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

Newsletter - #133 NSDD-189 Workshop; Santa Ono to Lead UMichigan; Mark 2022/09/13; 7/11 Meeting; Bills #133 NSDD-189 Workshop; Santa Ono to Lead UMichigan; Mark 2022/09/13; 7/11 Meeting; Bills Back View PDF July 15, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #405 8/3 Monthly Meeting; Nicholas Platt; Re-identification Risk; IM Pei's Dallas City Hall #405 8/3 Monthly Meeting; Nicholas Platt; Re-identification Risk; IM Pei's Dallas City Hall In This Issue #405 · 2026/08/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · In Memoriam: Ambassador Nicholas Platt (1936–2026) · Ban "Noise" in Census Data Means Less Data and Undermines a Key Defense Against Re-Identification · A Monument to Dallas's Healing Faces Wrecking Ball: I.M. Pei's City Hall · News and Activities for the Communities 2026/08/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held today, Monday, August 3, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Regular updates will be provided by: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored to welcome the following distinguished invited speakers: · Tam Dao , Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Research Security, Rice University · Kenny Evans , Fellow in Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, Rice University · Roger Innes , Distinguished Professor, Biology, Indiana University We regret that Sarah Stalker-Lehoux (National Science Foundation) will not be able to join us this month. We are pleased to announce that Rebecca Keiser , Acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy at NSF, will speak at our next monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 . Note this is earlier than our usual schedule, since the standard meeting date of September 7 falls on Labor Day, a federal holiday. The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . In Memoriam: Ambassador Nicholas Platt (1936–2026) APA Justice joins the broader community in mourning the passing of Ambassador Nicholas Platt , who died on July 23, 2026, at age 90. A distinguished American diplomat and longtime bridge-builder between the United States and Asia, Platt spent more than five decades shaping the relationship between the two regions — first as a career Foreign Service officer, and later as the transformative fifth president of the Asia Society. A Diplomatic Career Spanning Asia Born in New York City on March 10, 1936, to architect Geoffrey Platt and Helen (née Choate) Platt, Nicholas Platt entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1959. After training in Chinese at the State Department Language School and in Taichung, Taiwan, he began his career in Asia as a China analyst at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong from 1964 to 1968. Platt's career placed him at the center of some of the most consequential moments in U.S.-Asia relations. As a young diplomat, he accompanied President Richard Nixon on the historic 1972 trip to Beijing that opened U.S.-China relations. Over a 34-year diplomatic career, he went on to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Zambia (1982–1984), the Philippines (1987–1991), and Pakistan (1991–1992), along with senior postings in Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. Twelve Years Leading the Asia Society In 1992, Platt became the fifth president of the Asia Society, a role he held for 12 years until 2004. Asia Society's own tribute describes his tenure as a period of dramatic institutional growth, during which he expanded the organization's programming and public profile substantially. In 2000, Platt launched a New York program series on Asian social issues that brought attention to underexamined challenges — including women's rights, HIV/AIDS, and environmental issues — while seeking common ground between Asia and the United States. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, he mobilized the organization's resources across disciplines to help the public and policymakers understand root causes and responses in the region, positioning Asia Society to meet growing demand for information about Afghanistan and Pakistan. Even after stepping down as president in 2004 and becoming President Emeritus, Platt remained deeply engaged with the organization — speaking frequently at its programs, attending events, and offering counsel to its leadership for years afterward. A Lasting Legacy Asia Society Philippines, reflecting on Platt's passing, called him a leader whose "visionary leadership and lifelong commitment to strengthening ties between the United States and Asia left an indelible mark on the organization and on generations of leaders across the region." Platt is survived by his three sons, Adam Platt , the New York Magazine restaurant critic, actor Oliver Platt , and Nicholas Platt Jr ., an investment banker. His wife, Sheila Maynard Platt , passed away in 2018. APA Justice extends its condolences to Ambassador Platt's family, friends, and colleagues at the Asia Society and across the diplomatic community. His decades of work fostering understanding between the United States and Asia leave a legacy that continues to inform the work of many organizations. Read the Asia Society tribute to Ambassador Nicholas Platt: https://bit.ly/4g7xwl7 Ban "Noise" in Census Data Means Less Data and Undermines a Key Defense Against Re-Identification A little-noticed June 4, 2026 directive from the Department of Commerce is drawing sharp criticism from statisticians and demographers, who say it strips the Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis of the modern privacy tools needed to protect respondents' identities while still releasing usable data — forcing a return to cruder, less accurate methods. What the Directive Does The order bans the Census Bureau and BEA from using "noise infusion" — a technique that modifies datasets by adding carefully calibrated random values — across their statistical products, including preparations for the 2030 census. Statistician Daniel Aaronson wrote that the directive "bans essentially all modern techniques for preserving privacy in large datasets." In noise infusion's place, the directive requires agencies to rely on two older, blunter techniques: "coarsening" (rounding or aggregating data, such as reporting age in five-year bands instead of single years) and outright suppression of data for small populations. Economist Ron Jarmin , who retired in May after 33 years at Census, including two stints as acting director, said noise infusion "allows us to produce much more granular data on surveys," including on economic activity and jobs — capability the new policy eliminates. Statistician Sallie Keller , who recently returned to the University of Virginia after four years as Census's chief scientist, called the shift "a throwback to the 1970s," warning it will produce "incomplete and inaccurate data." Beth Jarosz of Georgetown University's Massive Data Institute said the impact will fall hardest on small communities: "Neighborhood-level data is at risk. Rural communities' data may be not publishable," with counties of only a few hundred residents potentially losing data coverage entirely. John Abowd , former Census chief scientist under both the first Trump and Biden administrations, said the order will force a complete redesign of 2030 census redistricting data plans — "not just the confidentiality protections." Jarosz also criticized the process itself, noting the directive bypassed the normal expert review and public feedback process: "This new order upends all of that. It takes the public out of the process. It takes the experts out of the process." Why Noise Infusion Exists in the First Place Noise infusion is not a bureaucratic technicality — it exists because of a well-documented, real technical threat: re-identification attacks, in which researchers or bad actors cross-reference "anonymized" data against outside information to unmask individuals within a dataset that was never supposed to reveal who they are. The classic empirical demonstration of this risk dates to 2002, when computer scientist Latanya Sweeney showed that 87% of the U.S. population could be uniquely identified using just three pieces of information: ZIP code, birth date, and sex. To prove the point, she targeted a supposedly anonymized database of Massachusetts state employees' medical records — records the state's own governor, William Weld , had publicly assured the public were fully de-identified. Sweeney purchased the Cambridge, MA voter rolls for $20, cross-referenced them against the medical data, and identified Weld's own record: only six voters in Cambridge shared his birth date, only three of those were male, and only one lived in his ZIP code. She mailed the governor his own medical records to demonstrate the vulnerability. The core lesson of that research directly parallels the Census debate: the more "distinctive" or granular a piece of information is (an exact age, a specific location, a rare combination of characteristics), the easier it becomes to link supposedly anonymous records back to a real person using outside data sources — exactly the risk that random noise, deliberately injected into statistical releases, is designed to obscure. Coarsening and suppression, the two methods the new Commerce directive leaves in place, address this risk far more bluntly: by hiding or aggregating data rather than mathematically calibrating uncertainty into it, which is why experts like Keller and Jarmin warn they sacrifice far more data usefulness for the same amount of privacy protection. Why This Matters The Census Bureau adopted noise-based differential privacy for the 2020 census specifically because advances in computing power and the growing availability of commercial and voter-file data made older anonymization approaches increasingly vulnerable to exactly this kind of attack. Rolling back noise infusion now, critics argue, does not just risk cruder data — it risks reopening privacy vulnerabilities that the field spent years working to close, at precisely the moment when the tools to exploit them (large commercial datasets, computing power, and cross-referencing techniques like those Sweeney demonstrated) have only grown more powerful and accessible. What's Next It remains to be seen whether the directive will be revised in response to expert criticism, or whether litigation or congressional pushback — similar to what we have covered regarding the OMB grantmaking rule elsewhere in recent issues — will emerge as the Census Bureau begins redesigning its approach ahead of the 2030 count. Census data disaggregation has historically been a significant issue for accurately counting and serving Asian American and Pacific Islander subpopulations. Links and References · 2026/07/20 Science : Scientists attack ban on adding ‘noise’ to U.S. census data and many surveys · 2026/06/12 NPR : A Trump push to cut 'statistical noise' could mean less data from the Census Bureau · 2018/12/05 AMIA Annual Symposium Proceedings: Re-Identification Risk in HIPAA De-Identified Datasets: The MVA Attack A Monument to Dallas's Healing Faces the Wrecking Ball: I.M. Pei's City Hall Dallas City Hall — the dramatic inverted-pyramid landmark designed by Committee of 100 founder I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 — is now at risk of demolition, as the city weighs its future amid a preservation battle that has drawn national attention and become an early flashpoint in Dallas's 2027 mayoral race. A Building Born From Tragedy Then-Mayor J. Erik Jonsson commissioned Pei to design Dallas City Hall in the 1960s, hoping a bold new civic building could help the city move past the trauma of President Kennedy's assassination and project confidence in its future. Completed in 1978, the Brutalist landmark became a symbol of renewal for a city reeling from tragedy — and remains the only government building I.M. Pei designed in a career that also produced the Louvre Pyramid, the John F. Kennedy Library, and the Bank of China Tower. Now Facing an Uncertain Future Dallas is currently weighing several options for the building's fate: moving city government elsewhere, selling the site, demolishing it outright, or funding repairs that estimates suggest could exceed $500 million. City staff is expected to present leasing options for council consideration by August 26. The site is also in the process of receiving local landmark designation and is seen by preservationists as a potential centerpiece of a revived civic center alongside City Hall Plaza and the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. The building has become the focus of a growing preservation campaign. DOCOMOMO US, an organization dedicated to Modern Movement architecture, lists it among the nation's most threatened examples of modern architecture, and the World Monuments Fund included it in its Irreplaceable America program marking the Declaration of Independence's 250th anniversary. Debate over its fate has drawn large crowds to Dallas City Council meetings, and a legal coalition has formed to examine potential negligence in the building's maintenance. A Son's Appeal to Save His Father's Legacy Architect Li Chung "Sandi" Pei 贝礼中 — I.M. Pei's son and a Committee of 100 member — has spent months publicly urging the city not to let his father's building go, culminating in an open letter to Dallas officials. "A city hall is never just an office building," Sandi writes. "It is the physical expression of a city's character — its values, its aspirations, and its belief in democratic life." He argues that the building was created "at one of the most painful moments in the city's history," designed expressly to embody "the authority and openness of representative government" at a time when Dallas needed a symbol of transparency and renewed democratic confidence. Sandi directly challenges the case for demolition, writing that a proposal to replace City Hall with a commercial entertainment complex would "confuse the market value of land with the immeasurable value of civic identity," and that deferred maintenance "is not a justification for demolition." He points to preservationists — including the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and DOCOMOMO US — who have already underscored the building's significance, adding: "Dallas City Hall helped the city heal and move forward. To lose it now would be to forget the very purpose it was built to serve." Why This Matters I.M. Pei's work has become a lasting icon of Chinese American excellence in American civic and cultural life, and Dallas City Hall stands as a rare example of that legacy applied directly to the architecture of American democracy itself — the only government building he ever designed. Its potential loss would be more than an architectural one; it would erase a visible marker of Asian American contribution to how American civic institutions are physically expressed and experienced. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/08/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/08/05 C100: The Impact of AI on Asian American Careers in Technology 2026/08/07-09 AASF: Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony 2026/08/26 C100: An Advice and Networking Event (Technology) 2026/09/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/09/03 C100: Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Hao Jiang TianVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. C100: Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Hao Jiang Tian WHAT : Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Hao Jiang Tian WHEN : September 3, 2026, 6:00-7:00 pm ET WHERE : Webinar HOST : Committee of 100 Moderator: Peter Young , Chair of the Conversations Initiative and Committee of 100 New York Regional Chair and Board Member Speaker: Hao Jiang Tian 田浩江 , World renown opera singer, Founder and Artistic Director of iSing! DESCRIPTION : The event will feature Hao Jiang Tian, a world renown opera singer and the founder and artistic director of iSing!, which for 15 years has trained Western and Chinese singers for careers in opera. He is also a Committee of 100 member. Hao Jiang Tian, internationally renowned bass, has sung more than 1,400 performances of 50 operatic roles worldwide. The only Chinese singer to have appeared at the Metropolitan Opera for 20 seasons in 26 different operas, Tian has been highly acclaimed for his performances in leading bass roles at major opera houses around the world. Tian is also the founder and Artistic Director of the iSING! International Young Artists Festival. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, iSING!‘s mission is to train Western singers to perform in Chinese while nurturing outstanding young Chinese singers for careers on the world’s leading opera stages. REGISTRATION : https://c100-9-3-2026.eventbrite.com # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the APA Justice website at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF August 3, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #160 1/9 Meeting; House Select Committee; Joyce Xi Op-ed; DOC Letter on Sherry Chen; More​ #160 1/9 Meeting; House Select Committee; Joyce Xi Op-ed; DOC Letter on Sherry Chen; More In This Issue #160 2023/01/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between U.S. and China Joyce Xi on Trauma of Racial Profiling and Secret Surveillance Department of Commerce Letter on Sherry Chen's Accomplishments and More Asian American and Academic Community News and Activities 2023/01/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022 which was highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement after 10 years of fighting for justice. "Despite all of these wins, we know the work continues to ensure that we are engaging with our partners, the Administration across federal agencies, and my colleagues at Congress; to ensure that our communities are not facing anti-Asian discrimination and racial profiling. To that end, CAPAC will continue to prioritize calling out blatantly xenophobic anti-China rhetoric and pushing back on policies that unfairly target Chinese American communities, which we unfortunately are expecting to see much more in the year ahead," Rep. Chu said."Back in 2015, we were hearing reports of racial bias and profiling of Asian Americans, often specifically Chinese American scientists, researchers, and engineers, I put out a call for the community to mobilize and to organize around this issue. I am proud to see the result of that call for community support is the APA Justice Task Force. There has never been a more important time for you to be in existence," Rep. Chu remarked at the opening the meeting.Watch Rep. Chu's New Year Greetings and Review of 2022 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLxSG7jNbco (video 8:59)A summary for the meeting is being prepared and will be posted after a chance to review by the speakers. Read past monthly meeting summaries here: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP . House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between U.S. and China On January 10, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives established the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party by passing House Resolution 11 by a vote of 365-65. The Select Committee shall be composed of not more than 16 Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner appointed by the Speaker, not more than 7 of whom shall be appointed after consultation with the Minority Leader. Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, released the following statement “As a caucus, CAPAC remains neutral regarding the creation of the Select Committee. We strongly support strengthening our economy and protecting our national security, and we have always recognized that there are legitimate concerns with the actions of the government of the People’s Republic of China.“However, because of the known risks of xenophobic rhetoric intensifying anti-Asian hate here in the United States—and my belief that the work of this Select Committee can be done by existing committees in the House — I voted against H.Res. 11.“We cannot forget that rhetoric used around economic competition with Asian countries has resulted in the verbal and physical harassment and even murder of Asian Americans here at home. Since March 2020 and former President Trump’s sustained references to the coronavirus as the ‘China virus,’ over 11,500 hate crimes and incidents against Asian Americans have been reported.“As the House of Representatives embarks on the formation of this committee, CAPAC reminds all members that this committee should not be used as an open invitation to engage and traffic in blatantly xenophobic anti-China rhetoric that we know historically results in physical violence and emotional harm against Asian Americans across the country. Further, this committee cannot be used to promote policies that result in the racial profiling of our communities, but rather it must be directly focused on specific concerns related to the government of the People’s Republic of China. “Throughout the 118th Congress, CAPAC will remain vigilant in overseeing the committee’s work, hearings, and rhetoric. What we say and how we say it matters. And we know how dangerous the consequences can be if we don’t get this right.”On January 10, 2023, 22 House progressives led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal issued a statement expressing opposition to the Select Committee . “This also should not be a committee about winning a ‘new Cold War’ as the Chair-Designate of the Committee has previously stated. America can and must work towards our economic and strategic competitiveness goals without ‘a new Cold War’ and without the repression, discrimination, hate, fear, degeneration of our political institutions, and violations of civil rights that such a ‘Cold War’ may entail," the statement said, “We are deeply concerned about the direction of this Select Committee and we urge the Chair-Designate and our Leadership to ensure that strong Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and pro-diplomacy voices are clearly reflected in the membership when it is constituted.” Joyce Xi on Trauma of Racial Profiling and Secret Surveillance On December 6, 2022, Joyce Xi, daughter of Temple University Professor Xiaoxing Xi, published an opinion titled "The China Initiative: How Chinese Academics Like Xiaoxing Xi Were Falsely Charged as Spies" at TeenVogue . "I have seen firsthand the harms the US government’s national security fears can cause...In the absence of any accountability or vigilance to prevent the continuation of these harms, I fear things will get worse," Xi opined. "Everything felt completely surreal and absurd. Nothing prepares you for the day your dad is accused of being a spy. And that accusation could not be further from the truth. My dad is a nerdy scientist who teaches college students and conducts basic physics research. He never shared any secret technology with contacts in China. Still, FBI agents searched our home and rummaged through our belongings. They even tried to take my sister’s computer — she was 12 at the time. Then the news cameras showed up, trying to film inside our home through the windows," Xi continued. "As it turned out, the US government was the one doing the spying. We found out later that the FBI, using tools designed to pursue foreign agents, had secretly surveilled my dad’s communications and used his emails about unrelated academic research to try to portray him as a criminal. My family went from living a normal, low-key life to facing the weight of our own government coming after us.""The US government has faced few, if any, consequences for upending people’s lives. Families are left to deal with the lingering fear, trauma, and legal costs on their own. When I send a text or email, I still wonder if I’m being watched. Simple things like recorded Zoom meetings bring up fears of surveillance. I worry the FBI could come after me at any time for some made up reason or if I do any little thing wrong. It might seem irrational, but this is the resulting trauma of surveillance," Xi said. "In times of crisis and fear in this country, we have repeatedly seen people and communities scapegoated in the name of national security... As tensions between the US and China continue to escalate, we cannot repeat the same mistakes." "There is a major human cost to casting suspicion on entire communities based on ethnicity and national origin. And it is wrong. That’s why my family brought a civil rights lawsuit against the government. It’s been seven years since that day in May when the FBI arrested my father. We are now waiting on the court of appeals to decide whether or not our claims can proceed. We hope the court ensures that we can hold the government accountable for its abuses of power. But whatever happens, we deserve answers. We deserve justice. And we all deserve better," Xi concluded.Read more about Joyce Xi's TeenVogue article here: https://bit.ly/3ZuZgpq Department of Commerce Letter on Sherry Chen's Accomplishments and More During the January 9 APA Justice monthly meeting, Sherry Chen 陈霞芬 shared the letter of appreciation for her accomplishments from the Department of Commerce (DOC). As a hydrologist at the Ohio River Forecast Center from 2007 to 2022, Sherry "demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the Ohio River Basin and an exceptional knowledge of the Ohio River. She developed, implemented, and calibrated HEC-RAS (an advanced hydraulic computer model) along the entire length of the main stem Ohio River. Her work represented the largest implementation of HEC-RAS ever attempted." Sherry supported additional new forecast points where the model is required and contributed significant proficiency in daily operational forecasting. She received multiple Special Act Awards, including in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Sherry received the Larry Johnson Award from the National Weather Alliance for the development and implementation into operations of a new hydraulic model used to produce lifesaving river forecasts for the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers during 201I record flooding. Read more about the letter at http://bit.ly/APAJ_Sherry_Chen During the monthly meeting, Sherry talked about her 10-year fight for justice and the historic settlement with DOC, including a meeting with DOC official Benjamin Friedman in December. A summary of the monthly meeting is being prepared at this time.On January 9, 2023, AsAmNews reported on an event titled “Celebrate New Year with Sherry Chen” on January 7, 2023, in which Sherry spoke about her case. The event was hosted by Ohio Chinese American Association and Asian American Coalition of Ohio. At the event, Chen spoke about how the accusations derailed her career and tarnished her reputations. She thanked all of the people who supported her during her fight for justice. She believes her historic settlement is a “victory for me, also for Asian American cause and the rule of law.” Sherry told AsAmNews that she is personally “doing well after 10 years of nightmare.” She retired a few days ago and has been keeping herself busy giving presentations and workshops throughout the country. Read more about the AsAmNews report at https://bit.ly/3k9XZ7i . A photo album from the January 7 celebration is posted at https://bit.ly/3XjEur4 , along with a photo album from the Justice for Sherry Chen Congressional Reception held on December 13, 2022 at https://bit.ly/3VWDyry Asian American and Academic Community News and Activities Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Thomas Keon Under Fire . On January 6, 2023, Frank Wu 吴华扬 , President of Queen's College of the City University of New York published an op-ed on " A Responsibility to Speak Out ," explaining why the expression of racial prejudice by Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Chancellor Thomas L. Keon was so disturbing. Words lead to sticks and stones, because rhetoric instigates violence... Although it is easy enough for those who inflict the trauma to dismiss it as trivial, these situations are not symmetrical since one community ends up being the butt of the joke again and again and again," Wu opined. On January 11, 2023, NBC News published " Purdue’s 1st Asian American president takes office weeks after school official mocks Asian languages onstage ." Mung Chiang 蔣濛 , a professor of engineering, began his historic role last week, overseeing the university in addition to other campuses, including Purdue University Northwest (PNW). Chiang’s tenure comes shortly after Keon mocked Asian languages during a winter commencement. Despite growing pressures to step down, Keon, who issued an apology, remains in the role. Given Chiang’s new role, some have called on him to address Keon’s actions. A post published by the nonprofit Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund said such action from Chiang could send a strong message. A change.org petition calling for Keon to step down has received more than 9,200 signatures. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), senior federal officials, and community leaders will convene a virtual event for the release of the Biden-Harris Administration’s first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Communities . The strategy, which includes WHIAANHPI’s inaugural report and comprehensive action plans submitted by 32 agencies, represents a historic first for the federal government as it works to address barriers impacting AA and NHPIs. Register for the event at https://bit.ly/3W7CZey National Academies Report on Confucius Institutes at US Institutions of Higher Education. On January 10, 2023, the National Academies released the first report out of the “ Confucius Institutes at U.S. Institutions of Higher Education ” study. According to the report, more than 100 U.S. institutions of higher education hosted Confucius Institutes (CIs), Chinese government-funded language and culture centers, on campus during the late 2000s and 2010s. While CIs provided a source of funding and other resources that enabled U.S. colleges and universities to build capacity, offer supplemental programming, and engage with the local community, CIs presented an added, legitimate source of risk to host institutions with respect to academic freedom, freedom of expression, and national security. By 2017, deteriorating U.S.-China relations led some U.S. colleges and universities to reconsider the value of having a CI on campus. Sustained interest by Congress and political pressure led numerous U.S.-based CIs to close, especially following the passage of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which contained a provision that ultimately barred institutions receiving Department of Defense (DOD) critical language flagship funding in Chinese from hosting a CI. While this provision allowed for a waiver process - and several affected colleges and universities applied for waivers in 2018 and 2019 - DOD did not issue any waivers. Today, seven CIs remain on U.S. university and college campuses. At the request of DOD, Confucius Institutes at U.S. Institutions of Higher Education presents a set of findings and recommendations for waiver criteria to potentially permit the continued presence of CIs on U.S. university campuses that also receive DOD funding.According to the report, "[t]he committee is not aware of any evidence at the unclassified level that CIs were ever associated with espionage or intellectual property theft. While incidents affecting academic freedom, freedom of expression, and shared governance did take place, the most egregious of these happened at CIs outside of the United States."Read the report at https://bit.ly/3jW3LJo 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 January 12, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. July 24, 2023 On July 24, 2023, APA Justice published a Special Edition of its newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on the emergency motion for preliminary injunction to block Florida's new discriminatory housing law and a new movement emerging from the protests and rallies against the legislation in front of the courthouse. It covered: July 18, 2023 - A New Movement Emerges Florida State and Local Leadership Meet The Attorneys for The Plaintiffs National and Community Organizations Support and Leadership Color Yellow, Playbooks, and Tracking Hate Federal Level Support and Leadership Read the Special Edition of the APA Justice Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3Y4uGCO We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. Previous Next Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges

Newsletter - #349 9/8 Meeting; Revamped Website; CT AG William Tong Remarks; Intro of FALA; Litigations+ #349 9/8 Meeting; Revamped Website; CT AG William Tong Remarks; Intro of FALA; Litigations+ In This Issue #349 · 2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · APA Justice Launches Revamped Website · Remarks by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong · Introduction of Federation of Asian Professor Associations · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, September 8, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET. The meeting is postponed one week because September 1 is Labor Day, a federal holiday. In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Rosie Levine , Executive Director, U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET) · Cindy Tsai , Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Committee of 100 (C100) · Bob Sakaniwa , Director of Policy and Advocacy, APIAVote · Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, OCA National Center Rosie and Cindy return to announce the launch of a series of webinars co-hosted by C100, USCET, and APA Justice. The dual mission of C100 is to promote the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and to advance constructive relations between the U.S. and Greater China. The mission of the US-China Education Trust (USCET) is to promote US-China relations through education and exchange for China's next-generation leaders by fostering greater mutual understanding of the US and China.Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement. Bob will update us on APIAVote's plans and activities as we approach the November election.Founded in 1973, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national member-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. with 35+ chapters and affiliates across the U.S. The 2025 OCA National Convention was held in Seattle, Washington, July 24 - 27, 2025. Thu returns to update us on OCA's latest plans and activities.The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . APA Justice Launches Revamped Website Effective August 28, 2025, APA Justice has launched its redesigned website: https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/ . Visitors to the previous site will be automatically redirected. The new site offers a sharper focus on APA Justice’s mission, improved organization, and a forward-looking design ready for the integration of AI tools that will expand accessibility and understanding.This revamp was led by Vincent Wang , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, together with two interns: Charlotte Ding , a recent Cornell University graduate in Computer Science, and Ryan Zhao , a junior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Computer Science. Highlights of the New Website The redesigned site features a streamlined structure for easier navigation across key issue areas. It is built to be dynamic and will continue to evolve and improve. Racial Profiling · The China Initiative · Attempts to Revive The China Initiative · FBI & Law Enforcement · Chinese Exclusion Act · McCarthyism Rights & Fairness · Birthright Citizenship · Warrantless Surveillance Social Justice · Alien Land Laws · Impacted Persons Activities · Monthly Meetings · Newsletters · Yellow Whistle Campaign · Community Calendar News · News Archive on APA Justice Issues Resources · Know Your Rights · Library · COVID-19 Resources · Who Is Chinese American? · APA Heritage Month · Asian American History · Report Hate Incidents About · History and Mission of APA Justice What’s Next? APA Justice is also exploring the development of AI tools and a chatbot to help users more easily navigate and engage with the site’s content.We welcome your feedback. Please send comments and suggestions to: contact@apajustice.org . Remarks by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong William Tong 湯偉麟 is the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut and the first Chinese American ever elected to serve as Attorney General in any state in the union. He is also the first Chinese American—and first Asian American—elected to any state office in Connecticut's history. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025, AG Tong emphasizes the significance of recent achievements for the AAPI community, particularly Chinese Americans, acknowledging that such progress came far too late. He highlights the persistent issues of xenophobia, racism, and scapegoating that target Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. He also challenges harmful stereotypes portraying AAPI individuals as quiet, non-confrontational, and lacking leadership. A key point is the community’s limited political power—a reality often overlooked. He underscores the urgent need for increased AAPI representation and leadership across public and private sectors. He points out the political progress of the South Asian community within the broader AAPI group, noting its stronger voice and greater representation, including members of Congress, a governor, and the Vice President. In contrast, the East Asian community, particularly Chinese Americans, has lagged in political representation. He underscores this disparity by pointing out his own milestone as the first Chinese American elected as Attorney General only in 2018 and currently the highest-ranking Chinese American state official—emphasizing how few such leaders exist. He discusses the lack of political power and representation for Chinese Americans, emphasizing that when the community is targeted, there are very few voices to speak up—and even fewer that are actually heard. He stresses the importance of speaking out, especially on critical issues like birthright citizenship, which is foundational for many Asian Americans. He argues that if more AAPI leaders held power, they could both defend the community and help prevent discrimination. He highlights ongoing challenges, including being seen as perpetual foreigners and the rise in anti-Asian hate, but affirms that the AAPI experience is deeply American, not foreign. Speaking from Connecticut, he shares historical examples—like Joseph Pierce , a Chinese American Civil War soldier, and Yung Wing , the first Chinese American Yale graduate and lawyer—to highlight the long-standing presence and contributions of Chinese Americans in U.S. history. He challenges the misconception that the community only arrived in recent decades, emphasizing that many Chinese Americans have deep roots in the country. Whether fleeing hardship or seeking opportunity, their story is not foreign or recent—it's a longstanding and truly American story. AG Tong closes by sharing an incident involving Amara Walker, a part-Korean CNN journalist who faced racist attacks despite her public status. Walker’s statement, “I’m as American as Korean barbecue,” resonated deeply with the speaker, who relates similarly to American cultural identity through food like egg rolls and pork fried rice. The talk stresses the importance of telling AAPI stories to highlight their deep roots in America and affirm their rightful place in the country. He condemns discrimination against Asian academics and scientists as not only wrong but an attack on their identity. Ultimately, he calls for a critical mass of voices to stand together against such attacks—emphasizing unity and collective strength to better protect the community. A video recording of Attorney General William Tong’s talk is available at https://youtu.be/vXDx013lmwA Introduction of Federation of Asian Professor Associations Another distinguished speaker from Connecticut at the APA Justice monthly on May 5, 2025, was Haifan Lin 林海帆 , President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA); Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Yale University. Haifan Lin was elected as the inaugural president of the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA) in 2024. FAPA was formed to protect the academic rights of AAPI faculty amid growing threats to academic freedom and due process, especially during heightened U.S.–China tensions. The unjust targeting of Chinese American scientists underscored the need for collaboration rather than isolation. Several Asian faculty associations from accredited academic institutions across the U.S. came together with a shared mission to seek fairness and justice. FAPA is not a membership organization for individuals, but a national umbrella organization designed to coordinate and amplify these efforts toward a more just and inclusive academic future. FAPA’s missions are: · To promote open collaboration in education, research, scholarship, and professional development. · To advocate for and safeguard academic freedom, legal rights, and career advancement opportunities for its members. Since forming its leadership team in October 2024, FAPA has established itself as a legally sound, independent nonprofit organization. It has streamlined governance, built a skilled volunteer team, partnered with Yale Law School for legal guidance, officially incorporated in Delaware on February 16, 2025, and is currently finalizing its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. FAPA has also launched several key initiatives: · Conducted a nationwide wellness survey—led by the Columbia University Asian Faculty Association—to assess the climate and mental health of Asian faculty. · Hosted public forums with leaders such as Azad Ranjanali from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Ambassador Gary Locke to elevate the voices of Asian American scholars. · Advocated for due process protections in federal investigations, particularly in cases involving foreign affiliations, and submitted policy recommendations to OSTP that balance national security with civil liberties. · Publicly supported scholars such as Professor Xiaofeng Wang of Indiana University, whose termination—lacking transparency—raises serious legal and ethical concerns. · Launched the Synergy newsletter to inform and connect the growing community. FAPA's work goes beyond advocating for Asian faculty; it is about protecting the integrity of American academia. Racial profiling, political pressure, and the erosion of due process harm not only individuals but the entire academic system. Marginalizing any group puts others at risk, stifles innovation, and deprives students of mentors and role models. FAPA believes that diversity is not just a value—it is a strategic asset. Defending that asset is a collective responsibility. FAPA calls for unity in building a more just academic future. It continues to partner with key organizations and invites faculty associations, administrators, students, and allies to join in efforts to drive policy change, share best practices, and support colleagues under threat—emphasizing that we are stronger when we stand together. In the words of FAPA's founding message: Diversity is our strength, and synergy is our power .A video recording of Professor Haifan Lin’s talk is available at https://youtu.be/oho2pPBXECg Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of August 27, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 383 with the following summary: · Case Closed in Favor of Plaintiff: 0 · Blocked: 24 · Temporarily Blocked: 77 · Blocked Pending Appeal: 18 · Temporarily Blocked in Part; Temporary Block Denied in Part: 11 · Temporary Block Denied: 39 · Not Blocked Pending Appeal: 36 · Awaiting Court Ruling: 147 · Case Closed: 22 · Misc: Transferred: 2 · Case Closed/Dismissed in Favor of Government: 7 Among the recent developments is: United States of America v. Russell (D. Md.). Case: 1:25-cv-02029. A Trump-appointed federal judge, Judge Thomas Cullen , dismissed the administration’s lawsuit against all 15 sitting and senior judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The administration had challenged Chief Judge George L. Russell ’s court-wide order imposing temporary pauses on deportations when petitioners file habeas corpus claims. Calling the case “unprecedented and unfortunate,” the court found that the District Court judges have sovereign and judicial immunity, and that the suit was a violation of separation of powers. Judge Cullen said the litigation was “novel and potentially calamitous” and that the government should have appealed in the relevant cases instead. The administration quickly filed an appeal . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/09/06 The 2025 Asian American Youth Symposium2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/09/08 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Janet Yang2025/09/09 China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China2025/09/16-17 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit 2025/09/23 Committee of 100: Is Deglobalization Inevitable?Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF August 29, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #144 9/12 Meeting; State Dept Event; NSF on NSPM-33; Support Prof Xi; Updates on Nomination #144 9/12 Meeting; State Dept Event; NSF on NSPM-33; Support Prof Xi; Updates on Nomination Back View PDF September 9, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

The APA Justice Task Force submitted a statement for a briefing with Senator Mark Warner and his staff on August 6, 2020. August 6, 2020 The APA Justice Task Force submitted the following statement for a briefing with Senator Mark Warner and his staff on August 6, 2020. updateonracialprofilingmarkwarner_20200805 .pdf Download PDF • 513KB The APA Justice Task Force submitted a statement for a briefing with Senator Mark Warner and his staff on August 6, 2020. Previous Next Briefing with Senator Mark Warner

On September 9, 2021, Judge Thomas Varlan issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order and acquitted Professor Anming Hu of all charges in his indictment. September 9, 2021 On September 9, 2021, Judge Thomas Varlan issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order and acquitted Professor Anming Hu of all charges in his indictment. Professor Hu is the first academic to go to trial under the "China Initiative." Read more about the latest developments and background of Professor Hu's case at Anming Hu . On September 9, 2021, Judge Thomas Varlan issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order and acquitted Professor Anming Hu of all charges in his indictment. Previous Next Professor Anming Hu Acquitted

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Policy Advocacy See what we're doing Working with federal agencies and policy makers to advocate for social justice and rights. Social Justice The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) The Office of Science and Technology Policy advises the president on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. OSTP Developments This is a paragraph. Click to edit and add your own text. Add any information you want to share with users. Change the font, size or scale to get the look you want. Read More Item One Subtitle Goes Here This is a paragraph. Click to edit and add your own text. Add any information you want to share with users. Change the font, size or scale to get the look you want. Read More Item Two Subtitle Goes Here This is a paragraph. Click to edit and add your own text. Add any information you want to share with users. Change the font, size or scale to get the look you want. Read More Item Three Subtitle Goes Here On September 9, 2022, Dr. Steven Pei and Dr. Jeremy Wu, Co-Organizers of APA Justice, joined a virtual meeting with Senior Research Officers at the Association of American Universities (AAU). The meeting was moderated by Roger Wakimoto, Vice Chancellor for Research, UCLA. It included a 10-minute presentation by Steven and Jeremy on "Academic Freedom and Engaging Faculty on Campus - The Asian American Perspective " and a package of backgrounds and references , followed by questions and answers, and robust and productive discussions. The meeting continues our engagement and collaboration with AAU after Toby Smith, Vice President for Science Policy & Global Affairs, spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on June 6, 2022. Founded in 1900, AAU is composed of America’s leading research universities which collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to American society. PROPOSAL TO SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICERS OF THE AAU We suggested four wishes from the Asian American faculty perspective: Engage faculty in the development and implementation of NSPM-33 and similar policies on campus to make sure clear instruction, sufficient support, and proper training are provided to faculty, researchers, and administrative staff. “Establish (an independent or joint with faculty senate) committee (preferably led by a Chinese American faculty) to evaluate, define and protect the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of faculty and administration in cases involving the investigation of faculty by outside agencies” - a resolution passed by the faculty senate of a founding member of AAU Offer and publicize first response followed by independent legal assistance. Consider legal insurance in the long term. Help faculty, staffs, and students to resolve visa, border entry, and related issues. Dialogue with the AAU Warrantless Surveillance The U.S. Constitution protects its people against unreasonable searches and seizures. However, under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the U.S. government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of phone calls, text messages, emails, and other electronic communications. Information collected under this law without a warrant can be used to prosecute and imprison people, even for crimes that have nothing to do with national security. Chinese American immigrants and scientific communities, have especially been targets for warrantless surveillance leading to wrongful and unjust prosecutions. Learn more The China Initiative From November 11, 2018 to February 23, 2022, the US national security program created to address economic espionage disproportionately targeted Asian American academics, scientists, and researchers for what were largely administrative errors, harming academic freedom. Learn more See what we've been fighting Advocating for the rights of APA academics, researchers, and scientists. Academic Advocacy

China Initiative Webinars China Initiative Webinar Series #1 The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" #2 Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists #3 Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination: Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present #4 Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy: How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative" #5 The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" #6 The Aftermath in the Mistrial and Racial Profiling of University of Tennessee under the “China Initiative” #1 The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" #2 Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists #3 Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination: Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present #4 Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy: How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative" #5 The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" #6 The Aftermath in the Mistrial and Racial Profiling of University of Tennessee under the “China Initiative” #1 The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" #2 Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists #3 Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination: Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present #4 Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy: How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative" #5 The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" #6 The Aftermath in the Mistrial and Racial Profiling of University of Tennessee under the “China Initiative” #1 The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" #2 Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists #3 Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination: Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present #4 Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy: How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative" #5 The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" #6 The Aftermath in the Mistrial and Racial Profiling of University of Tennessee under the “China Initiative” #1 The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" #2 Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists #3 Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination: Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present #4 Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy: How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative" #5 The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" #6 The Aftermath in the Mistrial and Racial Profiling of University of Tennessee under the “China Initiative”