Newsletter - #97 DOJ Changed Report; Trial Dates; Yale/Princeton/Stanford/SIU News; Happy Thanksgiving #97 DOJ Changed Report; Trial Dates; Yale/Princeton/Stanford/SIU News; Happy Thanksgiving Back View PDF November 22, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #252 5/6 Monthly Meeting; Impact of US-China Tensions; Beta Reviewers; Border Issues; CAPAC #252 5/6 Monthly Meeting; Impact of US-China Tensions; Beta Reviewers; Border Issues; CAPAC In This Issue #252 · 2024/05/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · AAPI Community Response to Rising Anti-Asian Hostility · Call For Beta Reviewers of China Initiative Web Page and Timecards · Chinese Students in US Tell of "Chilling" Interrogations and Deportations · Thirty Years of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/05/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 6, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), two speakers will describe an upcoming forum with the Asian American and academic communities and the FBI in Houston, which will be co-hosted by TMAC and the Science and Technology Policy Program, Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Office of Innovation at Rice University. · Nabila Mansoor, President, Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC); Executive Director, Rise AAPI · Kenneth M. Evans, Scholar in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University We also welcome back · Rebecca Keiser , Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation (NSF), returns to update us on the JASON report on Safeguarding the Research Enterprise , MacroPolo's Global AI Talent Tracker 2.0 , and related activities and development at NSF. 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 . AAPI Community Response to Rising Anti-Asian Hostility A panel of community leaders shared their experiences, discussed actionable steps that the AAPI community and its allies have taken, and explored future strategies to confront xenophobic challenges to the AAPI community in a morning session at the Committee 100 conference on April 19, 2024.Dr. Jeremy Wu , founder of APA Justice Task Force and a C100 member, delivered remarks to open the session, noting that Asian Americans have faced two deadly viruses in recent years - the coronavirus and the social injustice virus. Anti-Asian hostility is not new and racial profiling and xenophobia will not go away soon, he said. Community leaders and groups have been tirelessly combating discriminatory hostility and attacks on the AAPI community. We are a nation of immigrants. We value law and order, but we oppose encroachment on our civil rights and liberties under the guise of national security. We believe in U.S. democracy but stand against poor leadership, harmful policies, and rogue actors, he added. Our communities have responded with diverse strategies and actions, including advocacy, education, mobilization, coalition building, civic engagement, data collection, media collaboration, litigation, and a Yellow Whistle with the message of "We Belong." His presentation is posted here: https://bit.ly/3wbeWV7 Jennifer H. Wu , Founding Partner, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman, and Stone LLP, passionately advocated to help hate crime victims navigate both the criminal justice system and the broader parts of the recovery process where too often there is no script. She spoke about the impact of anti-Asian violence on victims and their families, including her personal experiences representing victims in NYC. In particular, she observed that she was a patent lawyer who became a civil rights lawyer because of the rising tide of anti-Asian violence. She was galvanized to action in working on the widely-publicized reports on anti-Asian violence by the Asian American Bar Association. She noted that prosecutors (District Attorneys) are elected positions but relatively few Asian Americans participate in the process of electing them and there are no Asian American District Attorneys in New York City. She concluded that individuals did not create these problems, but that we all need to come together to solve them. Edgar Chen, Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, discussed meaningful involvement and participation in state and federal legislative advocacy efforts to combat alien land laws and other discriminatory bills. He observed that there were alternating historical cycles of physical violence against Asian Americans on the streets with codification of anti-Asian sentiment in Congress and state houses and that the community response must deploy a multi-prong approach which includes the elements of grassroots advocacy on the streets including rallies and protests, legislative engagement, and litigation in courts. In order to be effective, Chen argued, advocates must not only fight for the constitutional civil rights of Asian Americans, but must also muster strong economic arguments with empirical backing to demonstrate why discriminatory legislation is not only wrong, but damaging in other ways. Legislators who are blinded by bias will not be convinced by arguments about civil rights, but could be compelled to mitigate economic harms posed by these bills. Another strategy Chen discussed was cultivating strong working relationships with the media - first by being a trusted source of accurate information - which builds a rapport with journalists so that in addition to conveying timely factual background to assist them with their stories, your analysis and advocacy is more credible. Frank H. Wu, President, Queens College, offered candid comments on the importance of allyship and the difficulty of bridge building. He spoke about strategy and tactics. He pointed out that there is a consensus that discriminating against racial minorities is wrong, but distinguishing between citizens and aliens is normal (as in who can vote in elections), but the prejudice against Asian Americans includes the assumption they are perpetual foreigners, and, in any event, the bias toward Asian immigrants is about their racial background and not their citizenship. He discussed how coalitions succeed, such as in Texas, against alien land laws. Asian American itself brings together people whose ancestors fought wars amongst themselves. Finally, he discussed effective messaging, which needs to appeal to other Americans by invoking the ideals of democracy. Cindy Tsai , Interim President of C100, moderated the session, said "the session was an engaging blend of concepts and practical strategy. Anti-Asian sentiment is rising. It's important that the community understands the tools that are available to us to fight against discrimination and xenophobia. It was an honor to work with this panel of community leaders and activists." Call For Beta Reviewers of China Initiative Web Page and Timecards Although the Department of Justice formally ended the China Initiative in 2022, there have been repeated efforts to revive it and such attempts are anticipated to persist in 2024.As a US government national-security program created to address economic espionage, the China Initiative disproportionately targeted Asian Americans and academic communities for administrative errors and harmed academic freedom and open science.The legacy of the China Initiative is an integral part of American history, and its lessons and repercussions must not fade from memory. Failing to acknowledge its impact could pave the way for its recurrence, perpetuating injustices, racial profiling, stigmatization, harm to U.S. leadership in science and technology, and government overreach.As part of the efforts to revamp its website, APA Justice has developed a webpage and 12 timecards to cover the China Initiative from its launch in November 2018 to its announced end in February 2022. During the month of April, we went through an alpha review with key stakeholders and partners. Their feedback is being studied for implementation. We anticipate the completion of this process in the second half of May, at which point we plan to start a beta review. The goal of beta review is to gather feedback on the product's content, performance, usability, and overall user experience in real-world conditions.We are calling for up to 10 volunteers of diverse backgrounds to help us conduct the beta review. Our vision of the eventual web page and timecards on the China Initiative is an open and free resource available for advocacy, research, and education. If you are interested and ready to contribute to this important public and community service initiative, 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 . Chinese Students in US Tell of "Chilling" Interrogations and Deportations According to the Guardian on April 20, 2024, scientists at America’s leading universities complain of stalled research after crackdown at airports as tensions with China rise. The Chinese embassy in Washington said more than 70 students “with legal and valid materials” had been deported from the US since July 2021, with more than 10 cases since November 2023. The embassy said it had complained to the US authorities about each case.The exact number of incidents is difficult to verify, as the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency does not provide detailed statistics about refusals at airports. Testimonies have circulated on Chinese social media, and academics are becoming increasingly outspoken about what they say is the unfair treatment of their colleagues and students.“The impact is huge,” says Qin Yan , a professor of pathology at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut, who says that he is aware of more than a dozen Chinese students from Yale and other universities who have been rejected by the US in recent months, despite holding valid visas. Experiments have stalled, and there is a “chilling effect” for the next generation of Chinese scientists.“It is very hard for a CBP officer to really evaluate the risk of espionage,” said Dan Berger , an immigration lawyer in Massachusetts, who represents a graduate student at Yale who, midway through her PhD, was sent back from Washington’s Dulles airport in December, and banned from re-entering the US for five years. “It is sudden,” Berger said. “She has an apartment in the US. Thankfully, she doesn’t have a cat. But there are experiments that were in progress.” Academics say that scrutiny has widened to different fields – particularly medical sciences – with the reasons for the refusals not made clear. X Edward Guo , a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, said that part of the problem is that, unlike in the US, military research does sometimes take place on university campuses. “It’s not black and white … there are medical universities that also do military. But 99% of those professors are doing biomedical research and have nothing to do with the military.” But “if you want to come to the US to study AI, forget it,” Guo said.The increased scrutiny comes as Beijing and Washington are struggling to come to an agreement about the US-China Science and Technology Agreement, a landmark treaty signed in 1979 that governs scientific cooperation between the two countries. Normally renewed every five years, since August it has been sputtering through six-month extensions. Following years of scrutiny from the Department of Justice investigation into funding links to China, and a rise in anti-Asian sentiment during the pandemic, ethnically Chinese scientists say the atmosphere is becoming increasingly hostile.“Before 2016, I felt like I’m just an American,” said Guo, who became a naturalized US citizen in the late 1990s. “This is really the first time I’ve thought, OK, you’re an American but you’re not exactly an American.”On March 14, 2024, The Washington Post reported anecdotal stories on Chinese students and academics facing extra scrutiny entering the U.S.Read the Guardian report: https://bit.ly/3WmhlqT . Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/43LZfju Thirty Years of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) CAPAC was established on May 16, 1994. Congressman Norman Y. Mineta , one of the founders of CAPAC, became its first Chair (1994-1995). Since then, the Caucus has been led by four other prominent Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Members of Congress: Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii (1995-1997), Congressman Robert A. Underwood of Guam (1907-2001), Congressman David Wu of Oregon (2001-2004), and Congressman Mike Honda of California (2004-2011). The Caucus is currently led by Congresswoman Judy Chu , who became CAPAC Chair in February 2011. As AANHPI Heritage Month began on May 1, 2024, CAPAC held a press conference to mark the 30th anniversary of its founding and to highlight the vast contributions of the AANHPI community to the United States, summarized recent CAPAC achievements, and charted a path forward for AANHPIs across the country. Announced speakers included Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Ami Bera , M.D. (CA-06), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Del. Sablan (NMI-AL), Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12), Rep. Al Green (TX-09). CAPAC is made up of 76 Members of Congress in both the House of Representatives and Senate who advance the interests of the AANHPI community. With over 70 racial and ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages, the AANHPI community includes over 23 million people and is the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group across this past decade.Read the CAPAC press statement: https://bit.ly/4dlsQEO . Visit the CAPAC website at https://capac-chu.house.gov/ White House Proclamation on AANHPI Month, 2024 On April 30, 2024, President Joe Biden issued "A Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, 2024."The Proclamation said in part, "This month, we celebrate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities, whose ingenuity, grit, and perseverance have pushed our great American experiment forward."Racism, harassment, and hate crimes against people of AA and NHPI heritage also persist — a tragic reminder that hate never goes away; it only hides. Hate must have no safe harbor in America — that is why I signed the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which makes it easier for Americans to report hate crimes, and I also hosted the first-ever White House summit against hate-fueled violence. "Our Nation was founded on the idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully realized this promise, but we have never fully walked away from it either. As we celebrate the historic accomplishments of AA and NHPIs across our Nation, we promise we will never stop working to form a more perfect Union."Read the White House Proclamation: https://bit.ly/4djMAZC Read the AP News report about the history and evolution of the AANHPI Heritage Month: https://bit.ly/3UnZDjZ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/05/02 AAGEN 2024 Executive Leadership Workshop2024/05/04 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice Book Tour2024/05/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/05/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/05/13-14 2024 APAICS Legislative Leadership Summit2024/05/14 2024 APAICS: 30th Annual Awards Gala2024/05/14 Serica Initiative: 7th Annual Women's Gala dinnerVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF May 2, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #107 DOJ Drops Gang Chen Case; CAPAC; APA Justice/OSTP Briefing; DOC Scandal/Census Map #107 DOJ Drops Gang Chen Case; CAPAC; APA Justice/OSTP Briefing; DOC Scandal/Census Map Back View PDF January 20, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #356 Ohio Rally; Mike German; Birthright Citizenship; 7/7 Meeting Summary; Student Arrivals #356 Ohio Rally; Mike German; Birthright Citizenship; 7/7 Meeting Summary; Student Arrivals In This Issue #356 · Ohio Residents Rally Against Anti-Immigrant Property Bills · Mike German Retires After Distinguished Career · Appeals Court Rules Against Trump Order to End Birthright Citizenship · July 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted · International Student Arrivals Drop 19% · News and Activities for the Communities Ohio Residents Rally Against Anti-Immigrant Property Bills On September 27, 2025, hundreds of Ohio residents rallied at the Statehouse to protest Ohio House Bill 1 (HB1) and Senate Bill 88 (SB88), legislation they argue discriminates against immigrants from China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia under the guise of national security. Organized by the Asian American Coalition of Ohio, Justice for Ohio, and the Ohio Chinese American Association, with support from 11 organizations including the ACLU of Ohio, the protest condemned the bills for threatening immigrants’ property rights and civil liberties. The Ohio HB1 and SB88 would bar non-U.S. citizens from these countries from owning or purchasing property, with SB88 mandating that affected property owners sell within two years. The bills also prohibit businesses controlled by “restricted persons” or headquartered in “foreign adversary” countries from owning Ohio real estate. Critics argue Ohio HB1 and SB88 violate the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act, which bans discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or national origin in housing. They draw parallels to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and alien land laws, recalling historical injustices like the 1887 Los Angeles Chinese Massacre and the WWII incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. Protesters also decried the Ohio HB1 and SB88’s use of an overly broad definition of “critical infrastructure”—including everyday facilities like cell towers, power lines, railroads, and water and sewage lines —to restrict property ownership within 25 miles of such sites, effectively covering most of Ohio. They warn this could displace families, workers, and businesses, devastating the state’s economy. A similar Texas law, SB17, has already led to discriminatory lending practices, and Ohio residents fear HB1 and SB88 could trigger a similar chilling effect, forcing economic loss and displacement. The rally, attended by diverse communities including Asian, Black, White, Muslim, and faith leaders, urged lawmakers to halt the bills immediately. Media reports: · Ohio Capital Journal: Demonstrators protest Ohio land ownership measures that target Chinese immigrants · The Lantern: House Bill 1, Senate Bill 88 Protested Saturday at the Ohio Statehouse · Toledo Free Press: Ohio Statehouse rally against HB1 and SB88 · World Journal: 批俄州新法歧視華人 華社聚集州府抗議 · Justice for Ohio: 9/27 People’s Rally against Ohio HB1/SB88 Recap Reel Mike German Retires After Distinguished Career Mike German , a longtime civil liberties advocate and former FBI agent, has retired from his position as a fellow in the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program. Widely respected for his expertise on privacy, civil liberties, and federal law enforcement reform, his retirement marks a significant loss to the national community of advocates and scholars.Mike spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 6, 2025, reflecting on his career and his work exposing white nationalism, government overreach, and the scapegoating of minority communities—including Asian Americans targeted under the China Initiative. At the same meeting, Pat Eddington , Senior Fellow in Homeland Security and Civil Liberties at the Cato Institute, shared a blog post titled “ A Retired FBI Agent’s Advice on Fighting Authoritarianism .” In it, he paid tribute to Mike: “Mike’s well-earned rest from the insanity of the public policy arena will leave not just the Brennan Center without one of its most authoritative voices on civil liberties—his departure creates a void in the entire privacy and civil liberties professional community that absolutely nobody will be able to fill.” Pat also noted that Mike leaves behind a powerful parting gift: thoughtful analysis and guidance on how to resist the growing tide of coercive, law enforcement-enabled authoritarianism emanating from Washington. Mike’s final essay for the Brennan Center, “ Federalism as a Check on Abuses by Federal Law Enforcement ,” argues that state and local governments can—and must—counter federal overreach by conditioning their cooperation and ending partnerships when necessary. He reminds readers that federal agencies rely far more on local law enforcement collaboration than the reverse. The essay warns that unaccountable task forces, immigration raids, and fusion centers have eroded state and local control, often at the expense of community values and civil rights. Mike calls on state and local leaders to reassert their constitutional authority to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of residents from federal abuse. A full summary of the October 6 APA Justice meeting is in preparation. Appeals Court Rules Against Trump Order to End Birthright Citizenship According to AP News , CBS , Newsweek , Reuters , The Hill , and multiple media reports, a federal appeals court in Boston has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals became the fifth federal court to block the president’s executive order on birthright citizenship, finding it likely unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. Chief Judge David Barron , writing for the court, noted: “Our nation’s history of efforts to restrict birthright citizenship — from Dred Scott in the decade before the Civil War to the attempted justification for the enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act in Wong Kim Ark — has not been a proud one... Those efforts were rejected — once by the people through constitutional amendment in 1868 and once by the Court relying on that same amendment three decades later — at a time when tensions over immigration were also high.” The court upheld nationwide injunctions halting enforcement of the order and warned against breaking from the nation’s longstanding tradition of recognizing birthright citizenship. California Attorney General Rob Bonta welcomed the ruling, calling it a vital protection of constitutional rights.A separate appeals court issued a similar decision. The ACLU emphasized that citizenship “cannot depend on a politician’s discretion.” In a statement , Connecticut Attorney General William Tong praised the First Circuit for upholding the nationwide injunction. He called the ruling “as clear as it gets,” stating that there is “zero legitimate debate” — anyone born on U.S. soil is an American citizen under the Fourteenth Amendment. Tong added that his office will continue to “vigorously and relentlessly defend our nation of laws and the safety of our families.”Connecticut joined 17 other states, the District of Columbia, and the City of San Francisco in challenging the order. The Supreme Court previously struck down a nationwide injunction but remanded the case for further review. The U.S. District Court in Massachusetts reaffirmed the injunction, which has now been upheld by the First Circuit.Tong, who was born in Hartford and became the first U.S. citizen in his family by right of birth, noted the issue’s personal significance. He attended Supreme Court oral arguments on May 15, 2025, and discussed the matter earlier at the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025.The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a definitive ruling on the legality of the president’s executive order on birthright citizenship. July 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Summary for the July 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/3KGWFWQ .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) · Paul Cheung 鄭文耀 , President, Committee of 100 · Lynn Pasquerella , President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) · Toby Smith , Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy, American Association of Universities (AAU) · Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Founder and President, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance · Tony Chan 陳繁昌 , Former President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Former President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ***** Toby Smith pointed out that American Association of Universities (AAU) priorities have not changed dramatically but the volume and nature of the challenges have evolved. Research Funding and Student Aid Cuts The most recent development is the Reconciliation Bill. AAU remains concerned about several of its implications, particularly regarding student aid. AAU saw reductions, including the cancellation of the Grad PLUS loan program and new caps on student loan amounts. While AAU successfully pushed back against some proposed restrictions—such as additional Pell Grant eligibility requirements that would have mandated taking more credit hours—other troubling elements remained.One particularly concerning provision was the increase in the endowment tax on private universities. The final version adopted the Senate’s smaller increase rather than the much higher rate proposed by the House, but it still represents a significant hit.Beyond the tax provisions, AAU's major focus continues to be on research funding. The proposed budget included a 40% reduction for NIH and a 56% cut to NSF. However, cuts began even before the budget was released, in the form of grant cancellations.In several cases, researchers were informed that grants—already funded and underway—were being terminated due to changes in administration priorities. Some of these grants were cut under the guise of opposing DEI, while others targeted areas such as climate change, AIDS, and vaccine research. This is deeply troubling.What’s especially concerning is the apparent weaponization of research funding as a punitive response to unrelated campus controversies—something AAU has seen at institutions like Harvard, Penn, and Columbia. Universities conduct research on behalf of the American people and serve as a primary mechanism through which our government advances innovation and discovery. When a cancer research grant is canceled mid-project, it doesn’t just hurt faculty or students—it undermines societal progress.Before World War II, universities were hesitant to accept federal funding due to fears of government interference in academic research. After the war, visionaries like Vannevar Bush helped establish a post-war scientific enterprise, convincing institutions that public funding and academic freedom could coexist. Unfortunately, today we are witnessing those old fears becoming reality once again. Legal Action and Public Advocacy Campaign: AAU has existed for 125 years—founded in 1900—and until this year, had never sued the federal government. Now, AAU has initiated four lawsuits, adding the Department of Defense to the list that already included NIH, NSF, and the Department of Energy. These lawsuits challenge the unilateral capping of indirect cost recovery—implemented without notice and in violation of OMB’s uniform grant guidance. The lawsuits have progressed well so far, and Toby remains optimistic. They are being pursued under the Administrative Procedure Act, not the broader issues addressed in recent Supreme Court decisions.More broadly, AAU has shifted into crisis-response mode. Increasing numbers of university presidents are traveling to D.C. to meet with members of Congress. The AAU Board, which previously met quarterly, is now meeting weekly. A new ad hoc committee has been established to help build a renewed University–Federal Government partnership. AAU is also working closely with various constituency groups to raise concerns about the sustained attacks on research and higher education—making the case that what’s at stake is not just the future of universities, but the future of the nation.As a major new step, AAU has launched a 501(c)(4) organization to support a nationwide advertising campaign. The campaign is already live in key states, encouraging constituents to contact their members of Congress. The message is simple but powerful: Research matters. Whether it’s agriculture, health, national security, or economic growth—research drives American strength.And the people conducting this research—many of whom came to this country because they believe in its values—deserve our support. They are essential to our future. International Student Arrivals Drop 19% According to AP News , Inside Higher Ed , and multiple media reports, in August, international student arrivals in the U.S. fell by 19 percent compared to August 2024. The drop aligns with forecasts of visa-related disruptions but contrasts with Department of Homeland Security figures suggesting a slight increase, which experts say are inaccurate due to incomplete reporting and data timing issues.Experts caution that entry data does not capture students who stayed in-country over summer or those who arrived later, yet the drop aligns with reports of institutions enrolling fewer international students this fall.One educator observed: “We’ve heard [all summer] of reduced capacity at key posts around the world even after the freeze was supposed to be lifted.” The National Travel and Tourism Office data indicate that visa freezes and delays during peak months severely restricted student entry, especially from Africa (-32%), Asia (-24%), and the Middle East (-17%). The steepest national declines came from Iran (-86%), Syria (-63%), Haiti (-57%), Ghana (-51%), Nigeria (-48%), and India (-45%), the largest source of international students. Experts warn the true decline may exceed 20%, with ripple effects on university finances, local economies, and U.S. global competitiveness. Analysts also fear deeper losses in 2026 as students increasingly turn to other countries. The Institute of International Education is expected to release more definitive fall enrollment data in November. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/10/10 Defending Academics and Institutions in Foreign Interference and Research Security Matters2025/10/16 Bridging Nations: The Power of People-to-People Exchange in U.S.-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the Law2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/11/20 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing2025/11/25 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Elaine ChaoVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. C100 Conversations: Elaine Chao 赵小兰 WHAT : Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heros: Elaine Chao 赵小兰 WHEN : November 25, 2025, 6:00 pm ET WHERE : Online event HOST : Committee of 100 Moderator: Peter Young , Chair of the Conversations Initiative and Committee of 100 New York Regional Chair and Board Member Speaker : Elaine Chao , 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation DESCRIPTION : Secretary Elaine Chao is the first Asian-Pacific American woman to serve in the President’s cabinet in American history. She has been confirmed to two cabinet positions by the United States Senate on a strong bipartisan basis: U. S. Secretary of Labor and U. S. Secretary of Transportation. She will reflect on her remarkable journey as an immigrant, trailblazer, and leader at the highest levels of government, and her insights on leadership, resilience, and service to the nation. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/48ozpXq # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF October 10, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #213 TX/FL Land Bills Alerts; Affirmative Action; 3/6 Meeting Summary; AAUC Community Hub #213 TX/FL Land Bills Alerts; Affirmative Action; 3/6 Meeting Summary; AAUC Community Hub In This Issue #213 · Alert: Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst Introduced Senate Bill 51 · Florida's Chinese Community Calls for Reform, Repeal of Law that Limits Property Ownership · Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court: An Asian American Perspective · 2023/03/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted · AAUC Launches Asian American Pacific Islander Community Hub · News and Activities for the Communities Alert: On October 9, 2023, Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst introduced Senate Bill (SB) 51 relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities. She was previously the primary sponsor of the discriminatory Texas alien land bill SB 147. Read the SB51: https://bit.ly/3ROl7qJ . Read the LegiScan tracking report: https://bit.ly/45r9B7V . Florida's Chinese Community Calls for Reform, Repeal of Law that Limits Property Ownership According to NPR/WMFE , Florida’s Chinese community held a town hall meeting on September 26, 2023, to call for the repeal or reform of Senate Bill (SB) 264, a law that limits real estate purchase or ownership for some foreign nationals.Over 100 people attended the virtual meeting organized by the Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAJAA), which included local and national attorneys, activists, legislators, real estate buyers, sellers, and Florida residents on work and student visas. Most were of Chinese descent, and many said they are already living under the consequences of SB 264.“This bill has made a serious impact on the Asian community in general. It honestly feels like we are all being treated differently,” said Yuyuan Zhang , an Orlando real estate agent born and raised in China. Zhang said she holds a green card and lives in Orlando with her husband, a U.S. veteran, and their three young children. They have lived in Central Florida since 2016. Zhang is an only child. She said her parents like to travel from China to visit her and their only grandchildren as much as they can. Due to the pandemic, however, it’s been three years. The family was excited in the summer of 2022 when Zhang’s parents decided to buy and build a new home in Orlando so they could stay comfortably nearby during long visits. Construction on the house was about halfway through, Zhang said, when SB 264 went into effect, and they were forced to abandon the project. Zhang’s parents are Chinese nationals, not U.S. citizens or residents, and live in China. They are banned from owning a home for themselves in Florida.For Ethan Hu , a 28-year-old data analyst in Orlando, the law presents another complication. He lives a long drive away from his work office, which was no problem while the company had employees working remotely. However, that policy changed, and Hu was considering buying a condo in downtown Orlando to be closer to work — then SB 264 became a factor. Even with his H-1B work visa, Hu said buying property feels uncertain and difficult because of all the risks involved. “If the first version of the bill comes true, I’d no longer be able to stay here. I’d be forced to find another job,” Hu said. “I think I’m allowed to own one property for myself, so yeah, there is a chance for me to stay here, but things are getting worse because they are changing every day. Before that, America was the dream land to chase your dreams and fight for your freedom.” Clay Zhu is one of the leading attorneys who filed a federal lawsuit against SB 264. He said the verbiage in the law is much too broad and vague for compliance, and that an “honest mistake” could easily land an individual on some felony charges. “Let’s assume the validity of SB 264, how does an average person comply with it? There are many practical difficulties for people to figure out what is prohibited and what is not,” Zhu said.Orlando-based Attorney Melissa Vickers argued Section 7 of the law is blatantly discriminatory and violates the 14th Amendment as well as HUD’s Fair Housing Act, which prohibits the discrimination of someone trying to buy housing in the U.S. based on their race, nationality, color, religion, sex, gender, marital status, or disability. “This law alone opens you up for the possibility of having to do jail or prison time, which is extremely scary, for just purchasing a home — not doing anything illegal, not trying to do anything illegal — just for purchasing a home in Florida,” Vickers said.Rep. Fentrice Driskell , Florida House Minority Leader, and Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani discussed the chances of getting the law either reformed or repealed during the next legislative session. “Now that the consequences are felt, it provides more ammunition, if you will, to try to change the current statute,” Eskamani said. "What's become clear with this policy is that it was pushed forward based on fear, it is not actually based on any fact. It is not going to keep us safe. It does not stop any type of espionage."Read the NPR/WMFE report: https://bit.ly/46id4Xm Dangerous laws are being introduced at the state and federal level right now that use "national security" as an excuse to discriminate against immigrants from China. In Florida, for example, Governor DeSantis has banned many Chinese immigrants from buying a house in much of the state – a move that is both unconstitutional and unfortunately, not new.Take one simple step to tell Congress NO to discriminatory land laws: https://bit.ly/3qRsFOh Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court: An Asian American Perspective WHEN: Thursday, October 12, 2023 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET WHAT: Webinar on Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court: An Asian American Perspective HOST: Committee of 100 MODERATOR: Amy Qin. National Correspondent, The New York Times SPEAKERS: · Gordon H. Chang, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Under Graduate Education and the Olive H. Palmer Professor, Stanford University · Sally Chen, Education Equity Policy Manager, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) · John C. Yang, President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) | AAJC DESCRIPTION: In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in two high-profile cases on race-conscious college and university admissions policies. This is the third time in the last two decades that the nation’s highest court has heard cases that challenge long-standing attempts to increase diversity on college campuses. The Court’s finding that these policies are unconstitutional will have significant implications on the Asian American community, including how Asian American students should prepare for the college application process. This panel will discuss various aspects of the historical context surrounding affirmative action, why affirmative action is relevant to the Asian American community, and what the specific case law means for Asian Americans today. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3LUzOot 2023/03/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted After delays due to a backlog, the summary for the March 2023 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/46ogYy1 We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: · Nisha Ramachandran, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), on the targeting of CAPAC Chairwoman Judy Chu by GOP members of Congress who questioned her loyalty to the U.S. due to her being of Chinese American origin; the nomination of Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su as the next Labor Secretary; and concerns about alien land laws restricting the property ownership rights of individuals from specific countries being introduced in states across the country · John Yang 杨重远, President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, on the negative impact of rhetoric and conspiracies arising from the uncertainties of the U.S.-China relationship; Julie Su nomination; and education equity · Gisela Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), on preparing for the AANHPI Heritage month; work with federal grant agencies and universities on policies, procedures and disclosures; monitoring incidents of border interception/questioning of AAPI scholars and scientists and their family members; concerns about increase of rhetoric targeting Chinese students in higher education institutions; and the addition of Professor Xiaoxing Xi as a new member of AASF · Peter Toren, Attorney at Law; Member of Sherry Chen Legal Team as he reflects on Sherry Chen's historic settlement. On May 9, 2015, when the New York Times broke the story about Sherry Chen, Peter was quoted: “They came across a person of Chinese descent and a little bit of evidence that they may have been trying to benefit the Chinese government, but it’s clear there was a little bit of Red Scare and racism involved.” Peter was the first attorney retained by Sherry in her lawsuit against the U.S. government and was an integral part of the Sherry Chen Legal Team that eventually won a settlement with the largest settlement amount paid to an individual by the U.S. Department of Commerce. APA Justice recognizes Peter's outstanding commitment and achievement. · Dr. Helen Shih, a leader of RiseAAPI-Texas, reported on 5 rallies in Texas that were organized by the AAPI community to protest SB 147 in 5 weeks. Grace Meng 孟昭文, Member of U.S. Congress, shared Democratic leadership’s condemnation of attacks on Congresswoman Judy Chu. She emphasized the importance of allyship between CAPAC and groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), as well as the communities they represent. Rep. Meng encouraged the AAPI community to continue to push for the inclusion of AAPI, African American, Jewish, and Latino history to feed a more holistic understanding of our shared American story. Rep. Meng also shared progress on the National AAPI Museum Study Bill signed into law by President Biden in June 2022 and her current work to finalize the Commission to explore the feasibility of establishing, maintaining, funding, and operating such a facility in Washington, D.C. as a potential part of the Smithsonian Institution. Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺, New York Police Department Officer and John Carman, Attorney for Officer Angwang provided an overview of the injustice faced by Officer Angwang when he was wrongfully accused to be a spy for China under the now-defunct "China Initiative." Officer Angwang shared his personal experience of spending six months in jail while not allowed to meet with his lawyer or family members. Officer Angwang had served as a Marine in Afghanistan and the Army Reserve. He became NYPD Officer after returning from Afghanistan. All charges against him were dismissed in January 2023, but he had not been reinstated by NYPD. Innocent citizens with Chinese nexus became scapegoats as a result of the government’s racial targeting with the backdrop of increasing U.S.-China tensions. Officer Anwang called on elected officials, community leaders, and civil rights advocates to take actions to stop the government from using profiling and discriminatory tactics William Colton, New York State Assembly member (District 47) remarked on Officer Anwang’s case and called for needed actions. Read the March monthly meeting summary: https://bit.ly/46ogYy1 . Read past monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP . The August 2023 monthly meeting summary is scheduled for release in a special edition on Friday, October 13, 2023. Work on the October meeting summary is in progress. The May monthly meeting summary is still backlogged at this time. AAUC Launches Asian American Pacific Islander Community Hub Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) has launched a website known as Asian American Pacific Islander Community Hub at https://bit.ly/3FbmpEu . According to Dr. S.K. Lo, Founding and current President of AAUC, "the purpose of the AAPI Community Hub is to connect, collaborate and empower the AAPI community. This project collects relevant information that are important and relevant to the community and have it available to the community at large."A signature product of the Community Hub is a current list of 14,631 AAPI organizations located in the U.S., supported by an interactive map powered by Esri, summary statistics, and pie and bar charts. By drilling into the Washington DC area as an example, the map shows approximately 800 organizations. At the most granular level and by clicking on an individual dot on the map, a window appears with information about the name and address of the organization, as well as its purpose, type of organization, asset, revenue, and website if one is available. Visit the interactive map at https://bit.ly/3rDcGnw . The Community Hub covers additional shared information and services. News and Activities for the Communities 1. Community Calendar The APA Justice Community Calendar is located on the front page of the APA Justice website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . Upcoming Events: 2023/10/12 Expert Panel on Open Data for Racial Equity 2023/10/12 C100 Webinar - Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court Court: An Asian American Perspective 2023/10/12 The FBI and Chinese Americans - From the Investigation and Defense Frontline 2023/10/15 State Legislature 101 Training 2023/10/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/25-26 President's Advisory Commission Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Law360 Report on Professor Franklin Tao's Appeal According to Law360 , the Tenth Circuit appeared skeptical of the government's argument that former University of Kansas (KU) Professor Franklin Tao's "failure to informer his employer he was pursuing a job in China was relevant to federal grant funding decisions, with one judge citing a 'failure of evidence.'"A three-judge panel heard Professor Tao's appeal to vacate his conviction for making a false statement on a conflict-of-interest form to KU. The paperwork was never submitted on any grant research applications to the Department of Energy or the National Science Foundation. Read the Law360 report: https://bit.ly/3FaHIWU . The audio portion of the hearing is available here: https://bit.ly/46dOxmc (2:24:52) starting at around 1:45:08. Read Professor Tao's case at https://bit.ly/3fZWJvK and visit his GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/5bf4adbe Back View PDF October 9, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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Impacted Persons List Anming Hu 胡安明 Read more Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 Read more Charles Lieber Read more Chen Song 宋琛 Read more Davis Lu Read more Franklin Tao 陶丰 Read more Gang Chen 陈刚 Read more Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 Read more Haizhou Hu Read more James Patrick Lewis Read more Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 Read more Juan Tang 唐娟 Read more Kaikai Zhao 赵凯凯 Read more Kevin Wang Read more Lei Guan 关磊 Read more Lin Yang Read more Meyya Meyyappan Read more Mingqing Xiao Read more Qing Wang 王擎 Read more Simon Saw-Teong Ang 洪思忠 Read more Song Guo Zheng Read more Turab Lookman 特拉伯·鲁克曼 Read more Van Andel Research Read more Wuyuan Lu 陆五元 Read more Xiao-jiang Li 李晓江 Read more Xiaofeng Wang 王晓峰 Read more Xiaoming Zhang Read more Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 Read more Xifeng Wu 吴息凤 Read more Xin Wang 王欣 Read more Yanping Chen 陈燕平 Read more Yanqing Ye Read more Yu Zhou, Li Chen Read more Zaosong Zheng Read more Zhendong Cheng Read more Filter by Category China Initiative NIH Other Sort by Alphabetical by first name Alphabetical by last name

September 2025 Meeting Summary Sep 8, 2025 Read July 2025 Meeting Summary Jul 7, 2025 Read June 2025 Meeting Summary Jun 2, 2025 Read May 2025 Meeting Summary May 5, 2025 Read April 2025 Meeting Summary Apr 7, 2025 Read March 2025 Meeting Summary Mar 3, 2025 Read February 2025 Monthly Meeting Summary Feb 3, 2025 Read January 2025 Meeting Summary Jan 6, 2025 Read December 2024 Meeting Summary Dec 2, 2024 Read November 2024 Meeting Summary Nov 18, 2024 Read October 2024 Meeting Summary Oct 7, 2024 Read September 2024 Meeting Summary Sep 9, 2024 Read Monthly Meeting Summaries APA Justice conducts monthly meetings and publishes the meeting summary on this website. Participation is by invitation only. Due to limited capacity, invited participants are typically active and recognized organizations and concerned individuals. Please send an email to contact@apajustice.org if you have interest. < < 1 1 1

#361 11/3 Meeting; Chinese STEM Students; Brain Drain; Jane Wu v NWU; Birthright Citizens;+ November 3, 2025 Read #360 11/3 Meeting; 10/16 Webinar Videos; Advocacy 101; PBS: Builders of the Silicon Dream;+ October 27, 2025 Read #359 Andy Phillips to Speak on 11/3; Dr. Wen Ho Lee; 6/2 Meeting Summary Posted; C.N. Yang+ October 23, 2025 Read #358 Vincent Wang Speech; Maggie Lewis & Pat Eddington Remarks; Trump "Compact" Rejected; + October 20, 2025 Read #357 Vincent Wang Honored; 10/16 Webinar; Mike German Remarks/Impacts; NSF Politicization+ October 14, 2025 Read #356 Ohio Rally; Mike German; Birthright Citizenship; 7/7 Meeting Summary; Student Arrivals October 10, 2025 Read #355 10/6 Meeting: Yanping Chen Prevails; AAUP/Landmark Ruling; Defend Academics Webinar; + October 6, 2025 Read #354 10/6 Meeting; NAKASEC Updates; Kin Hui/CACA; Acting Dir. Census Bureau; Gary Locke; + September 30, 2025 Read #353 10/6 Meeting; Tariffs/AAPI; AASF Update; Detention Target Millions; Julia Chang Bloch+ September 26, 2025 Read #352 Register for 10/16 Webinar; AAJC, APIAVote, and OCA Updates; CALDA New Lawsuit v SB17+ September 18, 2025 Read #351 C100-USCET-APA Justice Webinar Series; "Domicile;" Deportations; SCOTUS Ruling Alarm;+ September 12, 2025 Read #350 9/8 Meeting; National Security/Xenophobia? Gisela Honored; Shifting Visa/Deportation+ September 4, 2025 Read < < 1 1 1 Newsletters APA Justice began publishing a free periodic newsletter about 4-7 times a month in July 2020. You can subscribe here . Visit the Virtual Library to search the entire collection. Filter by year

Latest News This is a repository of News items that APA Justice collects as supporting facts and references. In addition to reports from the traditional media outlets including newspaper, television, and radio, it also includes but is not limited to digital news platforms, news agencies, specialized outlets and podcasts, journal and organizational reports, and blogs. The Search box in the menu line may help you to look for your specific topic of interest. Read More California Civil Rights Group Joins Fight Against Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Changes Jul 13, 2025 · LAist Read More After Northwestern Scientist Questioned for China Ties Died by Suicide, Family Sues and Speaks Out Jul 12, 2025 · NBC News Read More Tracking the Lawsuits Against Trump’s Agenda Jul 11, 2025 · New York Times Read More Federal Judge Issues New Nationwide Block Against Trump’s Order Seeking to End Birthright Citizenship Jul 10, 2025 · CNN Read More What’s Next for President Donald Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order in the Courts Jul 10, 2025 · AP Read More Judge Blocks Trump’s Order restricting Birthright Citizenship Jul 10, 2025 · NBC Read More U.S. to Ban Chinese Purchases of Farmland, Citing National Security Jul 08, 2025 · Washington Post Read More New USDA Program Ties Food Security to National Defense Jul 08, 2025 · Department of Defense Read More Agriculture Dept. to Crack Down on Chinese Ownership of American Farmland Jul 08, 2025 · New York Times Read More Family of China-Born Neuroscientist Jane Wu Files Death-Related Civil Complaint in U.S Jul 01, 2025 · South China Morning Post Read More Want a Student Visa? The U.S. Government Needs Your Vine Account Jul 01, 2025 · The Intercept Read More We Asked 5 AI Models to Fact Check Trump. Here’s What We Learned Jul 01, 2025 · Washington Post < < 1 1 1

Latest Posts Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges July 24, 2023 We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. Read More Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264 May 22, 2023 A group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit to combat Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264. Read More Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 January 23, 2023 Texas state representatives are attempting to stop foreign governments from purchasing Texas agricultural land. Read More Rep. Judy Chu's New Year Greetings and 2022 Review January 9, 2023 During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. Read More Campaign to Oppose The Nomination of Casey Arrowood July 29, 2022 Academics, elected officials, and civil rights groups across the country are raising concerns about the nomination of Casey Arrowood to be US Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Read More APA Justice Calls for Release of Report on Review of "China Initiative" March 8, 2022 On March 8, 2022, APA Justice sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, calling for the release of a report on the Department of Justice's review of the “China Initiative.” Read More Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges February 24, 2022 Nearly two years later, a 21-year-old Texas man who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. Read More 12. China Initiative Ends February 23, 2022 Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced the end of the China Initiative. The 1,210 days of the Initiative were extremely damaging to individuals and their families, as well as the Asian American and scientific communities. The end of the China Initiative is a welcomed start to correct the harms it caused. APA Justice is committed to continue its work to address racial profiling and seek justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American communities. Read More 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports December 2, 2021 On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. Read More < < 1 1 1 What's the best flavor? Activists Including APA Justice Resist New "Red Scare" Chinese Americans are increasingly finding themselves targeted by the US in what has become the new "Red Scare."

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