Search this site

Newsletter - #15 September 14 Will Be A Very Informative Meeting #15 September 14 Will Be A Very Informative Meeting Back View PDF September 11, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #169 03/06 Meeting; "China Initiative"; Texas SB 147+; Racist Attacks; AA Leadership; News #169 03/06 Meeting; "China Initiative"; Texas SB 147+; Racist Attacks; AA Leadership; News In This Issue #169 2023/03/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting One Year After the End of the "China Initiative" Updates on Texas Senate Bill 147 and Opposition to Revival of Alien Land Laws Racist and McCarthyist Attacks on Rep. Judy Chu and Dominic Ng Condemned Building a Sustainable Platform and Pipeline for AAPI Leadership in Higher Education Asian American Community News and Activities 2023/03/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023. Confirmed speakers include: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), to provide updates on the latest developments and activities of CAPAC John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC to provide updates on the Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program and related Activities Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum, to provide updates on AASF activities Peter Toren , Attorney and Member of Sherry Chen Legal Team, to be recognized and share his reflections on the Sherry Chen case Steven Pei 白先慎 , Co-organizer, APA Justice, to provide updates on Texas Senate bills, webinars, and opposition to discriminatory land laws Grace Meng 孟昭文 , Member, U.S. Congress and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, to remark on the latest developments and legislation for the Asian American community Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 , New York Police Department, and John Carman , Attorney, to share Angwang's story of injustice as another victim of racial profiling under the "China Initiative" The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. 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 . Read past monthly meeting summaries here: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP . One Year After the End of the "China Initiative" 1. Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺. One year has passed since the end of the "China Initiative," but the damages inflicted on impacted innocent persons continue. Hear the story of a New York police officer, an Afghanistan veteran, and an Army reservist, who became yet another victim of the "China Initiative." His case was finally dismissed in January 2023. After an ordeal of two and a half years, he has yet to return to the New York Police Department. What does he want the public to know and learn from his experience? Where does he go from here? Angwang will tell his story with his attorney John Carman in the March 6, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting. Read more about Angwang's story at https://bit.ly/3RIqXId 2. Nature Report. According to the Nature report on February 24, 2023, anti-Asian scrutiny has only intensified since the controversial "China Initiative" ended one year ago. Scientists of Chinese heritage say that they are still being targeted unfairly and fear for their safety.¶ While the "China Initiative" was active, more than 150 people were criminally charged for actions such as failing to disclose funding or partnerships with institutions in China.¶ Nearly 90% of them were of Chinese heritage. Many of the charges brought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) after the initiative’s launch in 2018 were eventually dropped or dismissed, and some prosecutions ended in acquittal.¶ The climate of fear and anxiety hasn’t gone away — researchers are just being pressured in a new way, says Jenny Lee. ¶ Since the initiative’s official shutdown, the US government has adopted various anti-China policies. And although the DOJ is pursuing fewer criminal charges, it says that it will work increasingly with federal agencies to investigate researchers and issue civil and administrative penalties for noncompliance. Universities are also taking a more active role in assisting investigations and pursuing potential wrongdoing, sources tell Nature .¶ “I’m sorry to say that it has only intensified,” says MIT professor Gang Chen 陈刚 , He and others who have had their lives upended by the initiative have been speaking out about the damage that it has done.¶ According to the San Diego Union-Tribune in December 2022, Xiang-Dong Fu , a molecular biologist at the University of California, San Diego, was forced to quit his position after the university accused him of hiding ties to China.¶ According to Toby Smith , US institutions acknowledge the considerable research contributions from these scientists. Universities are working to ensure that all faculty members are disclosing information properly. But he calls on US funding agencies to provide greater clarity for universities on what counts as an offense and what are appropriate and fair sanctions.¶ The end of the "China Initiative" gave the illusion that researchers of Chinese heritage would be targeted less, Jenny Lee says, but “the chilling effect” is “still very much at play.”¶ Researchers unjustly accused under the "China Initiative" and now rebuilding their lives and careers are emblematic of this situation. Scrutiny of researchers of Chinese heritage had begun years earlier than the launch of the "China Initiative." Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 was accused of passing information to scientists in China about restricted technology in 2015. The DOJ eventually dropped the charges. “I am afraid of doing any research,” he says. “We always live in fear.”¶ Anming Hu 胡安明 , a nanotechnology researcher at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, who was indicted for hiding ties with China in 2020 and put under house arrest for more than a year before being acquitted, is also trying to get his research back on track. He has spent the past year rebuilding his lab, but has had trouble securing any funding.¶ Read the Nature report: https://go.nature.com/3kveefx Updates on Texas Senate Bill 147 and Opposition to Revival of Alien Land Laws 1. Second Webinar: Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 WHAT: Webinar titled "Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Laws and SB147" WHEN: Friday, March 1, 2023, starting at 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT WHO: Moderator: Janelle Wong, Professor of American Studies, University of Maryland Panelists: Gene Wu 吳元之, Attorney and Texas State Representative Madeline Hsu, Professor of History and Asian American Studies, University of Texas at Austin Carol Suzuki, Professor of Law, School of Law, University of New Mexico at Albuquerque Opening Remarks: Ted Gong , Executive Director of the 1882 FoundationRegister for this webinar at http://bit.ly/3Id2uGp 2. Joint Statement in Opposition to Texas SB 147. On February 17, 2023, the Asian American Bar Association of Houston (AABA Houston), the Austin Asian American Bar Association (Austin AABA), the Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA), and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) issued a joint statement to strongly oppose the provisions of Texas Senate Bill 147 that prohibit individuals from owning land, buying homes, or establishing businesses in Texas based on their family's country of migration.¶ Read the joint statement: https://bit.ly/3EG7YZl 3 . SB 147 Panel: A Reprisal of Alien Land Laws? On March 2, 2023, the American Constitution Society (ACS) will host an event to discuss proposed Texas Senate Bill 147. Panelists will discuss the Federal and State constitutionality of the proposed bill, its mirroring of bigoted Alien Land Laws that banned Asian immigrants from owning property and establishing businesses, and the overall policy implications of this bill on our immigrant communities. The event is co-sponsored with: ACS DFW Lawyer Chapter, NAPABA, DAABA, AABA Houston, SMU APALSA, SMU ACS, SMU FedSoc. WHEN: Thursday, March 2, 2023, 12:30pm CT WHERE: Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law | Karcher Auditorium, 3315 Daniel Ave, Dallas, Texas 75205 WHO: Panelists: Rep. Salman Bhojani , Texas State Representative District 92 Rep. Gene Wu 吳元之, Texas State Representative District 137 Leo Yu , Clinical Professor of Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy and ACS Faculty Advisor, SMU Dedman School of Law Moderator: Kristine Cruz , Associate, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP; Co-Chair, ACS Dallas-Ft. Worth Lawyer Chapter; President-Elect, Dallas Asian American Bar AssociationRegister for the hybrid in-person and Zoom event at: http://bit.ly/3Z28id0 4. Media Reports MSNBC . According to a MSNBC report on February 25, 2023, a bill introduced in December 2022 is picking up steam in the Texas Senate. SB 147 would make it illegal for Chinese citizens to buy any property in the state of Texas, including home purchases. Ling Luo 罗玲 , founder and chair of the Asian Americans Leadership Council, stops by "The Katie Phang Show" to discuss the bill. Watch the MSNBC video: https://on.msnbc.com/3SvK9Jo (4:42) San Francisco Standard . According to a report by the San Francisco Standard on February 23, 2023, Nick Gee, a staff member of Chinese for Affirmative Action, flew from San Francisco to his hometown of Houston to join the local protests against Texas SB 147.¶ Texas SB 147 has sent a shock wave through Chinese American communities nationwide, sparking new debate on the anti-China rhetoric, anti-Chinese racism in politics and the “perpetual foreigner” stereotype. In response, a coalition of Chinese Americans from across the country are banding together to voice their opposition.¶ Peter Kuo , the vice chairman of the California Republican Party, said he was disheartened by the proposed bill. “It actually harnesses a lot of negative energies or negative prejudice against the Chinese Americans who are already here,” said Kuo. He said the bill’s language would increase anti-Asian sentiment and turn Asians into scapegoats. Read the San Francisco Standard report: http://bit.ly/3KAcVXs Washington Post. According to a report by Washington Post on February 22, 2023, a growing number of state legislators and members of Congress are offering a master class in how not to confront China by supporting indiscriminate crackdowns on Chinese citizens and companies seeking to purchase U.S. land.¶ Bills like SB 147 evoke a long and painful history. In the past, the desire to ensure U.S. national security has often been expressed in ways that excused or justified hatred against Asians. In turn, racist anxieties about people of Asian descent have played a key role in shaping the development of national security policy.¶ Revisiting the long history of anti-Asian behavior in the United States makes clear the inherent dangers of today’s assaults. Read the Washington Post article: https://wapo.st/3Z3ZpzI Racist and McCarthyist Attacks on Rep. Judy Chu and Dominic Ng Condemned 1. Mediaite.com . According to a report by Mediaite.com on February 24, 2023, top House Democrats slammed Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) over the Republican’s comments on Fox News earlier in the week in which he said he questions Rep. Judy Chu’s 赵美心 ( D-CA) “loyalty or competence.”¶ Gooden made the remarks in response to Fox News host Jesse Watters asking if he believed “Congresswoman Chu should be looked into?”¶ House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also released a statement lambasting Gooden. “Lance Gooden’s slanderous accusation of disloyalty against Rep. Chu is dangerous, unconscionable and xenophobic.”¶ Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), head of the House Democrats’ campaign arm, also released a statement: "At a time when anti-Asian hate continues to threaten communities, it’s critical that we condemn these racist and xenophobic attacks immediately and hold our fellow colleagues accountable to rid our politics of such dangerous statements and hatred." Read the Mediaite.com report: http://bit.ly/3ZnnfpN 2 . Congressional Black Caucus. On February 24, 2023, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) issued the following statement: "Last night, Rep. Lance Gordon appeared on Fox News and questioned the loyalty of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chairwoman Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心 , indicating that she should be stripped of her security clearance simply because of her Chinese ethnicity. To be clear, a person's ethnicity is not indicative of their trustworthiness or loyalty to this country and to suggest otherwise is inflammatory as a nation of immigrants. The CBC stands with CAPAC in denouncing Rep. Gooden's racist and xenophobic remarks, and we urge Republican House leadership to follow suit and take action." 3. United Chinese Americans (UCA). On February 26, 2023, UCA issued a statement. "United Chinese Americans (UCA) strongly condemns the recent racist and offensive remarks made by Texas Representative Lance Gooden against Representative Judy Chu 赵美心 , Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and a highly respected leader in Chinese American and AAPI communities. His baseless comments questioning Representative Chu's loyalty to the United States are McCarthyist, racist, and shameful."¶ "It is no less disturbing and shameful to accuse Dominic Ng 吴建民 , a highly respected Chinese American business and community leader, and President Biden’s pick to represent the United States on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2023, of treason to America, based on flimsy and unsubstantiated evidence." Read the UCA statement: https://bit.ly/3kBl0An 4 . AP News Report. According to an AP News report on February 26, 2023, the leaders of a new House select committee on China defended Democratic Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心 , saying it was abhorrent and unacceptable for a GOP lawmaker to question her loyalty to the United States based on her Chinese heritage.¶ “One of my colleagues, unfortunately, attacked Judy Chu, the first Chinese American congresswoman in the United States Congress, saying that somehow she’s not loyal to the United States. I find that offensive as an Asian American myself,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi , the ranking Democrat on the panel, about the comments last week from Rep. Lance Gooden .¶ Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher , the Republican chair of the China panel who appeared with Krishnamoorthi on CBS ’ “Face the Nation,” said Gooden was out of line. “We should not question anybody’s loyalty to the United States,” Gallagher said. “That is out of bounds. It’s beyond the pale.” Gallagher said his bipartisan committee, which is officially called the “Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party” was named as such “to constantly make that distinction between the party and the people.” “We must constantly be aware of going overboard as we try and win this competition with China,” he said. Read the AP News report: http://bit.ly/3IwLhI5 More Media Reports Politico. According to a Politico report on February 26, 2023, “One of my colleagues, unfortunately, attacked Judy Chu 赵美心 , the first Chinese American Congresswoman in the United States Congress, saying that somehow she’s not loyal to the United States. I find that offensive as an Asian American myself,” Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said of criticism last week of the California Democrat by Rep. Lance Gooden .¶ Joining Krishnamoorthi on CBS ’ “Face the Nation,” Rep. Mike Gallagher agreed with him: “We should not question anybody’s loyalty to the United States. I think that is out of bounds.” “Absolutely, we shouldn’t question anybody’s loyalty,” Gallagher added.¶ Host Margaret Brennan asked Gallagher how the American people can be sure the panel doesn’t end up as being seen as persecuting people, as in the 1950s loyalty hearings led by Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.).¶ “Joseph McCarthy’s from my district, he’s buried in my district; we need not exhume his body and reanimate it,” Gallagher said, adding: “We must constantly be aware of going overboard as we try and win this competition with China.”¶ Read the Politico report: https://politi.co/3KBOxVn 2023/02/27 CBS News. "House China panel leaders denounce heritage-based attack on Rep. Judy Chu." https://cbsn.ws/3SEe4iz 2023/02/27 Salon. House Democrats rip MAGA Republican for 'blatantly racist' attack on Rep. Judy Chu." http://bit.ly/3Zvv9xz 2023/02/27 NBC News. " House China panel leaders defend Rep. Judy Chu after Texas Republican's attack." https://bit.ly/3xWLqjd 2023/02/25 Los Angeles Times. "GOP congressman questions her ‘loyalty.’ Rep. Judy Chu, House Democrats blast ‘racist’ rhetoric:" https://lat.ms/3ktyMVV . 2023/02/25 Business Insider. "Democratic Rep. Judy Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, blasts a Texas GOP congressman after he questioned her loyalty to the US: 'It is racist'." http://bit.ly/3xXleoA 2023/02/25 Vanity Fair. "Democrats Denounce Rep. Lance Gooden for Questioning The 'Loyalty' of Rep. Judy Chu Following Rumors of Ties to China's Communist Party." http://bit.ly/41uG1xr 2023/02/24 The Hill. "Democrats erupt with fury after Republican questions ‘loyalty’ of Rep. Chu." http://bit.ly/3Y4rYvx 2023/02/24 Washington Post. "Democrats defend Rep. Chu against ‘xenophobic’ accusations of disloyalty to U.S." https://wapo.st/3Z6miCs . Building a Sustainable Platform and Pipeline for AAPI Leadership in Higher Education Register for this workshop webinar: http://bit.ly/3xPv6Rj Chang-Lin Tien Leadership in Education Award. Know an academically accomplished AAPI leader in Higher Education? Nominate them to the Asian Pacific Fund for the 2023 Chang-Lin Tien Leadership in Education Award! Deadline MARCH 3, 2023. For eligibility criteria and more information, go to: https://bit.ly/TienAward Asian American and Scientific Community News and Activities 1. Workshop on Asian American Trailblazers in Civil Rights. On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the 1990 Institute and the Alice Fong Yu Alternative School invite middle and high school teachers to learn more about the Asian Americans who fought for civil rights that benefited all who call America home. By 2025, a majority of states will have requirements in place for Asian American and Pacific Islander studies be taught in school. This multifaceted event will highlight Asian American pioneers and the pivotal court cases that have changed the landscape of U.S. civil rights, including the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) that established the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. The 125th anniversary of this landmark case is on March 28, 2023. Register for the event: http://bit.ly/3ZpBLgN 2. MIT Technology Review. According to a report by MIT Technology Review on February 20, 2023, Citizen, a hyperlocal app that allows users to report and follow notifications of nearby crimes, is trying to remake itself by recruiting elderly Asians.¶ Read the MIT Technology Review Report: http://bit.ly/3xVWmgZ Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF February 28, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #347 USHCA/AAJC Updates; 4th Court Blocks Birthright Citizenship EO; Immigration; TX SB17;+ #347 USHCA/AAJC Updates; 4th Court Blocks Birthright Citizenship EO; Immigration; TX SB17;+ In This Issue #347 · Update from the U.S. Heartland China Association · Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC · Fourth District Court Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Restrictions · Reuters : Refugee Cap of 40,000 with Focus on White South Africans · Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law Dismissed · News and Activities for the Communities Update from the U.S. Heartland China Association Min Fan 范敏 , Executive Director, U.S. Heartland China Association, returned to speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on August 4, 2025.The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is a bipartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering constructive engagement between the U.S. Heartland and China. Contrary to assumptions based on its name, the organization was not founded by Chinese Americans. It was established by the late U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson of Illinois and is now chaired by former Missouri Governor Bob Holden . USHCA explicitly does not engage in lobbying or political advocacy, adhering strictly to its nonprofit charter.USHCA serves as a neutral platform to promote dialogue, education, cultural exchange, and economic engagement between Middle America and China. The organization recognizes that many communities in the Heartland— particularly rural areas and underserved minority populations — have historically had limited access to international and cross-cultural education, especially regarding China. USHCA seeks to fill this gap by connecting communities, promoting awareness, and building people-to-people ties.Min is the first Chinese American to lead USHCA. When she joined the association at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, USHCA had limited ties to the broader Chinese American community, despite its long-standing role as a cultural and diplomatic bridge. By partnering with national Chinese American networks, USHCA led a large-scale Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) relief effort. Over 800,000 pieces of PPE were collected and distributed across the Heartland, including to rural and underserved health clinics. This initiative helped address severe shortages and brought together volunteers through state agencies and nonprofit groups. It also introduced many Heartland residents to Chinese Americans for the first time—a transformative experience for all involved. Min recognized the need to explain why U.S.-China relations matter at the local level. USHCA publishes a comprehensive report, “ Why U.S.-China Relations Matter to the Heartland ,” that quantifies the multifaceted relationship that each of the 21 states in the Heartland region has with China, such as: · Hundreds of millions (up to half a billion dollars in some cases) contributed by Chinese international students to state economies. · Jobs created through Chinese investment and exports. · Historical ties between Heartland communities and China dating back generations. Although the report does not constitute political advocacy, it has become a practical tool for local stakeholders, elected officials, and educators to explain the relevance of U.S.-China relations in concrete, community-focused terms.Beyond policy and economic dialogue, USHCA supports cultural exchange and education. It promotes the work of Chinese language teachers in Heartland states like Kentucky and Missouri—even as demand for Mandarin instruction declines nationally. The association also supports cultural projects, such as the “Far East Deep South” documentary tour along the Mississippi River , to strengthen cultural awareness of the long history of Chinese Americans in the Mississippi River basin community. A centerpiece of USHCA’s current efforts is the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue , launched in 2023. This subnational diplomacy initiative connects local leaders in the Heartland with their counterparts in China. The first round included six U.S. mayors visiting China to initiate discussions on economic development, climate resilience, and public health. In 2024, a reciprocal delegation from China visited Memphis, Tennessee, where the original U.S. mayors and other community leaders hosted a series of dialogues. In 2025, the third round of this initiative is set to take place in Wuhan, Hubei Province—a symbolic and strategic location. These dialogues are deliberately kept out of the media spotlight to ensure continuity and a neutral learning experience for the American delegates. USHCA, like many organizations working in the U.S.-China space, is operating under increasing political scrutiny from both sides. The association has faced indirect attacks by groups such as State Armor. Some of the U.S. mayors who previously participated in USHCA-led trips to China had experienced harassment on social media or being criticized by their political opponents.These developments underscore a broader trend where China-related efforts — even cultural or educational — are weaponized in political discourse, especially during election cycles.Due to the expiration of its initial grant funding, USHCA is now reaching out to the community for two key forms of support: · Leadership Identification : Helping the organization identify open-minded local officials and civic leaders interested in engaging with Chinese counterparts. · Financial Support : Providing or sourcing funding to allow local delegations to continue participating in the Yangtze-Mississippi Dialogue and other exchange programs. Despite political headwinds, USHCA continues to witness strong interest from local leaders across the Heartland. Many mayors and nonprofit leaders are eager to address shared global challenges—including climate change, healthcare access, and economic revitalization—through international cooperation. USHCA believes these dialogues can promote a more nuanced understanding and help reshape the narrative surrounding China, shifting away from confrontation and toward mutual understanding and stability.USHCA remains a critical actor in maintaining and nurturing people-to-people diplomacy at a time of strained U.S.-China relations. Through programs like the Yangtze-Mississippi Dialogue, cultural education efforts, and community-driven initiatives, the organization continues to serve as a rare but vital bridge between the American interior and one of the world’s most consequential nations. Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, is a regular invited speaker at APA Justice monthly meetings. On August 4, 2025, she gave the following update: 1. Monitoring of China Initiative Language in CJS Appropriations Report Joanna reaffirmed Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC’s vigilance in tracking attempts to reintroduce elements of the discontinued China Initiative through language in the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee report. The China Initiative was widely criticized for encouraging racial profiling, particularly of individuals of Chinese descent in academic and scientific communities. AAJC is working with partner organizations to oppose any provisions that attempt to revive these discriminatory practices. 2. Advocacy Letter to Congress A joint letter—led by AAJC in partnership with Stop AAPI Hate, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)—was submitted to Congress, urging the removal of harmful language tied to the China Initiative. However, the full Appropriations Committee vote has been postponed until after the House returns from the August recess. AAJC plans to recirculate the letter to gather additional organizational endorsements in the interim.Groups that missed the initial tight turnaround are encouraged to sign on during this extended opportunity. 3. Clarification on West Virginia Land Law – HB 2961 AAJC addressed concerns regarding HB 2961, a land law enacted in West Virginia on April 28, 2025, which has raised questions among community organizations.The law defines a "prohibited foreign party" to include individuals from China, but the ban applies only to those acting on behalf of foreign-owned entities—not individuals purchasing land for personal use. It affects all types of real estate, including mineral rights, when transactions involve entities under foreign control. In the event of a violation, the law allows six months for divestment, enforced by state courts and the West Virginia Attorney General.AAJC remains committed to defending the rights of Asian American communities and is actively engaged in legislative advocacy to combat discriminatory policies. Organizations are urged to stay informed, join collective efforts, and support ongoing monitoring and response strategies. Fourth District Court Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Restrictions Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications AssociateAccording to CBS News , The Hill , Maryland Matters , and multiple media reports, a federal judge in Maryland blocked President Trump’s executive order (EO) targeting birthright citizenship on August 7, 2025. This marks the fourth such decision since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June limiting nationwide injunctions.Previously, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman indicated she planned to issue a nationwide injunction blocking the restrictions, but she did not have jurisdiction at the time because the case was under the authority of an appeals court. Last week, the appeals court remanded the case to her for ruling.The June Supreme Court ruling did not directly address the constitutionality of President Trump’s executive order, instead ruling that lower courts exceeded their authority by issuing nationwide injunctions. However, the justices did maintain that lower courts could issue nationwide stays if the lawsuits were class-action suits, which is what Judge Boardman did.Judge Boardman identified a class of children born on U.S. soil who “unquestionably would be citizens but for the Executive Order.” She added that the EO was “almost certainly unconstitutional” by violating the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to “all persons” born in the U.S.President Trump’s executive order seeks to deny birthright citizenship to children without at least one parent who is a citizen or permanent legal resident.Judge Boardman’s ruling followed The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals , and the District Courts in New Hampshire and Massachusetts . Read more about the Birthright Citizenship issue at https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/birthright-citizenship . Reuters : Refugee Cap of 40,000 with Focus on White South Africans According to an exclusive report by Reuters on August 15, 2025, the Trump administration is weighing a refugee admissions cap of about 40,000 for fiscal year 2026, with an unprecedented majority—some 30,000 slots—earmarked for white South African Afrikaners. This marks a sharp shift in U.S. refugee policy, which has traditionally emphasized global humanitarian priorities and bipartisan support. The proposed cap would be far lower than the 100,000 admissions under President Biden in 2024 but higher than Trump’s record-low 15,000 ceiling in 2021. While Trump has argued that Afrikaners face discrimination and violence in South Africa, the South African government has rejected those claims. Officials also noted that smaller caps, as low as 12,000, were discussed, and that some admissions could go to Afghans, Ukrainians, or other groups.Implementation has faced challenges. The State Department has laid off refugee program staff, forcing inexperienced Health and Human Services (HHS) workers to take on refugee screening and assistance. Early arrivals from South Africa have already reported hardship, with reduced benefits, difficulty obtaining Social Security numbers, and limited access to jobs or housing. Refugees expressed frustration at spending thousands of dollars to cover basic needs after Trump cut support programs that previously lasted a year down to just four months. White House officials stressed that no final decision has been made and that refugee caps will be determined in September. Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law Dismissed Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to AsAmNews , Daily Guardian , South China Morning Post , and multiple media reports, Federal Judge Charles Eskridge dismissed a lawsuit against Texas’ recently passed alien land law, Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing. On July 3, 2025, the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Chinese nationals, Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103) , arguing SB 17 discriminates against Chinese people based on race and ethnicity and creates fear for those trying to secure housing while living in Texas legally. The lawsuit also asserts that the bill violates federal preemption, the principle that state law cannot supersede conflicting federal law. Set to take effect on September 1, 2025, SB 17 prohibits noncitizens from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from purchasing homes, acquiring land, or leasing apartments in Texas. It also grants the governor the authority to add other countries to the list. The bill applies to all “real property,” not just land near critical infrastructure, but it does not apply to dual citizens, permanent residents, and individuals legally residing in the U.S. on temporary work or student visas. For citizens of China, the restriction is especially severe. While students or workers on visas are still free to purchase their principal residence, they are prohibited from acquiring holiday homes or investment properties. Leasing too is restricted, with lease contracts limited to terms shorter than one year. Proponents of the bill insist it is necessary to ensure national security by targeting governments and companies deemed hostile by the federal government. However, opponents of the bill argue it is unconstitutional and discriminatory, promoting racial profiling and xenophobia. Gene Wu , Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, called the bill “a loud and clear message that Asians don’t belong in this country.” The Texas Attorney General’s office successfully contended that the law is not discriminatory and that the court lacks jurisdiction over police powers exercised “to protect Texans from foreign governments that intend to harm them.” Following Judge Eskridge’s decision, CALDA announced that it would appeal. According to Justin Sadowsky , lead counsel for CALDA, “Chinese people in this state of Texas will be terrified of so much as renting a place to live, because if it turns out this law does apply to them it is a state jail felony, and they can end up in jail for two years.” Prior to the hearing, a press conference was held in front of the courthouse, featuring speakers from a variety of advocacy organizations. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/08/19 China Connections - Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: Chinese Scholars to America2025/09/06 The 2025 Asian American Youth Symposium2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/09/08 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Janet Yang2025/09/09 China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China2025/09/16-17 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. USCET Events on 8/19 and 9/9 WHEN: August 19, 2025, 8:00 - 9:15 pm ET WHAT: China Connections - Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: Chinese Scholars to America WHERE: Webinar REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3UzJuIL WHEN : September 9, 2025, 5:30 - 7:00 pm ET WHAT: China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China WHERE: Lindner Family Commons, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Washington DC REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/45zuRKE 3. 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit WHEN: September 16-17, 2025 WHAT: 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit WHERE: · Sept 16 : Holiday Inn National Airport · Sept 17 : U.S. Capitol – Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2044 REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4fDJ9hO # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF August 19, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Qing Wang 王擎 Docket ID: 1:20-mj-09111 District Court, N.D. Ohio Date filed: May 12, 2020 Date ended: July 20, 2021 Table of Contents Overview Deletion from DOJ China Initiative Online Report 2021/09/15 Washington Post Report Cleveland Clinic Foundation Held Accountable in 2024 Links and References Overview On May 14, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of Dr. Qing Wang as a former Cleveland Clinic employee and a Chinese “Thousand Talents” participant. The case was listed under the China Initiative. Dr. Wang was charged with false claims and wire fraud related to more than $3.6 million in grant funding that he and his research group received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cleveland Clinic fired Dr. Wang the same day he was arrested. Dr. Wang was born in China, began his work at the Cleveland Clinic in 1997 and became a U.S. citizen in 2005. He specialized in breakthroughs in heart disease at the Lerner Institute of the Cleveland Clinic—one of the world’s leading research centers. On July 15, 2021, DOJ moved to dismiss its case against Dr. Qing Wang. In a statement, the DOJ explained, "The United States Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the complaint, without prejudice, against Qing Wang, a.k.a. Kenneth Wang. The Office has made this decision after a review of the case and will decline further comment at this time." The Cleveland Clinic also released a statement saying, “We have fully cooperated with federal law enforcement’s investigation into this matter. Dr. Wang’s employment was terminated following an internal review which revealed violations of Cleveland Clinic and National Institutes of Health (NIH) policies.” On July 20, 2021, U.S. Magistrate Judge William H. Baughman, Jr. ordered the dismissal of Dr. Wang’s case. After DOJ made the motion to dismiss Dr. Wang’s case, it proceeded to delete it from its online report on the China Initiative – a practice that was continued unannounced and without explanation for several months until November 2021 when APA Justice reported it to the Attorney General and MIT Technology Review began to build a database on the online report. On September 15, 2021, the Washington Post published an interview with Dr. Wang, who later restarted his research career at China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology. On June 21, 2024, Science reported that DOJ reached a settlement with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF), requiring CCF to pay $7.6 million to resolve allegations of mismanagement involving three NIH grants. This settlement sends a clear message that research institutions will be held accountable for failing to adequately monitor outside support provided to their faculty. Defense attorney for Dr. Wang maintained that his client had followed the rules and voluntarily disclosed his Chinese support. “He told them everything—both NIH and CCF.” The CCF settlement, he added, simply confirmed Dr. Wang’s innocence. Deletion from DOJ China Initiative Online Report The Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained an online report on China Initiative cases since the initiative's launch in November 2018, including Dr. Qing Wang's case. However, after the DOJ moved to dismiss Dr. Wang’s case, DOJ deleted his case from the online report. This unannounced practice of removing dismissed or acquitted cases continued for several months without explanation. On November 24, 2021, APA Justice reported the removal of about 20 cases from its online China Initiative report to Attorney General Merrick Garland. MIT Technology Review brought this practice to light with a published investigative report on December 2, 2021. DOJ ceased to update its online report on November 19, 2021. The end of the China Initiative was formally announced on February 23, 2022. 2021/09/15 Washington Post Report According to the Washington Post on September 15, 2021, in the weeks leading up to his arrest, Dr. Qing Wang was interviewed by the Cleveland Clinic and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) about his grants. He got no indication he was under criminal suspicion. “I was shocked,” he said about his early morning arrest in May 2020. “At that moment,” he said, “I felt that my life was over.” Dr. Wang was the lead investigator on a research project on the genetics of cardiovascular disease, funded by more than $3.6 million in NIH grants. He allegedly neglected to disclose to NIH that even as he was a professor at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner College of Medicine, he was a beneficiary of the Thousand Talents Program, through which the Chinese government recruits academics in the West whose expertise might benefit Beijing. In an affidavit , FBI agent John Matthews alleged that through the program, Dr. Wang was made dean of the College of Life Sciences at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The agent said Wang concealed receiving Chinese government grants totaling $480,000 for research that overlapped with his U.S.-funded work. In particular, Matthews alleged, citing NIH information, “the families used in both studies were mostly the same.” Dr. Wang’s lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, disputed the allegations, saying Wang disclosed his research in China as part of the NIH application and did not use American families for the Chinese study. Dr. Wang also disclosed to the Cleveland Clinic that he was affiliated with the talent program, said Zeidenberg, a former federal prosecutor and a partner at Arent Fox in Washington. “Ultimately this came down to whether the grant forms were filled out correctly,” Zeidenberg said. “The information was all there. It just wasn’t where the NIH was looking.” Over 34 years of research in the United States, including 21 at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Wang led a team that discovered the first gene for Brugada syndrome, a disorder causing irregular heart rhythm, which can be fatal — especially in young people. He wanted to stay in the United States because it “has the best environment for science in this area,” and because he thought he would have the most impact in a country where heart disease is the leading cause of death. The arrest terrified Dr. Wang, his wife, Qiuyun Chen, and their two daughters. “We worked so hard day and night just trying to understand how to prevent human disease,” said Chen, who also came to the United States in 1986 to study and was a member of Dr. Wang’s Cleveland Clinic research team. “And you never think this would be criminal.” Cleveland Clinic Foundation Held Accountable in 2024 According to a report by Science on June 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled that research institutions will be held accountable for oversight failures. In a settlement reached on May 17, 2024, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) agreed to pay $7.6 million to resolve allegations of mismanaging three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. As part of the settlement, a senior CCF administrator must personally attest to the accuracy of all NIH submissions, a significant responsibility. The case began in 2018 when NIH investigated CCF cardiovascular geneticist Dr. Qing Wang, based on an FBI list of scientists allegedly receiving Chinese funding. Following a CCF investigation, NIH suspended Dr. Wang’s $2.8 million grant in April 2020, and CCF terminated his employment. Dr. Wang was arrested in May 2020 under the China Initiative but was later cleared when the DOJ dropped the charges in July 2021 without explanation. Dr. Wang’s lawyer maintained that Dr. Wang had disclosed all necessary information to NIH and CCF, asserting his client's innocence. The CCF settlement follows earlier civil settlements with the Van Andel Institute, where scientists were not criminally charged, amounting to $6.6 million in 2019 and 2021. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #92 Franklin Tao Trial; Chronicle Report on UTK/MIT; 11/01 Meeting; Events + Developments #92 Franklin Tao Trial; Chronicle Report on UTK/MIT; 11/01 Meeting; Events + Developments Back View PDF October 28, 2021 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 - #320 ACF, CALDA and AAJC Reports; Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Court Rulings Against Trump; More #320 ACF, CALDA and AAJC Reports; Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Court Rulings Against Trump; More In This Issue #320 · The Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs · Updates from Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance · Updates from Advancing Justice | AAJC · Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Defies Court Order; Rebuked by Chief Justice · Recent Court Rulings Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities The Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs Jessica Chen Weiss is Founding Faculty Director of the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF), SAIS, Johns Hopkins University.During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025, Jessica introduced ACF, newly launched in February 2025, that aims to enhance the rigor and depth of public and policy discussions on China, emphasizing civil liberties, inclusiveness, and democracy as central to U.S. foreign policy. Unlike other China-focused think tanks, ACF seeks to foster evidence-based dialogue among experts and practitioners while remaining neutral on policy stances. The institute was launched alongside the report " Getting China Right at Home ," a collection of essays by 15 experts, including contributions from Gisella Perez Kusakawa of Asian American Scholar Forum and Patrick Toomey of ACLU. Seven of the 15 essays in the conceptions of grappling with China address issues of civil liberties, transnational oppression, and discrimination against Asian Americans.ACF seeks to fill a gap in Washington's foreign policy conversations by addressing the domestic consequences of U.S.-China relations, ensuring that civil rights and inclusivity are not sidelined. Jessica emphasized that these issues are not merely collateral damage but are fundamental to formulating sound China policies. There are head winds, but the institute operates under four guiding principles: rigor in research, humility in acknowledging complexity, civility in discussions, and creativity in forward-thinking solutions. This approach is intended to bridge academia and policymaking, fostering long-term strategies that account for both national security and civil liberties.This spring, ACF will focus on disseminating its research findings through meetings with congressional offices, government agencies, and policy stakeholders to encourage two-way dialogue. The institute will also launch an ideas series spotlighting key policy areas while cultivating a new generation of experts who integrate academic insights with practical policymaking. Jessica underscored the importance of maintaining open academic spaces for constructive discussions, ensuring that universities continue to contribute to informed policy debates. Through these initiatives, ACF aims to provide a central platform for nuanced, fact-based conversations on U.S.-China relations and their broader societal implications.A summary of the March 3 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Updates from Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance Clay Zhu 朱可亮 is Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟 (CALDA).During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025, Clay provided updates on ongoing civil rights litigation concerning discriminatory laws against Chinese Americans, particularly in Florida. Clay’s update covered two major legal battles: Florida’s Alien Land Law (SB 264) and SB 846, which targets Chinese students and universities.SB 264, a measure enacted nearly two years ago, is widely seen as part of the political positioning for the Florida Governor’s presidential bid. This law has been challenged in federal court by CALDA in collaboration with the ACLU and other organizations. The case is currently before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, with a decision anticipated in the next couple months. Clay stressed that the ruling will have far-reaching implications, as it is the first appellate-level decision on such a state law. Given its higher legal authority, the ruling could influence similar laws in other states, particularly Texas, where similar measures are under consideration. The second major case pertains to Florida’s SB 846 , which prohibits universities from forming agreements with Chinese entities. In practice, this has led to the termination of Chinese graduate students’ assistantship roles, severely impacting their academic and professional development.For students working towards a master or Ph.D. degree, it is essential for them to working for the supervising professors as graduate assistants, so that they can go into the lab and work on real life projects and be able to collaborate on academic papers.SB 846 basically bans all the international students from China to be graduate students at universities in Florida.CALDA promptly filed a lawsuit challenging this law. Recently, a magistrate judge ruled in favor of one of CALDA’s arguments, stating that Florida’s law interferes with federal immigration authority. The judge accepted the argument that the law overreaches state power by infringing upon federal immigration regulations. However, the court did not rule in favor of the claim that the law is racially discriminatory. The case is now under review by a district court judge, who is expected to issue a decision in the next month or two. Given historical precedent, it is likely that the district court judge will adopt the magistrate judge’s recommendations. Nevertheless, Florida is expected to appeal the ruling, which would bring the case before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, similar to the Alien Land Law case.Looking ahead, Clay noted that CALDA is closely monitoring legislative developments in Texas. If Texas enacts laws similar to SB 264 or SB 846, the organization is prepared to launch legal challenges to prevent further discriminatory measures. The outcomes of these lawsuits will not only shape the legal landscape in Florida but also set critical precedents that could influence policy decisions and judicial interpretations in other states.Through these legal battles, CALDA continues to advocate for the rights of Chinese Americans, ensuring that unconstitutional and discriminatory policies are challenged in court. Clay’s update highlights the ongoing efforts to protect civil rights and the broader implications of these cases for immigrant communities nationwide. Updates from Advancing Justice | AAJC During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director of Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program at Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that AAJC strongly condemned President Trump's executive order mandating English as the official U.S. language, calling it a racist attack on immigrant communities.Joanna provided a litigation update, noting that a federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked key parts of Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI initiatives in the Federal government and corporate America, citing constitutional violations and harm to affected individuals and organizations.AAJC is also tracking land law activities at state and federal levels, particularly in Texas, where lawmakers introduced SB 17 and HB 1849. AAJC is working with NAPABA and other groups to support advocacy efforts. At the federal level, they anticipate alien land bills and are coordinating opposition with allies, including CAPAC.In addition, reports indicate that the Trump administration plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act soon, with advocacy groups engaging lawmakers to oppose it. Lastly, Trump nominated John Eisenberg to lead the DOJ’s National Security Division, raising concerns about a possible reinstatement of the China Initiative. AAJC is strategizing with partners to monitor his confirmation. Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Defies Court Order; Rebuked by Chief Justice According to multiple media reports, on March 15, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law granting the president broad authority to detain or deport noncitizens from "enemy nations" without due process. Trump’s order claims the U.S. is facing an “invasion” by a Venezuelan gang allegedly acting on behalf of Venezuela’s government. Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman opined that the Alien Enemies Act is a weak argument for deportation without a hearing - the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela, a gang is not a government, and it is not threatening invasion or incursion.The Alien Enemies Act was last used during World War II to justify the internment of 120,000 persons of Japanese descent and has only been invoked twice before, during World War I and the War of 1812.The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Democracy Forward, and the ACLU of the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over Trump's expected unlawful and unprecedented invocation of the Alien Enemies Act— J.G.G. v. Trump (1:25-cv-00766) . Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of the D.C. Circuit Court issued an initial temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the deportation of the five plaintiffs named in the lawsuit. Later that day, Judge Boasberg expanded the scope of the TRO to encompass all individuals at risk of removal under the Alien Enemies Act, thereby granting class certification. This expanded TRO now protects all immigrants who could be subject to deportation under the Act, preventing their removal from the United States until further legal proceedings determine the Act's applicability and constitutionality in this context. The Washington Post reported that planes deporting 137 migrants under the act landed in El Salvador after Judge Boasberg ordered any such flights to return to the United States on March 15. Family members of some of those deported reportedly said their relatives are not gang members.On March 17, Judge Boasberg ordered Trump officials to provide the next day a sworn declaration that no one was deported under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act after his verbal order was made to turn the planes around. The judge also ordered officials to detail when the executive order was issued and provide a count of how many alleged gang members still in the United States are subject to the order. The Trump administration’s battle with the federal court system escalated sharply with government lawyers calling for the removal of Judge Boasberg and refusing to answer some questions in court.On March 18, Trump called for the impeachment of Judge Boasberg, prompting John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States to issue a rare and stern statement rejecting the idea and asserting the independence of the judiciary. “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” he wrote. “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”On March 18, the Justice Department refused to answer questions from Judge Boasberg seeking more details about deportations carried out under the Alien Enemies Act, leading the judge to issue a new order for the information. "The Government maintains that there is no justification to order the provision of additional information, and that doing so would be inappropriate...if, however, the Court nevertheless orders the Government to provide additional details, the Court should do so through an in camera and ex parte declaration, in order to protect sensitive information bearing on foreign relations," the DOJ filing said.Judge Boasberg responded to the filing a short time later, directing the government to answer his questions in a sealed court filing by noon March 19. Judge Boasberg has substantial qualifications in handling national security matters, having served a seven-year term on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court beginning in May 2014. He was the Court's Presiding Judge from January 2020 to May 2021. Judge Boasberg expressed frustration that the government had appeared to snub his order halting the deportations and refused to answer questions about its actions. He had reportedly summarized the government's position as "we don’t care, we’ll do what we want.”On March 19, New York Times reported that Judge Boasberg granted the government another day to share details on deportation flights, including what time two planes took off from U.S. soil and from where, what time they left U.S. airspace, and what time they landed in El Salvador.On March 24, a federal appeals court will hear oral arguments on the Trump administration’s request to lift the temporary block from Judge Boasberg.APA Justice will continue to closely monitor and provide updates on this development. Several organizations have issued statements on the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, including: · 2025/03/18 Asian American Scholar Forum · 2025/03/17 Asian American Advancing Justice · 2025/03/17 Refugee International · 2025/03/16 Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund ***** WP: ‘Very dangerous’: Japanese Americans warn of Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act According to the Washington Post on March 19, 2025, during World War II, the U.S. government used the Alien Enemies Act to arrest thousands of Japanese, German, and Italian nationals, often without evidence or due process. Russell Endo , whose grandfather Heigoro Endo was detained under the law, has researched hundreds of such cases and found no evidence of disloyalty. “If you read the case files, they are completely innocent,” Endo said, emphasizing how the law lacked oversight and offered no recourse for those targeted. Now, with President Donald Trump invoking the same law to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members without hearings, Japanese American leaders fear history is repeating itself. Former Congressman Mike Honda , who was incarcerated as an infant under Executive Order 9066, warned that the law gives “too much power in the executive branch because it can be used at a whim.” He has worked with lawmakers to repeal the law, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of fundamental rights. The personal impact of such policies extends across generations. Larry Oda , president of the Japanese American Citizens League, recalled how his father, Junichi , was arrested the day after a military exclusion zone was expanded in California, even though he had relocated to avoid internment. Junichi was sent to multiple incarceration camps, including one in Crystal City, Texas, where Oda was born. “One of the things that affected me the most was that myself and my family had done nothing wrong. We were targeted because of the way we looked,” he said. The trauma left a lasting fear of being unfairly imprisoned. The history of wartime detention highlights the broader dangers of discriminatory policies, as seen in Trump’s recent deportations, which a federal judge has already challenged. For Endo and others, the lesson is clear: “People are using a law that is very dangerous, and the government is abusing it.” Recent Court Rulings Against Trump's Executive Actions As of March 19, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 129 with two closed cases. The New York Times is tracking court rulings that have at least temporarily halted some of the president’s initiatives. As of March 15, 2025, there were at least 46 such rulings.Some of the recent major rulings and related developments: · On March 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang of the District of Maryland found efforts by Elon Musk and his team to permanently shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development likely violated the Constitution “in multiple ways” and robbed Congress of its authority to oversee the dissolution of an agency it created. Judge Chuang ordered that agency operations be partially restored and barred Musk’s team from engaging in any further work “related to the shutdown of U.S.A.I.D.” The ruling was issued in Does 1-26 v. Musk (8:25-cv-00462) On March 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes of the District of Columbia blocked the Trump administration from banning transgender people from serving in the military until the lawsuit is decided. “The ban at bottom invokes derogatory language to target a vulnerable group in violation of the Fifth Amendment,” Judge Reyes wrote. The ruling was issued in Talbott v. Trump (1:25-cv-00240) On March 17, 2025, U.S District Judge Julie Rubin of Maryland ordered the U.S. Department of Education to reinstate numerous grants that support teacher-preparation programs. The ruling was issued in American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education v. McMahon (1:25-cv-00702) On March 13, 2025, U.S District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California ordered half a dozen federal agencies to “immediately” reinstate probationary employees fired last month as part of the Trump administration’s effort to rapidly shrink the federal workforce, calling the effort a “sham.” The ruling was issued in American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. United States Office of Personnel Management (3:25-cv-01780) . On March 17, the Ninth Circuit denied the government’s request for an administrative stay. On March 14, 2025, U.S District Judge James K. Bredar of Maryland granted a temporary restraining order demanding the Trump administration reinstate federal probationary employees terminated on or after January 20. On March 18, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration has moved to reinstate at least 24,000 federal probationary employees fired in Trump’s push to shrink the government. The ruling was issued in State of Maryland v. United States Department of Agriculture (1:25-cv-00748) News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2025/03/04 Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community2025/03/05 The Global Economy at a Crossroads: U.S.-China in Focus2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF March 20, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #70 [Roundtable Special] APA Justice Statement; Susan Lee Letter; How You Can Join And Help #70 [Roundtable Special] APA Justice Statement; Susan Lee Letter; How You Can Join And Help Back View PDF June 29, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #55 04/28 Webinar Open; Erika Moritsugu; Yellow Whistle; Petition Delivered; Anti-Asian Hate; Lots More #55 04/28 Webinar Open; Erika Moritsugu; Yellow Whistle; Petition Delivered; Anti-Asian Hate; Lots More Back View PDF April 19, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #24 New Cold War On Research; Culture Of Silence; Data And Research Needs; 2020 Census #24 New Cold War On Research; Culture Of Silence; Data And Research Needs; 2020 Census Back View PDF October 23, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #255 Registration Open for FBI Forum; Students from China; Bill Tracker; Trailblazers; More #255 Registration Open for FBI Forum; Students from China; Bill Tracker; Trailblazers; More In This Issue #255 · Registration Open: 06/06 Community Forum with The FBI · Welcoming Students from China and Customs and Border Protection · C100 Updates Alien Land Bill Tracker for 2024 · Trailblazing Asian American Legislators · News and Activities for the Communities Registration Open: 06/06 Community Forum with The FBI WHAT: A Dialogue Between Academic & AAPI Communities and The FBI WHEN: June 6, 2024, 4:00 - 6:00 pm Central TimeWHERE: This is a hybrid in-person and virtual event (registration required) · In-person: O'Connor Building, Rice University, Houston, Texas HOSTS: · Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC) · Science and Technology Policy Program, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Office of Innovation, Rice University · APA Justice Task Force OPENING WELCOME: · Sergio Lira, Vice President, TMAC; President, Houston Council, League of United Latin America Citizens (LULAC) · Paul Cherukuri , Chief Innovation Officer, Vice President for Innovation, Rice University PANELISTS: · Jill Murphy , Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, FBI Headquarters · Georgette "GiGi" Pickering , Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston Field Office · Kelly Choi , Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Houston Field Office · Gordon Quan , Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Quan Law Group, PLLC; Former Houston City Mayor Pro-Tem · David Donatti , Senior Staff Attorney, Legal Department, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum SUMMARY REMARKS: · Douglas Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston Field Office · Neal Lane , Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute for Public Policy; Former Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy MODERATOR: Steven Pei , TMAC and APA Justice Task Force DESCRIPTION: This event brings together Jill Murphy, the deputy assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, who oversees the FBI’s espionage investigations, and the leadership of the FBI Houston Field Office with members of the academic and Asian American communities to discuss the gaps between national science and technology policy and its implementation at the forefront of law enforcement, as well as to explore the possibility of a regular communication channel. REGISTRATION: · In-person. To be announced by Rice University · Zoom: https://bit.ly/3wjg759 Welcoming Students from China and Customs and Border Protection On May 8, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns posted a message on X welcoming students from China to study in the U.S. It is encouraging that the U.S. is welcoming Chinese students to come and study here again.However, marginalizing the secondary screening by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and related problems faced by the Chinese students at the border may inadvertently undermine the effort.Numbers can be misleading, depending on how they are used. There were about two dozen scientists and researchers prosecuted under the China Initiative. One may argue that it was a very small percentage of all the scientists and researchers in the U.S. (according to the National Science Foundation, there were 24 million employed as full-time scientists and engineers in 2019, https://bit.ly/3WxPIuM ). It is also true that the percentage is very small by that measure. But an issue is defined by how it is framed. The impact of the China Initiative can be very big from another perspective. When you look at the population of impacted persons under the China Initiative, those of Asian and particularly Chinese origin will stand out. The fair question to address the concerns at the border is: Among the students and scholars who faced secondary screening by CBP, what is the percentage of them being Asian or Chinese? How is their rejection rate compared with other groups of students and scholars? That may tell a different story.This observation was reported by U.S.-China Perception Monitor :2024/05/10 中美印象简报： 中国学生被关“小黑屋”是否被夸大 According to AP on April 13, 2024, far fewer young Americans now want to study in China. Both countries are trying to fix that. Only about 700 American students are studying at Chinese universities, down from a peak of close to 25,000 a decade ago. “We need young Americans to learn Mandarin. We need young Americans to have an experience of China,” Ambassador Burns said. Meanwhile, China is hosting American high school students under a plan Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled in November to welcome 50,000 in the next five years.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/3WAUJTz C100 Updates Alien Land Bill Tracker for 2024 Committee of 100’s ongoing effort to identify and monitor legislation that restricts property ownership by foreign governments, businesses, and people has been updated to cover the 2024 legislative session. It shows a continuing effort by state governments and Congress to limit the ability of such entities to own property in the U.S. As of April 25, 2024, · 151 bills restricting property ownership by foreign entities have been considered by 32 states (115 bills) and Congress (36 bills). · Of the 151 total bills, 78 are under consideration that would prohibit Chinese citizens from purchasing or owning property. · Of the 151 total bills, 7 passed and were signed into law in Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska (2 bills), South Dakota, and Utah, respectively. · Of the 7 bills passed so far, 3 prohibit Chinese citizens from purchasing or owning some form of property: Indiana’s HB 1183, Nebraska’s LB 1301, and South Dakota’s HB 1231. C100 has also updated the interactive map to track legislative activities by state and Congress in 2024, especially those related to the People’s Republic of China. It also allow users to view legislation that has passed or is currently under consideration in 2023.Visit the C100 Alien Land Bill Tracker at https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B Two lawsuits have been filed against Florida's alien land law known as SB 264: · SHEN v. SIMPSON (4:23-cv-00208) , filed on March 22, 2023 · National Fair Housing Alliance, Inc. v. Secretary of Commerce (1:24-cv-21749) , filed on May 6, 2024 Trailblazing Asian American Legislators According to the New York Times on May 6, 2024, opposition from the Asian American community in Texas, including a former Republican lawmaker of Chinese descent, helped roll back some provisions in an alien land bill known as SB 147. That former state representative was Dr. Martha Wong, an iconic trailblazer in the Texas legislature. Dr. Wong, a native Houstonian, is a third generation Chinese American. She is the first Asian American elected to the Houston City Council (1994-2000) and the first Asian American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives (2003-2007). She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and both a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Houston. She is 85 years old. On March 2, 2023, she testified in front of the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs on SB 147. "It's unusual for me to get up at 4:45 to get here and I see that I got here so late that I'm registered to be the last speaker," she remarked about her interest and importance of the matter. "The part regarding the security of our land is very important ... sometimes is that there are unintended consequences. The unintended consequences I think are what most people were speaking about today. The unintended consequences is causing many Asians to be discriminated against. It's not that the bill is discriminating, but it's that it's causing other people to be discriminating. I don't know how many of you know of which ethnicity I am - maybe only because of my name. I could be Korean, I could be Vietnamese, I could be Chinese, I could be Filipino."Watch Dr. Wong's testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMtMLubX_lY (14:06) Gene Wu was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012. Prior to being elected, he served as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, where he sought justice for thousands of crime victims. He is currently an attorney in private practice. Rep. Wu has been the leading voice opposing not only alien land bills but also across the nation. "This is not just a Chinese problem this is not just a Russian problem or Iranian problem or North Korean problem this is a problem for every community that has been targeted," says State Representative Gene Wu. "Senate Bill 147 is unconstitutional and un-American, and it's bad for business I hope my colleagues will see the consequences on this bill and work with us to ensure that every single Texan has the opportunity to live their American dream."To read more about alien land bills and Rep. Wu's leadership role, visit https://www.apajustice.org/alien-land-bills.html . He also hosts a monthly town hall meeting. Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for his next meeting and how to attend.According to a blog by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Sam Park and his family immigrated from South Korea to Georgia in the early 1980s. That was made possible only after immigration quotas, which severely restricted immigration from Asian countries and date back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, were abolished by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. He was raised by a single mother. By the power of the vote, Sam Park became the first Asian American Democrat elected to the Georgia Legislature in 2017. Since he was the only Asian American legislator serving in the Georgia Legislature, it was a lonely and challenging endeavor. Yet in knowing his history, Sam Park recognized that he stood on the shoulders of those who came before him and that he had a responsibility to continue the work of perfecting our union for all. He has learned that it is one thing to break a barrier, it is another matter to pave the way for others. Over the past eight years, Sam Parks has seen an increase in Asian American political participation, and more Asian Americans are running and getting elected to the Georgia Legislature, where it now has one of the largest Asian American legislative caucuses in the country. Read Rep. Park's blog: https://bit.ly/4dGfseJ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/05/22 Heritage, Culture, and Community: The Future of America's Chinatowns2024/06/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/06/06 A Dialogue Between Academic/AAPI Communities with The FBI2024/06/20-22 Social Equity Leadership Conference2024/06/27-30 2024 Chinese American Convention Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Did You Know? There were 10 charter members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) when it was formed 30 years ago in 1994: Rep. Norman Y. Mineta (Inaugural Chair), Rep. Patsy T. Mink , Del. Robert Underwood , Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi , Sen. Daniel Akaka , Sen. Patty Murray , Sen. Daniel Inouye , Rep. Neil Abercrombie , Rep. Robert Matsui , and Del. Eni Faleomavaega? Read the CAPAC press release: https://bit.ly/4ao5A6G 3. Sampling of AANHPI Heritage Month Activities and Articles 2024/05/16 Smithsonian Magazine: Explore Amazing Contributions Made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with Four Smithsonian Stories 2024/05/16 The Dallas Morning News: Richardson’s Chinatown: The history, development and needs of an Asian American enclave 2024/05/16 South Seattle Emerald Opinion: The History and Heritage of Asian and Pacific Islander Communities Belong in Our Classrooms 2024/05/01 PBS: What to Watch | Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Library of Congress: Celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month! Smithsonian: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Back View PDF May 20, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #311 Stand w Asian Americans; Rights Tool Kit; Privacy at Risk; Trump Policies on Science+ #311 Stand w Asian Americans; Rights Tool Kit; Privacy at Risk; Trump Policies on Science+ In This Issue #311 · SwAA: Justice and Equality Through Law, Education, and Community · AALDEF: Immigrant Rights Toolkit · U.S. Personal Information and Privacy at Risk Abroad and at Home · WP : Trump Policies Sow Chaos, Confusion Across Scientific Community · News and Activities for the Communities SwAA: Justice and Equality Through Law, Education, and Community In the aftermath of the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, where six Asian women were among the victims, Stand with Asian Americans (SWAA) emerged to combat anti-Asian hate and advocate for justice. In 2022, SwAA launched the Workplace Justice Initiative to address workplace discrimination, bias, and barriers that Asian Americans face in professional settings. Its mission is to protect and advance the rights of Asian Americans against discrimination at the workplace through three key activities: · Power of Law – SwAA provides legal support through a discrimination reporting portal, direct legal services, and a public relations strategy to raise awareness and advocate for workplace justice. · Education – The organization equips individuals and employers with human resources tools, educational workshops, and panels such as Shattering the Myth of Asian Passivity, Know Your Rights, and Leadership Empowerment to foster inclusion and leadership opportunities. · Community – SwAA supports mental health initiatives and amplifies stories to strengthen solidarity and resilience within the Asian American community. If you or anyone you know is experiencing racial discrimination at work or in business, you may reach out to SwAA for legal, education, and community support. SwAA's discrimination portal containing resources is here , and ways to support the SwAA mission here . Michelle Lee , President, General Counsel and Board Chair, and Brian Pang , Chief Operating Officer and Head of Partnerships will speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025. AALDEF: Immigrant Rights Toolkit During the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 3, 2025, Bethany Li , Execuitve Director of Asian American Legal and Education Defense Fund (AALDEF), offered an Immigrant Rights Toolkit designed to inform individuals about their legal rights, particularly concerning expedited removal procedures. This toolkit is part of AALDEF's broader Immigrant Rights Program, which provides legal representation, policy advocacy, community education, and organizing support for Asian immigrants across various backgrounds. The program aims to promote humane and dynamic immigration laws and policies that uphold the dignity of all migrants. Here are some of the links to AALDEF's Immigrant Rights Toolkit : · Know your rights if you are detained and facing expedited removal (AALDEF) · Use this tool to request immigration documents to help prepare you against ICE (AALDEF) · Know your rights for dealing with ICE (Immigrant Defense Project) · Know your rights during an ICE check-in (Know Your Fight) · Know your rights if ICE comes to your workplace (National Day Laborer Organizing Network) · Know your rights as a worker, regardless of your immigration status (AALDEF) · Watch these videos about dealing with ICE in different scenarios (We Have Rights) · Print pocket cards to hand to ICE if they approach you (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) · Learn and stay updated on what the Trump Administration has done so far (Guttentag, Immigration Policy Tracking Project) U.S. Personal Information and Privacy at Risk Abroad and at Home According to an exclusive report by the Washington Post on February 7, 2025, security officials in the United Kingdom have demanded that Apple create a back door allowing them to retrieve all the content any Apple user worldwide has uploaded to the cloud, which if implemented would undermine Apple’s privacy pledge to its users. According to the report, the UK government has issued a "technical capability notice" to Apple under the Investigatory Powers Act, commonly known as the "Snoopers' Charter." The notice mandates that Apple create a backdoor to its encrypted iCloud services, enabling law enforcement agencies to access user data. Apple has consistently maintained that introducing such backdoors would compromise user privacy and global cybersecurity. In response to the UK's demand, Apple is reportedly considering discontinuing some of its services in the UK rather than compromising its encryption standards.Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3CHgF7U Here at home in the United States according to multiple media reports, the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) under billionaire Elon Musk has gained access to databases at the Treasury , Education and Labor departments that contain sensitive data about Americans, such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and financial transactions. Federal officials have been terminated or forced to resign for protecting access to these critical data systems. Unions, students and public interest groups have filed lawsuits alleging the administration of violating privacy laws by allowing DOGE access to the databases. On February 6, 2025, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia restricted access to a Treasury Department payments system that various DOGE surrogates had infiltrated at the direction of Elon Musk. In her ruling on Alliance for Retried Americans v. Bessent (1:25-cv-00313) , the judge stated that the defendants cannot “provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained by or within the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.” Tom Krause and Marko Elez , two DOGE-linked “special government employees” at the Treasury Department, were granted “read-only” access to Bureau of Fiscal Service systems “as needed for the performance” of their duties. According to The Washington Post on February 7, the Treasury Department is appointing Krause as assistant secretary, replacing David A. Lebryk , who resigned after opposing Krause’s efforts to access senstive government payment systems—a move Lebryk deemed illegal. Booz Allen Hamilton, a contractor running a threat intelligence center for the Treasury Department, reported that DOGE’s access to the payment network should be “immediately” suspended as it represented an “unprecedented insider threat risk.” Bloomberg later reported that the Booz Allen Hamilton's subcontractor had been dismissed.On February 7, 2025, the New York Times reported that U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in the case of State of New York v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-01144) issued an emergency order temporarily restricting access by DOGE to the Treasury Department’s payment and data systems, saying there was a risk of “irreparable harm.” Judge Engelmayer ordered any such official who was granted access to the systems since January 20 to “destroy any and all copies of material downloaded from the Treasury Department’s records and systems.” He also restricted the government from granting access to “special government employees.”Several members of Congress have publicly expressed concerns regarding Elon Musk's DOGE gaining access to the U.S. Treasury's federal payment systems. Congressman Bill Foster said in a February 3 statement , "Elon Musk is an unelected oligarch with no regard for national security, conflicts of interest, or ethical standards. Americans deserve answers as to why his team was given unrestricted access to the U.S. Treasury payment system, which gives them the ability to spy on U.S. treasury payments to private American citizens, as well as Musk's business competitors. This power grab is corrupt and unprecedented, and my colleagues and I are doing everything we can to put a halt to this." On February 7, 2025, District Court Judge John D. Bates denied the motion for a temporary restraining order in the case of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations v. Department of Labor (1:25-cv-00339) . The AFL-CIO contends that granting DOGE access to Department of Labor systems could lead to conflicts of interest, especially concerning sensitive information related to investigations of Musk's companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company. They argue that DOGE's involvement might compromise the integrity of these investigations and potentially expose confidential data. Judge Bates' ruling stated that the union did not demonstrate sufficient harm resulting from the Department of Labor's actions. The judge ordered that the parties shall file a proposed preliminary-injunction motion briefing schedule by not later than February 12, 2025. The Education Department case, University of California Student Assocation v. Carter (1:25-cv-00354) , is pending. The Univrsity of California Stucent Association is the official systemwide student advocacy organization representing over 285,000 students across all ten University of California campuses.Two groups of FBI agents have sued the Justice Department to block any public release of a list of thousands of employees who worked on investigations tied to President Donald Trump or the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. On February 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb of the District of Columbia ordered the consolidation of Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Assocation v. Department of Justice (1:25-cv-00328) and Does 1-9 v. Department of Justice (1:25-cv-00325) . On February 7, Judge Cobb issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), which had been mutually proposed by the parties. The TRO prohibits the government from publicly releasing any list before the court rules on whether to grant a preliminary injunction. The briefings for a preliminary injunction will be filed by March 21, 2025.As of February 9, 2025, the number of legal challenges to Trump administration actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has increased to 41.On February 7, 2025, the Washington Post reported the following summary of where Trump action court cases stand: WP : Trump Policies Sow Chaos, Confusion Across Scientific Community According to the Washington Post on February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump 's executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within federally funded programs have led to significant concerns in the scientific community. The National Science Foundation (NSF) suspended grant disbursements, leaving researchers without salaries. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed materials on clinical trial diversity from its website, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took down tools and data related to health disparities, including the Social Vulnerability Index and the Environmental Justice Index. These actions have disrupted ongoing research and raised fears about political interference in scientific endeavors. Dr. Sudip Parikh , CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), expressed concern, stating, "The scientific community is deeply troubled by these developments, which threaten the integrity and progress of our research."On February 5, 2025, Dr. Parikh testified at a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on The State of U.S. Science and Technology: Ensurig Global Leadership . His written testimony emphasized the importance of a strong and adaptable American science and technology enterprise, highlighting the role of research institutions, industry, and the workforce in driving innovation and prosperity. Dr. Parikh stressed that the U.S. faces challenges from accelerating technological change, existential threats to public health and security, and growing international competition, particularly from China. He called for a comprehensive approach to strengthening the U.S. science and technology sector, advocating for reduced inefficiencies, investment in workforce development, and strategic research commitments. He also warned against actions that undermine the scientific community, such as spending freezes or policies that alienate international talent. Dr. Parikh concluded by urging the U.S. to adapt to new global realities and secure its future leadership in science and technology.Part of his testimony says,"The American science and technology enterprise is strong, but its continued strength is not guaranteed. We must be proactive in implementing our vision by being open to change and disruption without dismantling our foundational principles and strengths."Through an enterprise that includes industry, academia, and sources of capital to scale, we have turned the discoveries of the past 80 years into technological innovations that have increased our prosperity and security."Many of the structures and institutions that have contributed to our achievements are outdated. They were the result of a vision after World War II that the investments in science and technology we had made during a time of war should be continued during a time of peace. Over generations, we have made substantial and sustained federal investments in fundamental research — much of it carried out at our universities, research institutes, and national laboratories where research and education take place side-by-side. Industry translated and scaled discoveries into technologies and products with intellectual property protections that incentivized continued innovation. It was a relatively simple vision with profound consequences. It created the modern world."But we are at a crossroads. "Three things are happening at once. First, the pace of change is accelerating so rapidly that the tools and strategies that brought us here are insufficient to ensure our future. Transformational technologies are reshaping our way of life. Second, we face existential threats to our health; food supply and water security; environmental resilience; energy production, utilization, and storage; and our overall wellbeing. Third, more than ever, we are competing with other nations —particularly China — that rival us in talent, infrastructure, and capital investment and that can put our economic prosperity and national security at risk. China trains more scientists and engineers than we do; files for more international patents than we do; publishes just as many highly cited scientific papers as we do; and is leading us in several critical research and technology areas. "I know for all those here today what the answer is: We want America to lead."The good news is that we have a suite of significant assets that our nation can leverage. "We must recognize that the enterprise as a whole — from federal investment to workforce to industry investment to tax and regulatory policy — is what differentiates our nation from all others. "In addition to these holistic recommendations, we must stop hurting our own enterprise with self inflicted wounds. Two examples illustrate the point. "First, while we must recognize the global competition and take it seriously, we must not demonize people or international collaboration in the process. Our colleagues of Chinese, Indian, and other immigrant backgrounds make up a substantial percentage of the American science and technology workforce. They are colleagues and friends and deserving of respect. We must ensure that our drive to compete does not alter our humanity. When we make America less welcoming to scientists who are immigrants or those who have been here for generations, we only hurt our own competitiveness and opportunity for prosperity. In addition, science is a global activity. When we close ourselves off to international collaboration, we lose visibility to advances made around the world and slow progress for everyone."Second, last week, the announcement of an abrupt spending freeze on science and technology funding broke trust and hurt the S&T enterprise. This is the kind of action that, even if brief, can have a lasting negative impact. Many scientists, particularly those early in their careers, live paycheck-to-paycheck. I was most saddened to hear from these scientists who began questioning whether they should even continue their scientific pursuits or switch careers. Scientists and engineers are resilient, and I have no doubt that most will persevere because they care deeply about solving problems and better understanding the world around them. But every time we stop and start, lose focus, break continuity across funding and intellectual property protections, we lose some of the next generation of science and technology talent and hurt America’s competitiveness. "The stakes are enormous, the necessary actions are clear, and the time is now."Read Dr. Parikh's testimony: https://bit.ly/40S7iug News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/02/10 Federal Employees: What are my whistleblower rights?2025/02/12 Federal Employees: How might my benefits be affected?2025/02/13 China Initiative: Impacts and Implications2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/18 Protecting Our Organizations: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Compliance Virtual Training2025/02/23 World Premier of "Quixotic Professor Qiu" with Xiaoxing Xi2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China InitiativeVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF February 10, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter