Newsletter - #314 3/3 Meeting; 3/4 Alien Land Laws Webinar; 3/12 MSU China Initiative Webinar; Lawsuits+ #314 3/3 Meeting; 3/4 Alien Land Laws Webinar; 3/12 MSU China Initiative Webinar; Lawsuits+ In This Issue #314 · 2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 03/04 Webinar on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws · 03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative · Updates on Lawsuits Against Trump Administration Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 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), speakers are: · Grace Meng 孟昭文 , Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) (invited) · Jessica Chen Weiss 白洁曦 , Founding Faculty Director of the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF), SAIS, Johns Hopkins University · Michelle Lee , President and Board Chair; Brian Pang , Chief Operating Officer and Head of Partnerships, Stand with Asian Americans · Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 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 . *****The February 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting summary is posted at https://bit.ly/43dlMHN . Past monthly meeting summaries are posted at https://bit.ly/4hyOV4i We thank the following speakers for their remarks and update reports: · 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 · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Kai Li 李凯 , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Bethany Li , Executive Director, Asian American Legal Defense Education Fund (AALDEF) · Scott Chang , Senior Counsel, National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) 03/04 Webinar on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws WHAT: Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community WHEN: March 4, 2025, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOSTS: Committee of 100 and APA Justice Opening Remarks: Cindy Tsai, Interim President, Committee of 100 Moderator: John D. Trasviña, Former Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Panelists: · Hope Atuel , CEO/Executive Director, Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) · Scott Chang , Senior Counsel, The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) Closing Remarks: Jeremy Wu, Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice DESCRIPTION: With new laws limiting property ownership based on nationality, real estate professionals and advocates are stepping up to challenge these discriminatory policies. This webinar will provide critical insights into how these restrictions are reshaping the housing landscape and what we can do to fight back. What you will learn: · Your Rights Under the Fair Housing Act – Understand the legal protections in place to combat discrimination. · How These Laws Affect Asian Homebuyers & Real Estate Professionals – Hear real-world impacts from industry experts. · Community & Legal Advocacy in Action – Learn how grassroots efforts and legal challenges are pushing back and how you can get involved. Stay ahead of these evolving legal challenges by exploring Committee of 100’s interactive map , which tracks ongoing land ownership exclusion laws, and APA Justice’s Alien Land Bills webpage , where you will find the latest updates on lawsuits and policy developments. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3EOqGke 03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative WHAT: The China Initiative WHEN: March 12, 2025, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: Asian Pacific American Studies Program, Michigan State University Moderator: Kent Weber, Assistant Director of Asian Pacific American Studies, Assistant Professor of History, Michigan State University Speakers: · Lok Siu , Professor of Ethnic Studies and Associate Vice Chancellor of Research, UC Berkeley · Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice Task Force DESCRIPTION: A virtual discussion on the life and afterlife of the China Initiative, a Trump Administration program that has used racial profiling and fears of espionage to target Asian American scholars and researchers for investigation. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4hVaITO Updates on Lawsuits Against Trump Administration Executive Actions As of February 23, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 91.Some of the recent developments: 1. National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump (1:25-cv-00333) On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, with assistance from the Attorney General and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to terminate all DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, offices, and positions, as well as "equity-related" grants and contracts.On February 3, 2025, Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit on behalf of four organizations representing different affected groups: · American Association of University Professors (AAUP) – representing faculty members · National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education – representing diversity officers in academia · City of Baltimore – representing a public sector grantee · Restaurant Opportunities Centers United – representing a private sector grantee The lawsuit challenges the executive order as unconstitutional, arguing that it usurps congressional power and violates the First and Fifth Amendments by suppressing speech and discriminating against certain groups.On February 21, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Adam B. Abelson issued a memorandum opinion and granted a n ationwide preliminary injunction against the order. According to a statement from AAUP, the court explicitly cited evidence from AAUP members, finding that: · Plaintiffs and their members had suffered “concrete actual injuries” due to the administration’s actions. · AAUP members and their institutions would either be forced to restrict their legal activities and expression related to DEI or forgo federal funding altogether. This ruling marks a significant legal challenge to the administration’s directive, with broader implications for DEI policies across public and private institutions. Read the AP News report: https://bit.ly/4hOmZtK 2. Injunctions Against Drastic Cuts in Medical Research Funding According to AP News on February 21, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley extended her temporary restraining order blocking cuts to National Insitutes of Healh (NIH) research funding. The order will remain in place until she rules on an injunction, which would provide a more permanent decision.Judge Kelley is presiding over three lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts: · Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10338) · Association of American Medical Colleges v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10340) · Association of American Universities v. Department of Health & Human Services (1:25-cv-10346) The states and research organizations argue that the cuts are illegal and directly contradict bipartisan congressional action from former President Donald Trump’s first term, which explicitly prohibited such reductions. “It violates bipartisan appropriations law. I should know—I helped author that provision,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) during a Senate budget debate on February 21, 2025. John Bueker , an attorney representing the research groups, argues that the cuts threaten to derail scores of clinical trials of new treatments, with universities saying they will have to “stop or not enroll patients.” “Let’s think about that. A clinical trial is a last hope for a lot of people,” Bueker said.The NIH, the primary funder of biomedical research in the U.S., awarded approximately $35 billion in grants in 2024. These funds are divided into: · Direct costs – covering researcher salaries, laboratory supplies, and project-specific expenses. · Indirect costs – supporting essential infrastructure such as electricity for lab equipment, hazardous waste disposal, research compliance staff, and janitorial services. The Trump administration previously dismissed indirect costs as “overhead,” but universities and hospitals argue they are essential for sustaining research. The new policy would cap indirect costs at 15%, a move NIH estimates would save $4 billion annually. Critics argue the impact would be devastating. “It’s like forcing a company to sell a product for $10 when it costs $15 to produce,” said Devon Cimini , a grants administrator at Florida State University. “Quite bluntly, if this cap goes into effect, there wouldn’t be much research anymore.”According to POLITICO on February 12, 2025, red-state universities are also pushing back against the cuts, warning they could be forced to close labs and lay off staff due to sudden funding shortfalls. “This change isn’t a cost savings; it’s a cost transfer,” said Jeffrey Gold , president of the University of Nebraska system, predicting that research capabilities would shrink and states would have to fill the funding gap. The impact could be severe across multiple institutions: · UT Southwestern Medical Center in Texas estimates a potential annual loss of over $100 million. · The University of Alabama-Birmingham warned that the cuts could trigger widespread job and economic losses. · The University of Kentucky has sent officials to Washington to urge its congressional delegation to prevent tens of millions of dollars in additional costs. As legal battles and political pressure mount, the future of NIH research funding remains uncertain. 3. Dellinger v. Bessent (1:25-cv-00385) According to the Washington Post on February 21, 2025, a divided Supreme Court has delayed ruling on the Trump administration’s request to remove the head of an independent government watchdog agency. The justices will wait until at least after a lower-court hearing in the coming week before making a decision.This is the first case to reach the Supreme Court involving President Donald Trump’s broad efforts to reshape the federal bureaucracy. The administration had sought to overturn a District Court order that allows Hampton Dellinger to remain as head of the Office of Special Counsel while his lawsuit over the firing proceeds. Established by Congress in the late 1970s, the agency is responsible for protecting whistleblowers within the federal government from retaliation.At the heart of Dellinger’s case is a test of Congress’s authority to limit presidential power and insulate certain agencies from political influence. When lawmakers created the Office of Special Counsel, they sought to ensure its independence by allowing the president to remove the director only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office” during the five-year term.The case presents an early test of how the conservative-majority Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-appointed justices, will respond to challenges against the president’s sweeping efforts to assert greater control over the federal government. In his first weeks back in office, Trump removed more than a dozen inspectors general , replaced top ethics officials, and dismissed the heads of agencies responsible for protecting federal workers and investigating government misconduct. Several of these actions are now being challenged in court.Highlighting the case’s broader implications, a group of law professors specializing in financial regulation has urged the Supreme Court to ensure that any ruling in Dellinger’s case does not weaken the independence of the Federal Reserve. They emphasized that central-bank autonomy is critical to maintaining a strong U.S. economy. 4. Early Wins on Birthright Citizenship According to the Washington Post on February 24, 2025, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong , the son of Chinese immigrants, made his stance clear when asked in December about Donald Trump ’s pledge to end birthright citizenship: “I would be the first to sue.” Three weeks later, he was the first — but he was not alone.The day after Trump signed the executive order, all 22 Democratic-led states, along with Washington, D.C., and the city of San Francisco, filed legal challenges, arguing the order was unconstitutional. The lawsuits were filed in two federal courts—a 32-page complaint in Seattle and a 50-page filing in Boston. Judges in both cases have since issued nationwide injunctions blocking Trump’s order.Legal scholars widely agree that the matter is settled law, citing the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark . In that case, the Court affirmed that Wong Kim Ark, a San Francisco-born son of Chinese immigrants who had been denied reentry to the U.S., was a citizen under the 14th Amendment.San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said the city’s support for the lawsuit is rooted in its historical connection to the Wong Kim Ark case. “Our office wants to make sure the story is told accurately and litigated fully,” said Chiu, who has been in touch with Wong’s descendants. He added that the family is “horrified at the idea that the 14th Amendment and that case could be summarily ignored by the president of the United States.”At least 10 lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration’s executive order 14160 on birthright citizenship, with four injunctions issued so far.On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit declined the administration’s emergency request to lift a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s order, rejecting its argument that the preliminary injunction was overly broad. This marks the first time an appellate court has weighed in on the legal challenges to the executive order.The three-judge panel unanimously rejected the request. Judges William C. Canby Jr. and Milan D. Smith Jr. wrote that the administration had not made a “strong showing” that it would succeed on the merits of its appeal. In a six-page concurring opinion, Judge Danielle Forrest emphasized that setting aside a court order on an emergency basis should be an exception rather than the rule, and that the appeal did not meet that threshold. In rejecting the emergency plea, the panel upheld a nationwide injunction ordered February 6 by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle, who called Trump’s executive order “blatantly unconstitutional,” while paving the way for the case to be brought before the Supreme Court. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/04 Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala 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 February 25, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #361 11/3 Meeting; Chinese STEM Students; Brain Drain; Jane Wu v NWU; Birthright Citizens;+ #361 11/3 Meeting; Chinese STEM Students; Brain Drain; Jane Wu v NWU; Birthright Citizens;+ In This Issue #361 · 2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v Northwestern University · Science : Chinese STEM graduate Students Boon to U.S. Students · U.S. Brain Drain · Update on Birthright Citizenship Lawsuits · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting left to right: Andy Phillips, Jane Shim, Paula Madison, Brian Sun The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held today, Monday, November 3, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.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: · Andy Phillips , Managing & Founding Partner, Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch LLP · Jane Shim , Director, Stop Asian Hate Project , Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund · Paula Williams Madison , Chairman and CEO of Madison Media Management LLC and 88 Madison Media Works Inc.; Retired Executive, NBCUniversal · Brian Sun , Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP 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 . Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v Northwestern University In June 2025, Dr. Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 's family, acting through her estate, filed a civil lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court alleging that the Northwestern University discriminated against her and contributed to her suicide. An open hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2025, starting at 9:00 am CT at Court Room 1906, Richard J Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago. Dr. Wu, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, was a prominent Chinese American researcher in neurology and genetics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. She took her own life on July 10, 2024, after her lab was shut down and all records of her work were erased by Northwestern University. Her death drew attention to the negative impact of the "China Initiative" and "foreign interference" investigations by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which targeted scientists of Chinese descent. Dr. Wu was never charged. She was 60 years old. Dr. Wu's daughter, Elizabeth Rao 饶婕, told NBC News in July 2025 that “as painful as it is for us as her family to recount how Northwestern treated her, we are seeking justice to prevent this from happening again to others in the future.” Read the APA Justice Impacted Person web page on Dr. Jane Wu: https://bit.ly/JaneWu Science : Chinese STEM graduate Students Boon to U.S. Students According to Science on October 31, 2025, a new analysis by economists Ruixue Jia (University of California, San Diego), Hongbin Li (Stanford University), Gaurav Khanna (UC San Diego), and Yuli Xu (Stanford University) finds that China’s massive 1999 expansion of its higher education system unexpectedly transformed U.S. graduate education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Published as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the study shows that the policy triggered a surge of Chinese students pursuing U.S. STEM master’s degrees—benefiting not only American universities but also domestic students and local economies.According to the researchers, the influx of highly qualified and often self-funded Chinese students allowed U.S. universities—especially large public research institutions—to expand their graduate programs without reducing access for Americans. “For every four additional Chinese students, one more U.S. student gained a spot in a STEM master’s program,” the authors wrote, describing this as a “crowd-in effect.” The study found that from 2003 to 2015, the number of U.S. STEM master’s programs grew by 23%, and roughly 15% of that growth can be attributed to China’s education expansion. Kevin Shih , an economist at the University of California, Riverside, who was not involved in the study, called the findings groundbreaking: “What’s really cool about this study is that it documents, for the first time, how the Chinese government, in growing higher education at home, also contributed in a significant way to the growth of U.S. graduate education, especially at the master’s level in STEM.” Jia explained that the Chinese government’s centralized university admission quotas—based on the national gaokao 高考 exam and changing perceptions of strategic industries—directly influenced which majors grew and, consequently, which students went abroad. “At first, the government thought biotech was the future, so you saw a huge number of biology majors going to the U.S. after graduation. Then it switched to computer science, and now AI [artificial intelligence],” she said.Khanna noted that the influx of Chinese students benefited both universities and their surrounding communities: “They rent apartments, buy cars, and go to restaurants.” The added tuition revenue also helped subsidize other university activities and reduce pressure to raise tuition for domestic students. Moreover, the growth in Chinese graduate students expanded the pool of teaching assistants, allowing universities to offer more undergraduate STEM courses.However, the study’s authors warn that this positive trend has reversed in recent years. Jia said preliminary findings from follow-up research suggest “a significant decline since 2017 in the number of STEM master’s programs,” particularly at public universities in Republican-led states. The downturn coincides with the Trump administration’s visa restrictions and anti-China rhetoric, which discouraged many Chinese students from studying in the U.S.Khanna added that “other countries now recognize that they are an important source of revenue and talent,” pointing to destinations like Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong. China itself has also expanded its graduate programs, giving students more domestic options.Despite the clear economic and educational benefits documented, Jia remains cautious about the policy implications: “We’re providing some hard evidence for the positive spillover effect on universities and communities of the increased number of Chinese students,” she said, “but I’m always skeptical of being able to persuade anyone with data.” U.S. Brain Drain In the PBS NewsHour segment on October 29, 2025, “ The Mozart of Math Considers Leaving the U.S., ” Terence Tao 陶哲軒 , a UCLA mathematics professor and Fields Medal laureate, anchors a sobering look at the declining stability of American science. Known as one of the world’s greatest living mathematicians, Tao was a prodigy who entered college at age 9, earned his Ph.D. from Princeton by 21, and became celebrated for his elegant problem-solving across pure and applied mathematics. His research, for example, produced an algorithm that cut MRI scan times from several minutes to under a minute — a perfect example of how abstract theory can generate life-changing technology. Tao recalls being inspired as a child by “Sesame Street” and Carl Sagan ’s “Cosmos,” crediting the openness and vibrancy of U.S. science for shaping his career. America, he says, long maintained a “lively ecosystem” of hundreds of universities and conferences that drew talent from across the globe. But now, for the first time, he feels existential concern: federal budget cuts, political interference, and uncertainty in research funding threaten to hollow out that system.Under the Trump administration, the National Science Foundation (NSF) was forced to suspend about $1 billion in grants, directly affecting Tao’s UCLA Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics. Instead of doing mathematics, Tao says, he now spends his time fundraising, seeking alternative support, and deciding what to cut first. The situation has made him consider offers from Europe, Australia, and China — something he never imagined after three decades in the U.S. He warns that dismantling America’s research infrastructure “from the top down” could have irreversible consequences, saying, “For any complex system, one person who doesn’t understand it can wreck everything.” Other scientists in the report echo Tao’s alarm. Daniella Fodera , a biomedical engineer completing her Ph.D. at Columbia University, had her NIH-funded uterine fibroid study abruptly cut earlier this year — despite the condition affecting nearly 80% of women. Her funding was restored only after Columbia paid over $200 million to settle unrelated federal investigations, underscoring how erratic and politicized research support has become. Disillusioned, Fodera now plans to pursue work in Europe, where she believes stability and respect for science are stronger. Anna Darling , a neuroscience Ph.D. student at Ohio State University, shares a similar fear. She entered academia to follow her mother’s footsteps as a science teacher, only to discover her program’s funding was no longer guaranteed. “My outlook on being a scientist in this country has changed,” she says. “The freedom to do the research you value just isn’t as free as it used to be.” Stephen Jones , a biochemist who left the U.S. in 2020 for Vilnius University in Lithuania, provides a glimpse of what that brain drain looks like in practice. He says he grew weary of anti-science sentiment and wanted to work in a society that valued research. Now leading a lab abroad, he notes that colleagues who once questioned his decision are asking him how to follow suit, with many considering positions in Canada, Europe, or China. Finally, Vidya Saravanapandian , a UCLA neuroscientist from India, warns that the closure of labs and loss of students could devastate the U.S. economy and its global leadership. “When labs shut down, ideas are lost, experiments are ruined, and the younger generation loses hope,” she says, visibly distressed about the future of science in America. The report closes with Tao reflecting on the broader meaning of this moment. The administration’s decisions, he argues, seem detached from public interest, guided by politics rather than evidence. He stresses that scientific ecosystems thrive on diversity of thought and long-term investment, not short-term cuts. His latest problem to solve, Tao says, is not mathematical — it is how to protect America’s scientific infrastructure before it collapses. Watch the PBS report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLvO070E_dI (9:26) On October 22, 2025, South China Morning Post reported that political purges, funding cuts, and growing hostility toward expertise under the Trump administration have unsettled the U.S. research community—reminding many Chinese American scientists of China’s Cultural Revolution. During Mao Zedong 毛泽东 ’s 1966 campaign, intellectuals were persecuted and science was paralyzed for a decade; today, some Chinese American scholars see echoes in the U.S. as researchers face suspicion, censorship, and abrupt funding losses. Several scientists, including a Midwest biologist targeted under the China Initiative, are now considering returning to China amid large-scale layoffs at NASA, CDC, and other agencies. Critics such as mathematician Shing-Tung Yau 丘成桐 and scholar Fang Shimin 方是民/方舟子 ; describe the situation as a “Trump-era Cultural Revolution,” where political loyalty outweighs expertise. Duke University’s Denis Simon warns that replacing merit with ideology risks crippling U.S. innovation and driving talent overseas, causing long-term damage to America’s scientific enterprise—even if the U.S. has not descended into the violence of Mao’s era. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/4qIpbYE Update on Birthright Citizenship Lawsuits On October 31, 2025, the total number of litigations challenging Trump Administration actions tracked by Just Security reached 500. At least 11 lawsuits have been filed against President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship (E.O. 14160). The order remains blocked from taking effect nationwide due to several preliminary injunctions. The core legal challenge asserts that the order is unconstitutional and violates a federal statute, as the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction. The 11 known lawsuits (3 blocked pending appeal, 4 temporarily blocked, 4 awaiting court ruling) with their filing dates are: 1. 2025/01/20 Doe v. Trump (1:25-cv-10135) . Temporarily blocked 2. 2025/01/20 New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support (NHICS) v. Trump (1:25-cv-00038) . Temporarily blocked 3. 2025/01/20 Thien Le v. Donald J. Trump (8:25-cv-00104) . Awaiting court ruling 4. 2025/01/21 CASA v. Trump (8:25-cv-00201) (and consolidated cases). Temporarily blocked 5. 2025/01/21 State of Washington v. Trump (2:25-cv-00127) . Blocked pending appeal 6. 2025/01/21 State of New Jersey v. Trump (1:25-cv-10139) . Blocked pending appeal 7. 2025/01/24 Franco Aleman v. Trump (2:25-cv-00163) (a class-action lawsuit). Blocked pending appeal 8. 2025/01/30 OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates v. Rubio (1:25-cv-00287) . Awaiting court ruling 9. 2025/01/30 County of Santa Clara v. Trump (5:25-cv-00981) . Awaiting court ruling 10. 2025/02/13 New York Immigration Coalition v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-01309) . Awaiting court ruling 11. 2025/06/27 Barbara v. Trump (1:25-cv-00244) (a class-action lawsuit). Temporarily blocked Just Security has also published four featured articles in the series of "Taking Stock of the Birthright Citizenship Cases:" 1. 2025/07/30 Part I: Unpacking Trump v. CASA, Inc. Author: Marty Lederman, Executive Editor at Just Security and Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center; former Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Office of Legal Counsel; former Attorney Advisor at the Office of Legal Counsel 2. 2025/08/18 Part II: Making Sense of the Three Established Exceptions . Author: Marty Lederman 3. 2025/09/08 Part III: DOJ’s Arguments Regarding Domicile and Unauthorized Immigrants . Authors: Marty Lederman; John Mikhail, Carroll Professor of Jurisprudence, Georgetown University Law Center 4. 2025/09/29 Part IV: DOJ’s Ineffective Responses to Plaintiffs’ Statutory Argument . Author: Marty Lederman As part of the Collection of Just Security’s Coverage of the Trump Administration’s Executive Actions, on March 28, 2025, Edgar Chen 陳春品 , Senior Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and Chris M. Kwok 郭文 , Adjunct Assistant Professor in Asian American studies, Hunter College, published " The Trump Administration’s 14th Amendment Retcon: ‘Wong Kim Ark’ Does Not Limit Birthright Citizenship. " The authors argue that Trump’s Executive Order 14160 grossly misinterprets the 1898 Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark and the intent of the 14th Amendment. The Court affirmed that all individuals born in the U.S.—regardless of their parents’ immigration status—are citizens, a principle rooted in post–Civil War Reconstruction. Trump’s order wrongly equates Wong’s Chinese immigrant parents, who faced legal exclusion and racial persecution, with today’s lawful permanent residents. If upheld, the order would disproportionately harm Asian Americans, particularly children of immigrants, students, and asylees, effectively reviving exclusionary policies reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion era and undermining over a century of settled constitutional law. The article was translated into Chinese by Juan Zhang 张涓 , APA Justice, with title " 特朗普政府重塑《第十四修正案》 ——《黄金德案》并未限制出生公民权 . " 特朗普总统宣布通过行政命令第14160号终止出生公民权，意在推翻1898年美国最高法院《美国诉黄金德案》确立的原则，即凡在美国出生者（除外交官及敌对势力子女外）皆为公民。该命令错误地将“永久住所”解读为“合法永久居留”，试图将公民权限定于美国公民及绿卡持有者之子女。文章指出，这种解读既不符合法律，也无视历史现实。黄金德父母在排华时代受歧视、无归化权，生活在暴力与制度性迫害中，与今日移民地位完全不同。特朗普此举被批评为重演排华法案的历史，甚至开启“排华2.0”，其后果将严重打击亚裔群体，剥夺数十万移民后代的公民权，并违背第十四修正案的平等精神。最高法院在黄金德案中早已确立：美国的根本在于包容所有在其土地上出生的人，不论其血统与出身。 Recent news: 2025/10/03 ACLU: Federal Appeals Court Upholds Block on Trump Birthright Citizenship Executive Order News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/11/03 Advocacy 101 for Scholars, Scientists, and Researchers2025/11/14 Film Screening and Discussion: Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story2025/11/25 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Elaine Chao 2025/12/01 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing - Estate of Jane Wu v Northwestern University2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Understanding The AI Boom: Power, Politics, and The Future of U.S.-China Relations WHAT: Understanding the AI Boom: Power, Politics, & the Future of U.S. China Relations WHEN: November 19, 2025, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET/4:00 pm - 5:00 pm PT WHERE: webinar HOSTS: 1990 Institute Moderator : Clayton Dube, Former Director, USC U.S.-China Institute Speakers : · Graham Webster , Editor-in-Chief, DigitChina Project, Stanford University · Zeyi Yang , Senior Writer, WIRED DESCRIPTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how nations compete, how economies grow, and how cultures evolve. At the heart of this global shift is the U.S.-China relationship, where the race for AI leadership is emerging as a modern Cold War — a watershed moment signaling that the AI revolution is no longer distant, but already here. And when it comes to the U.S. and China, many are seeing the future of tech as an existential race that needs to be won.For a generation raised in the era of smartphones, AI is not a futuristic idea—it is part of everyday life. This webinar invites educators, parents, students, and community members to look beyond the headlines and build a deeper understanding of the global forces shaping our digital and physical world today. The webinar will examine the societal, ethical, and geopolitical dimensions of technology. The aim is to lay the groundwork for modern digital literacy including empowering educators to teach it with clarity and confidence. The session is designed for everyone interested in becoming a more informed global citizen in this rapidly evolving digital age. This virtual webinar is open to all audiences, with a segment at the end devoted to high school educators teaching contemporary history, economics, technology and social studies. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/47i8wDw # # # 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 November 3, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #4 China's Talent Program & U.S. Research Discrimination; Ad Council Event; 2020 Census #4 China's Talent Program & U.S. Research Discrimination; Ad Council Event; 2020 Census Back View PDF July 20, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #10 Dr. Wei Su And Profiling Concerns; Professor Tao Motions To Dismiss; Vaccine Update #10 Dr. Wei Su And Profiling Concerns; Professor Tao Motions To Dismiss; Vaccine Update Back View PDF August 17, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #392 5/4 Meeting; Legacy of APAICS; Schwarzman Scholars; Trump's Tirade; FISA Section 702+ #392 5/4 Meeting; Legacy of APAICS; Schwarzman Scholars; Trump's Tirade; FISA Section 702+ In This Issue #392 · 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · The Enduring Legacy of APAICS · Ten Years of Schwarzman Scholars · Trump’s Tirade Against Chinese and Indian Immigrants · More on FISA Section 702 · News and Activities for the Communities 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. 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 to welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Dave Min , Member, U.S. House of Representatives · Robert Underwood , former CAPAC Chair; President Emeritus, University of Guam; Co-Founder, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) · Madalene Mielke , President and CEO, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) · Martin B. Gold , Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC 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 . ***** We are honored that Congressman Dave Min will deliver the opening remarks to launch the 2026 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Elected in 2024 to represent California’s 47th Congressional District in the heart of Orange County, Rep. Min is the son of Korean immigrants and a proud graduate of California public schools. He previously served in the California State Senate from 2020 to 2024. Prior to his public service, he was a law professor at the University of California, Irvine. The Enduring Legacy of APAICS The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) stands today as one of the most consequential institutions shaping Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) political leadership in the United States. Its story is inseparable from a broader movement to transform representation in American democracy—one that began in 1994 under the visionary leadership of Norman Mineta and Dr. Robert Underwood and continues today under President and CEO Madalene Mielke . APAICS was founded alongside the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) at a time when AAPI representation in government remained limited and fragmented. Mineta and Underwood recognized a structural gap: while advocacy existed, there was no sustained institutional pipeline to recruit, train, and elevate AAPI leaders into public service. Originally known as the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Institute (CAPACI), APAICS was conceived as a nonpartisan, educational organization dedicated to civic participation and leadership development. Its mission remains to promote AANHPI engagement at every level of the political process—from community service to elected office. For Mineta, whose life journey spanned wartime incarceration to Cabinet leadership, the stakes were deeply personal. For Underwood, the imperative was equally clear: to ensure that Pacific Islander voices—often overlooked even within broader AAPI narratives—would have a durable presence in national policymaking. Before and after his congressional service, Underwood built a distinguished career in education, including serving as president of the University of Guam. His scholarship on Chamorro identity, cultural preservation, and education reflects a lifelong commitment to empowerment through knowledge—principles that are deeply embedded in APAICS’ mission. Over the past three decades, APAICS has evolved into a comprehensive leadership pipeline. Its programs—including congressional fellowships, national and regional leadership academies, and mentorship initiatives—have trained and supported generations of AANHPI leaders now serving across government, nonprofit, and private sectors. The results are increasingly visible. AAPI representation in public office and policy leadership has grown meaningfully, and with it, the expectation that AANHPI voices will be present not as exceptions, but as integral participants in governance. Under the leadership of Madalene Mielke, APAICS has entered a new phase of strategic growth and national influence. With deep experience in political development and fundraising, Mielke has expanded the organization’s reach while reinforcing its core focus: preparing leaders not only to enter public service, but to lead effectively once there. As APAICS marks more than 30 years of impact, its founding vision remains highly relevant. From the pioneering leadership of Norman Mineta and Robert Underwood to today’s institutional strength, APAICS continues to translate access into opportunity—and opportunity into public leadership. We are especially honored that both Robert Underwood and Madalene Mielke will be featured speakers at the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 4, 2026. Their perspectives offer a timely opportunity to reflect on the progress of AANHPI political engagement and the work that lies ahead. For more information about APAICS, visit https://www.apaics.org/ Ten Years of Schwarzman Scholars At a time when geopolitical tensions and mutual misunderstanding increasingly shape U.S.–China relations, the Schwarzman Scholars (苏世民学者) program offers a different model—one grounded in education, dialogue, and long-term relationship building. Since its launch in 2016, the program has emerged as one of the most prominent global leadership initiatives of the 21st century. Founded by Stephen A. Schwarzman 苏世民 , the program is based at Tsinghua University in Beijing and is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Each year, approximately 150 scholars from around the globe are selected for a fully funded, one-year master’s degree in Global Affairs, with a focus on leadership, public policy, economics, and international studies. Throughout the past decade Schwarzman Scholars has empowered over 1,300 young leaders from more than 100 countries with the skills to navigate the challenges of the 21st century. Often compared to the Rhodes Scholarship, Schwarzman Scholars was conceived as a modern counterpart. Its core premise is straightforward but ambitious: that future leaders must develop not only technical expertise, but also cultural fluency, geopolitical awareness, and the ability to engage across differences. The program brings together a highly diverse cohort and immerses them in a rigorous academic and leadership curriculum. Scholars live and study together, creating an environment where dialogue lives on a daily basis. A defining feature of the program is its emphasis on exposure. Scholars engage directly with senior policymakers, business leaders, and academics from China and around the world. Through lectures, mentorship, internships, and travel, participants gain firsthand insight into China’s political system, economic development, and societal changes. Equally important are the informal exchanges—conversations among peers that challenge assumptions and build mutual understanding. In an era where narratives about China and the United States are often shaped by distance and distrust, these interpersonal connections can have lasting impact. Whether one views the program as a bridge, a laboratory, or a strategic investment in global leadership, its significance is clear: it is an effort to shape how future leaders understand—and engage with—one of the most consequential bilateral relationships in the world. For more information about the program, visit https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/ten-year-anniversary/ Trump’s Tirade Against Chinese and Indian Immigrants According to AsAmNews , The Guardian , and The New York Times , President Donald Trump sparked widespread backlash after posting a transcript and video from a podcast by Michael Savage that described China and India as “hellhole” countries and made negative claims about immigrants from those nations. Although Trump added no commentary, critics in the U.S. and abroad viewed the post as endorsing the remarks. The Indian government publicly criticized the comments as inappropriate, while U.S. lawmakers, including Grace Meng and Ami Bera , condemned the rhetoric as harmful and inflammatory, particularly amid rising anti-Asian sentiment. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a public statement expressing outrage by the racist and xenophobic post. The controversy comes as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments over Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship in early April, an issue central to his immigration agenda. The White House defended the post as part of a broader critique of current citizenship policies. “These are no longer dog whistles,” Jon Lewis , a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said. “They’re bullhorns. It sends that emboldening message to neo-Nazis and White supremacists that the government is on your side.” More on FISA Section 702 After an extension of 10 days, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire on April 30, 2026, unless it is renewed by Congress. According to NPR on April 24, 2026, Speaker Mike Johnson has introduced a new proposal to extend the surveillance authority for three years, but it is largely unchanged from two earlier attempts that failed in the House. Johnson’s latest bill does not include a warrant requirement, instead proposing increased reporting and penalties for misuse. "This is not a reform bill and it's not a compromise," Elizabeth Goitein , a privacy advocate and senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, wrote on X . "It's a straight reauthorization with eight pages of words that serve no serious purpose other than to try to convince members that it's NOT a straight reauthorization." On April 23, 2026, the Washington Post published an editorial titled “Want to read an American’s emails? Get a warrant. ” Congress can break its deadlock over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by adopting a simple compromise grounded in the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution: continue warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad, but require a warrant before searching Americans’ communications collected under the program. It emphasizes that while foreign intelligence gathering is essential and lawful, the current system allows the government to search Americans’ emails and messages without judicial approval—effectively creating a “backdoor” around constitutional protections. Internal oversight reforms are insufficient, the editorial argues, because only a judge can provide independent review. The editorial rejects claims that a warrant requirement would harm national security, noting emergency exceptions are available and that similar protections already apply in domestic law enforcement. Ultimately, it frames the issue as a fundamental civil liberties question: whether Section 702 will remain a necessary intelligence tool or continue to function as a loophole that weakens Americans’ constitutional rights. Resources: · 2026/04/16 Brennan Center for Justice: Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): 2026 Resource Page · 2026/03/24 APA Justice Webinar: Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know (1:04:32) · APA Justice timeline: Timeline Visualization of U.S. Mass Surveillance · APA Justice webpage: Warrantless Surveillance News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/05/11 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Steven Chu 2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future Together 2026/05/13 The Model Minority Trap: How ‘Positive’ Stereotypes Harm Asian Americans 2026/06/01 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Upcoming “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” Events WHAT : Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Steven Chu WHEN : May 11, 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: Steven Chu , Nobel Prize Recipient in Physics, former Secretary of Energy, and Stanford University professor REGISTRATION : https://c100-5-11-2026.eventbrite.com ***** WHAT : Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Calvin Tsao WHEN : June 10, 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: Calvin Tsao , leading architect, philanthropist, and educator REGISTRATION : https://c100-6-10-2026.eventbrite.com 3. The Model Minority Trap: How ‘Positive’ Stereotypes Harm Asian Americans WHAT : The Model Minority Trap: How ‘Positive’ Stereotypes Harm Asian Americans WHEN : May 13, 2026, 3:00-4:00 pm ET WHERE : Webinar HOST : Committee of 100 Speakers: · Derald Wing Sue , Professor of Psychology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University · Emma Zang , Associate Professor of Sociology, Yale University DESCRIPTION: The model minority stereotype is often dismissed as a "compliment" but creates real harm for Chinese Americans and Asian Americans more broadly. New data from the 2025 State of Chinese Americans survey reveals Chinese Americans who regularly encounter these assumptions report significantly more psychological distress than those who face no discrimination at all. These seemingly positive assumptions mask significant disparities—and the harm compounds. This is the third installment of C100's 2025 State of Chinese Americans webinar series, featuring new survey data on how these “positive” stereotypes are associated with measurable psychological distress and mask significant mental health disparities within Asian American communities. Professors Derald Wing Sue and Emma Zang, will unpack why this stereotype persists, who it hurts most, and what practitioners and policymakers can do differently. REGISTRATION : https://committee100-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/2117768023399/WN_wonLo_NmSoSBL5DCldJvKQ#/registration 4. Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony WHAT : Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony WHEN : August 7-9 2026 WHERE : Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University HOST : Asian American Research Center at Stanford, Asian American Scholar Forum DESCRIPTION : The goal of the Pioneer Project is to educate the public on the history of Asian American pioneers and scholars who have made transformative contributions to our country and the world. FOR MORE INFORMATION : Visit https://www.aasforum.org/ # # # 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 April 27, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #131 Toby on AAU; Senate Targets Faculty Foreign Gift; Labs PostDoc Shortage; Twitter #131 Toby on AAU; Senate Targets Faculty Foreign Gift; Labs PostDoc Shortage; Twitter Back View PDF June 29, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

On June 17, 2021, APA Justice sent a letter urging the Biden-Harris Administration to respond to the standing FOIA requests and publicize the justification for the continuation of the "China Initiative." June 17, 2021 On June 17, 2021, APA Justice sent a letter to Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison at the White House, urging the Biden-Harris Administration to respond to the standing Congressional and Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests and provide full data and information publicly to justify the continuation of the "China Initiative" and related racial profiling policies and practices. In summary, without further delay, we respectfully request the Biden-Harris administration to: Release the data and information requested by Reps. Jamie Raskin and Judy Chu and Senator Roger Wicker for Congressional oversight and the public. Publish the 2017-2020 opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice as it has done annually since 1977. Release the data and information requested by Advancing Justice | AAJC, American Civil Liberties Union, and the Cato Institute under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). letter2moritsugu_20210618 .pdf Download PDF • 167KB On June 17, 2021, APA Justice sent a letter urging the Biden-Harris Administration to respond to the standing FOIA requests and publicize the justification for the continuation of the "China Initiative." Previous Next Letter to The White House Calling for Response to Inquiries

Newsletter - #294 11/18 Meeting; Science Editorials and Report; Deportation? Stop AAPI Hate Town Hall; + #294 11/18 Meeting; Science Editorials and Report; Deportation? Stop AAPI Hate Town Hall; + In This Issue #294 · 2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Science Editorials and Report on Politicization, Taking Stock, and Election Outcome · NBC News : Deportation of Undocumented Chinese First? · Stop AAPI Hate Town Hall · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, November 18, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. The meeting was moved to avoid conflicts with Election Day. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Dr. Kai Li , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Rosie Levine , Executive Director, US-China Education Trust · Michael Wong , Board Member and Former National Vice President, Veterans for Peace · Peter Michelson , Luke Blossom Professor in the School of Humanities & Sciences and Professor of Physics, Stanford University Senator-Elect Andy Kim is invited to give remarks.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 APAJustice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Science Editorials and Report on Politicization, Taking Stock, and Election Outcome In an editorial titled "Science is neither red nor blue" published in Science , Marcia McNutt , President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), addresses the increasing politicization of science in the United States and calls for renewed efforts to rebuild public trust. She highlights the apolitical nature of science and its role as a vital tool for predicting outcomes and informing policy, while urging scientists to better explain its norms, acknowledge its limitations, and avoid implying that science dictates policy. The NAS emphasizes the need for objective, evidence-based guidance informed by diverse perspectives and highlights the importance of combating misinformation. While science can project the consequences of policy decisions, it is ultimately up to elected officials and society to weigh values and priorities. The NAS reaffirms its commitment to objectivity, independence, and excellence, offering its expertise to help the new administration address pressing societal challenges."The public and policymakers can discuss and debate how to respond to the myriad challenges that confront society, but these deliberations need to be informed by the objective, dispassionate evidence that only science can provide," the editorial states.Read the Science editorial: https://bit.ly/4ftFNwZ In an editorial titled "Time to take stock" published in Science , Editor-in-Chief H. Holden Thorp examines the challenges facing the scientific community following Donald Trump ’s reelection. Thorp highlights the alienation of Americans who distrust institutions, including science and higher education, as a key issue. Trump’s success, driven in part by divisive rhetoric, reflects a deeper disaffection that science leaders must address by fostering inclusivity and rebuilding trust in science. Thorp critiques the scientific community’s previous efforts to counter political attacks, noting that confrontational responses on social media and cable news during Trump’s first term failed to build public confidence. The pandemic, in particular, highlighted the limitations of these approaches, as platforms amplifying division undermined trust in science. Further damage comes from institutions mishandling misconduct, resisting transparency, and prioritizing reputations over accountability.To rebuild trust, the editorial urges scientists to reject the opacity of traditional institutions. Instead, they should embrace openness to new data, accessibility, and a clear prioritization of public interest over institutional self-protection. With political attacks on science expected to escalate over the next four years, Thorp calls on the scientific community to adopt strategies that not only defend against these assaults but also strengthen public confidence in science."The reelection of Donald Trump for a second, nonconsecutive term as US president ... underscores a reality: Although his success stems partly from a willingness to tap into xenophobia, sexism, racism, transphobia, nationalism, and disregard for truth, his message resonates with a large portion of the American populace who feel alienated from America’s governmental, social, and economic institutions. These include science and higher education," the editorial states. "The attacks are going to keep coming and probably accelerate for the next 4 years. As painful as that will be, it’s up to the scientific community to respond in a way that makes those blows less successful."Read the Science editorial: https://bit.ly/4i3EFlE A report by Science warns that Donald Trump ’s reelection and Republican control of Congress pose significant challenges for U.S. science. Advocates fear reduced funding for basic research and restrictive immigration policies could stifle innovation. Former National Science Foundation Director Neal Lane cautioned, “There’s no good news for science in this election,” as Republicans may prioritize deficit reduction over long-term research investments. These policies could also undermine climate science and public health, with Trump likely to ignore scientific consensus on issues like global warming. Leadership changes in Congress add to these concerns. Senator Ted Cruz , expected to chair the Senate commerce and science committee, has criticized diversity initiatives and climate action, raising alarms about his potential impact on science policy. In the House, Republicans may weaken the CHIPS and Science Act, jeopardizing planned funding increases for the National Science Foundation. “It could be a very dark time for universities,” said one higher education lobbyist, reflecting widespread anxiety over the political climate.Climate and U.S.-China relations are emerging as key flashpoints. Trump’s potential withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and efforts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act could hinder federal climate initiatives, though bipartisan support for clean energy projects offers some hope. Meanwhile, a revival of restrictive policies like the China Initiative risks damaging international scientific collaborations. “Our prosperity as a nation is built upon the federal investment in research,” emphasized MIT geophysicist Maria Zuber , highlighting the stakes for U.S. leadership in science. With Congress deadlocked over the 2025 budget, agency funding remains frozen, threatening deep cuts to civilian research programs. If unresolved by January, Trump’s administration could rewrite the spending plan, potentially deprioritizing science. Advocates stress the need for robust research investments to maintain U.S. competitiveness, warning that the next four years could mark a critical decline in national scientific leadership.Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/4fu2txn NBC News : Deportation of Undocumented Chinese First? According to NBC News on November 15, 2024, Asian American organizations are preparing for the potential impact of Donald Trump ’s campaign promise of mass deportations, particularly targeting undocumented Chinese nationals deemed to be of "military age." Sources suggest these actions, reportedly tied to national security concerns and anti-China sentiment, have prompted community groups to intensify efforts to educate immigrants on their rights, provide legal resources, and develop in-language materials. Anti-China sentiment has grown under successive administrations, increasingly framing Chinese nationals as security threats. Advocates argue these policies reflect racial profiling trends that harm Asian American communities. Bethany Li , executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, highlighted this targeting as a continuation of historical patterns, referencing anti-Chinese alien land laws and the Trump-era China Initiative. “We know that both the state and federal government have deemed China as a national security threat,” Li said. “We saw this in World War II with Japanese Americans and post-9/11 with Muslim and South Asian men.” Jo-Ann Yoo , executive director of the Asian American Federation that works with 70 member agencies, shared that her organization has been proactively scenario-planning for months to counteract Trump’s immigration promises. “We’re working to get ahead of these challenges,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and preparation. Jo-Ann Yoo , executive director of the nonprofit Asian American Federation, a New York-based umbrella organization that works with 70 member agencies, said that for the past few months, her group has convened meetings and engaged in scenario planning in an effort to get ahead of Trump’s immigration promises. Yoo said that it is important for vulnerable communities to stand in solidarity. “There is no time for rest. We are seeing real danger,” she said. “We’re going to push and we’re going to have to be brave.”Read the NBC News report: https://bit.ly/3VjqAH5 Stop AAPI Hate Town Hall WHAT : Stop AAPI Virtual Town Hall WHEN : November 18, 2024, 8:00 pm ET WHERE : Online Event HOST : Stop AAPI Hate DESCRIPTION : The re-election of Donald Trump presents a monumental threat to our rights, our freedoms, and our safety. But we can and we will fight back together against his administration’s racist and hate-fueled agenda. Join this virtual town hall with Stop AAPI Hate and other movement leaders to learn more about the dangers our communities face under the next administration and how we can mobilize in opposition to Trumpism — far-right extremism, authoritarianism, xenophobia — and in support of a fairer, more equitable vision of America. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3AGnMwt News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/11/18 Stop AAPI Virtual Town Hall2024/11/24 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/12/08-10 National Immigrant Inclusion Conference2024/12/08 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Laws2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Air Force Honors Sabu Dastagir On November 12, 2024, the U.S. Air Force unveiled a portrait of Sgt. Sabu Dastagir , a Hollywood actor-turned-American Airman, in a ceremony at the Pentagon. The event, led by Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton and Assistant Secretary Dr. Ravi Chaudhary , marked a historic addition to the Pentagon’s World War II hallway. Dastagir, an Indian American actor known for films like The Thief of Baghdad and The Jungle Book, enlisted in the Army Air Forces during WWII. Serving as a tail gunner with the 370th Bomb Squadron, he flew dozens of combat missions in the Pacific, earning five Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor. He passed away in 1963 at age 40. The portrait, donated by Houston artist June Xu , now joins the Air Force Historic Program.June Xu, a lifelong passionate painter and fine arts student at the University of Houston, is known in Texas for her activism, particularly during last year’s protests against SB147, an alien land bill that would ban land ownership by Chinese nationals. Her advocacy, including organizing protests and legislative meetings, deepened her commitment to amplifying Asian American experiences.In April, Xu joined the Committee of 100’s "Next Generation Leader" program, connecting with a project to spotlight Asian American military stories. She described contributing the portrait as a personal milestone and a broader triumph for representation. “This is a historic moment for our community,” Xu said. “If we don’t tell our own stories, mainstream society certainly won’t do it for us.” Read the U.S. Air Force announcement: https://bit.ly/3ZaMHl5 . Read the 休斯顿在线 report: https://bit.ly/48RVr2V 3. National Immigrant Inclusion Conference WHAT : National Immigrant Inclusion Conference WHEN : December 8-10, 2024 WHERE : In person, Houston, Texas HOST : National Partnership for New Americans FOR MORE INFORMATION/REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3YUq7vB 4. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moved to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF November 18, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

On January 5, 2021, a coalition of organizations and individuals wrote to President-elect Joe Biden, requesting him to end the China Initiative and take steps to combat racial profiling. Two weeks later, the indictment of MIT Professor Gang Chen ignited the “We Are All Gang Chen” movement. Between September 2020 and June 2021, five organizations partnered to produce a series of five educational webinars to raise nationwide awareness about the China Initiative. January 5, 2021 Table of Contents Overview “We are All Gang Chen” AAJC Delivered 30,000 Signatures to The White House Education Webinar Series to Raise Awareness Partners of the Webinar Series Links and References Overview On January 5, 2021, a group of community organizations, advocacy groups, science associations, and individuals sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden urging the incoming administration to end the Justice Department’s “China Initiative” and take further steps to combat the pervasive racial bias and targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and students by the federal government. Among the signatories are people who have been directly impacted by the government’s unjust prosecutions of Asian Americans. The letter, spearheaded by the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation, Brennan Center for Justice, and APA Justice Task Force, denounces the “China Initiative” for discriminatory investigations and prosecutions of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants, particularly those of Chinese descent working in fields of science. Many of the investigations and prosecutions under this initiative target people with any “nexus to China” rather than on evidence of economic espionage as it purports to do, which has revealed a sharp rise in the profiling and targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists and researchers. Even after not finding any evidence of espionage, federal prosecutors are charging many Asian Americans and Asian immigrants with federal crimes based on administrative errors or minor offenses such as failing to disclose information to universities or research institutions and other activities under the pretext of combating economic espionage. As a result, Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars are ensnared by overzealous prosecutions riddled with racial bias that are ruining careers and leaving lives in shambles. The letter includes a set of recommendations, which first calls for an immediate end to the “China Initiative” and a complete review of all prosecutions and investigations closed prior to prosecution under the initiative. It also urges the incoming administration to review and take measures throughout the Federal Government’s law enforcement, intelligence, and scientific research funding agencies to combat other patterns of racial bias against Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists and federal employees. The letter and list of organizations and individuals that signed on can be found here . “This latest wave of xenophobia against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants follows a long history of Asian Americans and immigrants being stereotyped as “perpetual foreigners,” scapegoated, and profiled as spies disloyal to the United States,” said John C. Yang, Advancing Justice – AAJC’s president and executive director. “Individual cases of wrongful arrests and prosecutions of Asian American scientists and researchers along with racial rhetoric from public officials reveal that racial bias exists and has translated into real harm for the Asian American community.” "Basing criminal investigations on national origin and Chinese ancestry is unconstitutional and a waste of resources," said Glenn Katon, Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus Director of Litigation. "When the government prosecutes scientists and researchers simply so public officials can look tough, no one is made safer. The Biden administration has the chance to protect Asian Americans and Asian immigrants across this country - they should take it." "Racial profiling has proven to be an ineffective, divisive, and counterproductive law enforcement tactic, and yet the Justice Department inexplicably still promotes its use through programs like the ‘China Initiative'," said Brennan Center fellow Michael German, a former FBI agent. "Pressuring all U.S. Attorneys' Offices to initiate 'China Initiative' cases compels racial, ethnic, and national origin profiling, which undermines our security and the rule of law by targeting investigations based on a person's 'nexus to China' rather than evidence of serious wrongdoing." "Foreign-born scientists of Chinese origin have been an integral part of American innovation and global leadership. Our nation can protect our scientific and research security and successfully compete in the global marketplace for international scientific talent, but not by overzealous, xenophobic targeting of top talents that ruins lives and drives them to foreign countries that have been trying to recruit them unsuccessfully," said Professor Steven Pei, a leader for the APA Justice Task Force. “We Are All Gang Chen” On January 20, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professor Gang Chen 陈刚 for failing to disclose contracts, appointments and awards from various entities in the People’s Republic of China to the U.S. Department of Energy. The case stirred controversy from the start, when then-U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling unveiled the charges at a news conference in Boston on the last full day of the Trump administration. “It is not illegal to collaborate with foreign researchers. It’s illegal to lie about it,” Lelling said. “The allegations in the complaint imply that this was not just about greed, but about loyalty to China.” The indictment of Professor Gang Chen galvanized the Asian American and scientific communities and started the “We Are All Gang Chen” movement. Exactly one year later on January 20, 2022, Judge Patti Saris approved the government's motion to dismiss all charges against Professor Chen. Continuing the “We Are Gang Chen” movement, the Asian American Scholar Forum was founded in 2022 as a nonprofit organization to represent a community of Asian Americans and scholars who are united to promote academic belonging, openness, freedom, and equality for all by bringing their unique perspective, expertise, and concerns of Asian American and immigrant scholars directly to courtrooms, newsrooms, universities, federal agencies, the halls of Congress, and the White House. This is a presentation in Professor Chen’s own words on his experience and lessons learned about the absurdity of the wrongful prosecution: 2022 GangChenSlides .pdf Download PDF • 1.59MB AAJC Delivered 30,000 Signatures to The White House On April 9, 2021, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC delivered a petition signed by 29,318 people to the White House, urging President Joe Biden to put an end to the racial profiling of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants and end the Justice Department’s “China Initiative.” Education Webinar Series to Raise Awareness From September 2020 to June 2021, five organizations partnered to produce a series of five educational webinars to raise awareness of a growing number of federal investigations and prosecutions targeting Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants, and Chinese nationals in the U.S. particularly scientists and researchers under the umbrella of the China Initiative. The webinar series examined the ramifications of the "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. 2020/09/30 First Webinar: The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative ” (video 1:00:15) 2020/12/02 Second Webinar: Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists (video 1:13:35) 2021/02/24 Third Webinar: Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination: Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present (video 1:16:13) 2021/04/28 Fourth Webinar: Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy: How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative" (video 1:05:36) 2021/06/23 Fifth Webinar: The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" (video 1:12:52) Partners of the Webinar Series Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) advocates for an America which all Americans can benefit equally from, and contribute to, the American dream. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. Advancing Justice | AAJC is a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 in Washington, D.C. The APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem to address racial profiling issues and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian American community. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to reform, revitalize – and when necessary, defend – our country's systems of democracy and justice. Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) is a non-profit and non-partisan organization with a diverse membership representing all communities throughout the nation. It strives to inspire, engage, and empower the public about public policy and how to foster future leaders from minority communities to serve at federal, state, and local levels in the government. United Chinese Americans (UCA) has been a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization since 2017. It is a national federation with 12 chapters and over 30 community partners. The UCA is to enrich and empower Chinese American communities through civic participation, political engagement, youth education and development, preservation of heritage and culture, promoting a better understanding between the United States and China, for the well-being of our community, our country, and our world. Jump to: Overview “We are All Gang Chen” AAJC Delivered 30,000 Signatures to The White House Education Webinar Series to Raise Awareness Partners of the Webinar Series On January 5, 2021, a coalition of organizations and individuals wrote to President-elect Joe Biden, requesting him to end the China Initiative and take steps to combat racial profiling. Two weeks later, the indictment of MIT Professor Gang Chen ignited the “We Are All Gang Chen” movement. Between September 2020 and June 2021, five organizations partnered to produce a series of five educational webinars to raise nationwide awareness about the China Initiative. Previous Next 6. Letter to President-Elect Biden to End China Initiative

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued a Messaging Guidance on Rhetoric and Anti-Asian Hate to the U.S. House of Representatives. July 16, 2021 On July 16, 2021, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a Messaging Guidance on Rhetoric and Anti-Asian Hate to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The letter states that "[t]ime and time again history has taught us the horrific impact xenophobic rhetoric can have on Asian Americans. This is reason enough to end the use of rhetoric that stokes hatred. But it is notable that this type of rhetoric isn’t only dangerous to Asian Americans, it’s harmful to the United States’ long-term interests. Our country faces global security challenges such as climate change, supply chain disruption, and nuclear proliferation that require collaborative bi-lateral and multi-lateral solutions. Our leaders’ use of xenophobic rhetoric undermines our ability to work with other countries to pursue those solutions." 2021/07/16 CAPAC: Messaging Guidance on Rhetoric and Anti-Asian Hate The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued a Messaging Guidance on Rhetoric and Anti-Asian Hate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Previous Next CAPAC Issues Messaging Guidance on Anti-Asian Hate

3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, February 24, 2021 The “China Initiative’s” racist targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and students - particularly those of Chinese descent - echoes past xenophobic national security initiatives that put immigrant communities and communities of color under unjust government scrutiny. This webinar, the third in this series, explores the civil society responses to Japanese incarceration and discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II, and the targeting of Arab, Middle-Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities after 9/11, to inform how civil rights organizations and university leaders can more effectively challenge the new administration to end the “China Initiative” and the unfair scrutiny of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and students. Connecting current discrimination against Asian Americans and immigrants of Chinese descent within the historical framework of the treatment of Asian Americans, other immigrant communities, and communities of color in the U.S. is essential for building a broad coalition to support the legal and policy reforms necessary to protect the civil rights of all communities. (See our coalition letter to the Biden transition team here ). Because academic and research institutions are the targets of “China Initiative” investigations, we must also understand the needs of university leaders and create a platform for allies and civil rights organizations to support the scientists, researchers, and students currently impacted by the latest wave of xenophobia. This webinar will focus on how to build these mechanisms for policy reform. 20210224 Webinar3ChinaInitiative2.png 20210224 Webinar3ChinaInitiative1.png Previous Item Next Item

A group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit to combat Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264. May 22, 2023 Legal Docket : SHEN v. SIMPSON (4:23-cv-00208) On May 22, 2023, a group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida, as well as a real estate brokerage firm in Florida that primarily serves clients of Chinese descent, filed a lawsuit to combat Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264. Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the legislation unfairly restricts most Chinese citizens — and most citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea — from purchasing homes in the state. Unless the courts act, the law became effect on July 1, 2023. The plaintiffs are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Florida, DeHeng Law Offices PC 德恒律师事务所, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP , in coordination with the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟 (CALDA). The lawsuit argues that SB 264 will codify and expand housing discrimination against people of Asian descent in violation of the Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. It will also cast an undue burden of suspicion on anyone seeking to buy property whose name sounds remotely Asian, Russian, Iranian, Cuban, Venezuelan, or Syrian. Gov. DeSantis has argued that this law is necessary to protect Florida from the Chinese Communist Party and its activities. But this misguided rationale unfairly equates Chinese people with the actions of their government, and there is no evidence of national security harm resulting from real estate ownership by Chinese people in Florida. Florida’s dangerous new law recalls similar efforts over the past century to weaponize false claims of “national security” against Asian immigrants and other marginalized communities. In the early 1900s, politicians across the country used similar justifications to pass “ alien land laws ” prohibiting Chinese and Japanese immigrants from becoming landowners. These racist policies not only hurt immigrants financially, but also severely exacerbated violence and discrimination against Asian communities living in the United States. Over time, these laws were struck down by the courts or were repealed by state legislatures because they violated the Constitution’s equal protection guarantees. A group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit to combat Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264. Previous Next Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264