Newsletter - #268 Franklin Tao Speaks; Brain Drain; Research Collaboration Decline; Sheila Jackson Lee + #268 Franklin Tao Speaks; Brain Drain; Research Collaboration Decline; Sheila Jackson Lee + In This Issue #268 · The Injustice and Ordeal of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao · Reverse Brain Drain? Exploring Trends among Chinese Scientists in the U.S. · Nature : China–US research collaborations are in decline · Remembering Sheila Jackson Lee · News and Activities for the Communities The Injustice and Ordeal of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao On July 11, 2024, Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao was cleared of the final charge against him under the now-defunct China Initiative. He and his wife have accepted an invitation to speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting on August 5, 2024.Professor Tao was the first academic scientist indicted under the China Initiative on August 21, 2019. As a tenured associate professor at the Kansas University (KU), he conducted research on fundamental studies of catalysis for chemical transformation, promotion of energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. On June 24, 2020, the government charged him with a second superseding indictment, bringing the total to ten counts including wire fraud and false statements against Professor Tao. These charges were unrelated to espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China.The case against Professor Tao started from fabricated allegations by a disgruntled visiting scholar. After failing to extort Professor Tao for $300,000, she later admitted to the FBI that she had hacked into his email account to fish for "evidence" and then used phony aliases to submit fabricated complaints to both KU and the FBI.Before the jury trial, the government voluntarily dropped two charges. The trial on the remaining eight counts began on March 21, 2022. The jury acquitted four counts and convicted him on the other four counts. On September 20, 2022, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson acquitted the three wire-fraud counts. Only a false statement count was left. On January 18, 2023, Judge Robinson sentenced Professor Tao to no jail time, no fine, and two years of probation for the remaining false statement conviction. The district court terminated the probation early in February 2024.Professor Tao appealed the conviction of the last count in February 2023. On July 11, 2024, the 10th Circuit Appeals Court ruled in a 2-1 vote that reversed the conviction of making a false statement, clearing all charges imposed on Professor Tao.The acquittal of the last of the 10 original charges marked the end of Professor Tao's five-year ordeal of criminal persecution, initiated by racial profiling under the China Initiative. Despite not being tried for espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China, his faculty position was terminated in January 2023. He expects KU should reinstate him.While Professor Tao's innocence has now been confirmed, the process has had a tremendous impact on his finances, career, reputation, and family.APA Justice has closely tracked Professor Tao's case from the beginning. The Asian American communities were mobilized to fully support Professor Tao.The media was engaged. Amicus brief was submitted. Funds were raised for his legal defense. Turnout rallies were organized.APA Justice has compiled the details of Professor Tao's ordeal into a web page. It is still a work in progress, but it is available for public review here: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm . If you wish to attend the August 5 APA Justice monthly meeting or provide feedback to the web page, please send a message to contact@apajustice.org . 2024/07/23 Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao WHAT: Press Conference WHO: Professor Franklin Tao, his wife, his lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, Members of Congress, representatives from Asian American civil rights and scientific organizations WHEN: July 23, 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm ET WHERE: Cannon House Office Building, Room 454, Capitol Hill, Washington DC Reverse Brain Drain? Exploring Trends among Chinese Scientists in the U.S. According to an update by the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions (SCCEI) on July 15, 2024, along with native-born Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants have become a large and visible demographic group in American science, technology, and engineering. However, the pressure of potential federal investigations since the 2018 launch of the "China Initiative" by the U.S. Department of Justice has provided scientists of Chinese descent in the U.S. with higher incentives to leave and lower incentives to apply for federal grants.While most China-born, U.S.-based scientists intend to stay in the U.S., the number leaving has steadily increased. After the Department of Justice implemented the "China Initiative" in 2018, departures increased by 75%, with two-thirds of the relocated scientists moving to China.Surveyed scientists of Chinese descent in the U.S. report anxiety and new difficulties in pursuing their research, with 61% considering leaving the U.S. and 45% avoiding federal grant applications.The update says U.S. science will likely suffer given the loss of scientific talent to China and other countries. Read the SCCEI update: https://stanford.io/3zQOf9P . Nature : China–US Research Collaborations are In Decline According to Nature on July 19, 2024, scientists have been warning that political tensions between China and the United States, combined with the pandemic, have affected research collaborations between the two countries. But it takes time for evidence of this sort of decline to accumulate in research databases. The latest evidence comes from an analysis conducted by Springer Nature ’s team in China. They found that in 2022, the total number papers co-authored by researchers from China and their international peers declined for the first time since 2013.The proportion of research papers with Chinese and international co-authors has been falling for even longer. At its peak, in 2018, 26.6% — roughly 110,000 articles — of China’s output in the InCites database was co-authored with international colleagues. By 2023, the proportion of the country’s articles with international peers had dropped by 7.2%, despite China’s overall number of articles almost doubling to 759,000 over the same period.The drop in internationally co-authored papers is mainly due to China’s declining share of papers published with US researchers, which fell by 6.4% between its peak in 2017 and 2023 — the largest decline of any country included in the analysis. The findings were presented at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on April 25.The decline in US-China collaborations echoes findings from a 2022 analysis conducted for Nature, which found that the number of researchers with dual US and China affiliations on research articles in Elsevier’s Scopus database had fallen by more than 20% between 2019 and 2021. The crackdown under the China Initiative resulted in several scientists being arrested over their ties to collaborators or institutions in China, and has stoked fear among researchers of Chinese descent. Since then, the US government has adopted a range of policies focused on tightening research security. And in July 2023, the Chinese government implemented its revised counter-espionage law, which broadened the definition of what constitutes spying.The crackdown on perceived foreign interference in both the United States and China is making researchers more cautious about collaborating. Restrictive policies and the climate of fear could end up driving talent away from certain countries and fields, leading to a “brain drain and a loss of valuable human capital.” The faltering collaborative ties between the United States and China could also result in the countries pursuing the same types of research separately, increasingly prioritize domestic interests over international cooperation, which could make scientific research a more nationalistic endeavor.Read the Nature report: https://go.nature.com/4cP5h6O . Remembering Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (pictured in red above) died in Houston on July 19, 2024, at the age of 74. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a force in American politics. Born in Queens, New York, she was appointed a municipal court judge in Houston in 1987. She won a place on Houston's City Council two years later. In 1994, she defeated incumbent Congressman Craig Washington in the primary for a solidly Democratic seat. She won the general election that November. She was only the fourth member to represent the district since it was redrawn to represent Houston, following Barbara Jordan , Mickey Leland , and Washington. She wound up holding it for nearly 30 years, longer than all three of her immediate predecessors combined.Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a local, national and international humanitarian, who fought for racial and criminal justice. She was a fierce champion of the peopleIn March 2020, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee expressed outrage at the uptick in violence against Chinese Americans and pleaded for the President to cease and desist from calling the Coronavirus the Chinese Virus. "Violence directed against individuals on the basis of their race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation is disturbingly prevalent -- and poses significant threats to the Chinese American community during this worldwide pandemic. Domestic terrorism is growing, and these words and attacks only create increasing fear in a time when our nation should be unified and stand together," she said in statement. On February 11, 2023, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee wore the "We Belong" Yellow Whistle and joined hundreds of protesters marching through Houston's Chinatown in opposition to SB 147 - a proposed law that would prohibit Chinese citizens from owning property in Texas. She carried the banner with Texas Representative Gene Wu , Congressman Al Green , and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner , insisting to complete the entire march. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee also spoke on the stage . "No to SB 147, because the Statue of Liberty has not fallen, and the American flag is still standing," she said. "Stop the Asian hate. Stand for the American flag."We mourn the passing of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and the loss of a true friend of the Asian American community. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/07/23 Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao2024/07/25-28 Leadership Convention by NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals) 2024/07/27-28 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony2024/08/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/08/19 DNC Convention, AAPI Briefing & Reception, Chicago, IL2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity SummitThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. Back View PDF July 23, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #332 Student Visas and ICE Policy; Know Your Rights; Wen Ho Lee; Higher Ed and Science; + #332 Student Visas and ICE Policy; Know Your Rights; Wen Ho Lee; Higher Ed and Science; + In This Issue #332 • Update on International Student Visas and ICE Policy • 05/08 Know Your Rights Webinar • 05/29 Re-enactment of U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee • Higher Education and Science Developments • News and Activities for the Communities Update on International Student Visas and ICE Policy According to AsAmNews on April 22, 2025, based on a policy brief by the American Immigrant Lawyers Association, more students from India than from any other country have had their student visas revoked. A survey of revocations of 327 student visas and removal from Homeland Security databases found 50% were from India with China being the second highest at 14% followed by South Korea, Nepal and Bangladesh. On April 24, Inside Higher Ed reported over 280 colleges and universities have identified 1,879 international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed by the State Department. On April 25, after more than 100 lawsuits, the Trump administration announced that it would restore all terminated SEVIS statuses. On April 29, 2025, Politico reported how the Trump administration's "Student Criminal Alien Initiative” was rushed by using incomplete criminal database matches to wrongfully terminate thousands of foreign students’ legal status, leading to thousands of visa revocations and school bans without due process. On April 28, the Department of Justice submitted an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) internal memoradum dated April 26 on "Policy Regarding Termination of Records" in the case of Patel v. Lyons (1:25-cv-01096). According to the memo, two new grounds for SEVP-initiated terminations were added: “Evidence of a Failure to Comply with the Terms of Nonimmigrant Status Exists” and “U.S. Department of State Visa Revocation (Effective Immediately).” This policy allowed ICE to terminate student records based on visa revocations. At this time, the policy outlined in the April 26 notice has not been formally implemented, and the Department of Homeland Security is reportedly developing a new formal policy for SEVIS record terminations. 05/08 Know Your Rights Webinar WHAT: AASF Know Your Rights: Criminal Law, Research Security & Higher Education WHEN: May 8, 2025, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) Speaker: Robert Fisher, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP DESCRIPTION: An urgent Know Your Rights webinar focused on the intersection of criminal law, research security, and higher education—specifically addressing the mounting concerns facing Asian American professors and scientists who are facing increasing scrutiny and investigations, raising concerns about the return of the China Initiative and the environment of fear it cultivated. Moreover, international students, postgrads, and researchers are also facing increasing scrutiny with efforts to halt all Chinese student visas, preventing graduate students from conducting research, and targeting their participation in STEM fields. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4d5xMOl 05/29 Re-enactment of U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee WHAT: U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee - 25 Years Later WHEN: May 29, 2025, 4:30 - 6:00 pm CT WHERE: In Person Re-enactment. U.S. District Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street, 25th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60604 HOSTS: Asian American Bar Association; Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Moderators: • Stephen Chahn Lee, Solo Practitioner, AABA First Vice President, Former Federal Prosecutor • Vikas K. Didwania, Assistant U.S. Attorney, former Senior Policy Advisor for Criminal Justice at the White House DESCRIPTION: Twenty-five years ago, Wen Ho Lee, a Taiwanese-American scientist, became the focus of one of the most high-profile espionage investigations in American history. Suspected of sharing critical nuclear secrets with China, Dr. Lee faced public condemnation, criminal charges, and solitary confinement. However, as the case unraveled, it revealed profound flaws in the investigation, culminating in a rare judicial apology and a public acknowledgment by President Bill Clinton that "the whole thing was quite troubling". This pivotal moment in Asian-American legal history continues to offer important lessons for today’s legal, civil rights, and national security landscapes. This program will feature an in-depth exploration of United States v. Wen Ho Lee, with a critical look at the government’s investigation, the defense strategies that led to Dr. Lee’s eventual release, and the broader implications for justice and due process. Featuring Chicago practitioners and judges, this event will also include re-enactments of key moments from the case, including an interrogation that even senior government officials later admitted had gone too far. This event is open to the public and will be followed by a reception. 1.5 hours of CLE will be offered (pending approval). FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3GJ3MvR Higher Education and Science Developments 1. Higher Ed Leaders Stand Up for Democracy and Academic Freedom At a pivotal time for higher education and American democracy, two powerful public statements have been issued by leading voices in academia—calling for renewed commitments to open dialogue, civic engagement, and democratic principles. These open letters have been endorsed by hundreds of current and former college and university presidents and chancellors. APA Justice encourages Asian American organizations, academic networks, and community leaders to review, consider signing, and help spread awareness of these timely initiatives. The first, A Call for Constructive Engagement, was released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). As of May 5, over 610 current leaders from across higher education have signed on. The statement champions civil discourse and a shared responsibility for addressing challenges through inclusive, democratic means. Current higher ed leaders are urged to read and add your name as appropriate to the statement here: https://bit.ly/44VdrcC. The second, A Pledge to Our Democracy, organized by PEN America, has been co-signed by 124 former presidents and chancellors representing a broad range of institutions—including research universities, HBCUs, regional colleges, and community colleges. This statement affirms a collective responsibility to uphold democratic values and the freedom to teach, learn, and speak without fear. To learn more or to join the pledge, contact Malka Margolies at mmargolies@pen.org or 718-530-3582. These statements reflect a growing call to action. By adding our voices, we not only defend the values that sustain higher education and civil society—we also show that the Asian American community is ready to lead in shaping a more principled and inclusive future. 2. AAAS CEO Sudip Parikh Warns Against Catastrophic FY2026 Budget On April 30, 2025, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) CEO Dr. Sudip Parikh testified before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Susan Collins, about the urgent moment facing biomedical research, and science funding more broadly, in the United States. The fiscal year (FY) 2026 Presidential budget request proposes major cuts to Research and Development, including a 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 57% to NSF, and 24% to NASA, among others. Dr. Parikh warned that steep federal cuts to biomedical and science research funding could cause the U.S. to lose its global leadership in innovation for generations. He stressed that the scientific ecosystem, built over 80 years, depends on federal support and is now facing paralysis and potential long-term decline. He urged Congress to obligate existing FY2025 funds and secure FY2026 appropriations, saying the U.S. is at a historic crossroads that demands immediate action to protect future scientific leadership. Watch his testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT1TpNppK5M (6:40) 3. Foreign Policy: America's Coming Brain Drain In his Foreign Affairs essay “America’s Coming Brain Drain,” on May 6, 2024, MIT President Emeritus L. Rafael Reif warns that the United States is at risk of losing its longstanding global leadership in science and technology. This dominance was built over decades through sustained investment in research and development, academic freedom, and an openness to international talent. However, Reif argues that these pillars are being eroded by a mix of federal funding cuts, political interference in universities, and immigration policies that deter the very scientists who once fueled American innovation. A particularly damaging example Reif highlights is the legacy of the now-defunct China Initiative, a U.S. government program aimed at countering espionage that ended up disproportionately targeting scientists of Chinese descent. Though the program has officially ended, its chilling effects remain: international researchers are more hesitant to collaborate with U.S. institutions, and many have chosen to leave or avoid coming to the country altogether. Reif emphasizes that fear and suspicion cannot be the basis of national policy if the goal is to remain competitive in a globally interconnected research ecosystem. "Nationwide, international students earn 64 percent of doctorates in computer and information sciences, 57 percent of those in engineering, and 54 percent of those in mathematics and statistics. The United States clearly could do a better job of developing homegrown talent for these fields, but it is important to recognize how much the country gains by attracting brilliant people from around the world. The overwhelming majority of international doctoral students educated in the United States intend to stay on in the United States after earning their degrees," Reif wrote. Reif also expresses concern about increasing political pressures on higher education, particularly state-level attempts to reshape curricula or defund research based on ideological grounds. Coupled with the looming threat of steep federal funding cuts for agencies like the NIH and NSF, the U.S. risks dismantling the infrastructure that has long powered its innovation economy. To prevent a lasting brain drain, Reif calls for renewed investments in basic research, a welcoming posture toward global talent, and a reaffirmation of the values—openness, excellence, and integrity—that made the U.S. a world leader in science. Read the Foreign Policy article: https://fam.ag/42JccvM 4. Inside Higher Ed: Tracking NIH and NSF Funding Cuts According to Inside Higher Ed on May 6, 2025, the Trump administration has canceled close to $3 billion in National Institues of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) research grants, often without much explanation. Researchers are now crowdsourcing databases of suspended grants to shed light on what is being lost. While politically sensitive topics like DEI and misinformation were cited as reasons, funding cuts have also hit areas like cancer and maternal health. Epidemiologist Scott Delaney and colleagues created Grant Watch to track NIH and NSF terminations, exposing their arbitrary and opaque nature. Their database has already recorded $2.78 billion in cuts, prompting concern over the chilling effect on U.S. research. One striking example is Eric Wustrow, a University of Colorado professor whose NSF-funded project on online censorship was terminated despite not fitting any flagged category. His experience reflects broader inconsistencies that make it hard for researchers to understand which topics may now be “secretly banned.” Delaney emphasized the value of their crowdsourced data for advocacy and potential legal action, given the lack of transparency and shifting justifications for cuts. In parallel, Abby Andre launched the Impact Project to document the broader erosion of federal support—across education, housing, and science—using crowdsourced data and media reports. Her interactive Impact Map visualizes state-by-state cuts and institutional damage. Both Grant Watch and the Impact Project aim not only to support current resistance but to preserve a public record for future accountability and reconstruction efforts. 5. 05/08 Webinar: Trump and Higher Ed: Understanding the Latest WHAT: Trump and Higher Ed: Understanding the Latest (Part 3) WHEN: May 8, 2025, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: Chronicle of Higher Education Speakers: • Rick Seltzer, Senior Writer • Sarah Brown, Senior Editor DESCRIPTION: During his first few months in office, President Trump has tried to reshape higher education with a barrage of executive orders and actions aimed at transforming key parts of the academic enterprise. The frenzy of dramatic pronouncements, sudden reversals, and legal wrangling has created tremendous uncertainty for colleges. This is the third of a series of virtual events to examine challenges that are top of mind for colleges, their employees, and their students. REFERENCES: • 2025/04/03 Part 1: https://bit.ly/3GFu7e4 (1:03:01) • 2025/04/24 Part 2: https://bit.ly/43l00Bq (1:03:34) REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4341dvU 6. 06/03 NASEM: Second Annual State of the Science Address WHAT: The Second Annual State of the Science Address WHEN: June 3, 2025, 3:00 - 5:00 pm ET WHERE: National Academy of Sciences Building, 2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC 20418 HOST: The National Academies of Sciences Speaker: Marcia McNutt, President, National Academy of Sciences DESCRIPTION: McNutt will explore progress and opportunities in specific areas that are critical to protect and strengthen U.S. science — including modernizing university-industry research partnerships, reducing red tape so that researchers can focus their time and resources more efficiently, building a stronger U.S. STEM workforce, and cultivating more public trust in science. The address will be presented with data and evidence on the quality and vitality of the research enterprise, trends in education and employment, and strategic and funding priorities. After the address, Kelvin Droegemeier, former science adviser to President Trump and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2019 to 2021, will moderate a discussion with other research leaders. A reception will follow. REFERENCE: 2024 State of the Science Address FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://bit.ly/3Z3SyYU News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/05/08 AASF Know Your Rights: Criminal Law, Research Security & Higher Education 2025/05/12-14 APAICS Annual Summit and Gala 2025/05/18 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/05/22 Serica 2025 Trailblazers Conference & Gala 2025/05/29 U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee - 25 Years Later 2025/06/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2025/06/03 The Second Annual State of the Science Address 2025/06/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/06/15-18 2025 Applied Statistics Symposium Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Summary of April 2025 APA Justuce Monthly Meeting Posted Summary of the April 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/44opZcn. We thank the following speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: • Mark Takano, First Vice Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Member, U.S. House of Representatives • Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley, Law School • Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Judith.Teruya@mail.house.gov • Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC • Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) • Cindy Tsai, Interim President, Committee of 100 • Ed Guo, President, Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE) 3. 05/22 Serica 2025 Trailblazers Conference & Gala WHAT: Serica 2025 Trailblazers Conference & Gala WHEN: May 22, 2025 • Conference: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm ET • Gala: 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm ET WHERE: • Conference: 100 Washington St, New York City, 10016 • Gala: 583 Park Ave, New York City, 10065 HOST: The Serica Initiative DESCRIPTION: This annual gathering celebrates AAPI women who are driving change across generations — in the arts, business, tech, education, philanthropy, and beyond. It will be a day of dynamic panels, powerful stories, and connection with some of the most inspiring leaders in our community. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://bit.ly/3SuDJuJ # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org. Back View PDF May 8, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #314 3/3 Meeting; 3/4 Alien Land Laws Webinar; 3/12 MSU China Initiative Webinar; Lawsuits+ #314 3/3 Meeting; 3/4 Alien Land Laws Webinar; 3/12 MSU China Initiative Webinar; Lawsuits+ In This Issue #314 · 2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 03/04 Webinar on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws · 03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative · Updates on Lawsuits Against Trump Administration Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 3, 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 Kai Li 李凯 , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), speakers are: · Grace Meng 孟昭文 , Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) (invited) · Jessica Chen Weiss 白洁曦 , Founding Faculty Director of the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF), SAIS, Johns Hopkins University · Michelle Lee , President and Board Chair; Brian Pang , Chief Operating Officer and Head of Partnerships, Stand with Asian Americans · Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . *****The February 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting summary is posted at https://bit.ly/43dlMHN . Past monthly meeting summaries are posted at https://bit.ly/4hyOV4i We thank the following speakers for their remarks and update reports: · Gary Locke 骆家辉, Chair, Committee of 100; former U.S. Ambassador to China; former U/S. Secretary of Commerce; former Governor of the State of Washington · Julia Chang Bloch 張之香, Founder and Executive Chair, US-China Education Trust; former U.S. Ambassador · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Kai Li 李凯 , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Bethany Li , Executive Director, Asian American Legal Defense Education Fund (AALDEF) · Scott Chang , Senior Counsel, National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) 03/04 Webinar on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws WHAT: Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community WHEN: March 4, 2025, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOSTS: Committee of 100 and APA Justice Opening Remarks: Cindy Tsai, Interim President, Committee of 100 Moderator: John D. Trasviña, Former Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Panelists: · Hope Atuel , CEO/Executive Director, Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) · Scott Chang , Senior Counsel, The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) Closing Remarks: Jeremy Wu, Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice DESCRIPTION: With new laws limiting property ownership based on nationality, real estate professionals and advocates are stepping up to challenge these discriminatory policies. This webinar will provide critical insights into how these restrictions are reshaping the housing landscape and what we can do to fight back. What you will learn: · Your Rights Under the Fair Housing Act – Understand the legal protections in place to combat discrimination. · How These Laws Affect Asian Homebuyers & Real Estate Professionals – Hear real-world impacts from industry experts. · Community & Legal Advocacy in Action – Learn how grassroots efforts and legal challenges are pushing back and how you can get involved. Stay ahead of these evolving legal challenges by exploring Committee of 100’s interactive map , which tracks ongoing land ownership exclusion laws, and APA Justice’s Alien Land Bills webpage , where you will find the latest updates on lawsuits and policy developments. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3EOqGke 03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative WHAT: The China Initiative WHEN: March 12, 2025, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: Asian Pacific American Studies Program, Michigan State University Moderator: Kent Weber, Assistant Director of Asian Pacific American Studies, Assistant Professor of History, Michigan State University Speakers: · Lok Siu , Professor of Ethnic Studies and Associate Vice Chancellor of Research, UC Berkeley · Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice Task Force DESCRIPTION: A virtual discussion on the life and afterlife of the China Initiative, a Trump Administration program that has used racial profiling and fears of espionage to target Asian American scholars and researchers for investigation. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4hVaITO Updates on Lawsuits Against Trump Administration Executive Actions As of February 23, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 91.Some of the recent developments: 1. National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump (1:25-cv-00333) On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, with assistance from the Attorney General and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to terminate all DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, offices, and positions, as well as "equity-related" grants and contracts.On February 3, 2025, Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit on behalf of four organizations representing different affected groups: · American Association of University Professors (AAUP) – representing faculty members · National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education – representing diversity officers in academia · City of Baltimore – representing a public sector grantee · Restaurant Opportunities Centers United – representing a private sector grantee The lawsuit challenges the executive order as unconstitutional, arguing that it usurps congressional power and violates the First and Fifth Amendments by suppressing speech and discriminating against certain groups.On February 21, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Adam B. Abelson issued a memorandum opinion and granted a n ationwide preliminary injunction against the order. According to a statement from AAUP, the court explicitly cited evidence from AAUP members, finding that: · Plaintiffs and their members had suffered “concrete actual injuries” due to the administration’s actions. · AAUP members and their institutions would either be forced to restrict their legal activities and expression related to DEI or forgo federal funding altogether. This ruling marks a significant legal challenge to the administration’s directive, with broader implications for DEI policies across public and private institutions. Read the AP News report: https://bit.ly/4hOmZtK 2. Injunctions Against Drastic Cuts in Medical Research Funding According to AP News on February 21, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley extended her temporary restraining order blocking cuts to National Insitutes of Healh (NIH) research funding. The order will remain in place until she rules on an injunction, which would provide a more permanent decision.Judge Kelley is presiding over three lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts: · Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10338) · Association of American Medical Colleges v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10340) · Association of American Universities v. Department of Health & Human Services (1:25-cv-10346) The states and research organizations argue that the cuts are illegal and directly contradict bipartisan congressional action from former President Donald Trump’s first term, which explicitly prohibited such reductions. “It violates bipartisan appropriations law. I should know—I helped author that provision,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) during a Senate budget debate on February 21, 2025. John Bueker , an attorney representing the research groups, argues that the cuts threaten to derail scores of clinical trials of new treatments, with universities saying they will have to “stop or not enroll patients.” “Let’s think about that. A clinical trial is a last hope for a lot of people,” Bueker said.The NIH, the primary funder of biomedical research in the U.S., awarded approximately $35 billion in grants in 2024. These funds are divided into: · Direct costs – covering researcher salaries, laboratory supplies, and project-specific expenses. · Indirect costs – supporting essential infrastructure such as electricity for lab equipment, hazardous waste disposal, research compliance staff, and janitorial services. The Trump administration previously dismissed indirect costs as “overhead,” but universities and hospitals argue they are essential for sustaining research. The new policy would cap indirect costs at 15%, a move NIH estimates would save $4 billion annually. Critics argue the impact would be devastating. “It’s like forcing a company to sell a product for $10 when it costs $15 to produce,” said Devon Cimini , a grants administrator at Florida State University. “Quite bluntly, if this cap goes into effect, there wouldn’t be much research anymore.”According to POLITICO on February 12, 2025, red-state universities are also pushing back against the cuts, warning they could be forced to close labs and lay off staff due to sudden funding shortfalls. “This change isn’t a cost savings; it’s a cost transfer,” said Jeffrey Gold , president of the University of Nebraska system, predicting that research capabilities would shrink and states would have to fill the funding gap. The impact could be severe across multiple institutions: · UT Southwestern Medical Center in Texas estimates a potential annual loss of over $100 million. · The University of Alabama-Birmingham warned that the cuts could trigger widespread job and economic losses. · The University of Kentucky has sent officials to Washington to urge its congressional delegation to prevent tens of millions of dollars in additional costs. As legal battles and political pressure mount, the future of NIH research funding remains uncertain. 3. Dellinger v. Bessent (1:25-cv-00385) According to the Washington Post on February 21, 2025, a divided Supreme Court has delayed ruling on the Trump administration’s request to remove the head of an independent government watchdog agency. The justices will wait until at least after a lower-court hearing in the coming week before making a decision.This is the first case to reach the Supreme Court involving President Donald Trump’s broad efforts to reshape the federal bureaucracy. The administration had sought to overturn a District Court order that allows Hampton Dellinger to remain as head of the Office of Special Counsel while his lawsuit over the firing proceeds. Established by Congress in the late 1970s, the agency is responsible for protecting whistleblowers within the federal government from retaliation.At the heart of Dellinger’s case is a test of Congress’s authority to limit presidential power and insulate certain agencies from political influence. When lawmakers created the Office of Special Counsel, they sought to ensure its independence by allowing the president to remove the director only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office” during the five-year term.The case presents an early test of how the conservative-majority Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-appointed justices, will respond to challenges against the president’s sweeping efforts to assert greater control over the federal government. In his first weeks back in office, Trump removed more than a dozen inspectors general , replaced top ethics officials, and dismissed the heads of agencies responsible for protecting federal workers and investigating government misconduct. Several of these actions are now being challenged in court.Highlighting the case’s broader implications, a group of law professors specializing in financial regulation has urged the Supreme Court to ensure that any ruling in Dellinger’s case does not weaken the independence of the Federal Reserve. They emphasized that central-bank autonomy is critical to maintaining a strong U.S. economy. 4. Early Wins on Birthright Citizenship According to the Washington Post on February 24, 2025, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong , the son of Chinese immigrants, made his stance clear when asked in December about Donald Trump ’s pledge to end birthright citizenship: “I would be the first to sue.” Three weeks later, he was the first — but he was not alone.The day after Trump signed the executive order, all 22 Democratic-led states, along with Washington, D.C., and the city of San Francisco, filed legal challenges, arguing the order was unconstitutional. The lawsuits were filed in two federal courts—a 32-page complaint in Seattle and a 50-page filing in Boston. Judges in both cases have since issued nationwide injunctions blocking Trump’s order.Legal scholars widely agree that the matter is settled law, citing the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark . In that case, the Court affirmed that Wong Kim Ark, a San Francisco-born son of Chinese immigrants who had been denied reentry to the U.S., was a citizen under the 14th Amendment.San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said the city’s support for the lawsuit is rooted in its historical connection to the Wong Kim Ark case. “Our office wants to make sure the story is told accurately and litigated fully,” said Chiu, who has been in touch with Wong’s descendants. He added that the family is “horrified at the idea that the 14th Amendment and that case could be summarily ignored by the president of the United States.”At least 10 lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration’s executive order 14160 on birthright citizenship, with four injunctions issued so far.On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit declined the administration’s emergency request to lift a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s order, rejecting its argument that the preliminary injunction was overly broad. This marks the first time an appellate court has weighed in on the legal challenges to the executive order.The three-judge panel unanimously rejected the request. Judges William C. Canby Jr. and Milan D. Smith Jr. wrote that the administration had not made a “strong showing” that it would succeed on the merits of its appeal. In a six-page concurring opinion, Judge Danielle Forrest emphasized that setting aside a court order on an emergency basis should be an exception rather than the rule, and that the appeal did not meet that threshold. In rejecting the emergency plea, the panel upheld a nationwide injunction ordered February 6 by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle, who called Trump’s executive order “blatantly unconstitutional,” while paving the way for the case to be brought before the Supreme Court. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/04 Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF February 25, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #369 1/5 Meeting; 2025 Changed Research; CAPAC 2025 Review; ACLU Update; Summaries Posted;+ #369 1/5 Meeting; 2025 Changed Research; CAPAC 2025 Review; ACLU Update; Summaries Posted;+ In This Issue #369 · 2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting · The Year That Changed Research · CAPAC: 2025 End-of-Year Report · Update from American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · December and August Meeting Summaries Posted · News and Activities for the Communities 2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Rep. Grace Meng 孟昭文 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, is invited to deliver a new year message and a review of 2025. 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: · Attorneys from Bloch & White LLP on Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 (invited) · Attorneys from Despres, Schwartz, & Geoghegan, Ltd. on Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 (invited) · Paul Cheng 鄭文耀 , President, Committee of 100 · Hua Wang 王华 , Chair; Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President, United Chinese Americans · Sharon Wong , National Chair; Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, OCA National Center The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . The Year That Changed Research According to Inside Higher Ed on December 19, 2025, a year of mass federal grant terminations and sweeping policy changes to the nation’s research enterprise broke many scientists’ trust in the government. And those changes offer insight into what may come next year. For federally funded researchers, 2025 was widely described as chaotic, destabilizing, and demoralizing. Early in President Trump’s second term, federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Education, and Department of Energy (DOE) froze or terminated hundreds of research grants, disrupting projects across biomedical science, climate research, education, democracy studies, and public health. Many terminations explicitly targeted work involving diversity, equity, gender, or marginalized communities, framing such research as incompatible with agency priorities. Lawsuits warned that these actions would delay scientific advancement, compromise health outcomes, and drive talent away from U.S. research. By some estimates, more than $17 billion in NIH funding alone was disrupted, and thousands of federal agency staff layoffs left researchers with little guidance amid shifting rules. Beyond grant terminations, the administration proposed sweeping policy changes that further eroded trust: attempts to cap indirect cost reimbursements, freezes on funding to elite universities over unrelated political disputes, and executive orders giving political appointees greater control over grant awards and cancellations. Although courts blocked some measures and forced partial restoration of grants, the damage was already done. Universities froze hiring and admissions in anticipation of cuts, trainees lost support, and many researchers began questioning whether long-term academic careers in the U.S. were viable. Even when grants were reinstated, they often returned with reduced funding, delays, or new ideological restrictions, reinforcing the sense that science was no longer insulated from politics. Litigation and advocacy produced some important pushback. Courts halted indirect cost caps, agencies restored thousands of grants, and Congress signaled resistance to the most drastic proposed cuts—suggesting modest increases for NIH rather than the steep reductions sought by the administration. Yet uncertainty remains high heading into 2026. Agencies are scaling back peer review due to staffing shortages, experimenting with automated screening tools, and using text analysis to flag proposals for terms like “health equity” or “structural racism.” Researchers across fields report lasting psychological and professional impacts, including self-censorship, reluctance to pursue ambitious projects, and concerns about the future of evidence-based policymaking. Despite these challenges, the research community also demonstrated resilience and collective action. Scientists, universities, professional associations, and advocates mobilized through lawsuits, public letters, and sustained engagement with Congress. Many emphasized that openness, fairness, and global collaboration—not isolation—are the foundations of U.S. scientific leadership. While 2026 is expected to remain difficult, the partial successes of 2025 show that coordinated advocacy can still defend the integrity of American research. In this context, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) underscored an important victory: the proposed SAFE Research Act was removed from the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act. AASF’s advocacy helped prevent a measure that would have chilled collaboration, unfairly targeted researchers, and weakened America’s global competitiveness in science—demonstrating that principled, collective action can still make a decisive difference. C APAC: 2025 End-of-Year Report On December 18, 2025, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released its 2025 End-of-Year Report that includes a summary of actions CAPAC has taken to support thriving families and communities, advance equity and defend our rights, and promote economic opportunities for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). “This has been a challenging year for so many across our country. But our community has proven that we are most powerful when we stand together—to defend our rights, hold the administration accountable, and ensure our voices are heard at every level of government,” said Rep. Grace Meng 孟昭文 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “This report showcases some of CAPAC’s work to protect our community from harmful policies and to create a world where the next generation of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders is more successful than the last. There’s more work ahead of us, but CAPAC will not stop until we deliver on the promise of the American Dream for the millions who call this great nation home.” In 2025, CAPAC grew its total membership to 83 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate —the largest in history. CAPAC also released its policy framework for the 119th Congress to ensure the caucus is laser-focused on meeting our communities’ most pressing needs and launched the Spill the Tea with Chair Meng video series to discuss important topics impacting AANHPIs. The Caucus also took legislative action to uphold birthright citizenship, defend language access, stand up for immigrants, protect access to affordable health care, oppose the Republicans’ “China Initiative,” and more. Read the CAPAC press release: https://bit.ly/4qdx32Z Bill to Reunite and Protect Immigrant Families Reintroduced Rep. Judy Chu 趙美心 and Senator Mazie Hirono reintroduced the Reuniting Families Act of 2025 to address severe backlogs and outdated rules in the U.S. family-based immigration system, which currently leaves nearly four million people with approved visa applications waiting—often for more than a decade—to reunite with loved ones. The bill seeks to modernize a system that has not seen meaningful reform in over 30 years by recapturing unused visas, rolling them into future years, expanding the definition of family to include permanent partners, increasing the total number of family preference visas, raising per-country limits, and establishing a firm cap so no approved applicant waits more than 10 years for a visa. Lawmakers and a broad coalition of civil rights, immigrant advocacy, faith-based, and community organizations argue the legislation would make immigration more humane, efficient, and fair while strengthening families and communities across the country. Supporters emphasize that family unity is a cornerstone of U.S. immigration policy and that prolonged separations harm not only immigrant families—including Asian American, Southeast Asian, African, and LGBTQ+ communities—but also the nation’s social and economic fabric. The bill has garnered endorsements from dozens of national and local organizations, reflecting broad support for restoring compassion and functionality to the family-based immigration system. Read the press release from Rep. Judy Chu’s office. Update from American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) During the APA Justice monthly meeting on December 1, 2025, Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) returned to provide an in-depth briefing on two major areas of ongoing ACLU litigation: the challenge to Florida’s discriminatory housing law (SB 264) in Shen v. Simpson, and the national-security–related litigation surrounding the federal government’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. Both issues, he noted, remain of high importance to Asian American communities and immigrant-rights advocates across the country. Patrick began by reminding the audience that the ACLU is engaged in a wide range of immigration and civil rights litigation, including work related to birthright citizenship, which had been referenced earlier in the meeting. For purposes of this briefing, however, he focused on the two cases in which he is personally involved. I. Shen v. Simpson – Florida’s SB 264 Housing Restrictions Patrick first summarized developments in Shen v. Simpson, a challenge to Florida’s SB 264, a law that restricts property ownership by immigrants from China and six other “countries of concern.” The law prohibits non-citizens and non-green-card-holders from these countries from buying property in large parts of Florida, with only narrow exceptions. The ACLU—together with AALDEF, CALDA, the DeHeng Law Firm, Quinn Emanuel, and the ACLU of Florida—represents four individual Chinese immigrant plaintiffs and a real estate company that serves primarily Chinese clients. On November 4, 2025, the Eleventh Circuit declined to issue a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of SB 264, which Patrick described as “disappointing.” However, he highlighted an important clarification in the ruling: the court narrowed the law’s application and found that it does not apply to certain Chinese immigrants who live in Florida and intend to remain there indefinitely. That clarification, he explained, provides meaningful—but limited—relief to affected communities. He emphasized the broader context. SB 264 echoes a long history of “alien land laws” targeting Asians and other immigrant groups under the guise of national security. The ACLU views the law as part of a nationwide resurgence of discriminatory state-level property restrictions, which mirror policies from the early 20th century. Looking ahead, Patrick explained that next steps remain uncertain. The Eleventh Circuit must first issue a formal order returning the case to the district court. Once that occurs, the ACLU will submit a status update outlining possible avenues for continuing litigation. He assured the audience that updates will be provided as the case progresses. II. Alien Enemies Act Litigation Patrick then turned to the ACLU’s ongoing challenges to the federal government’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a Civil War–era statute allowing deportation of nationals from countries with which the U.S. is at war. In March of this year, he explained, the government used the Act to deport roughly 250 Venezuelan nationals. These individuals were transported first to El Salvador and detained in the notorious “Terrorism Confinement Center,” before later being transferred to Venezuela. Many had no opportunity to contest their designation or removal. 1. The Fifth Circuit Case (for individuals still in the U.S.) The ACLU represents Venezuelan nationals who remain in the United States and continue to face potential deportation under the Act. In June, the ACLU argued the case before a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit, which issued a 2–1 decision ruling the government’s use of the Act unlawful. The government then requested an en banc hearing before the full Fifth Circuit, which was granted. Briefing is underway, and oral argument is scheduled for late January. Because the case raises significant questions about executive power and wartime authorities, Patrick noted that Supreme Court review is likely. Importantly, deportations are currently paused while the litigation proceeds. 2. District Court Litigation in Washington, D.C. (for individuals already deported) A second challenge focuses on those who were removed in March with no due process. The ACLU is seeking a new preliminary injunction that would allow deported individuals the opportunity to bring habeas and due-process claims that they were unable to pursue before being transported out of the country. Toomey noted that many were deported “under cover of darkness,” without notice, hearings, or the ability to consult counsel. These cases, he stressed, raise profound constitutional questions about due process, wartime authority, and the treatment of immigrant communities. Both remain active and will likely continue into 2026. Conclusion Patrick closed by encouraging attendees to stay engaged as litigation moves forward. He invited follow-up questions through the chat or by email and reaffirmed the ACLU’s commitment to defending the civil rights and liberties of immigrant communities targeted by discriminatory laws and emergency powers. The outcomes of these cases, he noted, will have significant implications for Asian American comunities, Venezuelan migrants, and the broader legal landscape governing immigration enforcement. December and August Meeting Summaries Posted Summary for the December 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at . We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Kin Yan Hui , National President, Chinese American Citizens Alliance · Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Edgar Chen , Special Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Summary for the August 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/45gnvw6 . We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Munira Abdullahi , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Guangya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Min Fan , Executive Director, U.S. Heartland China Association We apologize for the lateness in posting this summary. Past monthly meeting summaries are posted at: https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/librarynewsletters-summaries News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/01/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao 2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF December 22, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #371 1/5 Meeting: Chinese American Survey; Gary Locke; National APA Museum; Nation's Data;+ #371 1/5 Meeting: Chinese American Survey; Gary Locke; National APA Museum; Nation's Data;+ In This Issue #371 · 2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting · Webinar on State of Chinese Americans Survey · Gary Locke to Receive Elliot L. Richardson Prize · National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission: Year-End Update · ASA: The Nation’s Data At Risk · News and Activities for the Communities 2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting APA Justice kicked off the new year with its first monthly meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026. A summary of the meeting is being prepared at this time. One of the featured speakers was Paul Cheung 鄭文耀 , President of the Committee of 100 (C100). In a January 1, 2026 interview with the South China Morning Post , Paul outlined a vision for C100 centered on nuance, people-to-people engagement, and the defense of civil liberties amid heightened U.S.–China tensions. He emphasized C100’s role in providing context—particularly how geopolitical rivalry directly affects Chinese Americans and shapes immigration, scientific exchange, business ties, and public perception. Paul described C100’s dual mission of addressing domestic civil rights challenges while engaging thoughtfully on broader U.S.–China relations. He highlighted the organization’s cross-sector approach, credible research on issues such as alien land laws and visa policies, and the State of Chinese Americans Survey, which helps inform policymakers and community leaders without functioning as a lobbying effort. The interview also underscored C100’s diverse leadership and legacy, including figures such as Paula Madison 罗笑娜 , Gary Locke 骆家辉 , I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 , Janet Yang 杨燕子 , and Dr. David Ho 何大一 , as examples of Chinese Americans’ longstanding contributions to U.S. society. Paul directly addressed recurring “loyalty” questions, affirming his loyalty to the United States while rejecting the conflation of cultural heritage with foreign allegiance. Looking ahead, Paul emphasized leadership development and renewed people-to-people exchange through C100 initiatives aimed at preparing future leaders and sustaining dialogue despite political and logistical barriers. He defined success in terms of measurable outcomes: leadership advancement, policy impact, stronger partnerships, and effective responses to discrimination. As a member-driven initiative powered by C100, APA Justice advances fairness, equity, and belonging by protecting constitutional rights, combating racial profiling, and opposing discriminatory policies through coalition work, research, public education, and community mobilization. Webinar on State of Chinese Americans Survey WHAT : Perception and Reality: What U.S.–China Relations Mean for Chinese Americans Today WHEN : Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT WHERE: Webinar HOSTS : Committee of 100; NORC at the University of Chicago Moderator : Sheryl WuDunn , Executive, Lecturer, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Presenter : Sam Collitt , Research and Data Scientist, Committee of 100 Panelists : · Madeline Y. Hsu , Professor of History, University of Maryland, College Park · Ian Shin , Assistant Professor of History and American Culture, University of Michigan DESCRIPTION : Committee of 100 partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago, one of the nation’s largest independent social research organizations, to conduct its third annual State of Chinese Americans Survey. This one-of-a-kind national survey examines U.S. public views on issues affecting Chinese Americans, building on insights from the previous two surveys. The research focuses on the cultural, health, and sociopolitical situations of today’s Chinese American population. Join the webinar for the launch of the first in a four-part series featuring national data on Americans’ views of U.S.–China relations, related domestic policies, and their impact on Chinese Americans. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/45evQ3s Gary Locke to Receive Elliot L. Richardson Prize WHAT: Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service WHEN: Wednesday, January 28, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. WHERE: Ronald Reagan International Trade Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 HOST: The National Academy of Public Administration DESCRIPTION: Secretary Janet L. Yellen , American Economist, former Treasury Secretary and former Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States, and Governor Gary F. Locke , former U.S. Ambassador to China, U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Washington State Governor, will receive the Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service. Please join us in celebrating this year’s honorees for their extraordinary public service—an embodiment of the values championed by Elliot Richardson. A beacon of integrity and principled leadership, Richardson was a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and served in four Cabinet-level roles, including Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; Secretary of Defense; Attorney General; and Secretary of Commerce. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4jvoeQc National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission: Year-End Update Established by the 117th Congress, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture is charged with delivering a comprehensive plan to the President and Congress to lay the groundwork for authorizing a national museum in Washington, D.C. honoring the achievements, history, and lasting impact of Asian Pacific Americans. Formally launched in April 2025, the bipartisan, congressionally appointed Commission began its work with a ceremonial swearing-in at the Library of Congress in June. Over its first eight months, the Commission has engaged hundreds of community members nationwide—including scholars, cultural leaders, and institutions across dozens of states—to help shape a roadmap for a future museum. In October, the Commission initiated a national listening tour, visiting New Jersey, Louisiana, and Northern California to gather extensive oral and written public input. These conversations have focused on how a national museum can authentically reflect the depth, diversity, and complexity of the Asian Pacific American experience. Additional site visits and community engagement are planned for 2026. The Commission also announced the selection of SmithGroup, a nationally recognized, research-driven design and planning firm, to evaluate potential museum locations and associated costs. This analysis will inform the Commission’s final report, to be delivered to Congress and the President in October 2026. Co-Chairs Chiling Tong 董繼玲 and Jay Xu 许杰 emphasized that this progress would not be possible without the support of donors and partners nationwide. As the year concluded, the Commission highlighted the historic opportunity to shape how Asian Pacific American histories are preserved and shared for generations to come and encouraged continued public engagement and support. With sustained momentum and broad community participation, 2026 is expected to be a pivotal year as the Commission advances toward congressional authorization of the nation’s first National Asian Pacific American Museum. Visit nationalapamuseum.org to learn more about the Commission’s work. ASA: The Nation’s Data At Risk The December 2025 report by the American Statistical Association (ASA) highlights the critical challenges facing the U.S. federal statistical system, which is experiencing unprecedented strain due to staff losses, funding shortfalls, and threats to statistical integrity. These issues have hindered agencies’ ability to innovate, engage data users, and fulfill their missions, jeopardizing the availability of accurate, timely, and credible statistics essential for evidence-based policymaking, economic management, and public trust. Key findings include: 1. Fragile Capacity and Eroding Trust : Agencies have lost significant staff, including senior managers and data scientists, leading to reduced innovation and delays in data releases. Public trust in federal statistics has declined from 57% in June 2025 to 52% in September 2025. 2. System Challenges : The decentralized structure of the statistical system hinders cross-agency collaboration, with no dedicated funding for system-wide initiatives. Barriers to data-sharing and outdated IT systems further limit efficiency and modernization. 3. Innovation Obstacles : Agencies face declining resources, procedural barriers, and a weakened culture of innovation. Advisory committees have been disbanded, and staff losses have curtailed modernization efforts. 4. Disconnect with Congressional Support : Despite the critical role of federal statistics, agencies remain underfunded due to the fragmented appropriations process and lack of consistent advocacy. The report provides nine new recommendations to address these challenges, including lifting hiring freezes, funding system-wide innovation, improving data accessibility, enhancing trust in federal statistics, and fostering cross-agency leadership development. It also calls for professional associations and stakeholders to strengthen advocacy and engagement with policymakers to secure adequate resources and support for statistical agencies. The report concludes that immediate action is needed to halt the decline of the federal statistical system and restore its capacity to deliver high-quality, trustworthy data that supports the nation’s governance, economy, and well-being. The report has spurred significant concern among experts and the public about the health of federal statistics. According to Federal News Network , “bedrock” federal data sets are disappearing as U.S. statistical agencies struggle with steep staffing and funding cuts, undermining the government’s ability to produce the high-quality data that underpin economic policy and public decision-making. Most agencies have lost 20–30% of their staff this year, and some surveys have been delayed, suspended, or canceled altogether. Former U.S. Chief Statistician Nancy Potok warned that “many statistical products just disappeared,” noting that cuts to contracts, funding, and personnel have left agencies unable to meet their missions. The Education Department’s National Center for Education Statistics, for example, now has just three employees following major workforce reductions. Mike Calabria , the current U.S. chief statistician, emphasized the need to strengthen data security and reverse the “long-term decline in response rates,” saying that people are less likely to participate if they don’t trust how their information will be protected. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao 2026/01/21 Perception and Reality: What U.S.–China Relations Mean for Chinese Americans Today 2026/01/28 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service 2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/02/11 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: BD Wong Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF January 6, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #53 Harvard Symposium; Xiaoxing Xi & ACLU Lawsuit; Cato Institute Report; Comment On NIH Due; More #53 Harvard Symposium; Xiaoxing Xi & ACLU Lawsuit; Cato Institute Report; Comment On NIH Due; More Back View PDF April 8, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #90 Anming Hu Offered to be Reinstated; Advocacy Actions; Criminal Injustice Report; More #90 Anming Hu Offered to be Reinstated; Advocacy Actions; Criminal Injustice Report; More Back View PDF October 18, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #204 AAPI Solidarity in Washington; Power in Voting; 1,000+ Faculty Letter to President; + #204 AAPI Solidarity in Washington; Power in Voting; 1,000+ Faculty Letter to President; + In This Issue #204 AAPIs Show Solidarity at 60th Anniversary of March on Washington Asian Americans Rise as a Powerful Voting Bloc Over 1,000 Faculty/Scientists Urge President Biden to Renew U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement News and Activities for The Communities AAPIs Show Solidarity at 60th Anniversary of March on Washington According to AsAmNews , supporters, volunteers, and staff from fifteen national AAPI organizations gathered at the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington on August 26, 2023.The original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place on August 28, 1963, in which over 200,000 people gathered for Black equality and civil rights– and during which Martin Luther King delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.The AAPI contingent was an intergenerational gathering – with American-born second generation and first-generation naturalized citizens, and Asians — representing multiple organizations and races. John C. Yang , president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian American Justice Center (AAAJ-AAJC) gave a rallying speech at the march.Multiple organizations made reference to the long history of AAPIs in civil rights work.“While JACL was the only Asian American organization to formally join the 1963 march, this year we look forward to being joined by hundreds more of our partner Asian American organizations,” the Japanese American Citizens League shared in a statement. “Chinese Americans had our long history of civil rights movement, e.g. Yick Wo v. Hopkins in 1886, Steven Pei , co-organizer of APA Justice and founding chair of the United Chinese Americans, told AsAmNews via email.[Thanks to donation of the Committee of 100 and the Yellow Whistle Project], United Chinese Americans, and other organizations, passed out yellow whistles as part of an anti-Asian hate project. The pamphlet describes the whistle as a “symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination and anti-Asian violence,” reclaiming the color yellow which “has been weaponized against Asians as the color of xenophobia.”According to Pei, half a million whistles have been distributed nationwide since April 2021, and another 300,000 have been ordered.Participants joined from across the country, including Texas, California, Massachusetts, and more. Tibetan American Baimadajie Angwang , who was accused of being a Chinese spy in 2020 under the "China Initiative" targeting AAPIs (all charges were dropped earlier this year), traveled from New York to attend the march.“We are here to be united. We are all the same. When they push the American dream to immigrants, they say if you work hard, follow the rules, you will be treated fairly. I did everything an immigrant is instructed to do but because of anti-Asian rhetoric, I got accused of being a spy who works for China,” Angwang told AsAmNews . Most importantly, AAPIs stated their commitment to anti-racism.“There are politicians and racists who want to exploit Asian Americans and use our community as a wedge in the fight for justice and civil rights, but we must refuse to be complicit in the oppression of Black Americans. We must do our part and march in racial unity alongside our Black community members – not only today but every day because our fight for equity is one and the same,” stated Louise Liu , Anti-Hate Communications Coordinator, AAAJ-AAJC.Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/45Jjgaq APA Justice has created an online photo album of the event and will add photos and content at https://bit.ly/3OVojxs . Did You Know Who Designed the MLK Statue? According to Wikipedia , Lei Yixin 雷宜锌 , a prominent Chinese sculptor born in Changsha, Hunan, China, designed the Stone of Hope, the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the King Memorial near the United States National Mall. Asian Americans Rise as a Powerful Voting Bloc A major message from the 60th Anniversary of March on Washington is voter registration and turnout. The 1963 March on Washington was a catalyst for landmark voting rights action, leading to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Advocates are sounding alarms about voter suppression and the rollback of voting rights protections, particularly those affecting Black and minority voters. Echo King , President of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance who joined the March on Washington event, commented that "if we are not at the table, we are part of the menu." Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, also participated in the event. So did Adrienne Poon , President of OCA-DC. According to NBC News on August 21, 2023, Asian Americans have emerged as a coveted voting bloc in the 2024 election, with both parties recognizing their power to decide the presidency and other competitive races.Asian American voter turnout spiked in 2020, surprising many political observers, and proved crucial to President Joe Biden ’s Electoral College victory. In battleground Georgia, Asian American turnout jumped by a startling 84% from the previous presidential election. Two years later, Sen. Raphael Warnock , D-Ga., sought to capitalize with an unusual move in his ultra-competitive contest: He produced ads in Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to mobilize Asian American voters. He carried 78% of that vote in the runoff and won.Now , with the next campaign underway, the political power of this voting bloc has sunk in. The national committees for Democrats and Republicans say they are launching unprecedented investments to court Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3Ece9DM Christine Chen , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), and Bob Sakinawa , Director of Policy and Advocacy, were also at the March on Washington event. During the August 7 monthly meeting, Christine reported on "The Growing AAPI Electorate and What is at Stake." APIAVote’s work revolves around collaborating with national, regional, and local partners in order to equip advocates with the training, tools, resources, and best practices they need to do their best work as “trusted messengers” in their communities. APIAVote’s Alliance for Civic Empowerment (ACE) is missing partners in some states in the Mid-West, South, and Northeast. Christine's presentation included the trend and historic AAPI turnout in 2020, a presidential election year, with 64% registered and 60% turnout. Christine also gave an outline of activities and training in 2023 and 2024. State and local communities are urged to connect with APIAVote to build and strengthen their network to register and turn out voters from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Christine's 18-slide presentation is here: https://bit.ly/3DZBKY4 Over 1,000 Faculty/Scientists Urge President Biden to Renew U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement On August 24, 2023, Stanford University Professors Steven Kievelson and Peter Michelson sent a letter to President Joe Biden and members of the National Security Council, expressing their strong support for renewing the US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Their call for endorsement of the letter started on August 19. APA Justice amplified their call in its newsletter on August 22. A State Department spokesperson reportedly told NBC News on August 23 that there is likely to be a six-month extension. The current authority expires today, August 27, 2023.The letter to the President was endorsed by over 1,000 faculty and scholars from many US universities including multiple Nobel Laureates, members of the National Academies, and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Their names and institutional affiliations are included in the letter.Read the cover letter and the original letter with endorsers at https://bit.ly/44xTNPX Chinese Academics Are Becoming a Force for Good Governance in China According to Issues in Science and Technology, a quarterly journal published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and Arizona State University, Chinese bioethicists, legal scholars, and scientists released a consensus statement on March 5, 2023, condemning He Jiankui , the infamous scientist who used the CRISPR gene editing tool to edit the genomes of three babies born in 2018 and 2019. Released from prison in 2022, He quickly began advertising a new—and risky—gene therapy to patients. The March statement denounced He’s actions and urged Chinese authorities to be more accountable in their oversight. The statement also protested the censorship and secrecy shrouding He’s sentencing and called for more open, public discussion of scientific controversies in China.Global scientists and regulators welcomed the statement, which was released the day before the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing. It was one of the few times since He’s imprisonment in 2019 that the world heard directly from Chinese academics about how controversies involving human genome editing research should (or should not) be handled. And in China, the statement’s timing was particularly remarkable: it was released the very morning of the opening session of China’s annual National People’s Congress, a moment when the government is especially intolerant of dissent. This bold timing demonstrated that, contrary to common belief, Chinese academics are not passive followers of the Chinese Communist Party. Instead, China’s scientific community is making concerted efforts to actively shape science governance.The consensus statement reflects important changes in the domestic dynamics of Chinese science—particularly the increasingly prominent role of academics. Chinese academics have become a proactive, effective force demanding science governance in China, but international counterparts too often fail to recognize their role and so undermine their efforts. China still has much work to do to develop a trusted and accountable regulatory system worthy of its scientific advancement and ambition, but meaningful, sustainable reforms must come from within the country.Read the Issues in Science and Technology report at: https://bit.ly/45OdEf5 U.S.-China joint research papers drop for first time in 28 years According to Nikkei Asia on August 25, 2023, research papers jointly authored by scientists in the U.S. and China have declined for the first time in nearly three decades, underscoring the impact of decoupling in the face of heightened political tensions between the two countries. The tally fell 5% on the year to 51,630 papers in 2021, according to a report from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The last drop was a slight decrease in 1993.Although the pandemic slowed international exchanges between researchers in 2021, papers typically take years to write. COVID-19 is believed to have had only a minimal impact on joint papers published in 2021.In addition, the overall number of research papers jointly authored across international borders grew 7% to 577,166 in 2021. Factors other than the pandemic likely contributed to the decrease in Sino-American papers. "I suspect there are moves in the U.S. to avoid co-authoring with China due to the bilateral political tensions," said Tohru Yoshioka-Kobayashi , an assistant professor at Hitotsubashi University's Institute of Innovation Research.The U.S. took a hard line on China after Donald Trump became president in 2017. The souring relations deteriorated into a trade war in 2018, when the Trump administration raised tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing responded with retaliatory duties.The U.S.'s China Initiative anti-spying program ran from 2018 to 2022, with spillover effects on academia. The Trump administration tightened restrictions on Chinese student visas, taking such steps as shortening expiration dates for graduate students in high-tech fields. Current President Joe Biden has imposed controls on semiconductor exports to China, keeping bilateral tensions smoldering. A Japanese researcher working in China reports hearing a colleague say they returned from the U.S. because they no longer felt comfortable there. "As the result of Chinese-born researchers returning to China from the U.S., joint research projects with them are being completed inside of China," the Japanese researcher said. China produced more scientific papers than the U.S. in 2017, taking the global crown. China later bested the U.S. in research paper quality, based on the number of citations.Sino-American joint papers have increased roughly 20 times over two decades. Even with the drop-off in 2021, the U.S. remains China's biggest partner in collaboration, accounting for 36% of all of China's jointly written papers.If the decoupling intensifies, China may end up building a research infrastructure no longer reliant on the U.S. The number of Sino-American papers in chemistry dropped nearly 20% in 2021, while those in materials science declined more than 10%.China could also create a sphere of cooperation separate from the one dominated by American and European research. Pakistan rose to China's seventh-biggest research collaborator in 2021 from 10th place in 2020, with its share of joint papers with China growing to 4.6% from 3.6%.India and Saudi Arabia climbed to 13th and 14th place. Collaboration with emerging and Middle Eastern countries "may spark innovation due to the greater diversity," Yoshioka-Kobayashi said. Read the Nikkei Asia report at https://s.nikkei.com/47Otl7A News and Activities for The Communities 1. Asian American Studies Minor Launches at Fordham University According to Fordham News on August 23, 2023, Fordham University students will be able to minor in Asian American studies beginning this fall. The new minor will provide an interdisciplinary understanding of Asian American people and other members of the Asian diaspora, as well as a focus on Asian culture and history. The minor is part of Fordham’s new Asian American studies program, which faculty members hope to continue to expand. “The student population is really diverse,” said Stephen Hong Sohn , Ph.D., English professor and Thomas F.X. and Theresa Mullarkey Chair in Literature. “Not only do we want Asian American students and Asian students to have a place to explore their backgrounds and identities, but it’s really important for all students to take these types of classes because they need to learn about other cultures, other identities.” Read the Fordham News report: https://bit.ly/3QZTyKv 2. 2023 National Unity Summit The Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) will convene 2023 National Unity Summit in Washington DC from September 25 to 27, 2023. Main theme : Collaborating to Achieve Diversity, Unity and Equality Purpose : To create a community platform for all AAPI organizations and leaders to interact and collaborate on vital community issues. Concept : The 2023 National Unity Summit is an in-person event that showcases our [diversity] and unity while affording community leaders the opportunity to advocate on select issues.Read about the event and register at: https://bit.ly/3QXCVPM APA Justice has also posted the AAUC event at its newly created Community Calendar at: https://bit.ly/45KGyga Back View PDF August 27, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

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

June 12, 2020 On June 12, 2020, Science Magazine reported that fifty-four scientists have lost their jobs as a result of NIH probe into foreign ties . Six questions are raised from the report about the National Institute of Health (NIH) investigations 1. Due process? What rights do the scientists have in terms of defense and representation? How are they informed and explained about these rights? How consistent is the decision process from case to case and from institution to institution? Are the standards public and publicized? How well are the scientists informed about these standards? 2. Shift and transparency in policy? As recently as July 1, 2014, current NIH Director Francis Collins spoke in Fudan University in Shanghai to promote international collaboration . This and similar reports have apparently been removed from the NIH website with one exception of this report about NIH leaders celebrate 30 years of research with China in 2009. Why were these reports removed? When did the shift in policy take place and why? How were the scientists notified of the change in policy? 3. How did NIH start these investigations? According to Page 19 of The Cancer Letter on April 26, 2019, Michael Lauer, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, stated that there are three ways to identify potential problems: (a) FBI and other law enforcement agencies, (b) anonymous complaints, and (c) stewardship of NIH program staff. For the targeted 189 scientists at 87 institutions, what is the respective count by these three ways? How is their pattern and distribution similar or different from previous years? 4. Criminalizing science and scientists? If the NIH is under pressure from the FBI and law enforcement to conduct these investigations, does it undermine the standard NIH procedures to deal with scientific ethical and integrity issues that may not be intrinsically criminal? How many of the scientists under NIH investigations conduct open fundamental research and how many on sensitive research that threatens national or economic security? Does their punishment fit the alleged act? What was actually stolen? 5. How will the NIH investigations enhance U.S. leadership in science and technology? Dr. Xifeng Wu was among the first scientists forced to leave MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She is now recognized for her significant contributions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in China. She is a U.S. citizen. Her family still lives in Houston. How did her departure help U.S. leadership in science and technology? Same question for the 54 scientists. What threats have we mitigated by their departures? 6. Oversight and accountability? Is NIH open to third-party independent audit and review about the standards, process, and decision about these investigations? If so, would NIH cooperate with Congress and scientific/community organizations to conduct such audit, review, and oversight? In the case of Dr. Charlie Lieber, he was not charged as a spy. On February 3, 2020, Science Magazine reported that “[w]hat worries Andrew Lelling, U.S. attorney for the Massachusetts district, is that Lieber was allegedly paid to carry out research in China, which, combined with his failure to disclose those relationships, makes him potentially vulnerable to pressure from the Chinese government to do its bidding at some future point.” Are we punishing a child because one day he may grow up to be a criminal? How far have we deviated from a justice system based on facts and evidence, rather than pretext, for individual prosecutions or investigations? When was the last time the U.S. government targeted a nation and a people for law enforcement? These issues about accountability, oversight, and transparency are at the heart of racial profiling (according to the definition in H.R. 7120 Justice in Policing Act of 2020 ), justice, and fairness concerns for the Asian American community that led to the formation of the APA Justice Task Force in 2015. Previous Next 54 scientists lose their jobs from NIH probe into foreign ties