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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

Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 Docket ID: 1:26-cv-00478 District Court, S.D. New York Date filed: January 19, 2026 Docket ID: 1:20-cr-00442 District Court, E.D. New York Date filed: Oct 13, 2020 Date ended: January 19, 2023 Table of Contents Overview Personal Background Federal Charges Dropped NYPD Hearing and Termination Current Status Photo Album & Links and References Overview On September 21, 2020, Baimadajie Angwang, a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer, was arrested and charged with allegations of acting as an illegal agent of the People's Republic of China, wire fraud, making false statements, and obstructing an official proceeding. He faced up to 55 years in prison, and was considered a flight risk by the NYPD. His case was identified as part of the now-defunct "China Initiative." The government case partly relied on intercepted communications between Angwang and a consulate official. There was no allegation that Angwang compromised national security or NYPD operations. When prosecutors filed their case in 2020, they deemed him “the definition of an insider threat.” In court documents, defense attorneys argued the government had a “hyper-suspicious” view of Angwang’s interactions with the Chinese consulate official and had cherry-picked quotes and cut out others from their conversations. Although a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in the United States, then-NYPD Commissioner Dermot F. Shea asserted that "Baimadajie Angwang violated every oath he took in this country. One to the United States, another to the U.S. Army, and a third to this Police Department." On January 19, 2023, all charges against Angwang were abruptly dropped. U.S. prosecutors said they uncovered new information that warranted the dismissal without further explanation. Contrary to most internal investigations based on court cases that had been dropped, NYPD did not reinstate Angwang and continued its internal investigation against him. On September 26, 2023, the NYPD conducted an administrative trial against Angwang, accusing him of refusing to cooperate with the Bureau of Internal Affairs during their investigation into potential disciplinary actions stemming from the dropped federal spying case. Angwang said he declined to appear before the investigators on the advice of his lawyers, because the NYPD refused to give them department documents ahead of the questioning that would have allowed them to prepare. On January 29, 2024, New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban ordered the immediate firing of Angwang, saying he disobeyed an order to submit to questioning by internal affairs investigators about the spying case against Angwang under the "China Initiative." In firing Angwang, Caban chose a harsher penalty than what was recommended by the NYPD disciplinary judge. Back to Table of Contents Personal Background Angwang was born in China. He is of Tibetan ethnicity and a naturalized U.S. citizen. After gaining asylum in the U.S. as a teenager, Angwang became a U.S. Marine and served in Afghanistan before being honorably discharged. A resident of Long Island, Angwang joined NYPD in 2016 and worked at the 111th precinct in Queens as a member of the department's community affairs unit, earning a “Cop of the Month” award at his precinct in September 2018. Angwang was a Staff Sergeant of the Army Reserve at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was discharged from the Army Reserve on January 21, 2021, due to his arrest. Back to Table of Contents Federal Charges Dropped On September 21, 2020, a handful of FBI agents pointed M4 rifles at Angwang's head and handcuffed him in front of his wife and 2-year-old daughter at his home on Long Island. As one agent handcuffed Angwang, they asked, above the sound of his daughter’s wailing and the low rumbling of his car, “Do you speak English?” Angwang spent six months in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn before he was granted bail. He was allowed only two individual one-hour meetings with his family and lawyer during the incarceration. After Officer Angwang's lawyer John Carman reviewed classified evidence at the U.S. district court in Brooklyn, all charges against Officer Angwang were abruptly dropped on January 19, 2023. During a brief court appearance, prosecutors said they were dropping charges “in the interest of justice.” U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee tried to prompt prosecutors to share what they could about their change of mind, but they declined to reveal what new information led them to do so, telling the judge that evidence remained classified. Carman accused the government of hiding behind the Classified Information Procedures Act to avoid having to explain why the case was dropped. “The truth is that they are hiding behind CIPA in an effort to give the impression that this was a legitimate prosecution, which it was not,” Carman said in an interview. “Mr. Angwang is a great American who served his country in combat in Afghanistan and our government repaid him by treating him like he was the leader of the Taliban.” Back to Table of Contents NYPD Hearing and Termination Although all the federal charges against Officer Angwang were dismissed in January 2023, NYPD failed to reinstate him. Contrary to most internal investigations based on court cases that had been dropped, NYPD continued its internal investigation against Angwang. In a letter sent to Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Restore The Fourth provided details of the continuing persecution of Officer Angwang. "We all need this unjust treatment to not become the norm… We seek justice for Officer Angwang, and call attention to the broader abuses committed by U.S. intelligence officials," the letter said. On September 26, 2023, NYPD held an administrative trial against Angwang. On January 29, 2024, New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban ordered the immediate firing of Angwang, saying he disobeyed an order to submit to questioning by internal affairs investigators about the spying case against Angwang under the "China Initiative." Angwang said he declined to appear before the investigators last year on the advice of his lawyers, because the NYPD refused to give them department documents ahead of the questioning that would have allowed them to prepare. In firing Angwang, Caban chose a harsher penalty than what was recommended by an NYPD disciplinary judge who held a hearing on the firing and listened to testimony and arguments from both sides. The administrative judge, Vanessa Facio-Lince, found that Angwang violated department rules by disobeying the order to submit to internal affairs questioning. Facio-Lince said, however, that he should not be terminated, after citing his good record as a police officer and praise by his superiors. Instead, she recommended an alternate manner of Angwang leaving the department that would allow him to negotiate some terms of his departure, including partial retirement benefits. Angwang’s lawyer, Michael Bloch, said even the judge’s proposal was out of line with department disciplinary guidelines. Bloch said the maximum penalty Angwang should have faced was a 20-day suspension. Bloch said there have been many other officers who committed more serious misconduct and were allowed to keep their jobs, despite administrative judges recommending their firing. “It’s extremely disappointing,” Angwang told AP in a phone interview on March 20, 2024. “I have to continue to fight, not just for me, for anyone who were wrongfully accused in the past who’s getting the wrongful treatment I just got at this moment, or any potential discrimination victims in the future. I will not give up until I find the justice.” Back to Table of Contents Current Status On January 5, 2026, Attorney Deborah Frankel, Counsel at Bloch & White LLP, gave an update on Officer Angwang's situation at the APA Justice monthly meeting. On January 19, Angwang and his legal team filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation, discrimination, and malicious prosecution after being fired by the New York Police Department (NYPD) even though federal prosecutors dropped espionage-related charges against him. On January 20, 2026, the New York Times reported on the filing of Angwang's lawsuit. Back to Table of Contents References and Links CourtListener Legal Docket: Angwang v. United States Of America (1:26-cv-00478) (filed 2026/01/19) Law firm currently representing Officer Angwang: Bloch and White LLP CourtListener Legal Docket: United States v. Angwang (1:20-cr-00442) (ended 2023/01/19) Attorney representing Officer Angwang in criminal case: The Carman Law Office 2026/01/20 New York Times: Ex-N.Y.P.D. Officer Cleared of Spying for China Sues Over Firing 2024/03/21 New York Post: NYPD cop once accused of spying for China fights to get his job back after firing 2024/03/20 AP News: A police officer was accused of spying for China. The charges were dropped, but the NYPD fired him 2023/09/26 AP News: With spying charges behind him, NYPD officer now fighting to be reinstated 2023/09/23 Restore The Fourth: Statement in Support of Officer Angwang 2023/02/09 PBS: NYC cop accused of spying wants answers after charges dropped 2023/02/02 CBS News: Exclusive: Baimadajie Angwang, NYPD officer accused of spying for China, wants to set the record straight after charges were dropped 2023/01/31 New York Magazine: The Spy Who Wasn’t Baimadajie Angwang wanted a visa for his daughter. He got charged with being an “insider threat” instead. 2023/01/19 New York Times: U.S. Drops Case Against Police Officer It Had Called an ‘Insider Threat’ 2023/01/17 New York Times: U.S. Asks to Drop Case Accusing N.Y.P.D. Officer of Spying for China 纽约藏裔警官涉谍案：检方要求撤销指控 2023/01/17 美国之音: 美国撤销对被控充当中国政府代理人的前纽约警员的起诉 Back to Table of Contents Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #65 06/07 Meeting Summary; WH/Hill Meetings; Anming Hu Trial; Government Transparency; + #65 06/07 Meeting Summary; WH/Hill Meetings; Anming Hu Trial; Government Transparency; + Back View PDF June 10, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

The NIH and the FBI are targeting ethnic Chinese scientists, including U.S. citizens, searching for a cancer cure. June 13, 2019 On June 13, 2019 Bloomberg Businessweek published The U.S. Is Purging Chinese Cancer Researchers From Top Institutions . The NIH and the FBI are targeting ethnic Chinese scientists, including U.S. citizens, searching for a cancer cure. It includes the first account of what happened to Xifeng Wu. The NIH and the FBI are targeting ethnic Chinese scientists, including U.S. citizens, searching for a cancer cure. Previous Next The U.S. is purging Chinese scientists in a new Red Scare

Newsletter - #290 Special Edition: McCarthyism and The Good, Bad, and Ugly of The Media #290 Special Edition: McCarthyism and The Good, Bad, and Ugly of The Media In This Issue #290 · Rise and Fall of McCarthyism with The Media · Historical Media Bias Against U.S. Persons of Asian Origin · Role of Media in The Wen Ho Lee Case and The Yanping Chen Case · Media's Role in a Modern McCarthyism - The "China Initiative" · McCarthyism Expanding to Beyond Scientists · News and Activities for the Communities During "China Week" in September 2024, Representative Judy Chu , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), took the House floor to denounce efforts to revive the "China Initiative," calling it a New McCarthyism.This is a special edition on McCarthyism and The Good, Bad, and Ugly Roles of The Media. Rise and Fall of McCarthyism with The Media According to a PBS report on McCarthyism from August 23, 2006, in the late 1940s and 1950s, America was gripped by fears of communism’s spread, particularly in Eastern Europe and China. Capitalizing on these anxieties, on February 9, 1950, 41-year-old Senator Joseph McCarthy delivered his infamous "Enemies from Within" speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, claiming to have a list of 205 "card-carrying" communists in the U.S. government. Although he never substantiated this claim, it fueled the Red Scare and set the stage for McCarthyism, an era of intense political repression and paranoia.The media played a significant role in amplifying and spreading McCarthyism. Newspapers, radio, and television often reported McCarthy's accusations uncritically, lending credibility to his unverified claims. For instance, the New York Times covered McCarthy’s “205 communists” allegation without questioning its validity. Historian Margaret Brennan noted that McCarthy’s numbers changed frequently, saying, “he had no list. He had no names. It was all a big lie." Yet, the impact was horrific, 6,000 federal employees left the government in the last two years of the Harry S. Truman Administration. At the end of the McCarthy era, "there was never anybody in government that they could prove to be a card-carrying communist," Brennan said.Sensational headlines and broadcast coverage heightened public fear, reinforcing McCarthy’s portrayal of Communism as a pressing internal threat. Television brought the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings and the Red Scare directly into American homes, magnifying McCarthy’s influence. The McCarthy-Army hearings, televised from April to June 1954, marked a turning point. Over 36 days, an estimated 188 hours were broadcast, reaching a large national audience. During these hearings, Army counsel Joseph Welch famously rebuked McCarthy, asking, “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?” This moment is widely viewed as the beginning of McCarthy’s downfall. Most journalists initially refrained from challenging McCarthy due to Cold War tensions and fears of being labeled Communist sympathizers. However, broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow played a pivotal role in countering McCarthyism. On March 9, 1954, Murrow’s See It Now broadcast exposed McCarthy’s fear-based tactics, marking a major turning point in public opinion.The following is a transcript for a 2-minute excerpt of Murrow's broadcast: "No one familiar with the history of this country can deny that congressional committees are useful. It is necessary to investigate before legislating, but the line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one, and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. His primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind as between the internal and the external threats of communism. We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men—not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy's methods to keep silent, or for those who approve. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of a republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation, we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom—wherever it continues to exist in the world—but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn’t create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully. Cassius was right: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves. Good night, and good luck." Edward R. Murrow profoundly shaped broadcast journalism, setting standards with his commitment to factual reporting, democratic principles, and the press’s role as a vigilant watchdog. The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University continues this legacy, promoting ethical journalism, strategic communication, and digital media, all inspired by Murrow's unwavering dedication to integrity and accountability in the media. References and Links Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University: website 2017/04/23 YouTube : Edward R. Murrow - See It Now (March 9, 1954) (2:02)2014/12/16 C-SPAN : Senator Joe McCarthy's "Enemies from Within" Speech (14:59)2006/08/23 PBS : McCarthyism Historical Media Bias Against U.S. Persons of Asian Origin Throughout U.S. history, media have often depicted Americans and immigrants of Asian origin through biased and derogatory stereotypes, particularly during times of geopolitical tension. Their coverage has fueled harmful public perceptions and policies with lasting impacts on Asian communities.Notwithstanding the 61-year Chinese Exclusion era (1882-1943) and the Alien Land Law period from the first state law in California in 1913 to the mid 1950s, American newspapers contributed to the anti-Japanese sentiment by portraying Japanese Americans as disloyal spies or saboteurs. Headlines warned of a “Fifth Column” within the U.S., stoking fear and prejudice. This coverage, often based on unsubstantiated claims, helped garner public support for the internment of 120,000 persons of Japanese heritage, about two thirds of them U.S. citizens.No Japanese American was ever proven to have committed espionage for Japan during World War II, despite extensive U.S. government investigations.Before his children books, Dr. Seuss ( Theodor Seuss Geisel ) worked as a political cartoonist and propagandist during World War II, creating cartoons and illustrations that were published in newspapers and used in military training films. One of his infamous cartoons on February 13, 1942, shows Japanese Americans lined up as the "Fifth Column" along the West Coast, awaiting "the signal from home," playing into widespread fear and prejudice and helped to justify Japanese American internment and other discriminatory measures. On February 21, 1942, two days after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing internment, the Los Angeles Times published an editorial endorsing it, asserting that Japanese Americans posed a national security risk. Along with other outlets, the LA Times shaped public opinion by promoting fear-based narratives questioning Japanese American loyalty.Seventy-five years later, on February 19, 2017, the LA Times formally recanted its 1942 editorials. Acknowledging the paper's role in promoting internment, it expressed regret for fueling anti-Japanese sentiment and drew parallels with current issues of xenophobia, discrimination, and anti-immigrant rhetoric. The 2017 editorial warned against repeating such injustices, highlighting the need to protect civil liberties for all. References and Links Wikipedia: Dr. Seuss 2017/02/19 LA Times editorial: Looking Back with Shame 2012/02/21 The Daily Mirror : Times Editorial Praises Japanese Evacuation Role of Media in The Wen Ho Lee Case and The Yanping Chen Case History repeated itself before the LA Times issued its 2017 editorial.On March 6, 1999, the New York Times identified Chinese American nuclear scientist Dr. Wen Ho Lee as a suspect in alleged espionage at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Using alarmist language, anonymous sources, and unsubstantiated allegations, the report relied heavily on stereotypes and ethnic background, fueling widespread public suspicion of Dr. Lee and, by extension, other Chinese Americans in the scientific community.. Dr. Lee was arrested nine months after the New York Times report and imprisoned in solitary confinement for nine months before charges were dropped. U.S. District Judge James Parker apologized to Dr. Lee, condemning the government’s handling of the case.On September 26, 2000, the New York Times published an editorial acknowledging its role and errors in uncritically accepting government claims, but it stopped short of a full apology.In 2006, Dr. Lee settled a privacy lawsuit, accusing government agencies of leaking sensitive information. The U.S. government paid $895,000, and five media organizations—the New York Times , Washington Post , Los Angeles Times , ABC News , and Associated Press —contributed $750,000 to protect their reporters from being compelled to disclose their sources. Dr. Lee’s case highlighted issues in journalistic ethics and transparency, but similar patterns emerged when Dr. Yanping Chen , a Chinese American academic and founder of the University of Management and Technology in Virginia, became the target of a federal investigation in 2010. Although no charges were filed, leaked details of the closed investigation surfaced in a series of Fox News reports in 2017, making misleading insinuations to accuse her of spying for China.In 2018, Dr. Chen filed a lawsuit against federal agencies, alleging Privacy Act violations and racial profiling. Her case raised broader concerns about government leaks and anti-Asian prejudice. Dr. Chen subpoenaed Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge to identify her sources. The U.S. District Court imposed a fine of $800 per day until Herridge complied. Herridge has appealed.On July 29, 2024, the Asian American Legal and Education Defense Fund (AALDEF) and a coalition of 11 organizations filed a 43-page amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals in support of Dr. Chen. The brief addresses issues of racial prejudice and the negative stereotyping of Asian Americans, particularly in the context of government actions against Dr. Chen.The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit will hold a hearing of oral arguments on Dr. Chen's case on November 18, 2024. References and Links CourtListener: Chen v. Federal Bureau of Investigation (1:18-cv-03074) 2024/08/07 AADELF: The Red-Baiting of Dr. Chen and the Dangerous Target It Puts on All Asian Americans 2024/07/29 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: Brief of Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Asian American Advocacy Organizations as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiff-Appellee 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 1999/03/06 New York Times: BREACH AT LOS ALAMOS: A special report.; China Stole Nuclear Secrets For Bombs, U.S. Aides Say Media's Role in a Modern McCarthyism - The "China Initiative" In March 1950, Herb Block , a political cartoonist known as "Herblock" for the Washington Post , coined the term "McCarthyism" shortly after Senator Joseph McCarthy delivered his "Enemies Within Us" speech. This term describes the practice of making unfounded accusations of subversion, disloyalty, or treason without sufficient evidence. Today, McCarthyism symbolizes any campaign or movement that seeks to silence or punish dissent or perceived disloyalty through fear and intimidation, rather than through fair, evidence-based processes.Launched by the Department of Justice in 2018, the "China Initiative" reflects contemporary McCarthyism through its reliance on broad suspicion and racial profiling under the guise of national security. It was joined in effect by the National Institutes of Health in the name of research security and integrity. These initiatives then shifted focus from security concerns to profiling Chinese academics and scientists, fostering an atmosphere of fear and a chilling effect within academic and research communities. Many researchers of Chinese descent reported feeling unfairly targeted solely due to their ethnicity or international connections.The consequences of the "China Initiative" have been severe; even when charges were eventually dropped, individuals faced damaged careers, personal trauma, financial ruin, and even loss of life. Hundreds, if not thousands or more, of Asian Americans and immigrants, particularly those of Chinese origin, have been subjected to surveillance, investigations, and threats of prosecution. Many more endure daily assaults, hate incidents, and discrimination as a result. The media's role in the "China Initiative" brought a range of both positive and negative impacts. Jamie Satterfield , an investigative reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel , played a crucial role in highlighting the wrongful accusations against Dr. Anming Hu , a University of Tennessee professor prosecuted under the “China Initiative.” Her reporting exposed significant flaws in the government’s case, illustrating how the FBI targeted Hu based on unfounded suspicions and employed aggressive tactics, including attempts to coerce him into espionage.Satterfield documented the trial proceedings in 2021 meticulously, revealing key admissions from FBI agents about false accusations and fabricated evidence against Hu. Her work not only drew national attention to the injustices faced by Hu but also sparked broader discussions about racial profiling, due process, and fairness within the framework of the "China Initiative," emphasizing its detrimental impact on innocent Chinese American academics.On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports. The first report revealed that the "China Initiative" deviated from its national security goals. Key findings include a lack of official definition for the initiative, a shift from economic espionage to “research integrity” issues, and a high dismissal rate for cases. Notably, only about 25% of those charged were convicted, with about 90% of defendants being of Chinese heritage. The second investigative report highlighted gaps in the information provided by DOJ. MIT Technology Review constructed a database to track every case made public under the "China Initiative." Shortly after MIT Technology Review requested comments, DOJ updated its webpage, removing cases that contradicted its narrative of success. Less than three months after the MIT Technology Review reports, DOJ announced the formal end of the "China Initiative."Both Satterfield and MIT Technology Review exemplify the positive role of investigative journalism, utilizing facts and evidence to expose the overreach, profiling, and flaws of the initiative. Their efforts raised public awareness and sparked dialogue about racial bias in government investigations, holding agencies accountable and prompting policymakers and civil rights organizations to reconsider the initiative's efficacy and ethics, ultimately contributing to its termination in 2022.In contrast, some media outlets resorted to alarmist and sensational language, reinforcing stereotypes and depicting Asian Americans and immigrants—particularly those of Chinese descent—as potential threats. Headlines often emphasized national security concerns without adequate context, exacerbating public fears about espionage and fostering an atmosphere of suspicion. By uncritically repeating government statements, some of these outlets lent the initiative unwarranted credibility. They frequently overlooked the scientific and academic contributions of Chinese and Chinese American professionals, sidelining their valuable work and contributions to the American society. References and Links APA Justice: 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports CourtListener: United States v. Hu (TV1) (3:20-cr-00021) 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review : The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it. 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review : We built a database to understand the China Initiative. Then the government changed its records. 2021/06/13 Knox News : Trial reveals federal agents falsely accused a UT professor born in China of spying McCarthyism Expanding to Beyond Scientists There are continuing attempts by Republican members in Congress to reinstate the "China Initiative" or under a different name. Alien land laws are being revived and expanded at both the federal and state levels that will risk reinforcing racial discrimination."Enemies Within Us" against immigrants in a nation of immigrants has resurfaced as a prominent topic in the lead-up to the November 5, 2024, U.S. presidential election, framing a focus on Chinese influence in America. Media, politicians, and campaign ads are again promoting anti-Asian rhetoric and harmful political narratives and stereotypes about Chinese Americans as perpetual foreigners or national security risks. On September 3, 2024, The Washington Post released a report titled "How China Extended Its Repression into an American City," alleging Chinese government interference within U.S. communities. As explained in the Asia Times, "The Washington Post ’s Witch Hunt on Chinese Americans" lacks evidence. An October 4 opinion argues that the Washington Post report fosters distrust toward Chinese American communities by selective use of biased sources—primarily anti-CCP activists and U.S. government entities. By failing to represent voices within the Chinese American community who have diverse views on China, the opinion contends, the report risks fostering harmful stereotypes and echoing historical patterns of profiling minority groups based on geopolitics. A more balanced approach would involve perspectives from diaspora organizations that may experience complex, often nonpolitical relationships with Chinese institutions. It also warns against blanket assumptions about the loyalties of Chinese Americans, potentially leading to unfounded public suspicion of these communities.On October 21, 2024, a Wall Street Journal report alleged China of using hometown organizations in New York City’s Chinatown to influence local communities, pressure Chinese Americans, and advance its political goals. Without evidence of specific influence activities, Representative Grace Meng , the only Chinese American congresswoman from New York, was implicated in the Wall Street Journal report because of her association with Chinatown and hometown organizations.Chinatowns in the U.S. emerged as ethnic enclaves largely because of social, economic, and political conditions in the U.S. in the mid-19th century dating back to the Qing Dynasty. These communities offered safety, employment, and a cultural connection to home for new immigrants facing systemic discrimination and harsh labor conditions. Discriminatory laws forced segregation and led to the establishment of Chinatowns and hometown associations as self-sustaining neighborhoods where immigrants could find mutual support, housing, work opportunities, and Chinese-owned businesses, fostering community resilience against external hostilities. Guilt by association, the unfair assignment of blame to individuals based solely on their affiliations rather than on concrete evidence, was a central tactic of McCarthyism. While WWII-era suspicions focused on a supposed "Fifth Column" of internal threats, the "Thousand Grains of Sand" theory arose during the Wen Ho Lee case in the 1990s, insinuating alleged widespread infiltration efforts by Chinese agents. The term evolved to "Non-traditional Collectors" as the "China Initiative" began, with scrutiny directed toward Chinese and Chinese American scientists and academics suspected of espionage.Now , with media coverage increasingly emphasizing potential links to foreign influence in Chinese American communities, guilt by association appears to be broadening beyond scientists and researchers. With the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal already linking community organizations or elected officials to foreign interference based on limited or circumstantial connections, guilt by association, or a new McCarthyism, may become more pervasive again with the assistance of media. "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason," - Edward R. Murrow References and Links 2024/10/21 Wall Street Journal : How Beijing Recruited New York Chinatowns for Influence Campaign 2024/10/04 Asia Times opinion : The Washington Post’s witch hunt on Chinese Americans 2024/09/03 Washington Post : How China extended its repression into an American city News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/11/03 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 Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue2024/11/15-17 AAASE Inaugural Annual Summit2024/11/17 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/11/24 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit 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. 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 30, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #17 "China Initiative" Webinar Opens; "Black Eye" Of DOJ; Who Is Sirous Asgari; WeChat #17 "China Initiative" Webinar Opens; "Black Eye" Of DOJ; Who Is Sirous Asgari; WeChat Back View PDF September 25, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, June 23, 2021 On June 16, 2021, a mistrial in Professor Anming Hu’s case was declared after the jury deadlocked and failed to reach a verdict. After two years of failing to find any evidence of economic espionage, federal prosecutors built a case against Professor Hu rooted in racial bias and profiling under the Department of Justice’s “China Initiative.” This is a telling outcome for the first case of a university professor tried under the “China Initiative,” indicating the deep flaws in the investigations, surveillance, and other efforts under this initiative. The defense attorney for Professor Hu will provide a briefing of the trial. Civil rights organizations, the academic community, and local community leaders, who organized activities to support Professor Hu and his family, will speak out on their concerns with the “China Initiative” and the deeply concerning investigation and surveillance of Professor Hu. We will also hear actions being taken by Congress. Previous Item Next Item

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

Newsletter - #56 Next Webinar; Breaking Report/"China Initiative"; Protect Science/Exaggerated Threat #56 Next Webinar; Breaking Report/"China Initiative"; Protect Science/Exaggerated Threat Back View PDF April 26, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #345 8/4 Meeting; Will Kim; Fed Data Integrity/Statistical System at Risk; Ed Dept Funding+ #345 8/4 Meeting; Will Kim; Fed Data Integrity/Statistical System at Risk; Ed Dept Funding+ In This Issue #345 · 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Alert: Korean Scientist with Green Card Detained · Trump Terminated Federal Data Integrity—Not Just the BLS Commissioner · Rob Santos on The Threat to the Federal Statistical System · Education Department Releases Grant Money · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Munira Abdullahi , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Guangya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Min Fan , Executive Director, US Heartland China Association · Youngwoon Han , Network & Organizing Director, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) · Daniel Chung , President, Korean American Bar Association of Northern California (KABANC) Congressman Al Green regrets that he will be unable to speak at the meeting due to the ongoing redistricting issue in Texas. He has agreed to return to a future meeting.Despite the late notice, Youngwoon Han and Daniel Chung have graciously accepted our invitation to speak. They will provide an update on Tae Heung 'Will' Kim, a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University and Texas resident with a Green Card. For more background on Will Kim’s situation, please refer to the next article below.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 . Alert: Korean Scientist with Green Card Detained According to multiple media reports, Tae Heung "Will" Kim , is a South Korean green card holder. He has lived in the U.S. for 35 years, since age five, when his family emigrated from South Korea. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Texas A&M, where he is researching a vaccine for Lyme disease. Kim was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at San Francisco International Airport after returning from a family wedding in South Korea. Kim’s attorneys told reporters that they had no contact with Kim while he was detained at the airport for a week and had difficulties getting information from authorities, who initially denied Kim’s right to legal counsel. CBP later cited a 2011 marijuana possession charge as the basis for Kim's detention, despite his having completed community service. Kim was reportedly held in poor conditions, exceeding CBP’s 72-hour detention limit, and may have lacked access to his asthma medication. He has since been transferred to an ICE facility in Arizona. On July 29, 2025, the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) launched a “Release Will Now!” campaign to get Kim released. A weeklong Phone calls to Texas legislators had been organized starting July 30. Over 1,000 people have already signed a petition letter to Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz . On July 30, 2025, the Korean American Bar Association of Northern California (KABANC) issued a statement strongly condemning the indefinite immigration detention of Will Kim without access to his attorney. Kim has remained in indefinite immigration detention since July 21. KABANC demands that he be immediately released from ICE and granted access to his attorney. Kim’s immigration lawyer, Karl Krooth , said that “it’s appalling to see a lawful permanent resident suffer detention for a week without access to counsel.” “While detained, CBP kept the lights on 24 hours per day, not allowing Will to see any daylight because the only time he was allowed near a window was at night,” Krooth said in a statement to the Daily Beast . Media Reports · 2025/07/31 Houston Chronicle: Texas A&M researcher in ICE custody following weeklong detention at San Francisco airport · 2025/07/29 Washington Post: Scientist on green card detained for a week without explanation, lawyer says · 2025/07/29 ABC News Korean PhD student detained in California despite green card, lawyer says · 2025/07/29 KBTX Immigration officials detain Texas A&M PhD student after attending brother’s wedding, report says · 2025/07/29 Daily Beast Scientist Trapped at Airport in ‘Inhumane’ Conditions With No Explanation Trump Terminated Federal Data Integrity—Not Just the BLS Commissioner President Donald Trump ’s abrupt firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer has ignited bipartisan outrage and fears over the politicization of federal data. According to multiple media outlets, Trump ousted McEntarfer after the latest jobs report showed hiring had slowed and prior months had been revised downward. He accused her—without evidence—of manipulating the data and emphasized that she was appointed by President Joe Biden . McEntarfer was confirmed in January 2024 by a bipartisan 86–8 Senate vote, including support from Republicans J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio , now serving in Trump's cabinet. She is a widely respected labor economist who previously served in nonpartisan roles at the Census Bureau, Treasury Department, and the White House Council of Economic Advisers.The reaction was swift and damning. Former Trump BLS Commissioner William Beach , now co-chair of the Friends of BLS, defended McEntarfer’s record, stating, “She is a very fine analyst and a good colleague.” In a joint statement, Beach and other leaders from the federal statistics community warned that Trump’s action “undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics” and risks setting the U.S. on a path similar to authoritarian regimes where official data loses public trust. Republican Senators Cynthia Lummis and Thom Tillis condemned the firing as reckless, while Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bernie Sanders , called it authoritarian. Sanders cautioned that when leaders only accept good news, “it’s hard for us to deal with the problems, because we don’t know what is going on.”Beyond this singular firing, Trump’s broader record has intensified concerns. Federal data systems—long regarded as the global gold standard—are under mounting pressure from budget cuts, survey nonresponse, and politicized interference. The BLS alone has seen an 8% budget cut and up to 40% attrition, leading to the discontinuation of hundreds of critical statistical components. Experts like David Wilcox and Michael Strain warn that even small disruptions, such as mismeasuring inflation, could misallocate billions in Social Security payments. Simultaneously, over 400 changes have been made across federal databases, many erasing references to race, gender identity, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As former U.S. Chief Data Scientist Denice Ross noted, this amounts to a “targeted, surgical removal of datasets.” A Reuters poll found 89 out of 100 top economists are worried about the quality of U.S. economic data, and over 80% say the federal response has been inadequate. Without urgent intervention, the U.S. risks losing its statistical integrity—along with the democratic trust that depends on it.Statement by the Friends of BLS: "The President seeks to blame someone for unwelcome economic news. The Commissioner does not determine what the numbers are but simply reports on what the data show. The process of obtaining the numbers is decentralized by design to avoid opportunities for interference. The BLS uses the same proven, transparent, reliable process to produce estimates every month. Every month, BLS revises the prior two months’ employment estimates to reflect slower-arriving, more-accurate information. "This rationale for firing Dr. McEntarfer is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics that are a cornerstone of intelligent economic decision-making by businesses, families, and policymakers. U.S. official statistics are the gold standard globally. When leaders of other nations have politicized economic data, it has destroyed public trust in all official statistics and in government science."BLS operates as a federal statistical agency and is afforded autonomy to ensure the data it releases are as accurate as possible. To politicize the work of the agency and its workers does a great disservice not only to BLS but to the entire federal statistical system which this country has relied on for almost 150 years. We stand firmly behind the BLS, Commissioner McEntarfer, and the data they work hard to produce. Commissioner McEntarfer is a widely-respected economist who has devoted her career to public service. She has an impeccable record. Over ninety percent of U.S. Senators supported her confirmation."We call on Congress to respond immediately, to investigate the factors that led to Commissioner McEntarfer’s removal, to strongly urge the Commissioner’s continued service, and ensure that the nonpartisan integrity of the position is retained. The statement from the President undermines these tenets and politicizes data which cannot and should not be used for political points." References and Links 2025/08/02 The Hill: Statisticians blast Trump over BLS firing: ‘Dangerous precedent’ 2025/08/01 Friends of BLS: Statement on Commissioner McEntarfer’s Removal 2025/08/01 COPAFS: Removal of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer 2025/08/01 NBC News: Republican senators raise concerns about Trump's firing of Labor Dept. official 2025/08/01 CNN: Trump fires a senior official over jobs numbers 2025/08/01 Wall Street Journal: Trump Orders Firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Chief 2025/08/01 AP: Who is Erika McEntarfer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner fired by Trump? 2025/07/28 MarketPlace: Federal data has been disappearing under Trump 2025/07/25 Reuters: US economic data quality a worry, authorities not acting urgently enough, experts say- Reuters poll 2025/07/03 Washington Post: Why some fear government data on the U.S. economy is losing integrity Rob Santos on The Threat to the Federal Statistical System Robert Santos was the 26th Director of the U.S. Census Bureau—the first Latino and first person of color to hold that position. He left the Census Bureau on February 14, 2025, and is still decompressing from what was a very intense experience, especially during the final months of his tenure when he spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nJzpcHpg2s (16:27) Director Santos emphasizes the critical role of federal statistical data—particularly from the Census Bureau and other agencies—in supporting justice, equity, and informed policymaking. High-quality, objective data is essential for identifying disparities and ensuring the equitable allocation of resources, from broadband funding to education and infrastructure investments. Current Status However, recent political and administrative developments have significantly undermined this mission. Early in the new administration, an executive order targeting terms related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), forced agencies to quickly remove these terms from documents, databases, and websites—often within 48 hours. This led to widespread shutdowns of public data access. Agencies complied to avoid legal consequences and to protect career staff from being fired.There is also a hiring freeze, leaving hundreds of critical positions vacant—especially among field data collectors. Ongoing staff reductions have included the departure of around 1,000 Census Bureau employees, many of whom were senior experts. Looming budget cuts tied to the FY26 budget and broader plans like Project 2025, which call for a drastic reduction in the federal workforce, further threaten the system.Director Santos warns that these developments compromise the ability of federal statistical agencies to fulfill their missions and stresses the urgent need for Congress and the public to protect the integrity and independence of the federal statistical system. Major Emerging Threats Rollback of Revised Race and Ethnicity Standards: Recent updates allow for more detailed data on Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups. However, there is political resistance—particularly in Congress—questioning the need for such detailed classifications.Return of the Citizenship Question: Adding a citizenship question to the census has been shown to suppress participation among immigrant communities, leading to undercounts and distorted data. Director Santos warns against its possible reintroduction.Making the American Community Survey (ACS) Voluntary: The ACS is a critical data collection tool. Making it voluntary would lower response rates, degrading the quality and reliability of federal data.Additionally, there are concerns that the Department of Justice (DOJ) may interfere with Title 13 protections, which safeguard the confidentiality of census responses. Santos stresses that breaching this confidentiality would be a grave threat—and assures that career staff would resist any such attempt.Overall, Director Santos warns of growing political and administrative pressures that could undermine the federal statistical system’s objectivity, reliability, and public trust. What can we do? Be vocal advocates—Speak out against efforts to dismantle or weaken data collection. We must defend the ability to produce high-quality, objective data.Engage strategically—Try to understand where the current administration is coming from in terms of its goals around government efficiency. Then demonstrate how the current data infrastructure is already efficient—and how it can be improved further. Everyone wants good data. Let’s show how data help the economy, support businesses, and enable all communities to thrive.We don’t need to be enemies. We can build a path forward together.Director Santos compares the current threats to the federal statistical system to a natural disaster—damage is inevitable, but we can work to minimize the impact. Most importantly, we must plan for the future. Once the current administration ends, there must be a united effort—across all communities—to rebuild a fair, inclusive, and effective federal statistical system.2025/04/16 Amstat Videos: Telling Our Stories - Rob Santos - Statistics in Public Service (9:55) Education Department Releases Grant Money Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to CBS , New York Times , and multiple media reports, the White House is set to release billions in federal funding it had initially withheld from schools. On July 1, Congress approved nearly $7 billion in education funding, but the Trump administration abruptly withheld it a day before the deadline. More than $2 billion of the money was intended for arts and music education in low-income districts, additional support for English language learners, and extra assistance for children of migrant farmworkers. The appropriation also allocated funding to train and recruit teachers, particularly in low-income areas. On June 20 before the deadline, the Trump administration conducted a review of the funds, finding instances of federal money being “grossly misused to subsidize a radical left-wing agenda.” The funding freeze faced several lawsuits, including two in federal court. On July 18, Congress announced it would release $1.3 billion in frozen federal funding intended for after-school and summer programs across the country, including non-profits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America. The release occurred after a lawsuit from Democratic leaders in 24 states called the action illegal, and days after 10 Republican senators sent a public letter to the administration. On July 25, the Education Department announced it will release $5.5 billion, nearly the full amount of the originally intended $7 billion. The administration will begin allocating the money to states next week. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/07/31-08/10 Asian American International Film Festival2025/08/02-07 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/08/11 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Gary LockeVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. SCMP : 6G Expert Gee-Kung Chang Counts Costs Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications AssociateOn July 29, 2025, The South China Morning Post published a report where Georgia Tech professor Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 shared his harrowing experience as a target of the defunct China Initiative. In 2021, federal agents stormed his home and charged him with ten felonies related to misuse of the J-1 visa program. The accusations centered on claims that Chinese scholars he hosted worked for ZTE, but after four years of isolation and legal battles, all charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.Chang reflects on the emotional and financial toll, stating at an APA Justice meeting on May 5, 2025, that “freedom did not bring euphoria.” His case, like others, highlights how changing political winds turned academic collaboration with China into legal jeopardy. Although the China Initiative ended in 2022, efforts in Congress to revive it continue. Chang warns others: “Justice is not guaranteed. It must be fought for.”Read Professor Chang's statement " From Injustice to Integrity: A Journal Through Fire ." # # # 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 4, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #143 Special Edition: Letters Opposing the Casey Arrowood Nomination Sent #143 Special Edition: Letters Opposing the Casey Arrowood Nomination Sent Back View PDF September 8, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #34 House Hearing Call; SCOTUS Ruling And Right To Sue; Diversity Concerns; More #34 House Hearing Call; SCOTUS Ruling And Right To Sue; Diversity Concerns; More Back View PDF December 14, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter