unannounced and unexplained update of the DOJ online "China Initiative" report on November 19, 2021 shows the removal of about 20 cases from previous record, including the dismissed or acquitted cases of 7 scientists and researchers - Anming Hu, Qing Wang, Chen Song, Xin Wang, Juan Tang, Kaikai Zhao, and Guan Lei. We request the DOJ to include letters and comments from almost 2,000 faculty members, scholars, and administrators nationwide as part of the thorough review of the “China Initiative.” As of November 23, 2021, a total of 1,959 faculty members from 223 institutions nationwide have endorsed the Stanford letter and joined the call to end the "China Initiative." The nationwide campaign is continuing until the "China Initiative" has ended. The latest counts and comments are posted publicly online at https://bit.ly/3wwrD8A . Jump to: Overview DOJ Changed Its Online Records Matt Olsen to Conduct DOJ Review APA Justice Reported DOJ Change of Records On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. Previous Next 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports

Kansas University Professor Feng “Franklin” Tao became the first academic and scientist of Chinese origin to be indicted in August 2019. He was followed by Professors Anming Hu and Gang Chen, Researcher Dr. Qing Wang, New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang, a group of five STEM researchers and students from China, and others. The year 2020 saw the injustice inflicted by the government shifting and intensifying its profiling of scientists, most of them of Chinese origin, for “research integrity” in the name of national security. August 21, 2019 Table of Contents Overview Feng “Franklin” Tao 陶丰 Anming Hu 胡安明 Qing Wang 王擎 The Five “Visa Fraud” Cases Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 Gang Chen 陈刚 Before China Initiative: Xiafen “Sherry” Chen 陈霞芬 and Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 Before China Initiative: Wen Ho Lee 李文和 Links and references Overview The Chinese character for injustice 冤 is an ideogrammic (a graphic symbol that represents an idea) compound of putting a cover 冖 on a rabbit 兔. According to Wiktionary , the same character is used in Japanese Kanji, Korean Hanja, and Vietnamese Han characters. The ancient form of the character reportedly first appeared in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Profiling and discrimination against Asian Americans is not new. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first and only major federal legislation to explicitly suspend immigration based on national origin and race. During World War II, 125,000 Japanese Americans were interned during World War II because of their ancestry and unproven question of loyalty. Before the China Initiative, Wen Ho Lee 李文和 was targeted and scapegoated for providing nuclear secrets to the government of China. Prior to the China Initiative, Xiafen “Sherry” Chen 陈霞芬, Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星, and other scientists in academia, federal government, and private industry were alleged to pass secrets to China, only to have all their charges dropped at the end. Under the China Initiative, Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao 陶丰 became the first academic and scientist of Chinese origin to be indicted in August 2019. The shift from economic espionage to “research integrity” in the guise of national security would continue intensely for the next two years. Dr. Qing Wang 王擎 was fired from his research position before he was indicted in May 2020. In the last full day of the Trump Administration in January 2021, Professor Gang Chen 陈刚 was indicted with the prosecutor questioning his loyalty to the United States. Professor Anming Hu 胡安明 became the first to go to trial in June 2021 and was fully exonerated by the end of the trial. New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Baimadajie Angwang (昂旺) was charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China in September 2020. NYPD failed not only to reinstate him, but proceeded to terminate his employment in one of the most egregious injustices of the modern era. Most of these individuals are naturalized and accomplished US citizens born in China. Officer Angwang was deployed as a U.S. marine to Afghanistan and joined the Army Reserve. Although their charges were eventually dropped or acquitted, the injustice has already caused severe damage to their careers, reputation, finances, and families. Timed to coincide with the US closing of China’s consulate in Houston as a “spy center” in July 2020, five Chinese researchers were arrested and charged separately for visa fraud, alleging them to be spies on behalf of China’s People’s Liberation Army. The Department of Justice summarily dropped all five cases a year later. Feng “Franklin” Tao 陶丰 On August 21, 2019, Feng “Franklin” Tao 陶丰 became the first academic of Chinese origin to be indicted under the China Initiative. An associate professor at Kansas University’s (KU) Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis (CEBC), Franklin Tao was initially charged with one count of wire fraud and three counts of program fraud, which was superseded to 10 charges. He was employed since August 2014 by the CEBC, whose mission is to conduct research on sustainable technology to conserve natural resources and energy. All charges against Professor Tao were dismissed or acquitted except one. He was convicted by a jury for one count of making a false statement to KU. As another rejection by U.S. courts of the government’s attempt to prosecute Chinese-born scientists for lapses in reporting their research interactions with China, the judge handed down the lightest possible sentence - 2 years of probation that could be cut in half for good behavior. Professor Tao has appealed to overturn the one-count conviction. A decision on his appeal is pending. [Link to Franklin’s webpage under Impacted Persons] Anming Hu 胡安明 On February 27, 2020, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of Professor Anming Hu, an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). Professor Hu was charged with three counts of wire fraud and three counts of making false statements. Professor Hu was the first U.S. university professor of Asian ancestry facing dubious charges under the "China Initiative" to go to trial on June 7, 2021. The trial revealed the zeal of the misguided “China Initiative” to criminalize Professor Hu with reckless and deplorable tactics of spreading false information to cast him as a spy for China and press him to become a spy for the U.S. government. When these efforts failed, DOJ brought charges against Professor Hu for intentionally hiding his ties to a Chinese university, which also fell apart upon cross examination during the trial. On June 16, 2021, a mistrial in Professor Hu’s case was declared after the jury deadlocked. On July 30, 2021, the U.S. Government announced that it intended to retry the case against Professor Hu. On September 9, 2021, Judge Thomas Varlan issued an order and acquitted Professor Hu of all charges. [Link to Anming Hu’s webpage under Impacted Persons] Qing Wang 王擎 On May 14, 2020, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Dr. Qing Wang as a former Cleveland Clinic researcher and a Chinese “Thousand Talents” participant. He was charged with false claims and wire fraud related to more than $3.6 million in grant funding that Dr. Wang and his research group allegedly received from NIH. On July 15, 2021, DOJ moved to dismiss its case against Dr. Wang without prejudice. His case was the first detected by APA Justice to have been removed from the DOJ online report after it was dismissed. [Link to Qing Wang’s webpage under Impacted Persons] The Five “Visa Fraud” Cases On July 24, 2020, The U.S. ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, accusing it to be a "spy center" to conduct spying activities with local medical centers or universities. Apparently timed to support the announcement, four researchers from China were charged with visa fraud “after lying about their work for China’s People’s Liberation Army.” It was followed by the indictment of a fifth researcher from China in August 2020. The five Chinese nationals are four biomedical and cancer researchers in California and a doctoral candidate studying artificial intelligence in Indiana: Lei Guan (关磊), Visiting researcher (mathematics), University of California at Los Angeles Dr. Chen Song (宋琛), Visiting researcher (neurology), Stanford University Dr. Juan Tang (唐娟), Visiting researcher (cancer), University of California at Davis Xin Wang (王欣), Visiting researcher (neurology), University of California at San Francisco Kaikai Zhao (赵凯凯), Doctoral candidate (machine learning and artificial intelligence), Indiana University In December 2020, Assistant Attorney General John Demers made a dubious claim that more than 1,000 visiting researchers affiliated with the Chinese military fled the United States in the summer. In July 2021, all five visa fraud cases were abruptly dismissed by DOJ. [Link to all five individuals’ web pages under Impacted Persons] Baimadajie Angwang (昂旺) On September 21, 2020, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Baimadajie Angwang, a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer and United States Army reservist, alleging him for acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China as well as committing wire fraud, making false statements and obstructing an official proceeding. On January 19, 2023, all charges against Officer Angwang were formally dropped after U.S. prosecutors said they uncovered new information that warranted the dismissal. Angwang, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Tibet, China, spent six months in custody before being granted bail. Although all federal charges against Officer Angwang were dismissed, NYPD not only did not reinstate him, but proceeded to start administrative proceedings against him in September 2023. NYPD terminated his employment in January 2024. [See Baimadajie Angwang’s web page (under development) under Impacted Persons] Gang Chen 陈刚 On January 14, 2021, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of MIT Professor Gang Chen, alleging him 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. 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, he said, “it is not illegal to collaborate with foreign researchers. It’s illegal to lie about it. The allegations in the complaint imply that this was not just about greed, but about loyalty to China.” On January 20, 2022, all charges against Professor Chen were dropped. Professor Chen describes himself to be the luckiest among the unlucky because he had full support from MIT, its faculty members, and the Asian Pacific American and scientific communities. He is the namesake of the “We Are All Gang Chen” movement. “When I endured was not an isolated incident, but the result of a long American history of scapegoating and harmful policy making. Having secured our seat at the table, we must remain engaged, committed, and vigilant to prevent civil rights abuses for the next generation,” he said. [See Gang Chen’s web page under Impacted Persons] Before China Initiative: Xiafen “Sherry” Chen 陈霞芬 and Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 A pattern of racial profiling against Chinese American scientists began to emerge in 2015 under the Obama Administration prior to the official launch of the China Initiative. In a relatively short time span, four naturalized American citizens in three separate situations were indicted for one of the most serious crimes related to espionage and trade secrets that carried heavy penalties in prison terms and fines. These individuals - Guiqing Cao, Shuyu Li, Sherry Chen, and Xiaoxing Xi - worked in diverse fields - private industry, federal government, and academia respectively. All three cases were subsequently dismissed or dropped without apology or further explanation. This is highly unusual because the Department of Justice (DOJ) prides itself on its mission of prosecuting criminal cases. Conviction rate is a key measure of success and performance. Annual statistical reports show that the overall DOJ conviction rate in all criminal prosecutions has been over 90% every year since 2001. The rate for espionage-related charges is expected to be much higher than average due to its serious nature and impact on the accused. Sherry Chen won a historic settlement from the US Department of Commerce in November 2022. Professor Xiaoxing Xi’s civil lawsuit against the FBI is still ongoing at this time. The APA Justice Task Force was formed in response to a call by Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, in 2015 as a platform to address racial profiling and related justice and fairness issues for the Asian Pacific American communities. [Link to Sherry Chen, Xiaoxing Xi, and APA Justice web pages] Before China Initiative: Wen Ho Lee 李文和 Dr. Wen Ho Lee is a Taiwanese-American nuclear scientist and a mechanical engineer who worked for the University of California at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico from 1978 to 1999. Dr. Lee came to the US in 1964 at the age of 26 to attend Texas A&M University. He received his doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1970 and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1974. He worked for the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. He moved to New Mexico in 1978 and worked as a scientist in weapons design at Los Alamos National Laboratory, in applied mathematics and fluid dynamics, from that year until 1999. Dr. Lee was publicly named by US Department of Energy officials, including Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, as a suspect in the theft of classified nuclear-related documents from Los Alamos in 1999. On December 10, 1999, Dr. Lee was arrested, indicted on 59 counts of unlawfully mishandling classified documents, and jailed in solitary confinement without bail for 278 days. On September 13, 2000, Dr. Lee accepted a plea bargain on one count from the federal government. He was released on time served. Upon the sentencing, Judge James Parker offered a formal apology to Dr. Lee, “I have no authority to speak on behalf of the executive branch, the president, the vice president, the attorney general, or the secretary of the Department of Energy. As a member of the third branch of the United States Government, the judiciary, the United States courts, I sincerely apologize to you, Dr. Lee, for the unfair manner you were held in custody by the executive branch.” In 2003, Dr. Lee wrote a memoir with Helen Zia, “My Country Versus Me”, to tell his story how his Asian ethnicity was a primary factor behind his prosecution by the government. In June 2006, Dr. Lee won a historic settlement over violation of his privacy rights and received $1.65 million from the government and five news organizations. Judge James Parker passed away in September 2022. Secretary Bill Richardson died in September 2023. 2018/03/12 Jeremy Wu: Revisiting Judge Parker’s Apology to Dr. Wen Ho Lee 2006/06/03 Washington Post: Wen Ho Lee Settles Privacy Lawsuit 2003/01/08 Wen Ho Lee and Helen Zia: My Country Versus Me: The First-Hand Account by the Los Alamos Scientist Who Was Falsely Accused of Being a Spy 2001/02/04 New York Times: The Making of a Suspect: The Case of Wen Ho Lee 2000/09/26 New York Times: From The Editors; The Times and Wen Ho Lee 2000/09/14 New York Times: Statement by Judge in Los Alamos Case, With Apology for Abuse of Power 2000/09/13 ABC News: Wen Ho Lee Freed After Guilty Plea 2000/12/04 C-SPAN: The Wen Ho Lee Story (video 1:11:24) 1999/08/01 60 Minutes: "Spy?" - Wen Ho Lee (video 16:55) Jump to: Overview Feng “Franklin” Tao 陶丰 Anming Hu 胡安明 Qing Wang 王擎 The Five “Visa Fraud” Cases Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 Gang Chen 陈刚 Before China Initiative: Xiafen “Sherry” Chen 陈霞芬 and Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 Before China Initiative: Wen Ho Lee 李文和 Kansas University Professor Feng “Franklin” Tao became the first academic and scientist of Chinese origin to be indicted in August 2019. He was followed by Professors Anming Hu and Gang Chen, Researcher Dr. Qing Wang, New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang, a group of five STEM researchers and students from China, and others. The year 2020 saw the injustice inflicted by the government shifting and intensifying its profiling of scientists, most of them of Chinese origin, for “research integrity” in the name of national security. Previous Next 4. Shift to Profiling Scientists of Chinese Origin

Newsletter - #67 Press Briefing Today On Anming Hu Mistrial; Letter To The White House #67 Press Briefing Today On Anming Hu Mistrial; Letter To The White House Back View PDF June 18, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #366 12/1 Meeting; Giving Tuesday; Yanping Chen; Internatonal Students; CAIR Sues; US Data+ #366 12/1 Meeting; Giving Tuesday; Yanping Chen; Internatonal Students; CAIR Sues; US Data+ In This Issue #366 · 2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Giving Tuesday - Consider APA Justice · Herridge Petition in Yanping Chen v FBI et al · International Students Drop | Serica Storytellers · CAIR Sues Texas Officials Over Terror Group Designation · The U.S. Needs Better Data · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Kin Yan Hui , National President, Chinese American Citizens Alliance · Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Edgar Chen , Special Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the Co-Organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . *****The American Civil Liberties Union is an American nonprofit civil rights organization founded in 1920. Patrick Toomey works on issues related to privacy and surveillance, racial and ethnic discrimination, and the use of novel technologies like artificial intelligence. His litigation and advocacy often focus on national security prosecutions or policies where these issues intersect. Patrick has litigated high-profile cases challenging sweeping surveillance programs operated by U.S. intelligence agencies, and has represented Asian American scientists who have been wrongly investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. government. Patrick returns to provide updates on recent ACLU activities.The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), "The Voice for 80,000 AANHPI Legal Professionals," held its annual convention on November 6-8, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. On November 25, 2025, NAPABA issued a joint statement with local affiliates in response to the Eleventh Circuit split decision upholding Florida’s discriminatory Alien Land Law SB264. As Senior Advisor for NAPABA, Edgar Chen returns to update us on the latest from NAPABA. Giving Tuesday - Consider APA Justice GivingTuesday is an annual global day of generosity that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It serves as a counterpoint to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday by encouraging people to donate to charities, volunteer their time, or perform acts of kindness. Created in 2012, the movement has grown into a large-scale effort that raises billions of dollars for nonprofits and fosters a spirit of giving back. APA Justice has been advancing fairness, equity, and belonging for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for the past 10 years. We identify emerging issues through coalition work, community engagement, and data insights. We educate policymakers and allies through media collaboration, an online resource hub, and regular briefings. And we mobilize communities to advocate for practical solutions and stronger civic participation.Your support strengthens civil rights protections, elevates AAPI voices, and helps build a more inclusive America. Now, as a powered by the Committee of 100 initiative, APA Justice invites you to make a tax-deductible contribution to sustain this work at: https://bit.ly/Donate2APAJustice . Herridge Petition in Yanping Chen v FBI et al On November 14, 2025, former journalist Catherine Herridge filed a petition with the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in the case of Yanping Chen v FBI et al . Herridge was previously held in civil contempt for refusing to identify the confidential sources she used in Fox News reports about a counterintelligence investigation into Dr. Yanping Chen —an investigation that never resulted in any charges. Dr. Chen alleges that federal officials unlawfully leaked her private information to Herridge in violation of the Privacy Act. Herridge was held in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her confidential sources in a Privacy Act lawsuit filed by Dr. Yanping Chen against federal agencies, including the FBI. Dr. Chen alleged that federal officials leaked her private information to Herridge, which was used in Fox News reports about a counterespionage investigation into Dr. Chen, who was never charged for any wrongdoing. Herridge invoked the First Amendment reporter’s privilege to protect her sources, but the District Court ruled that Dr. Chen had met the criteria to overcome the privilege, citing the centrality of the information and exhaustion of alternative sources. Herridge appealed. The three-judge panel of the Appeals Court affirmed the District Court’s decision with a 3-0 ruling, stating that the reporter’s privilege can be overcome in Privacy Act cases when centrality and exhaustion are established.Herridge has now petitioned for a rehearing by the three-judge panel and rehearing en banc by the entire Appeals Court in the DC Circuit. To learn more about the case, read th e summary of the November 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting led by Dr. Chen's attorney Andrew Phillips and the APA Justice web page on Dr. Chen . International Students Drop | Serica Storytellers According to NBC News on November 17, 2025, U.S. colleges and universities experienced a steep 17% decline in new international enrollment for fall 2025 amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.New data from the Institute of International Education confirms this is the largest non-pandemic drop in more than a decade and follows a 7% decrease the previous academic year. More than half of the 825 surveyed institutions reported declines, with 96% citing visa application problems as a major obstacle. Fanta Aw , CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said visa delays and denials have made the U.S. “less competitive” globally, noting that “the U.S. is no longer the central place that students aspire to come to.” She also pointed to the Trump administration’s pause of new student visa interviews in May, which created severe backlogs.The downturn carries significant economic consequences. NAFSA estimates a $1.1 billion loss to the U.S. economy this year due to fewer international students. Last year, international students contributed nearly $43 billion and supported more than 355,000 U.S. jobs by spending on tuition, housing, services, insurance, and local goods. On December 2, 2025, the Serica Initiative will co-host an in-person event with David Wu , President, Baruch College, CUNY, and Frank Wu , President, Queens College, CUNY. As federal visa policies evolve, international students at City University of New York (CUNY) campuses face growing uncertainty. This timely conversation explores how student visa revocations are reshaping New York’s educational landscape. The panel delves into how immigration policy shifts ripple across classrooms, immigrant communities, and the city’s public higher education system — and how institutions can better advocate for and support affected students. The event will be moderated by Joan Kaufman , Senior Director for Academic Programs, the Schwarzman Scholars Program, and held at Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY, 219 W 40th St 3rd floor, New York, NY 10018. For more information and registration, please visit: https://bit.ly/47RWYHn CAIR Sues Texas Officials Over Terror Group Designation On November 20, 2025, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Legal Fund of America filed a lawsuit, Council on American-Islamic Relations Texas Dallas Fort Worth v. Abbott (1:25-cv-01878) , in the U.S. District Court for West Texas against Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton over Abbott’s proclamation designating CAIR as a foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organization on November 18. The designation prevents CAIR from acquiring property in Texas and imposes civil and criminal penalties, which the plaintiffs argue harm their advocacy work, fundraising, and reputation. CAIR argues in the lawsuit that Abbott acted to defame the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR contends that the proclamation violates constitutional rights, including protections for property and free speech, and strongly rejects Abbott’s characterization of CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist” and “transnational criminal” organizations. The lawsuit also notes that CAIR condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, contradicting Abbott’s allegations that CAIR’s executive director “publicly praised and supported” the attack. According to The Guardian , only the U.S. Secretary of State can officially designate foreign terrorist organizations under federal law. Abbott’s proclamation is tied to his broader efforts in Texas related to “foreign adversaries” and land restrictions. It bars CAIR members from purchasing land in Texas and allows Paxton to sue entities linked to CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood, but it does not carry federal immigration consequences, asset freezes, or criminal penalties. Abbott justified the designation by citing a 2007 case involving CAIR and the Holy Land Foundation; CAIR was never indicted and has denied the allegations.According to The Guardian , only the U.S. secretary of state can officially designate foreign terrorist organizations under federal law. Abbott’s proclamation is tied to his broader efforts in Texas related to “foreign adversaries” and land restrictions. It bars CAIR members from purchasing land in Texas and allows Paxton to sue entities linked to CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood, but it does not carry federal immigration consequences, asset freezes, or criminal penalties. Lena Masri , CAIR’s Litigation Director, said the lawsuit is “our first step toward defeating Governor Abbott again so that our nation protects free speech and due process for all Americans.” She warned, “No civil rights organization is safe if a governor can baselessly and unilaterally declare any of them terrorist groups, ban them from buying land, and threaten them with closure.” Several Republican officials previously called for an investigation into CAIR’s funding. CAIR has won three prior cases challenging Abbott’s alleged First Amendment violations. · 2025/11/20 Politico: CAIR Sues Texas Officials over Terror Group Designation · 2025/11/20 Houston Chronicle: Muslim civil rights group CAIR sues Greg Abbott over 'unconstitutional' terrorist designation · 2025/11/18 The Guardian: Texas governor Abbott designates Cair and Muslim Brotherhood terrorist groups · 2025/11/18 New York Times: Texas Governor Declares Muslim Civil Rights Group a ‘Terrorist Organization’ · 2025/11/18 Washington Post: Texas governor declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization The U.S. Needs Better Data According to Barron's on November 22, 2025, good data matter more than ever in a complicated world, and the U.S. is falling behind.The recent 43-day government shutdown exposed how essential—and fragile—America’s federal statistical system has become. When agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics stopped collecting and publishing key indicators, policymakers, businesses, and investors were left without reliable information on unemployment, inflation, retail sales, and more. Although critics have questioned data accuracy in recent years, the shutdown made clear that federal statistics remain the “gold standard.” Yet this gold standard is eroding due to shrinking budgets, declining survey participation, and significant staff losses, all of which lead to larger revisions and slower, less reliable reporting.Part of the challenge lies in structural limitations: much of U.S. economic data still relies on labor-intensive surveys of businesses and households, even as response rates fall and the economy evolves more rapidly. While private firms now generate high-frequency, real-time data—ranging from digital payments to satellite imagery—federal agencies have been slow to adopt these sources due to cost, technical barriers, and the difficulty of processing large, unstructured datasets. Still, promising efforts exist. The Chicago Fed, for example, has blended traditional government data with private-sector sources to provide more timely labor and retail indicators that closely track official statistics.Looking ahead, experts argue that the U.S. needs a more modern, collaborative, and better-funded statistical system. Solutions include expanding blended-data approaches, adopting standardized employer records like those piloted by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, and even consolidating major statistical units into a single national statistics agency—something every other G-7 country already has. Although America’s decentralized system offers some protections against data manipulation, the growing risks of outdated, incomplete, or delayed information are becoming too large to ignore. With the economy and population shifting quickly, safeguarding and enhancing the nation’s data infrastructure is essential for informed decisions by policymakers, businesses, and the public. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/12/01 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing - Estate of Jane Wu v Northwestern University2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/12/02 Serica Storytellers: The Presidents | David Wu & Frank Wu2025/12/08 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Alice Young2026/01/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the 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 November 28, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #117 3/7 Meeting; Before "China Initiative," Sherry Chen; Campaign Tally; DOJ Review Report #117 3/7 Meeting; Before "China Initiative," Sherry Chen; Campaign Tally; DOJ Review Report Back View PDF March 4, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #390 Eric Zheng, Susan Thornton, Susan Shirk at 04/06 Meeting; Birthright Citizenship; More #390 Eric Zheng, Susan Thornton, Susan Shirk at 04/06 Meeting; Birthright Citizenship; More In This Issue #390 · Remarks by Eric Zheng and Video · Remarks by Susan Thornton and Video · Remarks by Susan Shirk and Video · More on Birthright Citizenship · News and Activities for the Communities Remarks by Eric Zheng and Video During the APA Justice monthly meeting on April 6, 2026, Eric Zheng , President of The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai 上海美国商会), shared his on-the-ground perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing American companies in China, set against a backdrop of evolving U.S.-China relations. Prior to his current role with AmCham Shanghai, Eric had a successful career with AIG including serving as President & CEO of AIG China. Eric has been active in several non-profit and charity organizations. He is a member of Committee of 100 and currently serves as Chair of Committee of 100 Greater China Region. Eric began by noting that 2026 is a consequential year for bilateral ties, with anticipated high-level visits between the United States and China. Within this context, he highlighted the role of AmCham Shanghai as a longstanding institution supporting commercial engagement and mutual understanding between the two countries. Eric briefly traced the organization’s history, noting that AmCham Shanghai was originally founded in 1915, reflecting an early American business presence in China. It ceased operations in 1950 following the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and was reestablished in 1987 after China reopened to the global economy. Today, it represents approximately 1,000 multinational companies, primarily U.S.-headquartered firms, making it one of the largest American chambers of commerce in the Asia-Pacific region. Turning to the economic relationship, Eric emphasized the scale and depth of U.S.-China commercial ties. He cited roughly $421 billion in Chinese exports to the U.S. and $151 billion in U.S. exports to China, along with significant two-way investment flows. However, he underscored that this interdependence is increasingly challenged by policy volatility, particularly fluctuating tariff regimes. At one point, tariffs reached as high as 145% on Chinese goods, and although they have since declined, they remain elevated. As Eric observed, “when you run a company, you need some predictability… it’s really hard to plan for the long term” amid shifting policies. He identified three primary challenges facing American companies in China: · Geopolitical tensions , which he described as the “number one challenge,” creating uncertainty in both policy and business environments; · Rising domestic competition , with Chinese firms now highly innovative and competitive—“no longer copycats”—and in many areas outperforming multinational companies; · Economic slowdown , as China’s growth moderates and business expectations soften. Eric noted that American firms now see themselves leading mainly in product quality and development, while falling behind in areas such as speed to market, licensing, digital capabilities, and adoption of emerging technologies. Reflecting these pressures, business confidence has declined sharply, with only about 41% of companies expressing optimism about their five-year outlook in China—down significantly from historical levels near 80%. Despite these headwinds, Eric emphasized that China remains a critical market. He pointed to continued GDP growth of around 5%, a $19.6 trillion economy, and a rapidly expanding middle class projected to grow from 400 million to 800 million by 2035. He illustrated this scale by noting that China’s annual economic growth is “almost a trillion U.S. dollars,” effectively “recreating a Switzerland every year.” He explained that American companies remain engaged for two main reasons: to serve China’s large domestic market (“in China for China”) and to support global supply chains (“in China for global”). Eric concluded on a firm and pragmatic note, emphasizing that continued U.S. business engagement in China is not optional but strategically necessary. Despite geopolitical tensions and market challenges, he argued that disengagement would come at a significant cost to U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and global influence. Operating in China, he noted, is essential not only for accessing a critical market but also for learning from increasingly sophisticated competitors and staying at the forefront of global industry trends. In his view, the stakes extend beyond individual companies to broader national interests. A sustained U.S. commercial presence in China helps preserve economic linkages, supports mutual understanding, and ensures that American firms remain relevant in one of the world’s most important markets. As he underscored, maintaining this presence is ultimately “in the best interest of the United States”—not just as a matter of business, but as a matter of long-term strategic positioning in a competitive global landscape. A summary for the April 6 APA Justice meeting is being prepared. Watch a video of Eric’s remarks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a03kPRXnU0 (15:14). For more information about AmCham Shanghai, visit https://www.amcham-shanghai.org/ Remarks by Susan Thornton and Video During the APA Justice monthly meeting on April 6, 2026, Susan Thornton , Vice Chair of U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA), remarked on USHCA’s work and its subnational and citizen diplomacy including education and other people-to-people exchanges with China. Susan is a retired senior U.S. diplomat with almost three decades of experience with the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia. She is currently a Senior Fellow and Visiting Lecturer in Law at the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center. She is also the director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Susan highlighted her work with USHCA, which seeks to expand U.S.-China engagement beyond the coasts by focusing on the American heartland. The organization, chaired by former Missouri Governor Bob Holden , promotes connectivity in trade, education, and cultural exchange across “the 20-something states in the middle of the country” that often have less exposure to China-related opportunities and policy discussions. She described a range of initiatives, including agricultural cooperation, health system exchanges, and local government engagement. In agriculture, the group connects U.S. growers, researchers, and industry associations with Chinese counterparts to explore “the future of food systems,” and organizes events such as the annual U.S.-China Agricultural Roundtable in Henan Province. Educational exchanges are another priority, with programs that send American students—particularly from historically Black colleges and universities—to China, providing opportunities that “they would probably otherwise not have.” USHCA also promotes Chinese language learning and cultural education, reflecting concerns about a declining pipeline of U.S. China expertise. Susan emphasized the strategic importance of broadening national understanding of China, stating that “Americans will need to know more about China in the future, not less,” and that such knowledge “should not be overly concentrated on the two coasts.” She also highlighted local-level exchanges, including forums that bring together U.S. and Chinese municipal leaders to share experiences on issues like climate change, economic development, and public health. At the same time, she noted that this work has become increasingly difficult. Visa restrictions, travel uncertainties, and rising geopolitical tensions are complicating exchanges on both sides. She observed that “exchanges between the U.S. and China are becoming more fraught,” with students and scholars facing growing obstacles. Susan also pointed to a lack of clarity in U.S. policy, noting that agencies often operate without clear guidance, leading to actions that can appear “arbitrary” or “politicized.” She warned that China-related issues are increasingly “ripe for fear-mongering and weaponization” in the current political climate, including through state-level legislation. Despite these challenges, Susan stressed that the risks should not outweigh the benefits of engagement. She underscored that her organization takes a careful, independent approach, including not accepting funding from China, and remains committed to its mission. Concluding on a forward-looking note, she emphasized that engagement with China is not optional for the United States—particularly for the heartland—and expressed hope that upcoming high-level meetings could help reinforce the importance of sustained exchanges and mutual understanding. Watch a video of Susan’s remarks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LqzT_PcfY (8:29). For more information about the U.S. Heartland China Association, visit https://usheartlandchina.org/ Remarks by Susan Shirk and Video During the APA Justice monthly meeting on April 6, 2026, Susan Shirk , Research Professor; Director Emerita, 21st Century China Center, University of California (UC), San Diego, shared her insights into the current state of US-China relations, especially the upcoming Trump-Xi summit. As former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs and lifetime experiences, she is one of the most influential experts working on U.S.-China relations and Chinese politics. She is also Director Emerita of the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC). Susan offered a candid and notably pessimistic assessment of the upcoming U.S.–China leader engagement between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping . While she acknowledged that leader-level diplomacy can create openings—what Joseph Nye has called the “funnel of choice”—she stressed that success depends on intensive groundwork that is currently lacking. Drawing on her experience in the State Department, she noted that past progress came only after extensive staff-level negotiations: “Professionals… put in hours of diplomatic efforts… before the leaders meet,” allowing both sides to define priorities, understand each other, and prepare deliverables. These preparations, she emphasized, are essential to making summits productive rather than symbolic. Susan had initially hoped the spring meeting could launch a sustained diplomatic process, but now sees more limited prospects. At best, she expects continuity rather than breakthroughs—likely preserving the existing “Busan truce” on tariffs, export controls, and rare earths. There may be incremental progress on trade and investment, such as movement on Phase 1 commitments or narrowly scoped Chinese investment in the U.S. However, she sees little chance of progress on harder issues. Susan warned that failure to address national security and people-to-people exchanges—including academic, journalist, and student flows—would be “tragic” and potentially dangerous. Taiwan is a particular concern, noting the absence of a clear U.S. strategy, raising the risk of improvised decisions during leader talks that could undermine regional stability. Her strongest criticism focused on the lack of preparation, which she described bluntly as “really diplomatic malpractice.” She pointed to weakened U.S. interagency capacity, limited sub-cabinet engagement, and a hollowed-out policy process: “Almost nothing at the sub-cabinet level… the National Security Council Asia staff is thinned out to almost no one.” At the same time, decision-making has become highly centralized. “The U.S. system has become almost as centralized… as China’s,” Susan said, leaving officials uncertain about objectives and reluctant to act proactively. In summary, Susan believes the absence of serious diplomatic preparation severely limits the potential of upcoming leader meetings. At best, they may stabilize tensions; at worst, they risk unstructured, leader-driven outcomes that could increase strategic instability. Watch a video of Susan’s remarks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAoe5F8EmfI (11:21). More on Birthright Citizenship According to the New York Times , while the Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship on April 1, 2026, anchored in United States v. Wong Kim Ark , it has also renewed attention to a broader body of lesser-known cases involving Asian immigrants that helped define U.S. immigration and constitutional law. While United States v. Wong Kim Ark affirmed that children born in the United States are citizens regardless of their parents’ nationality, the justices also referenced cases such as Yick Wo v. Hopkins, Fong Yue Ting v. United States, and United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind . Together, these cases reflect a period when U.S. immigration law was explicitly designed to exclude Asians. Beginning with the Chinese Exclusion Act, federal policy severely restricted Asian immigration and barred naturalization. In response, Chinese and other Asian communities organized extensive legal challenges—filing over 10,000 lawsuits—often supported by groups like the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. These efforts were not only defensive but strategic, helping to establish enduring legal principles. As one historian explained: “High-quality U.S. citizen lawyers were hired to litigate cases large and small.” Some cases expanded rights. In Yick Wo, the Court ruled that a neutral law applied discriminatorily violated the Constitution, extending equal protection to noncitizens. Others reinforced federal power or racial exclusion. In Fong Yue Ting, the Court upheld broad deportation authority. In Thind and earlier in Ozawa v. United States, the Court denied citizenship based on shifting and often contradictory definitions of “whiteness,” even stripping citizenship retroactively. Although Congress later dismantled racial barriers—especially with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965—these earlier rulings remain foundational. Wong Kim Ark, in particular, continues to underpin modern interpretations of birthright citizenship. Today, Asian Americans are one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States, largely due to post-1965 immigration. Yet awareness of this legal history remains limited. Advocates warn that weakening birthright citizenship could have disproportionate consequences, even for lawful residents. The report also highlights a broader challenge: many Asian Americans are unfamiliar with the history of exclusion laws and civil rights struggles that shaped their status today. As one lawmaker observed after educating constituents about this past: “They had no idea.” The fight over birthright citizenship is not just about one case, but about a long legacy of Asian American legal challenges that helped define constitutional rights in the United States—making today’s debate both historically grounded and deeply consequential. Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/4cdMPpn News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future TogetherVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. APA Justice January Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Summary for the January 2026 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/4sqZPxV . We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Deborah Frankel , Counsel, Bloch & White LLP · Kyle Bigley , Associate, Bloch & White LLP · Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 , former NYPD Officer · Paul Cheung 鄭文耀 , President, Committee of 100 · Hua Wang 王华 , Chair, United Chinese Americans · Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President, United Chinese Americans · Sharon Wong , National Chair, OCA National Center · Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, OCA National Center # # # 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 13, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter