Newsletter - #236 Year of The Dragon; Alien Land Laws; Section 702; US Heartland China Association; More #236 Year of The Dragon; Alien Land Laws; Section 702; US Heartland China Association; More In This Issue #236 · The Year of The Dragon Has Arrived · Updates on Alien Land Laws in FL, GA, and More · New Warrantless Surveillance Bill Introduced in Congress · US Heartland China Association · News and Activities for the Communities The Year of The Dragon Has Arrived February 10 was New Year Day for the Year of the Dragon with celebrations across the U.S. and the world. The sighting of a dragon was reportedly captured in a video in Singapore, but locals later claimed with tongue in cheek that the dragon is around all year and stays at a hotel named after it. When did the Chinese calendar start? According to Wikipedia , it depends on when the origin of a particular calendar era is chosen. This is Year 4722 if you go by the first reign of the Yellow Emperor ( Huángdì 黄帝 ). Updates on Alien Land Laws in FL, GA, and More On February 1, 2024, The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted the enforcement of Florida’s alien land law, known as SB 264, against two Chinese immigrants who have challenged the statute in court. On very short notice, Clay Zhu (DeHeng Law Offices), Ashley Gorski (ACLU), and Patrick Toomey (ACLU) of the legal team spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024. They provided updates on the ruling for the ongoing lawsuit which was filed after Florida passed SB 264 last May. The legal team, including the ACLU, ACLU of Florida, DeHeng Law Offices PC, AALDEF, and Quinn Emanuel, swiftly challenged the Florida state law in May. Despite the District Court judge initially rejecting their motion for a preliminary injunction, the legal team appealed to the Court of Appeals last August, seeking an expedited process due to the harm caused by the state law.The legal team is grateful for the decision that was issued. It prevents Florida from enforcing SB 264 against two of the plaintiffs. It is a very good sign because the court’s reasoning was that the plaintiffs are substantially likely to prevail on their argument that Florida's law is preempted by federal law.There is already a federal statute that regulates real estate purchases that potentially implicate national security, the court said. Under the Constitution, the federal law controls and for that reason the Florida law is very likely unconstitutional. The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in support of the preliminary injunction in the US District Court in June 2023. The adopted legal theory, if it is embraced ultimately by the Appeals Court, is one that could reach many other people who are contending with the hardships posed by SB 264. Oral arguments are scheduled in Miami the week of April 15. Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) has been leading a broad, diverse coalition to hold rallies against SB264. Concerned organizations have also submitted amicus briefs.The legal team's talk is included in this partial summary of the February 5 APA Justice monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3uuhm0b . For more information about alien land bills, visit https://bit.ly/43epBcl Georgia Introduces Alien Land Bill HB 1093 According to LegiScan, House Bill (HB) 1093 , was introduced by six Republicans in the Georgia legislature on January 31, 2024.A hearing was held by the Georgia House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee on February 9, 2024. Ben Lynde , ACLU of Georgia Policy Counsel, testified on HB 1093, a bill that would exclude certain non-citizens from buying agricultural land in Georgia. He said, "HB 1093 represents a new law that recalls similar efforts over the past to weaponize false claims of National Security against Asian immigrants and other marginalized communities. It is very difficult for me now as a veteran and lover of History to recall the horrors I felt in high school when I learned about bills like the Chinese Exclusion laws and alien land acts to see my state government trying to do similar laws... In the early 1900s, politicians from across this country used similar justifications to pass alien land laws and prohibit Chinese and Japanese immigrants from becoming land owners. These racist policies not only hurt immigrant families financially at that time but also severely exasperated violence, discrimination against Asian communities living in the United States... Regardless of the concerns which I do understand about where we got to the bill today, I don't want to have a discriminatory practice of the past being codified in Georgia law... Property ownership by certain noncitizens as a threat to National Security is a baseless claim with no evidence that they are causing harm... Members of the Asian communities are experiencing historic highs in discrimination and hate crimes in the modern discourse now... The Florida law has been enjoined by the 11th Circuit Court that will also hear this law if it is passed by Georgia... We just hope that you will reject this bill today or when this bill comes up for a vote. Thank you very much for your time." Time was not adequate for all who wished to speak at the hearing. Those who spoke in opposition to the bill included Koreans, Vietnamese, Latinos, and whites. The bill was not advanced to the next step of the process, pending on further discussion and negotiation. Watch a video of Ben Lydne's testimony at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya9zGuzHOMg (2:57). The Committee of 100 tracks federal and state alien land bills and maintains an interactive map at: https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B USDA Status Report on Foreign Investments in US Land Micah R. Brown, Staff Attorney of the National Agricultural Law Center at the US Department of Agriculture, gave a presentation on the history and current developments in anti-foreign land ownership laws to the SB 147 Roundtable. The presentation covers: · Historical context on how state laws vary widely without a generalized or uniform approach and how they developed unevenly at five different “political flashpoints” over ensuing decades/centuries including the period of 2021 to the present, · Current proposals in Congress to seek to control, prohibit, restrict, or increase oversight on foreign investments in U.S. agriculture, · Enactment of alien land law SB 383 in Arkansas; preliminary injunction against SB 264 in Florida, and Missouri Governor John Ashcroft ’s Executive Order 24-01 Read the presentation: https://bit.ly/49ve4IX CAPAC Denounces Efforts to Ban Chinese Immigrants from Owning Land in the U.S. On February 8, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) held a virtual press conference about the recent resurgence of land laws that would prohibit Chinese immigrants from purchasing or owning property in the United States, following a federal appeals court's temporary injunction. In the ruling, a federal judge noted that it violates the 14th amendment’s protection against discrimination. CAPAC members denounced the Republican-led attempts to restrict land ownership that are being pushed in Congress and in state legislatures across the nation, and they will uplift legislation aimed at stopping these efforts from moving forward. CAPAC has cautioned against history repeating itself through laws that ban land or property ownership based on an individual’s country of origin. For more information, contact Graeme Crews , (202) 597-2923 (Rep. Judy Chu) or Jordan Goldes , (202) 308-9691 (Rep. Grace Meng) New Warrantless Surveillance Bill Introduced in Congress According to The Hill on February 12, House Republicans unveiled a new package for reauthorizing and reforming the nation’s warrantless surveillance powers. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on noncitizens located abroad, is set to expire in April after a short-term extension.Monday’s text more closely aligns with the original proposal from the House Intelligence Committee over that of its Judiciary competitor, focusing on more reforms at the FBI to address misuse of the powerful spy tool. It does not include Judiciary’s hope for a warrant requirement — something deemed a red line for the intelligence community but nonetheless a top priority for privacy advocates in Congress.Though FISA 702 only allows the government to surveil foreigners, their communications with Americans are often swept up in the process, creating a database found to be misused by the FBI, which has already undertaken a number of reforms amid criticism.To privacy champions and advocates, a warrant is the only way to protect Americans’ rights. Complicating the bill’s consideration further are reports from Politico it may be partially considered during a closed session. “Make no mistake: a secret session is completely unnecessary. National security legislation is openly debated in every Congress. There have only been 6 secret sessions in the House since 1812,” Elizabeth Goitein , co-director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, wrote on X. “Secret law is anathema to democracies, and making law in secret is the next worst thing. Open debate is a core feature of our democratic system. But intelligence committee leaders prefer to work in the shadows because it gives them a strategic advantage.”Read The Hill report: https://bit.ly/3SYnvuU . US Heartland China Association Min Fan 范敏 , Executive Director of the US Heartland China Association (USHCA), introduced USHCA and described its mission and activities during the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024.USHCA was started by the late Senator Adlai Stevenson , Illinois; it is almost 20 years old originally under the name of Midwest-US China Association. Bob Holden , former Governor of Missouri, is current Chair of USHCA. USHCA is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization. It does not lobby.USHCA is funded by American sources including membership dues, Heartland community supporters, private donations, grants from private foundations, corporate sponsors, and contributions from state governmental agencies.Through organizing people-to-people exchanges in culture, education, and business, USHCA promotes a stable and productive US-China relationship to protect and advance the interests of the American Heartland so that: · Farmers in the Heartland can continue to expand our exports to China. · Educational institutions in the Heartland can remain competitive and continue to attract the best talent from around the world, including China, · Companies headquartered in the Heartland can remain competitive in the global economy by continuing to do business in and sell products to China. · The Heartland community and leaders have the resources to better understand and engage with China. · Heartland students can have the opportunities to develop a global mindset through learning about the Chinese language and culture. There are a lot of bridges to the world. Where bridges exist, communities flourish. USHCA has a bi-partisan network of many former governors, ambassadors, and local officials. USHCA works with them to build community connections. In 2020, in the depth of the pandemic, USHCA was one of the first NGOs that brought people from the US and China together via Zoom to talk about education, public health, and development programs that are in the best interest of the Heartland community. Min sees some hesitation on both sides. The Chinese side is worried about being locked up in a small black room in the customs office. The US side is worried about being held hostage in China. There is fear and the other side looks strange after no exchanges for three years.USHCA believes that bringing back exchanges is very important. It received support from the Ford Foundation and the Luce Foundation to promote Yangtze River and Mississippi River city-to-city exchange on energy transition, climate change, and green economy. Six mayors coming from five different states in the Heartland visited Hong Kong, Wuhan, Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai.Min said there are politicians whose mindset is shut. There are also elected officials who are curious and interested in learning. The communities have a role to play.Her presentation is available here: https://bit.ly/3HTc5Cu . Her talk is included in this partial summary of the February APA Justice monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3uuhm0b Muscatine, Iowa, Celebrates Lunar New Year According to several local reports , Muscatine and China celebrate almost four decades of friendship with Lunar New Year Celebration on February 9, 2024.The events featured performances from Chinese students, videos documenting Muscatine and China’s shared history, and speeches from local, national, and international ambassadors.“There’s probably not all positive rapport with China from some leaders. But we just want to get more people here so they can see the people and see the traditions,” said Sarah Lande, one of the local diplomats on the state of current Chinese-American diplomatic relations. Terry Branstad , former Iowa Governor and US Ambassador to China, commented in the event, "I think the more people get to know each other... the more they gain friendship and trust in each other and that can be good for both of our countries... We are the two largest economies in the world... if we can find ways to get along and work together... it benefits the whole world." People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping visited Iowa and stayed with Sarah Lande's home in Muscatine back in 1985. He has remained friends with several Iowans since. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/02/13-15 Senior Executives Association Senior Executive Leadership Summit2024/02/13 WHI: Advancing Educational Equity for AA and NHPI Students2024/02/13 Committee of 100: The Career Ceiling Challenges in Journalism 2024/02/27 President's Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs Meeting and Solicitation for Oral and Written Comments2024/02/28 WHI: Community Engagement EventVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Asian American Identity: At the Intersection of Perpetual Foreigner and Pop Culture Trendsetter WHAT: Asian American Identity: At the Intersection of Perpetual Foreigner and Pop Culture Trendsetter WHEN: March 6, 2024, 4:00 pm Pacific Time/7:00 pm Eastern Time (90 minutes) WHERE: Virtual Workshop HOST: 1990 Institute SPEAKERS: · Neil Ruiz, Head of New Research Initiatives, Pew Research Center · Ziyao Tian, Research Associate, Pew Research Center · Jeff Yang, author, journalist, businessman (Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now) · Margaret Yee, education consultant DESCRIPTION: This virtual Workshop aims to foster dialogue for better understanding of different cultures and contribute to a more inclusive representation of our communities as Americans. While prepared for middle and secondary school educators who teach Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Studies and/or Ethnic Studies in mind, this Workshop is open to all. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/48lGsw1 Back View PDF February 14, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #42 DOJ Attorneys Asked To Resign; Gang Chen; Franklin Tao; FBI After 9/11; More #42 DOJ Attorneys Asked To Resign; Gang Chen; Franklin Tao; FBI After 9/11; More Back View PDF February 10, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #104 Lieber Verdict; Zaosong Zheng; Shaorong Liu; Upcoming Trials; 01/03 Meeting; Much More #104 Lieber Verdict; Zaosong Zheng; Shaorong Liu; Upcoming Trials; 01/03 Meeting; Much More Back View PDF December 27, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #72 Statement On Senate Committee Investigative Report On Abuse And Misconduct At DOC #72 Statement On Senate Committee Investigative Report On Abuse And Misconduct At DOC Back View PDF July 14, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #396 Maryland Reps at 6/1 Meeting; 6/3 Joint Webinar; APAICS Update; Innes Lab; McCarthyism #396 Maryland Reps at 6/1 Meeting; 6/3 Joint Webinar; APAICS Update; Innes Lab; McCarthyism In This Issue #396 · Maryland House Speaker and Delegates to Speak at APA Justice Monthly Meeting on June 1 · June 3 Joint Webinar: Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights · Madalene Mielke: Report on APAICS · IU Professor Roger Innes Lab Reopens · True Story of Immigration, McCarthyism and Founding of JPL · News and Activities for the Communities Maryland House Speaker and Delegates to Speak at APA Justice Monthly Meeting on June 1 A racist video titled "ChiCom of the Year Award," featuring Maryland Delegates Mark Fisher and Brian Chisholm , was published in early May 2026. It drew widespread condemnation from lawmakers across party lines. The video targeted Delegate Chao Wu , a Chinese American representative from Montgomery and Howard counties. In the footage, the two delegates mocked Wu's accent, accused him of being a spy for the Chinese government, and disparaged a piece of artificial intelligence legislation he had previously introduced. The remarks were strongly denounced by public officials, House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk , and the Maryland Legislative AAPI Caucus, who labeled the attacks xenophobic, racist, and reminiscent of witch-hunts against Asian Americans. Watch the WBAL-TV report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd7ZXlGo7wA (2:45). Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk and Delegate Chao Wu have accepted our invitation to speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on June 1, 2026. Maryland Delegate Lily Qi , Chair of the Maryland Legislative Asian American & Pacific Islander Caucus, will also give brief remarks. In addition to the regular speakers: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We also welcome these distinguished invited speakers: · Cindy Tsai , Executive Vice President & General Counsel; Committee of 100 · Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟(CALDA) · Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President, United Chinese Americans The monthly meetings are by invitation only and 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 . June 3 Webinar: Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights As geopolitical ties between the United States and China remain unsteady, the impact extends beyond diplomacy and into the lived experiences of people at home. For diaspora communities, shifts in foreign policy can shape everything from public perception to legal protections, raising complex questions about identity, belonging, and rights. The third webinar in this series, co-hosted by the Committee of 100, US-China Education Trust, and APA Justice, examines the downstream effects of U.S. foreign policy through both a historical and contemporary lens. Drawing parallels across time, the conversation will explore how periods of international strain have influenced domestic policies and legal interpretations—from immigration restrictions to citizenship rights—and how these dynamics continue to evolve today. The session will explore how narratives of rivalry and suspicion can translate into real-world consequences for communities with heritage ties to countries at the center of geopolitical tension. We will discuss the tradeoffs policymakers face and provide a nuanced understanding of how national priorities intersect with civil liberties. Participants are encouraged to bring questions and perspectives as we explore what it means to navigate global tensions at a local, human level. The views expressed by the panelists are their own and do not represent the views of their employer or any organization with which they are affiliated. By registering for this event, you will be added to Committee of 100, APA Justice, and the US-China Education Trust's mailing lists and have access to our future public programming. If you wish to unsubscribe, you can do so at any time via the email opt-out. WHAT : Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights WHEN : June 3, 2026, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET WHERE : Webinar HOSTS : Committee of 100, US-China Education Trust, APA Justice Moderator : Joanna Derman , Director, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC Speakers: · Edgar Chen , Senior Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association · Frank Wu , President, Queens College REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3PxYwQt Madalene Mielke: Report on APAICS During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 4, 2026, Madalene Mielke , President and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), provided an overview of the organization and its upcoming events. About APAICS . APAICS is the nonprofit foundation arm of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which is part of the Tri-Caucus alongside the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The organization was co-founded in 1994 by former Secretary Norman Mineta and Delegate Robert Underwood , with a mission to increase AANHPI participation and representation at all levels of public service. Programs and Pipeline Development . APAICS runs several programs designed to build a sustained public service pipeline, including paid Congressional internships and fellowships. Notably, APAICS is the only Asian American-centered organization that also provides housing for congressional interns, ensuring access regardless of socioeconomic background. Additional programs include a Youth Leadership Academy targeting high school students and a Women's Collective to encourage more AANHPI women to enter public service. APAICS also works directly with state legislative AAPI caucuses, recognizing that many future congressional members first come through state legislatures. Tracking Candidate Growth . APAICS maintains a catalog of all AANHPI candidates and elected officials. Madalene reported steady growth in the number of candidates filing for office each year since she joined the organization in 2018, including meaningful growth in the 2025 off-year elections compared to the last comparable cycle in 2023. She expressed optimism about the number of AANHPI candidates running in 2026. Policy Summits and Community Partners. APAICS holds industry-focused policy summits throughout the year in coordination with CAPAC legislative priorities. Earlier in 2026 the focus was health; upcoming summits will cover energy and commerce, and technology. APAICS collaborates with a wide range of community partners including APIA Health Forum, APIA Votes, AREAA, and API Scholars. Upcoming Events. The following week, APAICS was set to launch its AANHPI Heritage Month programming, including its Legislative Leadership Summit, its 32nd Annual Awards Gala — widely known as "Asian Prom" — and a Military Leadership Appreciation Event. Visit https://www.apaics.org/ for more information. Watch a video of Madalene’s talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJV62YoNcK8 (5:39). ***** Two Asian American candidates are drawing attention in upcoming congressional primaries in California and Michigan: Connie Chan and Eric Chung . In California’s 11th Congressional District, Connie Chan is running to succeed retiring House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi . Born in Hong Kong and raised in San Francisco after immigrating at age 13, Chan currently serves on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and has built a profile around labor rights, affordable housing, anti-Asian hate initiatives, and immigrant communities. The California primary will be held on June 2 under the state’s “top-two” primary system, in which the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Chan recently received a major endorsement from Pelosi, along with support from organized labor groups including the San Francisco Labor Council, National Nurses United, and California teachers unions. In Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, Eric Chung is running as a Democrat in the August 4 primary. Chung, a constitutional lawyer and son of Vietnamese immigrants and an autoworker family, has emphasized civil rights, economic opportunity, and democratic institutions in his campaign. Michigan uses a traditional partisan primary system in which party nominees advance to the general election. Chung has secured endorsements from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund as well as members of Congress including Andy Kim , Judy Chu , and Grace Meng . ***** WHAT : AAPI Representation on Capitol Hill: Navigating Careers and Sharing Advice WHEN : May 27, 2026, 6:00-7:30 pm ET WHERE : In Person: 232 East Capitol Street NE, Washington DC HOSTS : US-China Education Trust; U.S. Asia Institute DESCRIPTION: The panel will offer first-hand insight into how policy is made and what AAPI representation looks like in the legislative branch. The discussion will also examine the challenges and opportunities that have shaped panelists' careers, along with practical advice for anyone looking to forge their own path in legislative politics and policymaking. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3Pg4bdP IU Professor Roger Innes Lab Reopens According to Indiana Public Media on May 19, 2026, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) concluded its investigation into the lab of Indiana University (IU) biology professor Roger Innes and found no serious violations. Aside from an expired import permit, a missing curation permit, and some unapproved houseplants, the department found nothing during its search violating federal guidelines. The lab was allowed to reopen, with Professor Innes noting there were no fines or penalties. The lab was missing a permit needed to keep a plant pathogen for several years after importing it, though it remains permitted to work with that species. The USDA destroyed those petri dishes, along with some organisms that could not be identified. The houseplants decorating the lab's windowsills were also destroyed — something Innes joked would upset his team. The investigation drew considerable attention because of Innes's defense of Chinese researchers alleged of illegally importing research material. His own employee, Youhuang Xiang , was deported after mislabeling a shipment of DNA plasmids, and the lab had come under FBI scrutiny. Some colleagues and media outlets speculated the USDA search was a form of retribution. Professor Innes noted that the USDA told him it was acting at the request of others in the government, though they were not free to discuss the details. He said the agency's typical concerns involve nurseries and markets, not research labs, and that inspecting his lab was unusual for them. The two-week lab shutdown set research projects back by several months. The barrier IU had erected between the Innes lab and adjacent spaces was removed in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Read the Indiana Public Media report: https://bit.ly/3PHDS0i True Story of Immigration, McCarthyism and Founding of JPL According to Spectrum News on May 20, 2026, the world premiere of Ascent, a play at Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles, tells the true story of Qian Xuesen 钱学森 , a Chinese immigrant who co-founded Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and helped develop America's missile program. During the McCarthy era, he was accused without evidence of being a communist, held under house arrest for five years, and ultimately deported. He went on to play a major role in building China's nuclear and aerospace capabilities and is considered a national hero there. The play was written by the late Henry Ong , a first-generation Asian American playwright who began the project in 2016 and had been developing it with director Diana Wyenn before his death in 2018. A proud immigrant, Ong devoted his career to telling authentic stories from immigrant communities, and that authenticity is reflected here with the typical pre-show announcement being made in four languages, including Ong's first language, Malay — the official language in Malaysia. Both the creative team and lead actor Trieu Tran emphasize how timely the story feels today, drawing parallels between the Red Scare-era treatment of immigrants and current political climate. Tran, who plays Qian, admits he had never heard of the scientist before he was cast in early workshops of the play. The reason can be traced back to the McCarthy Era and the Red Scare, when Qian was accused — without evidence — of being a communist. “Too much of an asset to let go and too much of a threat to stay,” Tran explained. “So they kept them for five long years in misery under house arrest, constant surveillance.” The production runs through June 14, 2026. Read the Spectrum News Report: https://bit.ly/4tOjrN7 News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/05/27 AAPI Representation on Capitol Hill: Navigating Careers and Sharing Advice 2026/06/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/06/02 Third Annual “State of The Science” Address 2026/06/03 Webinar: Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights 2026/06/10 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Calvin Tsao 2026/06/27-28 From Crisis to Coalition: Lessons from the Front Lines in Minneapolis/St. PaulVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Third Annual “State of The Science” Address WHAT : 2026 “State of The Science” Address WHEN : June 2, 2026, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET – Reception to Follow WHERE : · In Person: 2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington D.C. 20418 · Online: Upon completion of registration HOST : National Academy of Sciences Speakers: Marcia McNutt, President, National Academy of Sciences and Expert Panel DESCRIPTION: The third annual State of the Science address will explore the status of the U.S. research enterprise, global science leadership, and economic competitiveness. The address, to be delivered by National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt, will be followed by a panel including leaders in science and research, technology and innovation, policymaking, government, industry, and philanthropy. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4tRVHHQ # # # 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 APA Justice website at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF May 26, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #378 2/26 Webinar; 2/24 Court Hearing; AAJC; Section 702; Alien Land Laws; FY26 R&D Funding #378 2/26 Webinar; 2/24 Court Hearing; AAJC; Section 702; Alien Land Laws; FY26 R&D Funding In This Issue #378 · 02/26 Webinar: Global Competition for Talent & International Students · 02/24 Hearing: Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v. Northwestern · Joanna YangQing Derman: Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC · Section 702 of FISA Expiring · Alien-ating Asians in 21st-Century Land Laws · Advocacy Works: FY26 Federal R&D Funding · News and Activities for the Communities Happy Year of the Horse! Wishing you strength, courage, and joy in every stride this year! (credit: JadeTime) 02/26 Webinar: Global Competition for Talent & International Students WHAT : Global Competition for Talent & International Students WHEN : February 26, 2026, 8:00 pm ET WHERE : Webinar HOSTS : APA Justice, Committee of 100, US-China Education Trust Moderator : Margaret K. Lewis 陸梅吉 , Professor of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law Speakers: · Fanta Aw , Executive Director and CEO of Association of International Educators (NAFSA) · Steven Chu 朱棣文 , Professor of Stanford University and former U.S. Secretary of Energy DESCRIPTION : As geopolitical competition intensifies between the United States and China, the flow of talent and students across borders has become a critical flashpoint. International students – particularly those from China – have enriched American universities, driven innovation, and strengthened people-to-people ties. Yet today, visa restrictions, security concerns, and shifting immigration policies are reshaping the landscape. At the same time, China and other nations are competing aggressively to attract global talent, transforming higher education into an arena of strategic competition. Chinese American students and scholars increasingly find themselves caught in the middle – facing heightened scrutiny, profiling, and questions about their loyalty. This webinar will examine how the U.S.-China relationship is affecting international student mobility, university partnerships, and the global competition for talent. What are the implications of competition for American universities, research ecosystems, and soft power? How are students and scholars navigating new restrictions and uncertainties? How can policies balance openness and U.S. competitiveness? REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/1-15email 02/24 Hearing: Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v. Northwestern Liz Rao , daughter of Dr. Jane Wu 吴瑛 , spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 2, 2026. Her remarks are off the record. The Cook County Circuit Court has scheduled an open hearing of the case of Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v Northwestern University on February 24, 2026, starting at 10:00 am CT. Location is Court Room 1906, Richard J Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602. For those who wish to attend and show support in honor of Dr. Jane Wu, please contact Valentina Dallona (she/her), Political Director, Justice Is Global, at vdallona@justiceisglobal.org . On February 12, 2026, The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), in partnership with the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA), announced that more than 1,000 faculty members joined a letter to Northwestern University demanding accountability in the case of Dr. Jane Ying Wu. Read the joint letter: https://buff.ly/GJBbu1r Joanna YangQing Derman: Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC During the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 2, 2026, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that AAJC briefed congressional offices on the status of discriminatory land laws, specifically focusing on ongoing litigation in Texas and Florida. AAJC maintains that property restrictions based on nationality or presumed foreign affiliations (targeting individuals from countries like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia) raise profound civil rights concerns. Joanna emphasized that any federal legislation in this area must be narrowly targeted to avoid discriminatory impacts on the AAPI community. Joanna flagged the upcoming April 2026 expiration of Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). She notes that Congress should not reauthorize Section 702 without sweeping reforms to ensure that it cannot be used as a domestic spying tool. As negotiations are currently underway, now is a critical window to advocate for: · Robust privacy protections and strengthened oversight. · Measures to prevent disproportionate impacts on civil liberties, particularly for AAPI individuals with international familial or professional ties. AAJC and the Surveillance Reform Coalition are actively engaging with members of Congress to balance national security with individual rights. Joanna warned that the community should expect "rapid-fire" requests in the coming months, including sign-on letters and call campaigns as legislative action accelerates. Section 702 of FISA Expiring Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is set to expire on April 20, 2026, giving Congress roughly two months to decide whether to renew, reform, or allow the surveillance authority to lapse. Section 702 permits the government to target non-U.S. persons abroad for intelligence purposes, but it can incidentally collect Americans’ communications. The government may also conduct warrantless “backdoor” searches of that data for information about Americans—an authority that has long generated bipartisan privacy concerns. During a classified Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, reported by CNN on February 9, 2026, lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration after FBI and NSA officials declined to clarify whether the Trump administration supports reauthorization. Although successive administrations have defended Section 702 as a vital national security tool, past FBI misuse and court findings of rights violations have intensified scrutiny. Civil liberties advocates continue to press for reforms, including a warrant requirement for searches of Americans’ communications—a proposal that nearly passed in 2024 and is expected to resurface before the deadline. Read the CNN report: https://cnn.it/3OHrzQz . Read The Intercept report: https://bit.ly/3ZBfBuk Alien-ating Asians in 21st-Century Land Laws According to a Just Security report co-authored by Donna Doan Anderson , Assistant Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Joanna YangQing Derman , Director of Advancing Justice | AAJC, .the U.S. is experiencing a renewed wave of land-based nationalism that frames foreign ownership of farmland — particularly by Chinese individuals or entities — as a national security threat. Federal initiatives have promoted the narrative that foreign farmland ownership endangers American safety and prosperity. Several states, including Florida and Texas, have enacted laws restricting property ownership based on domicile or national origin, with Chinese citizens specifically targeted in some cases. These laws face ongoing legal challenges, though courts have often dismissed cases on standing grounds. Since 2021, dozens of states have introduced similar legislation. The article places these modern laws in historical context, arguing they echo 19th- and early 20th-century “alien land laws” that barred Asians from owning property under racialized citizenship rules. It contends that current policies similarly rely on stereotypes portraying Asians — especially Chinese people — as perpetual “aliens” or foreign “agents.” Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that Chinese-linked entities own only a very small fraction of U.S. farmland — about 0.03 percent of total farmland and less than 1 percent of foreign-held farmland — far less than countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, or the United Kingdom. Critics argue that the focus on China is disproportionate and politically motivated. The article further contends that federal efforts to frame farmland ownership as a national security issue, including attempts to insert restrictions into the National Defense Authorization Act, conflate legitimate cybersecurity concerns with civilian land ownership. It suggests that broad land bans do little to address genuine security threats and may conflict with existing federal investment review authorities. The piece also argues that these laws risk reinforcing anti-Asian stereotypes, increasing discrimination, and subjecting Asian Americans — regardless of citizenship or immigration status — to suspicion and additional scrutiny. It concludes that contemporary “alien” land laws revive historical patterns of exclusion and that advocates should prepare to challenge policies that link Asian identity with national threat narratives. Read the Just Security report: https://bit.ly/4kAOxVz Advocacy Works: FY26 Federal R&D Funding In a Science editorial on February 5, 2026, the past year for U.S. science was portrayed as deeply contradictory. On one hand, the Trump administration’s actions led to funding cuts, the dismantling of workforce programs, threats to indirect cost reimbursements, and tighter immigration for international students—moves that damaged institutions and demoralized students and early-career scientists. On the other hand, outcomes were better than feared: Congress restored science funding, courts rejected efforts to alter indirect cost rules, and NIH and NSF successfully disbursed all appropriated 2025 funds before they expired. These opposing realities, the editorial argues, must be understood together to make sense of the current moment. On February 4, 2026, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), parent organization to the Science Magazine, reported that President Trump has signed into law the remaining federal appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026, securing funding for U.S. research and development after a year of significant uncertainty. Although the administration initially proposed steep reductions, those cuts were ultimately rejected, reflecting strong bipartisan support for science and technology in Congress. As a result, the final funding levels are far more favorable than expected. The National Institutes of Health received a slight increase, the National Institute of Standards and Technology saw a substantial 26.5% boost, and most other major science agencies experienced flat funding or only modest reductions. These outcomes are presented as a clear contrast to the drastic cuts outlined in the President’s original budget request and as evidence of Congress’s continued commitment to the scientific enterprise. The report emphasizes that this outcome did not occur by chance. Advocacy by scientists, universities, professional associations, and organizations such as AAAS played a decisive role in conveying the national consequences of gutting federal R&D. Decades of sustained investment have built the U.S. scientific enterprise, and the letter warns that reversing those gains would have taken generations to undo. Finally, the report cautions that the work is not finished. Close oversight is needed to ensure that the Office of Management and Budget implements the appropriations as enacted and does not circumvent congressional intent. Looking ahead to the FY2027 appropriations cycle, the message urges continued engagement and advocacy, arguing that flat funding is insufficient and that sustained growth in R&D investment is essential to preserving U.S. global competitiveness. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/02/17 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative "Personal Marketing and Mentorship" 2026/02/19 AAUC Town Hall: Fighting the Fear 2026/02/23 Sign On Deadline - Amicus Brief Opposing the Birthright Citizenship EO 14160 2026/02/24 Hearing: Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v. Northwestern 2026/02/26 Global Competition for Talent & International Students 2026/03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. AAUC Town Hall: Fighting the Fear WHAT: AAUC Town Hall: Fighting the Fear WHEN: February 19, 2026, 1:00 pm ET WHERE: Online Town Hall HOST: Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) DESCRIPTION: At this town hall meeting, we'll hear inspiring stories of how Minnesotan's have stood up to ICE's campaign of fear and intimidation. We'll demystify the the playbook that's used to justify their unchecked power and civil-rights violations. Only then can we mobilize our communities to resist the unlawful actions that have spread across the country. We'll hear from community leaders in Minnesota. We also want to hear from you. If you’d like to speak for up to three minutes, please indicate this on the registration form. This town hall is a chance to build momentum together ahead of the midterm elections. Democracy is under assault, but we still have to the power exercise our Constitutional rights and make a difference. REGISTRATION : https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3UM6pB0yRMO6kWg-IfmpDA#/registration 3. 2026/02/23 Sign On Deadline - Amicus Brief Opposing the Birthright Citizenship EO 14160 Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) — together with the Korematsu Center (UCI Law), the Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice (Seattle U Law), and O’Melveny & Myers — is filing an amicus brief warning that the Executive Order 14160 could enable retroactive denaturalization, putting millions of U.S. citizens at risk. Citing United States v. Thind and the history of stripping citizenship from Asian Americans, the brief shows how these threats are not theoretical. Citizenship determines the right to work, vote, travel, and fully belong. Asian Americans have long been at the center of this fight. AALDEF invites you to sign on and affirm that attacks on birthright citizenship — rooted in the legacy of exclusion — have no place in our democracy. Contact Marlena Truong , Voting Rights Advocate, AALDEF: mtruong@aaldef.org . Deadline for sign on is February 23, 2026. # # # 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 17, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Xin Wang 王欣 Docket ID: 3:20-cr-00251 District Court, N.D. California Date filed: Jun 22, 2020 Date ended: July 23, 2021 Table of Contents Overview Five “Visa Fraud” Cases Links and References Overview On July 23, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of four scientists from China on claimed visa violation, including Dr. Xin Wang. A fifth scientist was arrested for similar charges in August 2020. Dr. Xin Wang was issued a multiple entry J1 non-immigrant visa on December 17, 2018. The visa application stated that he was employed by the Air Force Military University and the purpose of his visit was to conduct research neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). In his visa application, he stated that he had previously served as an Associate Professor in Medicine in the Chinese Army, also known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). His listed dates of service for the army were from September 1, 2002 through September 1, 2016. He entered the United States on March 26, 2019. Dr. Xin Wang is alleged to have made fraudulent statements on his visa application. If convicted, he faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. On July 23, 2021, DOJ motioned to drop their case against Dr. Xin Wang. U.S. District Judge James Donato granted the motion to dismiss on the same day. A scheduled trial to begin on November 8, 2021, was vacated. Dr. Xin Wang was released from Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, California. He had been in jail for the past year. The other four visa fraud cases were also dismissed at the same time. The five visa fraud cases including Dr. Wang were identified under the China Initiative, but they were removed from the DOJ online report after their dismissals. Five “Visa Fraud” Cases The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced visa fraud charges against four of five scientists from China on July 23, 2020. The fifth scientist, Lei Guan, was first charged in August 2020 for Destruction and Alteration of Records in a Federal Investigation with visa fraud charges added in September 2020. The announcement of the visa fraud cases coincided with the U.S. order to close China’s consulate in Houston, accusing it to be a "spy center" to conduct spying activities with local medical centers or universities. The five Chinese scientists are: Lei Guan (关磊) , Visiting researcher (mathematics), University of California at Los Angeles Dr. Chen Song (宋琛) , Visiting researcher (neurology), Stanford University Dr. Juan Tang (唐娟) , Visiting researcher (cancer), University of California at Davis Xin Wang (王欣) , Visiting researcher (neurology), University of California at San Francisco Kaikai Zhao (赵凯凯) , Doctoral candidate (machine learning and artificial intelligence), Indiana University These five visa fraud cases were abruptly dismissed by DOJ in July 2021 without an explanation for the dismissals. Wyn Hornbuckle, a Justice Department spokesman issued a statement that said "[r]ecent developments in a handful of cases involving defendants with alleged, undisclosed ties to the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China have prompted the department to re-evaluate these prosecutions... We have determined that it is now in the interest of justice to dismiss them.” On July 22, 2021, Reuters reported that there was "recently disclosed evidence of a report by FBI analysts that questioned if the visa application question on 'military service' was clear enough for Chinese medical scientists at military universities and hospitals." In another report by the Washington Post, an unnamed official was quoted to say that "the punishment for visa fraud typically does not exceed a year. That fact, combined with the prospect of prolonged litigation in several instances, led officials to assess that the interests of justice were best served by dropping the cases." Upon further research, defense attorneys for Dr. Juan Tang filed a Defendant's Trial Brief and Memorandum Supporting Dismissal at Trial on July 19, 2021. It included a section on "The FBI’s Deliberate Failure to Disclose Critical Exculpatory Evidence to the Court and to the Defense Warrants a Dismissal of this Ill-Conceived Indictment." "There is dissension in the FBI’s own ranks," the trial brief started. It cited that the government intentionally did not comply with the discovery order for the trial and highlighted that "... just days ago, a heavily redacted report dated for release four months ago, on April 1, 2021, which the government did not disclose to this Court when it ruled on Dr. Tang’s Motion to Dismiss." Exhibit A shows a FBI Background Note dated April 1, which includes a statement that investigations and expert interviews "suggest that the visa application form (DS-160) potentially lacks clarity when it comes to declaring one's military service or affiliation." DOJ motioned to dismiss Dr. Juan Tang’s case four days before the trial was to start on July 26, 2021. On July 12, 2021, a partially redacted draft FBI report appeared as part of an exhibit in a non-motion response filed in the case of Lei Guan. The 28-page exhibit includes a draft white paper that provides assessments on seven cases under the "China Initiative," including the five that were dismissed. The draft paper states that targeting of the researcher and students "likely had minimal, short-term positive impact on the technology transfer threat from PRC students, scholars, and researchers." In addition, "[o]nly two of the arrests has a nexus to technology transfer violations, ... and none included charges related to other counterintelligence concerns." The operation "likely contributed to the deterioration of the FBI's delicate yet valuable relationship with some US universities by not exercising more caution before approaching PRC students." Although there was strong advice against investigating and arresting students and researchers with the operation, "several FBI field offices proceeded with visa fraud charges for individuals who met the criteria but did not meet the threshold for a high-priority technology transfer threat." "It is in the best national security interest of the FBI to strategically identify, target, and mitigate PRC technology transfer threats while also preserving educational opportunities in the United States for PRC students who do not pose a threat," said an unredacted portion of the FBI report. A footnote also stated that "the FBI does not consider clinical medicine an area of concern for PRC technology transfer." According to the exhibit, a FBI Supervisory Intelligence Analyst drafted the report as a response to a February 2021 award nomination. She was originally included as part of the award nomination but disagreed about the "high impact" the award's nomination claimed to have made. She did not think the arrest of the PLA students met the threshold for high impact at that time, as she assessed at an early stage the impact was minimal. The draft was a way for her to dispute the information contained in the awards packet. She removed herself from the award nomination. In December 2020, John Demers, former head of the China Initiative at DOJ, and William Evanina, former chief of the counterintelligence branch at ODNI, attributed without supporting facts and evidence that more than 1,000 Chinese researchers from affiliated with China's People's Liberation Army fled the U.S. after the FBI conducted interviews in more than 20 cities and the State Department closed China’s Houston consulate in July 2020. Some of the visa fraud prosecutions were based on photos of the individuals in uniform. However, wearing a uniform does not always imply military service. There are two non-armed branches in the uniformed services of the United States, including the Public Health Service which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps which is part of the Department of Commerce. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #83 "China Initiative;" Rep. Andy Kim, Anming + Spoke On 09/13; Stanford Faculty Letter #83 "China Initiative;" Rep. Andy Kim, Anming + Spoke On 09/13; Stanford Faculty Letter Back View PDF September 15, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #210 9/11 Meeting Summary; Franklin/Angwang; Paranoia/Scapegoating; "Stop The Blame"; More #210 9/11 Meeting Summary; Franklin/Angwang; Paranoia/Scapegoating; "Stop The Blame"; More In This Issue #210 2023/09/11 Monthly Meeting Summary Franklin Tao 陶丰 and Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 - Support Their Fight for Justice Paranoia and Scapegoating with Discriminatory Alien Land Laws "Stop The Blame" Campaign Starts News and Activities for the Communities 2023/09/11 Monthly Meeting Summary The September 11, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting summary is now available at https://bit.ly/48lSE1h . We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), nisha.ramachandran@mail.house.gov with updates from CAPAC John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC with updates from AAJC Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org with updates from AASF Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 华美维权同盟 with updates on the Florida alien land bill lawsuit Deborah Seligsohn , Assistant Professor of Political Science, Villanova University; Senior Associate (Non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the case for renewing the U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (STA) Steven Kivelson , Professor of Physics, Stanford University on a letter to the President and the National Security Council to renew STA Sudip Parikh , Chief Executive Officer of The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals on the future of ethical science collaboration Ting Wu , Special Advisor, Office of the Chief of Staff, The White House, on observations and response from The White House. The 9/11 meeting was privileged for APA Justice invited attendees. The meeting summary is limited in distribution to APA Justice subscribers. It is posted at https://bit.ly/48lSE1h Franklin Tao 陶丰 and Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 - Support Their Fight for Justice 1. Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao Professor Franklin Tao 陶丰 was the first scientist to be charged under the now-defunct US Justice Department's "China Initiative," which unjustly targets many Chinese American scientists and causes significant harm to their careers and families. On September 21, 2023, over 30 people led by Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President of United Chinese Americans, attended the Appeals Court hearing of Professor Tao's appeal to overturn his only remaining charge of making a false statement. The hearing was livestreamed via YouTube. The audio portion 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 2. NYPD Officer Baimadajie Angwang Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 is an officer of the New York Police Department (NYPD), U.S. citizen, Marine Corps veteran, and Army reservist. He was arrested in September 2020, charged with acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government and jailed pre-trial for six months under the now-defunct "China Initiative" based on intercepted phone calls. In January 2023, a federal judge dismissed all the charges against him at the request of the Department of Justice "in the interests of justice."However, the NYPD has not only failed to reinstate Officer Angwang, but will hold an administrative trial against him on September 26, 2023, starting at 10 am ET. The trial will be held on the 4th floor, Departmental Trial Room A, 1 Police Plaza, New York City.In a letter sent to Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Restore The Fourth provided details of the continuing persecution of Officer Angwang. "We all need this unjust treatment to not become the norm. Officer Angwang needs vocal, public support to ensure a fair judicial process. His trial is public, which means that the more people watch across the country, the more momentum we can build behind Angwang’s case. We seek justice for Officer Angwang, and call attention to the broader abuses committed by U.S. intelligence officials," the letter said.In a message to APA Justice, Officer Angwang said, "[t]he reason why we are fighting back is to send a message to any wrong doing against our community is that we do fight back, don’t think we would just take it like how they want us to be. We won’t be silent. We also want to send a message to anyone who is going through my situation or Professor Franklin Tao’s situation or who might going through this, we want them to know that don’t give up on fight, the community is behind you. We will support you. That’s also the reason why I am going to Denver to support Professor Tao. Thank you."Read the Restore The Fourth letter: https://bit.ly/3RuO9v8 . Read the case of Officer Angwang: https://bit.ly/3RIqXId Paranoia and Scapegoating with Discriminatory Alien Land Laws According to AsAmNews on September 18, 2023, three U.S. Congressmen set off alarm bells after a major land deal near a military base raised fears of Chinese spies. "They saw red and now some might say, they have eggs on their faces," the report said.According to ABC7 News , Flannery Associates has been purchasing $1 billion worth of farmland for the last five years near Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, 50 miles east of San Francisco. It is not unusual for the backers of a corporation to remain anonymous.However, with U.S.-China relations at a low, Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) all expressed concern that Chinese spies were behind the purchase of 55,000 acres of farmland in Solano County, prompting federal legislation on foreign real estate transactions and investigations into a type of malware that China could disrupt military operations across the country.When the dust settled, the truth finally came out. Flannery Associates is backed by Silicon Valley venture capitalist and billionaire Michael Moritz . Moritz has been highly critical of San Francisco’s liberal politics. His hopes are to build a new housing development and city near Travis Air Force Base, one he says will bring new jobs to the area.All of this could be dismissed with a shrug, except for one trend. According to APA Justice, 34 states as well as Congress have passed or have considered legislation to ban the purchase of land by Chinese and others from countries considered threats to the U.S. The bills are reminders of the Alien Land Laws that banned the purchase of land by Asians 100 years ago when the Chinese Exclusion Act and anti-Asian discriminatory laws were in effect. “Legislative action must be based on evidence and facts, not fear,” said Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. “While we recognize there are legitimate national security concerns over geopolitical competition between the United States and China, unless there is concrete evidence that land investments from individuals who hail from foreign nations, whether from China or elsewhere, are being used for espionage purposes, lawmakers should not rush to paint all real estate transactions – especially by ordinary individuals with no ties to foreign governments – as threats to national security.” Cynthia Choi of Chinese for Affirmative Action and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate expressed her own concerns. “Many politicians have been citing Chinese ownership of farmland as a threat to national security, when in reality, experts say Chinese land ownership accounts for less than 1% of farmland and an even smaller percentage of agricultural land . Despite the facts, they continue to sensationalize issues regarding China to justify overreaching measures that harm innocent Asian Americans and immigrants,” she said. The ACLU recently joined in a lawsuit to overturn a ban against Chinese ownership of homes and land in Florida signed by GOP presidential candidate and Gov. Ron DeSantis . “We continue to remain concerned about any attempt by Congress to target individuals solely because of their national origin, which falsely equates individuals from countries like China as synonymous with the Chinese government,” said Kia Hamadanchy , senior policy counsel at ACLU. “These efforts are a reminder of historical instances where false claims of national security were used as a justification to prohibit Asian immigrants from becoming landowners and will only serve to exacerbate discrimination against Asian communities living in the United States.” Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/3LrTobg Rep. Al Green’s Remarks to Challenging Discriminatory Land Laws During a House Financial Services Committee hearing on September 13, 2023, Rep. Al Green remarked, "my state [Texas] had the legislature to propose restrictions that would be directed toward specific persons and it created quite a stir because while the people who passed these laws don't have to interact with the people who can suffer from some of the consequences that may not be intended, persons of Chinese ancestry for example. When you start using specificities of this type, there are people in this country who suffer. They suffer in terms of how people approach them generally, but they also suffer in the sense of consternation as to what they will do with land that they currently hold or will they be able to purchase additional property." Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxwYblt-Ja0 (4:55) "Stop The Blame" Campaign Starts According to NBC News on September 21, 2023, Asian American civil rights organizations are launching a new effort to help monitor and prevent the use of inflammatory anti-Asian political rhetoric, ahead of the 2024 presidential elections. The “ Stop the Blame ” campaign, spearheaded by the nonprofit groups Stop AAPI Hate and Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), kicked off with a website that includes information on the impact of racist language and policies.According to the Stop the Blame mission statement on to its website, "Everyday Asian Americans and immigrants are caught in the crossfire as tensions between the U.S. and Chinese governments grow. An alarming number of politicians and lawmakers today are using geopolitics as an excuse to justify hate and racism against our communities. They're promoting anti-Asian political rhetoric, discriminatory surveillance measures, and unconstitutional land ownership bans across the country."This is anti-Asian scapegoating - a political tactic used for centuries by those in power to deflect blame, instill fear, and rile up their voter base at the expense of our safety and our rights. We're on a mission to stop the hate, stop the blame, and stop anti-Asian scapegoating once and for all."Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, underscored the campaign’s critical timing. “This anti-Asian rhetoric, many times, has to do with politicians who are trying to outdo one another,” she said. “They don’t care who they hurt in the process.” Cynthia Choi , co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and co-executive director of CAA, said the website not only contains data and research on anti-Asian language, but also a tracker that will document states seeking to pass land ownership bans. At least 33 states have proposed bans on land ownership from the Chinese government, entities or citizens in 2023. The website will additionally feature information on different campaigns and initiatives in individual states that are pushing back on anti-Asian policies. They will also be calling on Congress to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Currently, Section 702 of the legislation gives U.S. intelligence agencies the authority to acquire communications of non-Americans, who use American communications platforms, without a warrant. The measure has been criticized by many Asian American and other advocacy groups for its potential to be weaponized as a tool to racially profile communities of color. “We’ve seen how policies created under the guise of ‘national security’ are used to scapegoat Asian American communities in the U.S., and they fuel further racism, violence and the erosion of everyone’s rights,” said Ashley Gorski , a senior staff attorney of the National Security Project at the American Civil Liberties Union.Instead of leaning on racist, anti-China rhetoric, Chu said, politicians should be careful with their words, and distinguish between the Chinese government and Chinese individuals. Chu brought up her own experience in which Rep. Lance Gooden , R-Texas, questioned her “loyalty” to the U.S. Chu had defended Dominic Ng 吴建民 , a Biden appointee, who was featured in an article by the conservative Daily Caller , that alleged he had ties to a Chinese Communist Party front group. “It was his way of outdoing other politicians,” Chu said. Choi said that with the campaign, she hopes to send elected officials the message that “scare tactics” are not a winning strategy. “The message is that if you attack our rights and put us in harm’s way, we will take action,” she said. “We won’t stand for it. We will hold you accountable.”Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3ZurAbV . Visit the Stop The Blame website: https://stoptheblame.org/ US House Education Subcommittee Hearing According to The Oklahoman and The Hill , Reps. Raul M. Grijalva and Suzanne Bonamici said a September 19 U.S. House education subcommittee hearing on the threat of Chinese influence in American schools perpetuated a debunked conspiracy theory and could fuel anti-Asian American bias. Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director of Asian American Scholar Forum and an invited speaker in the hearing, encouraged the subcommittee to exercise caution when crafting laws and rhetoric on China. She said Asian Americans and immigrants suffer discrimination when the country’s leaders espouse anti-China language. “For many of them, they are not differentiated between this foreign government and who they are here,” Kusakawa said. “Decades after the systemic incarceration of Japanese Americans, we find ourselves repeating history as Asian Americans are treated as ‘perpetual foreigners’ and economic or national security threats,” Kusakawa said. “It has become a harmful pattern that when the United States has tensions with an Asian country, Asian Americans and immigrants face the backlash at home and become collateral damage.” Read The Oklahoman report: https://bit.ly/45ZAK2L and the Hill report: https://bit.ly/48uv81Z 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/ . Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Events: 2023/09/25-27 AAUC National Unity Summit 2023/09/26 NYPD Trial of Officer Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 2023/09/27 1990 Institute: Teaching Asian American Narratives through Literature 2023/09/27 U.S.-China Climate Cooperation Organizing Webinar 2023/09/27-28 APAICS 2023 Tech Summit 2023/10/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Organizing for Climate Action: The Opportunities of U.S.-China Cooperation Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16) will lead an online discussion called “Organizing for Climate Action: The Opportunities of U.S.-China Cooperation” on how the U.S. and China can act together to tackle climate change and help build a green and fair global economy. Justice is Global, the Quincy Institute, the 1990 Institute, and climate, peace, and racial justice organizations co-sponsor this event on the need for deeper U.S.-China climate cooperation. Register for the event at https://bit.ly/3t9U9PM 3. Asian Faculty Association at Yale (AFAY) According to Yale News , Asian and Asian American faculty gathered at the Yale School of Medicine’s Brady Auditorium to announce AFAY’s inaugural board. The organization aims to build support both within and beyond its membership, and its mission statement includes advocacy for both members and for Yale’s Asian students, especially when facing challenges related to their cultural backgrounds or ethnicities. Currently, 194 faculty members have registered to join AFAY, of which 12 are non-Asian. Professor Haifan Lin 林海帆 served as AFAY election moderator. Professor Qin Yan 严钦 and Professor Yongli Zhang serve as President and President-elect respectively. Read the Yale News report: https://bit.ly/48pIZGQ 4. APAICS Tech Summit - Impact of Increased Competition Between the US and China Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) will host the 2023 Tech Summit on September 27-28. The event will bring together community and corporate leaders, subject matter experts, as well as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) elected officials for bipartisan policy discussions that affect the AA & NH/PI community and the nation at-large. Register for the summit here: https://www.apaics.org/tech-summit-2023 Back View PDF September 23, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Frequently Asked Questions How can I donate to APA Justice? You can help support APA Justice through donation by check or online. Please see the Donation page for more details. Tell me about your newsletters. APA Justice began publishing a free periodic newsletter about 4-7 times a month in July 2020. As of January 2026, there have been over 370 issues .

Newsletter - #231 Prevent Relaunch; Memories and Hopes; Combat Disinformation; Year of The Dragon; More #231 Prevent Relaunch; Memories and Hopes; Combat Disinformation; Year of The Dragon; More In This Issue #231 · CAPAC Members Lead Effort to Prevent the Relaunch of China Initiative · January Brings Memories and Hope · Combat Disinformation Targeting Asian Americans · Lunar New Year Celebrations Underway · News and Activities for the Communities CAPAC Members Lead Effort to Prevent the Relaunch of China Initiative According to NBC News and a press statement by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers led by CAPAC Members Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), and Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) wrote a letter to House and Senate leaders leading an effort to stop Republican Members of Congress from reinstating the China Initiative, a Trump-era program created in 2018 that purported to combat espionage but in effect targeted and profiled those of Chinese descent.The Department of Justice ended the program in 2022, after several of the alleged espionage and national security cases ended in acquittal, dismissal or were dropped altogether. But Republicans in Congress are now attempting to restart the program using a provision in a key House spending bill—at the same time that they are reviving racially motivated rhetoric against Chinese Americans. Republicans are attempting to relaunch the China Initiative in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5893) which funds the Departments of Commerce, Justice and other science-related programs.Others who signed the letter include: Senators Tammy Duckworth (IL), Raphael Warnock (GA) and Peter Welch (VT) and Reps. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Katie Porter (CA-47), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Adam Schiff (CA-30), Brad Sherman (CA-32) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02).Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3S9zPXJ . Read the CAPAC press statement: https://bit.ly/3UcOLHh January 19, 2024, marked the one-year anniversary when all charges against Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 , a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer accused of spying on behalf of China, were formally dropped. His arrest in September 2020 was one of the sensationalized cases under the now-defunct China Initiative. U.S. prosecutors said they uncovered "new information" that warranted the dismissal but did not provide further explanation. For the past year, NYPD did not reinstate Officer Angwang, but has instead started proceedings to terminate his employment. Read Officer Angwang's case at https://bit.ly/3RIqXId January Brings Memories and Hope According to a Ding Ding TV report by Helen Zia 谢汉兰, she has been tracking hate incidents for 41 years. Among the prominent January incidents are: · January 6, 2020: 89-year-old Yik Oi Huang died after injuries from a severe beating as she walked in a neighborhood park near her San Francisco Visitacion Valley home; · January 11, 2023: a public bus rider in Bloomington, Indiana vowed to rid the country of Chinese while repeatedly stabbing a 17-year-old student; · January 15, 2022: 40-year-old Michelle Alyssa Go was fatally pushed in front of an oncoming subway train in New York’s Times Square; · January 17, 1989: a white nationalist with a semiautomatic rifle killed five children at a Stockton California elementary school yard and injured about 30 others; · January 21, 2023: an elderly Asian man with a semi-automatic pistol killed 11 people and injured 9 as they celebrated the Lunar New Year at a ballroom in Monterey Park, California; · January 23, 2023: in Half Moon Bay, California, a 66-year-old male farmworker killed five fellow Chinese and two Latino coworkers; · January 28, 2021: Vicha Ratanapakdee , an 84-year-old Thai American grandfather, died after being violently shoved as he went for a walk near his San Francisco home. Turning tragic events into action and change has been a continuing legacy in Asian American communities. Asian American activism in the wake of violence has been critical because many other families and communities have also encountered systemic refusal to acknowledge anti-Asian racism. Memorials this month in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay also stand as recognitions of cross-sector, pan-Asian and multi-racial efforts to advance the community healing process through solidarity. On January 28, Monthanus Ratanapakdee has planned a remembrance of her father, Vicha, to be joined by Justin Go , Michelle’s father. The national “Remember Vicha” organizing efforts have succeeded in getting streets named “Vicha Ratanapakdee Way” in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The park where Yik Oi Huang was fatally attacked has also been renamed in her honor through the efforts of her granddaughter Sasanna Yee , who has worked with Asian and Black communities to keep the attack from inflaming racial tension.While January brings remembrances of lives lost to violence, the efforts of Asian Americans and others also show how healing can come when people act together in solidarity to build a beloved community of equity and justice, where violence and hate towards any people has no place.Helen Zia is a writer and the founder of the Vincent Chin Institute, Vincentchin.org , which aims to build solidarity against hate and anti-Asian bigotry through education, narrative and advocacy. Read her Ding Ding TV report: https://bit.ly/48IFpaN On January 21, 2024, the Guardian reported that survivors of the Monterey Park mass shooting are still searching for healing from therapy to qigong. The January 21, 2023, attack was the worst mass shooting in Los Angeles County history, hitting the heart of Monterey Park’s large Asian immigrant community. For many Asians, therapy is taboo – but some elders in the community are embracing it. For the past 50 years, Shally Ung hadn’t spent much time thinking about the carnage she had seen growing up in her native Cambodia. But those scenes of bombs raining down on Phnom Penh came roaring back on Lunar New Year last year, when a gunman opened fire at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park and killed 11 people. Ung’s dance partner for nearly two decades, Andy Kao , was shot in the chest and died beside her under a table. Some survivors and longtime Monterey Park residents said they remain deeply proud of their hometown and its reputation as an early haven for immigrants from China and Taiwan. A city with a population of 60,000 that is two-thirds Asian, Monterey Park is known widely as the country’s first suburban Chinatown, and as the place that elected Judy Chu as the first Chinese American woman to US Congress.Read the Guardian report: https://bit.ly/47SuGsN .On January 21, 2024, NBC News reported that on the first anniversary of the Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay mass shootings, President Joe Biden issued a statement remembering the survivors and victims and highlighting efforts to curtail gun violence. Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3ubE9h5 Combat Disinformation Targeting Asian Americans According to International Journalists' Network , disinformation runs rampant in immigrant communities in the U.S. It is only increasing, too, due in large part to language barriers, social media and bad actors’ weaponization of entrenched fears. Many outlets, meanwhile, lack fact-checking resources for non-English speakers. Today, Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. electorate. Almost six in 10 are immigrants, while just over half of recent arrivals say they are proficient in English.Mis- and disinformation within Asian American communities spreads widely on the radio, YouTube and popular apps such as WeChat and WhatsApp. WeChat, which is used by about 60% of the Chinese American community, is particularly vulnerable to misinformation, due to a hyper-partisan, conservative ecosystem that rewards sensationalist content. Nick Nguyen , the co-founder and research lead of Viet Fact Check, and Kyle Van Fleet , a strategic communications associate for APIA Vote and head of APIA Vote’s disinformation monitoring program, provided their insights about disinformation’s impact on Asian American communities and how to combat it in effective, culturally conscious ways, including APIAVote's guide on "Dis- and Misinformation Monitoring." According to its website, APIAVote publishes a bi-weekly disinformation report to provide its network, ethnic media contacts, and other national partners for research and analysis to conduct actions and promote good information.Read the International Journalists' Network report: https://bit.ly/3S8sjwl . Read the APIAVote web page: https://bit.ly/493dS3s .On January 18, 2024, NBC News reported that disinformation poses an unprecedented threat to democracy in the United States in 2024, according to researchers, technologists and political scientists. As the presidential election approaches, experts warn that a convergence of events at home and abroad, on traditional and social media — and amid an environment of rising authoritarianism, deep distrust, and political and social unrest — makes the dangers from propaganda, falsehoods and conspiracy theories more dire than ever. An increasing number of voters have proven susceptible to disinformation from former President Donald Trump and his allies; artificial intelligence technology is ubiquitous; social media companies have slashed efforts to rein in misinformation on their platforms; and attacks on the work and reputation of academics tracking disinformation have chilled research.Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3u8v8FO Lunar New Year Celebrations Underway According to the Washington Post on January 22, 2024, Lunar New Year does not actually arrive until February 10, but for Vietnamese Americans in Virginia, there was no time like the present to start celebrating Tet, their most important holiday. More than 20,000 people were expected to attend this weekend’s festival to listen to Vietnamese folk and new music, purchase traditional clothing and New Year’s gifts and eat everything from shrimp and crab soup, pho and banh mi to bubble tea, spring rolls and a Lunar New Year specialty: sticky rice with pork and mung beans wrapped in banana leaves. At the opening ceremony, a dozen men and women stood side by side wearing traditional tunics called ao dai — the men in midnight blue, the women in bright fuchsia. They walked to the stage accompanied by solemn drumming and the slow beat of a gong. There, they paid respects and gave thanks to their ancestors, an integral moment of Lunar New Year festivities.Celebrations of Lunar New Year in the United States take on extra meaning for Asian American communities and their families because it is a way of maintaining traditions and passing them to the next generation, said Xinqian Allison Qiu , a doctoral candidate in American Studies at the University of Maryland. Her research includes a focus on Lunar New Year celebrations.Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/48LJISv Find out about Lunar New Year activities in Albuquerque , Atlanta , Austin , Boise , Boston , Brooklyn , Cape Cod , Chattanooga , Chicago , Columbus , Dallas , Denver , Detroit , Disney California , Elk Grove , Fremont , Honolulu , Houston , Irvine , Kansas City , Las Vegas , Los Angeles , McLean , Miami , Milpitas , Montclair , Monterey Park , New York City , New Orleans , Newark , Oklahoma City , Philadelphia , Pittsburgh , Portland , San Antonio , San Francisco , San Jose , San Diego , Seattle , Spokane , Triangle , Twin Cities , Washington DC , and more. Of course there is always home. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/02/01 CAMDC Deadline for Essay Contest2024/02/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/02/10 New Year's Day of the Year of the Dragon2024/03/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/19 Committee of 100 Annual Conference & GalaVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Chinese American Museum Essay Contest To promote intergenerational communication, Chinese American Museum DC (CAMDC), with the support of the Calvin J. Li Memorial Foundation, will host a new essay contest entitled “Dreams of My Parent(s).” Through this essay contest, CAMDC hopes to foster positive family dialogues and cultivate understanding and appreciation of our shared cultural heritage and immigrant experience. Titled "Dreams of My Parent(s)," current high school students of Chinese descent living in the US are encouraged to showcase the strength, resilience, and determination of their parents, and celebrate their life’s triumphs through the essays. Submission deadline is February 1, 2024. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3vKHXXk Back View PDF January 25, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #150 Arrowood; OSTP/AASF Webinars; BIS/NASEM Reports; US Ranking/Scores Drop; Big Data #150 Arrowood; OSTP/AASF Webinars; BIS/NASEM Reports; US Ranking/Scores Drop; Big Data Back View PDF October 13, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter