June 7, 2019 A fallout from racial profiling Chinese American scientists is the loss of talent by the U.S. in an increasingly competitive world for talents. A June 7, 2019 Asian Times article provides ample current and past examples and a succinct summary of how " US will regret persecuting Chinese scientists . " Racial profiling harms the long-term interests of America by forcing talented and renowned scientists, many of them naturalized U.S. citizens, out of the country into the welcoming arms of China. Ironically, profiling those in China's talent recruitment programs actually facilitates China’s recruitment. Stigmatizing all students from China, which exceeded 350,000 at US universities in 2017, as potential spies for China will not enhance but harm the pipeline of American research and innovation. This May 29 essay titled " My Science Has No Nationality " by a young Chinese American female physicist describes the plight of many of today's Chinese American scientists. 2019/07/15 Inside Higher Ed: Attacking Chinese on Our Campuses Only Hurts America Examples of America's Lost Talents Dr. Xin Zhao , a prize-winning applied physicist from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, had to relocate his startup venture to commercialize some of the school’s patented nanotechnology from the U.S. to China after a federal investigation that included a failed sting, airport stops and an unfounded child-porn search. Dr. Chunzai Wang , a U.S. citizen and one of the foremost experts on ocean-atmosphere interaction, climate change, and hurricanes in the world, is now a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in China. He was a research oceanographer in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He received the NOAA Research Scientist of the Year award in 2012 and 2013. Dr. Xifeng Wu , a U.S. citizen, is now Dean of School of Public Health, Vice President for the Second Affiliated Hospital and the Director for National Institute of Health Big Data, Zhejiang University in China. She was Director, Center for Public Health and Translational Genomics and Professor, Department of Epidemiology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in January 2019. Dr. Xiaorong Wang is now a Distinguished Professor of School of Chemical Science and Engineering and of Institute for Advanced Study at Tongji University at Shanghai, China. He was a project and group leader at Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology and received the Bridgestone/Firestone CEO Award for distinguished research. Dr. Xuesen Qian (1911-2009) is known as the founder of engineering cybernetics and father of the space program for China. He was a co-founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the U.S. During the Second Red Scare in the 1950s, the U.S. government accused him of communist sympathies. After spending five years under house arrest, he was released in 1955 and deported to China. The head of the US Navy at the time was quoted as saying that Qian’s deportation was "the stupidest thing this country ever did. He was no more a communist than I was and we forced him to go.” Latest from BBC: Qian Xuesen: The scientist deported from the US who helped China into space Previous Next America Loses Talent by Racial Profiling

4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, April 28, 2021 The recent acts of violence and the rise in Anti-Asian hate, along with the government’s heightened scrutiny and racial profiling of scientists and researchers of Asian and Chinese descent, particularly through the Department of Justice’s “China Initiative,” have caused immeasurable harm to the Asian American community, leaving lives in shambles and eroding the health of our democracy. This comprehensive webinar takes a deeper dive into how we can empower impacted persons and the broader Asian American and immigrant community to take action to protect their civil rights and advocate for policy reform. Policy makers, civil rights organizations, and the academic community will share their insights on topics including policy and advocacy engagement, access to available legal resources, and building narratives to lift up the voices of impacted people and combat xenophobia. 20210428 Webinar4ChinaInitative1.png 20210428 Webinar4ChinaInitative2.png Previous Item Next Item

Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 Docket ID: 2:17-cv-02132 District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania Date filed: May 10, 2017 Date ended: Professor Xi Files Appeal to Reinstate Damage Claims Against FBI 2023/06/08 TechDirt: Appeals Court Awards Half A Win To Professor Wrongfully Arrested For Sharing ‘Secret’ Tech With Chinese Entities 2023/05/26 星島日報: 任職天普被誣指中國間諜 華裔教授郗小星獲准告FBI 2023/05/25 NBC News: After being wrongfully accused of spying for China, professor wins appeal to sue the government 2023/05/24 ACLU: ACLU Applauds Court For Allowing Case Challenging FBI’s Wrongful Prosecution of Chinese American Physics Professor To Move Forward Bloomberg Law: Temple Professor’s Claims Revived Over Wrongful Spying Arrest 2022/09/21 Inside Higher Ed: After the China Initiative: Seeking Accountability 2022/09/20 NBC News: A professor falsely accused of spying for China describes the toll it's taken on his family 2022/09/16 Temple News: Temple physics professor defends lawsuit against FBI agent 2022/09/15 Courthouse News Service: Appeals court weighs case over China-born physicist’s wrongful espionage charges 2022/09/14 Oral arguments: https://bit.ly/3dbBD29 (audio 57:09) WHYY: Temple professor continues long legal journey to sue FBI for wrongful prosecution Philadelphia Inquirer: Temple professor falsely accused of spying for China urges court to revive his suit against the FBI Advancing Justice | AAJC: Professor Xiaoxing Xi, Civil Rights Advocates Argue for Freedom from Government Discrimination and Surveillance in Third Circuit Court Asian American Scholar Forum: Asian American Scholar Forum Calls for Justice for Dr. Xiaoxing Xi Ahead of Third Circuit Oral Arguments AsAmNews: Professor accused of spying for China asks court to revisit suit against FBI 2022/02/20 The Daily Campus: SMU AAPASA Denounces FBI’s Racial Targeting of Asian Academics 2022/02/17 AAUP: The AAUP Joins Movement Seeking Justice For Professor Xiaoxing Xi 2022/02/15 Defending Rights & Dissent: DRAD joins amicus brief in Xi v. Haugen; calls on US government to stop discriminating against Asian Americans & immigrants 2022/02/14 American Physical Society: Brief of Amici Curiae American Physical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Statistical Association, American Geophysical Union, and Gerontological Society of America in Support of Appellants Advancing Justice | AAJC: Advancing Justice - AAJC and Advancing Justice - ALC Amicus Brief in Support of Professor Xiaoxing Xi 2022/02/11 Institute for Justice: Institute for Justice Amicus Brief in support of Professor Xiaoxing Xi 2022/02/10 The Davis Vanguard: Naturalized U.S. Citizen Files Appeal Following Dismissal of Claims Against U.S. Gov’t 2022/02/09 The Daily Pennsylvanian: Temple University Professor Xiaoxing Xi seeks reinstatement of lawsuit against FBI Temple News: Temple professor asks court to reinstate lawsuit against U.S. government 2022/02/07 AP: Temple prof seeks reinstatement of damage claims against FBI 2021/09/24 ACLU: Xi v. Haugen - Plaintiffs' Notice of Appeal 2021/04/02 ACLU: A Chinese American Scientist and His Family Are Battling the FBI’s Profiling in Court ACLU: Federal Court Dismisses Claims in Chinese American Professor’s Lawsuit Challenging FBI’s Baseless Arrest and Prosecution 2018/04/09 ACLU: Xi V. Haugen – Challenge to Warrentless Surveillance Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #243 Florida Rally Today; AAJC Updates; History in California; Corky Lee; Mexico Brief; + #243 Florida Rally Today; AAJC Updates; History in California; Corky Lee; Mexico Brief; + In This Issue #243 · Rally Today: Florida Professors and Advocates Demand Board of Governors Address SB 846 · Advancing Justice | AAJC Updates from March APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Humanity in Confronting History in California · Fifty Years of Photographic Justice: Corky Lee’s Asian America · Mexico Files Amicus Brief; Chinese Crossing Southern Border · News and Activities for the Communities Rally Today: Florida Professors and Advocates Demand Board of Governors Address SB 846 On March 26, 2024, professors, students, and advocates will host a rally before the Florida Board of Governors meeting at the University of Florida. Asian American scholars and local and national community members will gather to demand that the Florida Board of Governors address their concerns with SB 846, which restricts Florida’s public colleges and universities from hiring graduate students and researchers from certain “countries of concern,” including China and Iran. The legislation, which took effect on July 1, 2023, further restricts Florida’s public colleges and universities from participating in partnerships or agreements with individuals or entities from these countries. It has raised concerns on academic freedom and impacts on the Asian American community not just in Florida but nationwide. The law has created confusion and a chilling effect on researchers, and could lead to broader harms on scientific innovation and the pipeline of scientific leadership in Florida and the U.S. At this rally, students and professors will share personal stories about the negative impact of the legislation on themselves, peers, and their local community, as well as the fearful environment that it has fostered especially at a time of increased anti-Asian hate and violence. National representatives are flying in from across the country to support local community members and to voice that what is happening in Florida could have a rippling effect across the country. Vincent Wang , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, will speak at the rally, which will be held at Reitz Union, North Lawn, University of Florida Gainesville Campus, on March 26, 2024, starting at 12 noon ET. The "We Belong" Yellow Whistles will be distributed during the rally. Please join.Read the media advisory: https://bit.ly/3PEyOq9 Breaking News: Academics challenge Florida law restricting research exchanges from prohibited countries like China According to AP on March 26, 2024, two graduate students from China whose studies were put on hold, and a professor who says he is unable to recruit research assistants, sued Florida education officials, trying to stop enforcement of a new state law which limits research exchanges between state universities and academics from seven prohibited countries.The law is discriminatory, unconstitutional and reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which instituted a 10-year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the United States, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Miami. The new law also usurps the power of the federal government, which has exclusive authority over immigration, national security and foreign affairs, the lawsuit said.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/3PEfkCd Advancing Justice | AAJC Updates from March APA Justice Monthly Meeting During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 4, 2024, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that the House cancelled a much anticipated vote on Section 702, the circumstances around which are highly problematic. The key takeaways include: 1. The House Intelligence Committee, led by Chairman Mike Turner , reneged on a pre-negotiated deal to move FISA reauthorization and reform to the House floor; 2. The House Judiciary Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Section 702, submitted amendments to the base bill and testified in favor of their amendments while the House Intelligence Committee failed to even appear. Chair Turner and other House Intelligence Committee members also cryptically hinted at a so-called destabilizing foreign military capability that they heavily implied was related to Section 702, but it was later identified to be completely unrelated. Chair Turner undermined national security and wrongfully created national panic. It was clearly designed to scare members ahead of the plan to vote on Section 702, which was ultimately taken down. The White House and members of Congress and Civil Society have all been appalled at this behavior and issued statements to that effect. But in terms of next steps, Advancing Justice | AAJC will, in coalition with other AAPI organizations, prepare to defend against any efforts to jam Section 702 reauthorization into any imminent must-pass legislation. To that end, Joanna learned that 702 reauthorization is not in the first minibus and will continue to stay vigilant and monitor. Joanna deferred to Thông Phan to report on the state alien land laws. Advancing Justice | AAJC is tracking land-law-related language in the national security supplemental. It appears that a narrowly tailored version of the Rounds amendment was ultimately dropped, and the national security supplemental at the time of reporting looks to be less harmful.A summary for the meeting is being prepared at this time. 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 . Humanity in Confronting History in California According to AP , in May 2021, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe had issued a formal apology for Antioch’s mistreatment of early Chinese immigrants, including the torching of Chinatown and driving out its residents, which has been documented by local newspapers and historians. Thorpe’s actions led to major cities like San Jose, Los Angeles and San Francisco passing similar resolutions.The 2021 apology has also led to local residents and historians delving deeper into the past and working to establish a Chinatown Historic District, complete with murals and museum exhibits highlighting the history and accomplishments of the community in Antioch.Before getting involved with the Antioch Historical Society and becoming committee chair for its Chinese History Project, Hans Ho said he had no idea a Chinatown once existed there. Chinese people were undoubtedly treated as second-class citizens, said Ho, who emigrated from Hong Kong in the 1960s. He was also one of the representatives from the Chinese American community to receive Thorpe’s apology, an act that moved him to tears.Chinese laborers were among the early population in Antioch, which was named in 1851. They likely numbered just under 100, said Lucy Meinhardt , an Antioch Historical Society Museum board member. They worked in farms, canneries and mines. They helped build river levees and established a Chinatown where the city’s downtown now stands. Today, the city of more than 111,000 is 25% white while Asians make up 12%. Hispanic and Black residents are 35% and 20% of the population, respectively. Even creating a space for some materials related to Chinese residents at the Antioch Historical Society Museum has gotten pushback. “(One board member) said that they wanted this to be an ‘American’ museum,” said Dwayne Eubanks , a past president of the historical society, who is African American. “I took umbrage to that.” He held up a picture of his father in his Army uniform and told the man: “This is an American.”On March 16, 2024, Eubanks, Meinhardt and Ho all attended the May We Gather event in Antioch, which organizers described as the first national memorial service and pilgrimage in response to anti-Asian violence. Attendees, including the three local residents, walked meditatively with Buddhist monks, nuns and lay leaders, around the city block where Antioch’s Chinatown stood 150 years ago.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/49elUGm According to NBC News on March 6, 2024, In 1939, the Dongs, a Chinese American family in Coronado, California, found themselves unable to rent a house amid racially restrictive housing laws that favored white buyers and renters. Emma and Gus Thompson , a Black entrepreneurial couple in town, allowed the family to rent and eventually buy their Coronado property when nobody else would. Now, to thank the Thompsons for helping them get a toehold in American society, the Dongs are donating $5 million to Black college students using proceeds from the sale of the house. “It may enable some kids to go and flourish in college that might not have been able to otherwise,” Janice Dong , 86, said about the plan to sell the family home they later purchased, as well as an adjacent property. The Dong family will also work to have San Diego State University’s Black Resource Center named after Emma and Gus, who was born into slavery in Kentucky. Lloyd Dong Jr. , 81, said the Thompsons gave their family a start with the land, and it is time for them to do the same for others. “Without them, we would not have the education and everything else,” Lloyd Dong Jr. said. The Dong family’s roots in California date back to the late 19th century. Lloyd Dong Sr. was a farmer in the Central Valley before he moved to Coronado to become a gardener. In 1939, Gus and Emma Thompson gave the Dong family a place to stay, a promise to sell them the land and a chance to build a better life. It was a time in Coronado, a resort city known for its opulent hotel and white sand beaches on the San Diego Bay peninsula, when people living on the margins of society found it difficult to live within city limits. Racially restrictive housing covenants prohibited immigrants and people of color from renting and buying in Coronado.The Dong and Thompson families were on the same side of history. They were people trying to make it in a land that didn’t see them as full citizens. It wasn’t abnormal then to have marginalized individuals living together and supporting one another.Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3vAdCL7 Fifty Years of Photographic Justice: Corky Lee’s Asian America Corky Lee 李扬国 (1947-2021), known also as "Asian American Photographer Laureate," was a Chinese American activist, community organizer, and photojournalist. He called himself an "ABC from NYC ... wielding a camera to slay injustices against APAs." Corky documented Asian American and Pacific Islander communities for fifty years, breaking the stereotype of Asian Americans as docile, passive, and, above all, foreign to this country. A selection of the best photographs from his vast collection will be officially released on April 9, 2024. It covers his start in New York’s Chinatown in the 1970s to his coverage of diverse Asian American communities across the country until his untimely passing in 2021. Read about the book: https://www.corkylee.org/about-1 . The link also provides information about a national book tour starting at the Chinese American Museum in Washington DC on April 11, and including New York events at the Asia Society on April 18 and Chinatown on May 4, as well as stops at Boston, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pasadena, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. For more information, contact Tina Wang , National Book Tour Coordinator, at wangxintian0928@gmail.com . Mexico Files Amicus Brief; Chinese Crossing Southern Border According to CNN on March 21, 2024, Mexico is warning a federal US court in a friend-of-the-court brief that if its judges permit a controversial Texas immigration law known as SB 4 to take effect, the two nations would experience “substantial tension” that would have far-reaching consequences for US-Mexico relations.“Enforcement of SB 4 would inappropriately burden the uniform and predictable sovereign-to-sovereign relations between Mexico and the United States, by criminalizing the unauthorized entry of noncitizens into Texas from outside the county and creating diverging removal requirements between and among individual states and the national government,” they wrote in the brief. “Enforcement of SB 4 would also interfere with Mexico’s right to determine its own policies regarding entry into its territory, undermine U.S.-Mexico collaboration on a legal migration framework and border management, and hinder U.S.-Mexico trade,” the attorneys told the court.Mexico said it was backing the law’s challengers, which include the Biden administration. Its attorneys argued in the brief that the law – if allowed to take effect – “will be applied in a discriminatory manner.”Mexico’s 11 consulates in Texas have been ordered to provide protection and guidance and have made legal support available for any Mexican nationals across the state who “starts to have a problem,” under the new law, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said.Read the CNN report: https://cnn.it/497YaDR . According to a 60 Minutes report on February 4, 2024, about 37,000 Chinese nationals trying to escape repressive politics and a bleak economy, headed to the U.S. via the southern border in 2023. This is about 1.5% of the total of 2.5 million. It is an increase from 323 in 2021.According to the South China Morning Post on February 15, 2024, from a high of 2.2 million temporary visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2016, only about 160,000 were granted in 2022, a fall of more than 90%. This has led some Chinese citizens to take desperate measures to enter the US for a better life. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/03/26 Rally: Florida Professors and Advocates Demand Board of Governors Address SB 8462024/03/28 CSIS: U,S,-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward2024/04/02 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Summit2024/04/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/04/17 Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative2024/04/18 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic JusticeVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. AA & NHPI Higher Education Leadership Summit WHAT: AA & NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit WHEN: APRIL 2, 2024, 8:30 - 5:15 pm Pacific Time WHERE: UC Berkeley - Martin Luther King, Jr. Building, 2495 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704 HOSTS: White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; U.S. Office of Personnel Management DESCRIPTION: The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) is dedicated to advancing educational equity and opportunity for all Americans. In 2024, we are continuing to bring together students, faculty, and administrators from across the country to highlight the critical role that Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs) play in increasing access to higher education and promoting workforce development. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3Vncrco Back View PDF March 26, 2024 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

James Patrick Lewis Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #116 "China Initiative" Briefing; AAASE Lecture; Editorials; 3/7 Meeting; Hate Crime Update #116 "China Initiative" Briefing; AAASE Lecture; Editorials; 3/7 Meeting; Hate Crime Update Back View PDF March 1, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #310 Getting China Right at Home; Trump Action Tracker; Birthright Citizenship; DEI Attacks #310 Getting China Right at Home; Trump Action Tracker; Birthright Citizenship; DEI Attacks In This Issue #310 · Launch of ACF: Getting China Right at Home · Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions · Lawsuits Against Executive Orders on Birthright Citizenship and DEI · Understanding Attacks on DEI in Higher Ed · News and Activities for the Communities Launch of ACF: Getting China Right at Home On February 3, 2025, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University offcially launched the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF). ACF aims to add rigor and reason to the public and policy conversation about China and the variety of domestic and international issues that intersect China’s global role, bringing together experts and practitioners to foster informed public dialogue, promote evidence-based research, and support the next generation of scholars and practitioners. Jim Steinberg , Dean of Johns Hopkins University SAIS, and Jessica Chen Weiss , Inaugural Faculty Director of ACF and David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, led off the all-day event with welcoming remarks. Senator Andy Kim discussed what is at stake in U.S. policy on China in a Fireside Chat .According to the inaugural ACF report titled Getting China Right at Home: Addressing the Domestic Challenges of Intensifying Competition , there is bipartisan agreement that advancing American interests requires getting policy right at home on issues from technology, data, trade, investment, energy, law, and labor, to the concerns of local constituencies, including governors, mayors, and Chinese Americans. Getting China Right at Home offers a spectrum of fresh perspectives on ways to center the vitality of American democracy, economy, and society in the United States’ strategy toward China.ACF is in Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Contact saisacf@jh.edu for more information.In an interview with the South China Morning Post on February 3, Weiss argues that the U.S.-China rivalry need not be a zero-sum game. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing areas where both nations can cooperate for mutual benefit, suggesting that a collaborative approach could lead to more positive outcomes than a purely competitive stance. Weiss advocates for policies that balance competition with engagement, aiming to manage differences while working together on global challenges. Read the South China Morning Post interview: https://bit.ly/3Qa8h3K Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions On January 29, 2025, Just Security launched a Tracker monitoring legal challenges to Trump Administration actions. The Tracker is expected to expand with periodic updates. It features a search function and allows sorting by Topic, Executive Action, Case Name, and Date Filed. To help maintain its accuracy and completeness, missing cases and updates should be reported to lte@justsecurity.org . As of February 5, 2025, the Tracker at https://bit.ly/3QpPIsR has 35 entries: Immigration and Citizenship (12) · Birthright Citizenship Executive Order (7) · Punishment of sanctuary cities and states (1) · "Expedited Removal" Executive Order (2) · Discontinuation of CBP One app Executive Order (1) · Access of Lawyers to Immigrants in Detention Executive Order (1) Structure of Government/Personnel (12) · Reinstatement of Schedule F for Policy/Career Employees Executive Order (3) · Establishment of "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) Executive Order (4) · Solicitation of information from career employees (1) · Disclosure of personal and financial records to DOGE (2) · "Fork Directive" deferred resignation offer to federal employees OPM Directive (1) · Removal of agency employees (1) Government Grants, Loans and Assistance (2) · “Temporary Pause” of grants, loans, and assistance programs (2) Civil Liberties and Rights (5) · Housing of transgender inmates Executive Order (2) · Ban on transgender individuals serving in the military Executive Order (1) · Ban on gender affirming care for individuals under the age of 19 ender Ideology Executive Order ; Denial of Care Executive Order (1) · Immigration enforcement against places of worship Policy Memo (1) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (1) · Ban on DEIA Initiatives in the executive branch and by contractors Executive Order ; Contracting Executive Order (1) Removal of Information from Government Websites (1) · Removal of information from HHS websites under Executive Order on "Gender Ideology Extremism" Executive Order ; Policy Memo (1) Actions Against FBI/DOJ Employees (2) · Department of Justice review of FBI personnel involved in January 6 investigations Executive Order on Weaponization (2) Lawsuits Against Executive Orders on Birthright Citizenship and DEI According to the National Park Service , "Chinese Americans filed more than 10,000 lawsuits to fight the discriminatory laws enacted in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s.” Twenty of these cases were heard by the US Supreme Court. These cases set legal precedents for many landmark human rights lawsuits. In addition, Part 2 of the 2003 PBS Documentary on " BECOMING AMERICAN: The Chinese Experience " describes how the Chinese boldly filed over 10,000 lawsuits challenging laws and practices designed to harass and oppress them. When Wong Kim Ark , a 22-year-old cook born in San Francisco, sued to be considered a citizen, it was a decisive victory against discriminatory legislation. We thank those who came before us for their courage and perseverance in securing the freedoms we enjoy today. It is our responsibility to honor their legacy by continuing the fight for future generations.On January 30, 2025, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump ’s executive order on birthright citizenship. OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates v. Rubio (1:25-cv-00287) argues that the order is unconstitutional and would cause irreparable harm to immigrant families, including OCA members expecting children who would be denied citizenship. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, it is one of eight known lawsuits against the order (one of which was consolidated in the same U.S. District Court). The legal team is led by Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC. Read the complaint: https://bit.ly/3WMKlHA .According to New York Times on February 5, 2025, Judge Deborah L. Boardman issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Trump’s attempt to unilaterally eliminate automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to undocumented or temporary immigrants on U.S. soil. The injunction applies nationally and is more permanent than the 14-day temporary restraining order issued on January 23 by a federal judge in Seattle. In most cases, a preliminary injunction remains in force until a case is resolved or a higher court overturns it. “The executive order conflicts with the plain language of the 14th Amendment, contradicts 125-year-old binding Supreme Court precedent and runs counter to our nation’s 250-year history of citizenship by birth,” Judge Boardman ruled. “The United States Supreme Court has resoundingly rejected the president’s interpretation of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. In fact, no court in the country has ever endorsed the president’s interpretation. This court will not be the first.” The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center is representing the plaintiffs in CASA Inc. et al v. Trump et al (8:25-cv-00201) On January 20, 2025, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued a joint statement condemning President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, calling it a violation of the 14th Amendment and his constitutional duty. They emphasized that birthright citizenship, upheld in the 1898 Wong Kim Ark case, is a fundamental right and vowed to oppose any efforts that undermine equality, justice, and civil rights.On February 4, 2025, a coalition of higher education and civic leaders filed a lawsuit to stop President Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders. National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump (1:25-cv-00333) challenging two Trump executive orders that seek to eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. The first order mandates the removal of DEIA programs and professionals from federal agencies and halts “equity-related” grants and contracts. The second order threatens federal funding, civil investigations, and enforcement actions against DEIA programs, both in the public and private sectors. National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, American Association of University Professors, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland, argue that these orders are unconstitutional, violate free speech protections, and unlawfully usurp congressional control over federal funding. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the state of Maryland. The legal team is led by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC and Democracy Forward Foundation. Read the complaint: https://bit.ly/42JONuC . Understanding Attacks on DEI in Higher Ed On January 31, 2025, the Chronicle of Higher Education announced a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Legislation Tracker on bills that would prohibit colleges from requiring classes to graduate that promote concepts such as systemic racism, reparations, and racial or gender diversity, or from offering student-orientation programs with such content. The Tracker allows readers to quickly understand what practices are at risk of being banned, where legislation is making progress, and what laws have been enacted. If the summations of the legislation are not enough, links to browse through the bills themselves are provided. The Chronicle invites questions and comments to editor@chronicle.com . Read the DEI Legislation Tracker: https://bit.ly/4goHoDX The Chronicle of Higher Education has also been documenting the reduction of DEI initiatives across numerous U.S. colleges and universities. As of January 31, 2025, their tracking indicates that 232 campuses in 34 states have altered or eliminated DEI-related offices, positions, training programs, diversity statements, and other activities. These changes are largely in response to anti-DEI legislation and mounting political pressure. The pace of these modifications has increased, especially with the federal administration's intent to remove DEI efforts across various sectors, including higher education. The Chronicle's resource provides detailed information on these developments, helping readers understand the evolving landscape of DEI in academia. Read the most recent updates: https://bit.ly/3CPOT9f 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 Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. February is Black History Month Black History Month is an annual observance in February that honors the history, achievements, and contributions of African Americans. It was established by historian C arter G. Woodson in 1926 as Negro History Week and later expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976. The month serves as a time to recognize the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans throughout U.S. history, from the fight against slavery and segregation to advancements in civil rights, culture, politics, science, and more. Various events, educational programs, and community activities are held nationwide to celebrate and reflect on African American heritage. 3. Book: The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education The softcover edition of The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps, has been released with a discount code valid until February 12, 2025. The book explores the history, challenges, and achievements of Chinese Americans in academia, featuring 36 narratives from chancellors, presidents, deans, and other leaders. It highlights their contributions to higher education, diversity, and social justice while addressing barriers like the "bamboo ceiling." For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/411FQeF # # # 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 7, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, September 30, 2020 This is the first of a series of webinars to examine the ramifications of the U.S. Justice Department’s “China Initiative” on the civil rights and security of Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants, and Chinese Nationals working in the U.S., as well as the consequences for the broader American society. The inaugural webinar is designed to provide policy-makers, journalists, attorneys, and community advocates with an overview of the “China Initiative” and the efforts civil rights advocates and the scientific community are making to protect the rights of those investigated and targeted under this discriminatory framework. 20200930 ChinaInitiativeWebinar.jpg Previous Item Next Item

Nearly two years later, a 21-year-old Texas man who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. February 24, 2022 On February 24, 2022, the Washington Post published Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges . A 21-year-old Texas man, Jose Gomez III, who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child because he thought they were Chinese — and therefore, he said, responsible for the coronavirus pandemic — has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. He slashed the 6-year-old boy’s face. “The blade entered millimeters from [the boy’s] right eye, split his right ear, and wrapped around to the back of his skull,” prosecutors said. Gomez then stabbed a White employee who had intervened to stop the attack. Justice Department officials said that while Gomez was pinned down after being subdued, he yelled to the family, “Get out of America!” Gomez later told local authorities that he had never seen the father before but had perceived him as a “threat” because he supposedly “came from the country who started spreading the disease around.” He admitted to trying to kill the father and the 6-year-old in an effort to “stop the threat.” Gomez pleaded guilty to three counts of committing a hate crime and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a total of $750,000 in fines. Nearly two years later, a 21-year-old Texas man who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. Previous Next Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges

Newsletter - #352 Register for 10/16 Webinar; AAJC, APIAVote, and OCA Updates; CALDA New Lawsuit v SB17+ #352 Register for 10/16 Webinar; AAJC, APIAVote, and OCA Updates; CALDA New Lawsuit v SB17+ In This Issue #352 · Register to Attend Inaugural Webinar on October 16, 2025 · Update from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC · Update from APIAVote · Update from OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates · CALDA Appeals and Files New Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law · News and Activities for the Communities Register to Attend Inaugural Webinar on October 16, 2025 Cindy Tsai 蔡欣玲 , Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Committee of 100 (C100), and Rosie Levine 卢晓玫 , Executive Director of the U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET), announced the launch of a joint webinar series, titled " Global Tensions, Local Dimensions - Navigating the U.S.-China Relationship, " at the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025.The inaugural webinar will take place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET on Zoom , featuring Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch 張之香 and Gary Locke 骆家辉 , in conversation with Jessica Chen Weiss 白潔曦, David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS.Register to attend the webinar titled " Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations ," by scanning the QR code above or clicking this link: https://bit.ly/20251016Webinar About the Series and Webinar From the ping-pong diplomacy that preceded formal diplomatic ties in the 1970’s to the robust educational exchanges that flourished in the reform era in the 1990’s, people-to-people connections have provided continuity during periods of political tension in the U.S.-China relationship. Yet in today's environment of strategic competition, people-to-people engagements, such as academic partnerships, student exchanges, business networks, and diaspora community ties, are increasingly restricted in the name of national security. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, whose families and networks often span both countries, increasingly find themselves in the crosshairs.This webinar will focus on the past, present, and future of people-to-people ties between the United States and China, as well as the implications for AAPI communities and U.S. policy. At a time of strained U.S.-China ties, and a concurrent rise in incidents of profiling and violence directed toward the AAPI community in the United States, this discussion will explore how U.S. foreign policy intersects with domestic policy and rights. About the Co-Hosts · C100 is a nonpartisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, science, and the arts. Founded in 1990 by I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 and other distinguished leaders, C100 works to advance the full participation of Chinese Americans in U.S. society and to foster constructive dialogue between the United States and Greater China. As Cindy noted, global interactions have direct consequences for AAPI communities at home. · USCET , founded in 1998 by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, is a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit dedicated to promoting mutual understanding between the United States and China through education and exchange. USCET strengthens American Studies in China, supports professional development for educators, and creates dialogue among students, scholars, and policymakers. Rosie noted that USCET’s first-ever public statement was issued to express concern over proposed restrictions on international student visas. · APA Justice , advocate of over 10 years for fairness, equity, and justice for Asian Americans and beyond, is also a co-host of this series. Update from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC During the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill, highlighting harmful House language directing the Department of Justice to reinstate the China Initiative. AAJC is responding comprehensively. · Civil Society Letter : An updated letter with more than 80 organizational sign-ons has been sent to Congress. · Bicameral Letter : Representative Judy Chu and Senator Mazie Hirono led a bicameral letter urging opposition to reinstatement, also with the same broad organizational endorsements. In addition, AAJC and coalition partners AASF, Stop AAPI Hate, and CAA are launching a call campaign. Supporters are encouraged to mobilize their bases to phone back and mail all Democratic senators. The goal is to prevent the harmful China Initiative language from appearing in the Senate bill, ensuring it remains only in the House version. Continued calls and emails will be critical throughout this month until the Senate vote. AAJC is closely coordinating with allies on the Hill and provide updates on timing. On September 11, 2025, AsAmNews reported that a proposal to revive the defunct China Initiative—a Trump-era program aimed at curbing Chinese economic espionage but widely criticized for unfairly targeting Chinese scientists—is advancing through Congress. On September 11, the House Appropriations Committee voted 34–28 to include the measure in a larger appropriations bill.Asian American leaders warn reinstating the Initiative would repeat past harms. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) condemned it for fueling racial profiling and dual-loyalty tropes. Civil rights groups point to high-profile failed prosecutions of Chinese scientists such as Gang Chen 陈刚 (MIT), Anming Hu 胡安明 (University of Tennessee), and Franklin Tao 陶丰 (University of Kansas), noting the chilling effect beyond the scientific community. “People don’t know, just by looking at you, whether you’re from China or not,” said Cindy Tsai , general counsel and Executive VP of the Committee of 100. “This really goes back to the safety issue and the sense of belonging for those who have been part of this country.”More than 80 Asian American organizations including APA Justice issued a joint letter opposing the bill. Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, warned it would undermine U.S. competitiveness by driving away scientific talent. Joanna Derman of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) urged the public to educate themselves and press Congress to strip the measure: “We’ve seen how that can result in unfair and harmful discrimination against Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and academics. So by putting [it] in the appropriation bill, pretty much anybody who votes for the appropriation bill can deny that they supported the China Initiative, because it’s part of a larger bill.” Update from APIAVote APIAVote is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civic engagement in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. In today’s hyper-partisan climate, some ask whether a C3 message can still resonate. Bob Sakaniwa , Director of Policy and Advocacy at APIAVote, answered yes during the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025. Now more than ever, trusted messengers are essential. Communities look to organizations like APIAVote not to tilt the political scales, but to highlight how policies directly shape AAPI lives. Bob emphasized that while 501(c)(4) activity and more overtly partisan efforts have their place, C3 organizations occupy a unique and vital role. They can elevate the dialogue, build trust across divides, and push conversations toward inclusion and solutions.Reflecting on 2024, the picture for AAPI civic participation was mixed. In 2020, turnout reached historic highs. But in 2024, participation slipped—driven by uncertainty, disillusionment with both parties, and the draining effects of misinformation. Still, there were bright spots: AAPI voters led the nation in new registrations, with more first-time registrants than any other group. With 15 million eligible AAPI voters, there remains enormous untapped potential. And after nearly a year of political upheaval, more people are connecting the dots between policies and daily life—recognizing why civic engagement matters. APIAVote sees opportunities for a rebound this year and an even bigger surge heading into the 2026 midterms.At the same time, threats to voting rights are real and growing. Chief among them is the push—through legislation and executive orders—for documentary proof of citizenship to vote. This bureaucratic barrier amounts to voter suppression, fueled by the false narrative of widespread non-citizen voting. The facts say otherwise. Yet the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would impose such requirements, has already passed the House. Fortunately, the Senate has shown little interest so far.Meanwhile, the Trump administration issued an executive order with the same aim. It is currently tied up in the courts, and APIAVote—along with OCA and represented by AAJC—is a plaintiff challenging it. Another front is the push to roll back birthright citizenship. Both efforts strike at the heart of who belongs in our democracy and carry profound implications for AAPI families.Looking ahead, APIAVote is closely monitoring state-level contests. In New Jersey and Virginia, upcoming races may serve as early indicators of public sentiment toward the administration. And in California, voters will decide this November on a major redistricting proposition, a response to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting carried out under presidential direction. While redistricting is often framed in partisan terms, APIAVote sees it fundamentally as an issue of representation: voters should choose their leaders, not the other way around.Bob closed with a reminder that September 16 is National Voter Registration Day. APIAVote and its partners will be working nationwide to send a clear message: the first step in making your voice heard is registering to vote. With millions of AAPI voices still untapped, this is our moment to ensure our communities are not only present at the polls, but powerful in shaping America’s future. Update from OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates 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. At the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025, Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, recapped OCA’s 2025 convention in Seattle, spotlighting the State of the U.S. Constitution plenary, which featured Karen Narasaki (longtime civil rights advocate and former U.S. Commission on Civil Rights commissioner), Karthik Ramakrishnan (academic and founder of AAPI Data), and William Xu , a former OCA intern who later served as a public defender and now works as a judge advocate. Together, they explored impact litigation, public narrative change, and pathways for community involvement. The convention also engaged audiences through workshops like Helen Zia ’s session on AAPI crisis communications, addressing censorship, the politicization of terms such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the challenge of intergenerational dialogue around politically charged language—like “tariffs,” which have real consequences for families and businesses. A screening of John Osaki ’s film Making Waves , on preserving ethnic studies and critical race theory, was another highlight. Thu encouraged chapters to bring the film to local communities. Thu reported that OCA is co-plaintiff in three ongoing lawsuits: one on birthright citizenship, one challenging cuts to the Department of Education, and one with APIAVote on voting rights. All cases are pending before the courts. Thu also described OCA’s Leadership Summit program, historically held in D.C. for select members to receive advocacy and public speaking training and participate in Hill visits. This year, OCA expanded the model into two-day regional leadership summits—open to all ages—combining training with visits to state capitols or local congressional offices. Recent summits were held in Boston and Las Vegas, with upcoming events in Phoenix (November), New York City, and Houston in 2026. OCA covers program costs, while local chapters help with logistics and outreach. Finally, OCA is partnering with National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) members to educate communities on healthcare budget cuts, particularly the impact on Medicare and Medicaid. Many community members are unaware of their coverage links (e.g., CHIP and Medicaid), so OCA is working to clarify these changes and provide next steps for affected families. CALDA Appeals and Files New Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law 1. Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103) According to a post by the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (华美维权同盟), CALDA led a lawsuit against the Texas government seeking to overturn Texas SB 17, an anti-Chinese land law. A federal judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds in August. The judge held that the two plaintiffs represented by CALDA had resided in Texas for many years and thus could not be considered “domiciled in China.” Since SB 17 does not restrict them, their rights were not harmed, and therefore they lacked standing to sue.CALDA believes the judge’s ruling was wrong. The decision’s interpretation of “domicile” for individuals on non-immigrant visas conflicts with existing law and creates further ambiguity. Because violating SB 17 carries felony consequences, such vagueness may lead to overly strict enforcement, causing broader harm to Chinese communities.Some Texas banks and mortgage companies have already adopted internal policies refusing home loans to any Chinese nationals without green cards—going beyond the law itself. For many Chinese residents, the law’s terms are hard to interpret, and in the current political climate, such gray areas invite abuse, fear, and discrimination. Even those on non-immigrant visas who stay in Texas only temporarily still fall under SB 17 and face housing discrimination.At its core, SB 17 is not about national security but about treating all Chinese people as potential threats. By relying on procedural grounds, the judge avoided the real constitutional question: does SB 17 violate equal protection by stripping a group of the right to buy or rent property based solely on nationality or country of origin? This is the heart of the case and the reason CALDA filed the lawsuit.Following the August ruling, CALDA immediately filed an appeal. Both sides are now submitting briefs, and the appeals court has scheduled a hearing for November 4, with a ruling expected thereafter. 2. Huang v. Paxton (1:25-cv-01509) On September 16, 2025, CALDA filed a second lawsuit in federal court in Austin. This new case includes three plaintiffs: two Chinese citizens holding B1/B2 visas who are only in the U.S. for short-term visits but purchased investment properties in Texas, and one Chinese student who has been in the U.S. for just a year, currently renting in Texas while attending college. Because none of these plaintiffs have long-term continuous U.S. residence, the judge will find it harder to dismiss the case for lack of standing.CALDA will soon request a court hearing to seek a preliminary injunction to block SB 17. CALDA vows not to stop until this discriminatory law is struck down. Against the backdrop of U.S.–China tensions, Chinese Americans face unprecedented uncertainty. Texas SB 17, Florida SB 264, and Ohio HB 1 and SB 88 reflect a nationwide anti-Chinese trend. Meanwhile, the long-dormant “China Initiative” has resurfaced, stirring deep anxiety among Chinese researchers and students.Once discrimination is institutionalized, it tends to spread. These laws are like dominoes: if the first is not stopped, the chain reaction will inevitably expand. Challenging SB 17 is not only about one state law—it represents defending the basic rights of Chinese communities and resisting systemic exclusion in America. For this reason, CALDA views litigation as a crucial tool of advocacy, turning fear about the future into collective action and legal precedent for change.This is a difficult and protracted struggle. We must unite more strength and resources to confront powerful opponents. CALDA calls for continued support to secure a future free from discrimination, where fairness and justice are true guarantees for all Chinese Americans. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/09/18 CAPAC Press Conference2025/09/23 Committee of 100: Is Deglobalization Inevitable?2025/10/03 Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation2025/10/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/10/16 Bridging Nations: The Power of People-to-People Exchange in U.S.-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the LawVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. May 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Summary of the APA Justice May 2025 meeting is now posted at https://bit.ly/4pxi6ti . We thank the following distinguished speakers for sharing their comments and insights: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 , Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology · Robert Fisher , Partner, Nixon Peabody · William Tong 湯偉麟 , Attorney General, State of Connecticut · Robert L. Santos , Former Director, U.S. Census Bureau; Former President, American Statistical Association · Haifan Lin 林海帆 , President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA); Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Yale University 3. CAPAC Press Conference WHAT : CAPAC Press Conference on Economic Toll of Trump’s Tariffs on Asian American Communities WHEN : September 18, 2025, 10:30 am ET WHERE : Studio A – HVC117 and live stream: https://www.facebook.com/events/1874102480195831/ HOST : Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) SPEAKERS : · Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) · Second Vice Chair Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) · Chair Emerita Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) · Vice Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36) · Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) · Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) DESCRIPTION : On August 29, a federal appeals court ruled that most of Trump’s tariffs are illegal but allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the case moves through the appeals process. The Supreme Court agreed to consider the appeal on an expedited timeline. Meanwhile, tariffs continue to create uncertainty for small businesses and consumers—including for Asian-owned businesses that import agricultural goods, cultural products, and traditional medicines that cannot be produced domestically.Asian American entrepreneurs own 11 percent of small businesses in the U.S. and nearly 20 percent of restaurants. Chinatown businesses in particular have reported lower demand and increased costs for goods, with some hiking prices by an average of 50 percent. According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, consumer prices rose 0.4 percent in August, driving the annual inflation rate to 2.9 percent, the highest since January, in part due to Trump’s tariffs. RSVP : Please RSVP in advance to james.kwon@mail.house.gov 3. ACF: Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation WHAT : Covering China—Journalism, Scholarship, and the Global Conversation WHEN : October 3, 2025, 9:30 am - 12:00 noon ET WHERE : Kenney Link Auditorium, Johns Hopkins SAIS, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20001 HOST : Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF) PROGRAM: · 9:30am: Opening Remarks · 9:45am: Session 1—Covering China from Within: Problems and Processes · 11:00am:: Session 2—China, America, and the World: New Frontiers · 12:00pm: Networking Lunch DESCRIPTION : The Johns Hopkins SAIS Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF) and the Overseas Press Club of America will jointly host an in-person event examining the state of journalistic and academic coverage of China.The first session will consider the hurdles that journalists and academics face when operating within China at present, and their evolving approaches to reporting and research. A second panel will assess the challenges that global correspondents and researchers face as they cover China's global activities and influence, especially when the issues that intersect China's global role—including artificial intelligence, trade and investment, and new energy—are themselves complex and rapidly evolving.What are the perspectives of top journalists and researchers on the current state of reporting on China? What do we know and not know – and what assumptions and narratives may need revision? What are our collective blind spots? What strategies can help strengthen the quality of research and reporting, and more accurately frame the scope and scale of the China challenge for U.S. audiences? REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3KtwClu # # # 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 September 18, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #307 2/3 Meeting; Birthright Citizenship Campaigns; Section 702 of FISA Ruling; 1/6 Summary #307 2/3 Meeting; Birthright Citizenship Campaigns; Section 702 of FISA Ruling; 1/6 Summary In This Issue #307 · 2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Nationwide Mobilization to Defend Birthright Citizenship · Cato: Federal Court Rules FISA Section 702 “Back Door” Searches Unconstitutional · 2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, February 3, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Kai Li 李凯 , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Gary Locke 骆家辉 , Chair, Committee of 100; former U.S. Ambassador to China; former U/S. Secretary of Commerce; former Governor of the State of Washington · Julia Chang Bloch 張之香 , Founder and Executive Chair, US-China Education Trust; former U.S. Ambassador · Bethany Li , Executive Director, Asian American Legal Defense Education Fund (AALDEF) · Scott Chang , Senior Counsel, National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) 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 . Nationwide Mobilization to Defend Birthright Citizenship ACLU and Stop AAPI Hate have launched campaigns calling on the public to urge Congress to protect birthright citizenship after President Donald Trump issued an executive order seeking to deny citizenship to countless children and babies born in the U.S. · Join the ACLU campaign: https://bit.ly/3PLukO7 · Join the Stop AAPI Hate campaign: https://bit.ly/3PMApKc The United States is a nation founded and built by immigrants. While some were brought here against their will, others arrived in pursuit of the American Dream or for various other reasons.Birthright citizenship is firmly rooted in the U.S. Constitution through the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all individuals born on American soil, a principle upheld by Supreme Court rulings like United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898). It provides legal certainty and equality, ensuring that all children born in the U.S. have equal status regardless of their parents’ origins or immigration status, preventing statelessness and promoting fairness. It has been a cornerstone of American society since 1868, fostering national unity, social stability, and a clear, inclusive pathway to citizenship in a nation built by immigrants.On January 21, 2025, the case CASA v. Trump, docket number 8:25-cv-00201-DLB, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The plaintiff, CASA, Inc., a nonprofit organization, challenges the Trump administration's executive order concerning birthright citizenship. Read the CASA announcement: https://bit.ly/4azYPQJ . This is the fourth known lawsuit on the executive order: · 2025/01/20 New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (1:25-cv-00038) https://bit.ly/40sjdhU · 2025/01/20 Doe v. Trump (1:25-cv-10136) https://bit.ly/40tjtNI · 2025/02/21 State of Washington et al v. Trump et al (2:25-cv-00127) https://bit.ly/3PPcee8 · 2025/02/21 CASA Inc. et al v. Trump et al (8:25-cv-00201) https://bit.ly/4aG6nBG According to AP , New York Times , Washington Post , and other media reports, on January 23, 2025, a federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump’s executive order, dealing the president his first setback as he attempts to upend the nation’s immigration laws and reverse decades of precedent. In a hearing held three days after Trump issued his executive order, Federal District Court judge, John C. Coughenour , sided at least for the moment with four states in State of Washington et al v. Trump et al (2:25-cv-00127). “This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” he said. “Frankly,” he continued, challenging Trump administration lawyers, “I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar would state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order. It just boggles my mind.”The decision applies nationwide and prevents the Trump administration from taking steps to implement the executive order for 14 days. In the meantime, the parties will submit further arguments about the merits of Trump’s order. Judge Coughenour scheduled a hearing on February 6 to decide whether to block it long term as the case proceeds. On January 24, 2025, the Committee of 100 issued a public statement on President Trump’s executive order. “This Executive Order is a blatant attack on a fundamental constitutional right—a right upheld by the landmark case of a son of Chinese immigrants, United States v. Wong Kim Ark,” said Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100. “For generations, the Chinese American community has faced exclusionary policies, systemic racism, and violence, despite generations of contributions to this nation. Revoking birthright citizenship represents a troubling return to discriminatory practices, disturbing settled law, and decades of progress toward inclusivity. Targeting this right is an assault on the core American values of liberty and equality. The Committee of 100 stands firmly in solidarity with all communities impacted by this unjust and divisive policy.”"President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship is an affront to the core principles of equality and opportunity that have guided this nation for generations," said Stewart Kwoh , Co-Founder of The Asian American Education Project and Committee of 100 Member since 1999. "As educators, we know firsthand how the fear and uncertainty created by such policies harm our students and their families, particularly in immigrant communities. This order threatens to marginalize and disenfranchise children born on U.S. soil, many of whom belong to the AAPI community, and it risks undoing the progress we've made toward a more inclusive and equitable society." On January 24, 2025, San Francisco District Attorney David Chiu joined a dozen community leaders, local experts and historians at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) to reflect on the community’s history of fighting discriminatory immigration policies. CCBA, also known as the Chinese Six Companies, was founded in 1882 as a coalition of associations by immigrants with shared roots in southern China. It raised funds and hired prominent lawyers to bring Wong Kim Ark’s case to the Supreme Court. “Donald Trump has repeatedly and blatantly disregarded the rule of law and our Constitution,” said Chiu. “This is not a one-off case,” said community historian David Lei , adding that the community spearheaded some 10,000 civil rights lawsuits in the first 23 of the more than 60 years the Chinese Exclusion Act was in effect. “The real story was: We fought back,” Lei said. In their suit, Doe v. Trump (1:25-cv-10136), against the birthright citizenship order, plaintiffs including the city of San Francisco. “It’s not just a Chinese issue,” said Bill Ong Hing , a professor of law and migration studies at the University of San Francisco. Hing noted that the anti-Chinese sentiment from a century ago has resurfaced in new forms, now also targeting immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Norman Wong , the great-grandson of Wong Kim Ark, echoed Hing, saying that other family members who were not of Chinese descent were affected by past discriminatory policies. Wong’s mother, who is Japanese American, was forcibly taken to an incarceration camp with her family under Executive Order 9066 during World War II. “These are the consequences of these unequal laws,” Wong said. City Attorney David Chiu said he expects the lawsuits to prevail in appellate court, but that the Trump administration will likely appeal the appellate rulings all the way up to the Supreme Court. Read the San Francisco Public Press report: https://bit.ly/40zGRJo . Read the AP News report: https://bit.ly/3Wzps2l Cato: Federal Court Rules FISA Section 702 “Back Door” Searches Unconstitutional According to Cato Institute on January 22, 2025, a December 2, 2024, ruling by Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall of the Eastern District of New York marked a significant development in surveillance law, finding that the FBI’s use of warrantless "back door" searches under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) violated the Fourth Amendment. These searches allow the FBI to query communications collected without a warrant from non-U.S. persons abroad, but they often incidentally include Americans’ communications. The court’s decision underscores longstanding concerns over privacy and the scope of government surveillance powers. Despite acknowledging the constitutional violation, the court denied defendant Agron Hasbajrami ’s motion to suppress the evidence obtained through these searches, citing separate legal grounds. Hasbajrami, a lawful U.S. resident originally from Albania, was charged in 2011 with providing material support to a terrorist organization. While the evidence obtained through Section 702 queries played a key role in the investigation, the court determined that excluding the evidence was not warranted under the circumstances of the case.The ruling has drawn significant attention from civil liberties advocates. Patrick Toomey , an attorney with the ACLU, remarked, “While the new opinion holds that the FBI’s Section 702 queries violated the Fourth Amendment, the court ultimately denied the defendant’s motion to suppress the resulting evidence on separate grounds.” This decision highlights the ongoing debate over balancing national security interests with constitutional protections and could have implications for the upcoming reauthorization of Section 702, a key provision of U.S. intelligence law set to expire in December 2025. Xiaoxing Xi, a Chinese American physics professor at Temple University, and his family filed a lawsuit in 2017, challenges the FBI’s baseless arrest of him and its surveillance methods as well as its discriminatory targeting of Chinese American scientists. ACLU represents Professor Xi, who is suing the government over its dismissed prosecution of him for supposedly sharing sensitive technology with scientists in China. The dangers of giving the government sweeping surveillance powers are real and unmistakable. Professor Xi's case is a glaring example of an innocent American’s privacy rights being grossly violated, with disastrous consequences for him and his family.Read the Cato Institute report: https://bit.ly/3Q8Depn . Read the ACLU summary of Professor Xi's lawsuit: https://bit.ly/3GlCCqS 2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted The January 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at . We thank the following speakers for their reports and updates: · Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) with video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNT61PApwQ (8:17) · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Kai Li , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Sudip Parikh , Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals · Robert S. Chang , Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, University of California Irvine School of Law · Yawei Liu , Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center Read the January 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting summary: https://bit.ly/40J9cOY . Read previous monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/30 USCET Women in China Policy: Tech and US-China Competition2025/01/30 ACLU Know Your Rights Training: Mass Deportation2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2023/02/03 Getting China Right: Launch of ACF Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Get Help Today on LA Fires Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance: · Online at DisasterAssistance.gov · Calling 800-621-3362 · By using the FEMA smart phone application · Assistance is available in over 40 languages · If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Please share with your families, friends, and colleagues in the Los Angeles area. 3. 2025/01/30 USCET Women in China Policy: Tech and US-China Competition WHAT : Women in China Policy: Tech and US-China Competition WHEN: January 30, 2025, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ET WHERE: Room 505, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University HOST: US-China Education Trust, Women's Foreign Policy Group, and the American Mandarin Society PANELISTS : · Nina Palmer , Senior Principal Data Scientist for Strategic Economics, MITRE · Samantha Payne , Defense Fellow, Office of U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX). DESCRIPTION: This insightful discussion will explore the critical intersection of technology and U.S.-China competition, offering unique perspectives on this complex topic. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3PNW0lI 4. 2025/01/30 ACLU Know Your Rights Training: Mass Deportation WHAT : ACLU Know Your Rights Training: Mass Deportation WHEN : January 30, 2025, 8:00 pm ET WHERE : Training via Zoom HOST : ACLU DESCRIPTION : The Trump administration has been gearing up for mass deportations since day one, threatening the safety of millions of families. Join the ACLU's People Power Immigration/Deportation Know Your Rights Training to learn how you can protect immigrant communities facing these escalating threats. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3PLEvCl # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF January 27, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter