Newsletter - #389 Monthly Meeting Today; Trump-Xi Summit; FY2027 Science Budget; SCOTUS Hearing; + #389 Monthly Meeting Today; Trump-Xi Summit; FY2027 Science Budget; SCOTUS Hearing; + In This Issue #389 · APA Justice April Monthly Meeting is Today · 05/14-15 Trump-Xi Summit · FY2027 Science Budget and America’s Brain Drain · 04/01 Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship · News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice April Monthly Meeting is Today The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held today, Monday, April 6, 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: · Eric Zheng , President, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai · Susan A. Thornton , Vice Chair, U.S. Heartland China Association · Susan Shirk , Research Professor; Director Emeritus, 21st Century China Center, University of California, San Diego Although the Trump-Xi summit has been postponed to May 14-15, 2026, U.S.-China relations remain the most consequential global issue of our time — with profound implications for trade, education, international exchange, and the well-being of Chinese Americans, Asian Americans, and immigrant communities nationwide. This meeting will bring together some of the most informed voices on these issues for a timely and wide-ranging conversation. 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 . 05/14-15 Trump-Xi Summit The Trump-Xi summit, originally scheduled for late March 2026, has been postponed to May 14–15, 2026. Both Washington and Beijing are currently signaling that the delay is due to logistical reasons related to the ongoing war in Iran, rather than a breakdown in bilateral relations. The U.S. Perspective Washington is framing the meeting as a high-stakes opportunity to maintain stability despite geopolitical distractions. · Reason for Delay : President Trump postponed the trip to remain in Washington as commander-in-chief during the U.S. war with Iran. · Diplomatic Strategy : The White House has indicated that cabinet-level officials will travel to China in the coming weeks to prepare, though U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently cast doubt on the necessity of such pre-meetings. · Focus Areas : Key priorities include managing tariffs, high-tech export controls, and ensuring China follows through on its agricultural purchase commitments such as soybeans. The Chinese Perspective Beijing is viewing the summit with a mix of cautious optimism and strategic frustration. · Measured Response : Chinese officials have been "measured" regarding the delay, emphasizing that dialogue is vital to preventing "globally damaging miscalculations". · Frustrations : Reports suggest Beijing is irked by a "last-minute scramble" and perceived insufficient U.S. preparation, which they fear may limit the summit to narrow trade deals rather than broader strategic issues. · Core Interests : President Xi is expected to push for a softening of the U.S. stance on Taiwan and seek a "total reset" of ties following the 2025 trade truce. Related Developments · Trade Probes : In the lead-up to May, China has launched fresh trade investigations into U.S. practices as calibrated countermeasures to earlier Trump administration probes. · Taiwan Visits : A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation plans to visit Taipei before the May summit to demonstrate "unwavering commitment," a move Beijing typically views as a provocation. · KMT Chair Visits China : Cheng Li-wun 鄭麗文 , Chair of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT)—also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party—is scheduled to lead a delegation to China from April 7 to 12, 2026. It marks the first trip by a sitting KMT leader to the mainland in a decade. FY2027 Science Budget and America’s Brain Drain According to multiple reports, for the second consecutive year, the Trump administration has proposed dramatic cuts to the budgets of major U.S. science agencies. The White House's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, released April 3, would make some of the deepest reductions in the history of American science funding. The proposed cuts are stark. The National Science Foundation would see its budget slashed by nearly 55%, from $8.8 billion to $4 billion. The Environmental Protection Agency would face a similar cut of more than 50%. NASA would lose 23% of its total budget and nearly half of its science division funding, with more than 40 projects terminated. The National Institutes of Health would lose 13%, and three of its 27 institutes — including those focused on minority health and health disparities, international research, and alternative medicine — would be shut down entirely. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research office would be eliminated altogether. The administration's stated rationale is to redirect resources toward presidential priorities — the military budget would increase 44% to $1.5 trillion — while maintaining targeted funding for artificial intelligence and quantum computing research at the defense and energy departments. However, even basic AI and quantum research at NSF would be cut by 32% and 37% respectively. To partially offset military budget increase, the administration called for $73 billion in reduced domestic spending, a 10% cut spread across several federal agencies that support social services, health, research, housing and education programs. A new and troubling element in this year's proposal is a ban on using federal funds for academic journal subscriptions and publishing fees, without defining what constitutes "expensive" or "prohibitively high" costs. Scientists have reacted with alarm. "We cannot cut the pipeline and expect the output to continue," said glaciologist Leigh Stearns of the University of Pennsylvania. "This is how the US loses its scientific leadership — with a reckless budget line." NASA's proposed cuts were described as "an extinction-level event for science" by the Planetary Society's chief of space policy. Importantly, it is Congress — not the president — that ultimately controls the federal budget. Congress rejected similar proposals last year, restoring funding for many of the programs the White House sought to eliminate. Budget negotiations for fiscal year 2027 could last well into the fall, particularly given Congressional elections in November. Fiscal year 2027 starts on October 1, 2026. For the AAPI community, the proposed elimination of NIH's institute on minority health and health disparities is of particular concern, as is the broader chilling effect these cuts would have on the academic and scientific community — including the Asian American researchers and scientists who have already been disproportionately targeted by surveillance, racial profiling, and the legacy of the China Initiative. Read the statements and reports by American Association for the Advancement of Science , Association of American Medical Colleges , Association of American Universities , Nature , The Planetary Society , and The Science Coalition . A New York Times report describes a growing risk of a U.S. “brain drain” as scientists leave the country due to cuts in research funding and stricter immigration policies. It highlights the case of robotics engineer Wali Malik , who moved to Austria to lead a new lab and recruited other top researchers from leading U.S. institutions. Experts warn that declining investment and talent loss could harm U.S. innovation and economic growth, while countries like Canada, China, and those in the European Union are actively attracting displaced scientists with new funding programs. Although the U.S. remains a major hub for research and venture capital, concerns are rising that reduced support for science could weaken its long-term leadership, even as some researchers weigh lower salaries abroad against greater stability and quality of life. 04/01 Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship On April 1, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a closely watched case challenging President Donald Trump ’s executive order to limit birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. A decision is expected in June or July and could have far-reaching implications for constitutional rights, immigration policy, and longstanding legal precedent. Outside the Court, demonstrators gathered in significant numbers, reflecting the intensity of public interest and concern. Advocacy organizations, including APIAVote and Stop AAPI Hate, joined a broad coalition of civil rights groups emphasizing the potential impact on immigrant communities, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Legal experts have underscored the high stakes. Cecillia Wang 王德棻 , a birthright citizen born in Oregon to Taiwanese immigrant parents and National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argued at the Supreme Court that the case tests a foundational principle of equal citizenship, warning that narrowing birthright protections could create uncertainty and unequal treatment under the law. The ACLU and allied organizations have been actively engaged in legal advocacy and public education around the issue. If there is one line to take away from the Supreme Court hearing, it might be these words spoken by Chief Justice John Roberts : “It’s a new world. It’s the same Constitution.” Roberts’ words came as a retort to an argument from Solicitor General John Sauer , who sought to defend Trump’s executive order in the face of the Constitution, the law and precedent that have long stood for a basic premise of American life: If you’re born here, you’re a citizen. Asian Law Caucus , located in San Francisco where Wong Kim Ark 黄金德 led and won a historic Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Executive Order. Members of Congress have also weighed in. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has voiced strong support for preserving birthright citizenship, including Chair Grace Meng 孟昭文 ’s statement and amicus briefs, highlighting its importance to immigrant communities and American identity. Rep. Ro Khanna , Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, issued a statement in response to the Trump Administration’s attempts to end birthright citizenship. Born in Philadelphia to Indian parents, Rep. Khanna said, “For centuries, Chinese Americans have helped build this country. From workers on the transcontinental railroad to particle physicist Chien-Shiung Wu 吳健雄 , to architect I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 , thousands of Chinese Americans have contributed immeasurably to our nation’s innovation, culture, and success. Continuing to attract immigrant contributions is paramount to American exceptionalism. “Way back in 1869, Frederick Douglass argued passionately for Chinese immigration and for a diverse, ‘composite’ American nationality. After being enslaved for nearly twenty years, he spoke in support of a multiracial democracy including Chinese immigrants, saying ‘the fact that the Chinese and other nations desire to come and do come is a proof of their capacity for improvement and of their fitness to come.’ “I am proud to work alongside groups like Stop AAPI Hate, the Asian American Scholar Forum, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and OCA National to protect birthright citizenship, uphold American diversity, and rebuke any and all anti-immigrant hate.” Across sectors, the hearing has reinforced concerns about how shifts in constitutional interpretation could affect not only immigration policy but also broader civil liberties. As the Court deliberates, advocacy groups are continuing outreach efforts to inform communities, encourage civic participation, and prepare for potential outcomes. Further updates will be provided as the Court approaches its decision later this summer. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future TogetherVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Iowa Residents Rallied against State Bill HF2513 On March 21, at 4:00 PM local time, over 150 residents from multiple regions in Iowa including Iowa City, Ames and Des Moines gathered at the state capitol to express their deep concern and opposition to HF2513 , a bill currently advancing through the Iowa state legislature. The bill has sparked widespread controversy as it seeks to restrict the eligibility of Chinese nationals on H-1B work visas to be employed at Iowa’s public universities. The event was co-organized by the Iowa City Area Chinese Association (ICACA), the Chinese Faculty and Staff Association of Central Iowa, the Iowa Chinese Association, the Ames Chinese Association, the APAPA Eastern Iowa Chapter, and United Chinese Americans (UCA). The coalition warns that HF2513 invokes "national security" as a pretext for state–sponsored discrimination. The rally quickly drew the attention of several mainstream Iowa media outlets and has resonated strongly within both the Chinese American community and the broader public. · Iowa Public Radio: University employees protest bill restricting hiring of H-1B workers from adversary nations · Local 5 WOI-DT: Rally held in protest of bill that would restrict colleges in hiring people of 'foreign adversaries' # # # 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 6, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

#389 Monthly Meeting Today; Trump-Xi Summit; FY2027 Science Budget; SCOTUS Hearing; + April 6, 2026 Read #388 Special Edition: What We Need to Know about Mass Surveillance and ICE Crackdown April 2, 2026 Read #387 4/6 Meeting; CHR: 50 Years of Support; Ohioans Opposed HB1; C100 Survey; No Kings; + March 30, 2026 Read #386 4/6 Meeting; Today's Webinar; JFK Award to Twin Cities People; 3/28 "No Kings" March+ March 24, 2026 Read #385 Rep. Grace Meng Remarks; 3/24 Webinar; DHS Leadership Change; Birthright Citizenship+ March 20, 2026 Read #384 3/24 Webinar; Mayor Kaohly Her; WP: America Needs Immigrants; Ohio Bill; Equity Pulse+ March 16, 2026 Read #383 3/24 Webinar on Mass Surveillance; Timeline Visualization; Sign On; Museum Update; + March 12, 2026 Read #382 UCLA Research; CAPAC; Perpetual Foreigner; US Universities Retreat; Science on Science March 10, 2026 Read #381 3/24 Mass Surveillance Webinar; AASF Update; Citizen Diplomacy; Birthright Citizenship March 6, 2026 Read #380 3/2 Meeting; Jane Wu Lawsuit; Birthright Citizenship; Higher Ed Mission; UMichigan; + February 28, 2026 Read #379 3/2 Monthly Meeting; American Student in China; 2/26 Webinar on Talent; Jesse Jackson+ February 23, 2026 Read #378 2/26 Webinar; 2/24 Court Hearing; AAJC; Section 702; Alien Land Laws; FY26 R&D Funding February 17, 2026 Read < < 1 1 1 Newsletters APA Justice began publishing a free periodic newsletter about 4-7 times a month in July 2020. You can subscribe here . Visit the Virtual Library to search the entire collection. Filter by year

December 2025 Meeting Summaires Dec 1, 2025 Read November 2025 Meeting Summary Nov 3, 2025 Read October 2025 Meeting Summary Oct 6, 2025 Read September 2025 Meeting Summary Sep 8, 2025 Read August 2025 Monthly Meeting Summary Aug 4, 2025 Read July 2025 Meeting Summary Jul 7, 2025 Read June 2025 Meeting Summary Jun 2, 2025 Read May 2025 Meeting Summary May 5, 2025 Read April 2025 Meeting Summary Apr 7, 2025 Read March 2025 Meeting Summary Mar 3, 2025 Read February 2025 Monthly Meeting Summary Feb 3, 2025 Read January 2025 Meeting Summary Jan 6, 2025 Read Monthly Meeting Summaries APA Justice conducts monthly meetings and publishes the meeting summary on this website. Participation is by invitation only. Due to limited capacity, invited participants are typically active and recognized organizations and concerned individuals. Please send an email to contact@apajustice.org if you have interest. < < 1 1 1

Read More 1. A Call to Stop Senate Bill 147 and All Alien Land Laws Friday, February 17, 2023 12:00 AM Read More 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Thursday, October 16, 2025 12:00 AM Read More 1. From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Wednesday, December 11, 2024 12:00 AM Read More 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Wednesday, September 30, 2020 12:00 AM Read More 2. Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community Tuesday, March 4, 2025 12:00 AM Read More 2. Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 Wednesday, March 1, 2023 12:00 AM Read More 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Wednesday, December 2, 2020 12:00 AM Read More 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Wednesday, February 24, 2021 12:00 AM Read More 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:00 AM Read More 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Wednesday, June 23, 2021 12:00 AM Read More A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI Thursday, June 6, 2024 12:00 AM Read More Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Thursday, March 17, 2022 12:00 AM

Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know Warrantless Surveillance Tuesday, March 24, 2026 Masked, heavily armed federal agents are roaming through American neighborhoods aggressively targeting anyone they feel does not belong, often using race and ethnicity as a factor to determine who is selected for arrest, detention, and deportation. News reports indicate that Immigration agents are using advanced technological tools and electronic surveillance authorities to create and exploit vast intelligence databases to further the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy. Adding urgency to these concerns, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — one of the government's most powerful surveillance tools — is set to expire on April 20, 2026, and the outcome of its reauthorization will have profound implications for the civil liberties of all Americans. This lawless approach to immigration enforcement has a direct effect on AAPI communities. US law enforcement and intelligence agencies have long treated Asian Americans unfairly as a suspect community. Our earliest immigration laws, like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, singled them out for disparate treatment based on their race and national origin, and the Trump administration has repeatedly threatened to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, last used to intern Japanese Americans during World War II. The webinar will provide an update of the current situation and explain how this immigration crackdown is fueled by technological innovations and electronic surveillance powers originally developed to protect Americans from foreign terrorists, now turned inward to target Americans. Hosts: APA Justice, Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Scholar Forum, Committee of 100 On March 24, 2026, starting at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT, APA Justice, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Scholar Forum, and Committee of 100 will co-host a webinar on “Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know. ” Moderator: Michael German is a Retired Fellow in the Brennan Center for Justice's Liberty and National Security Program. His work focuses on ensuring that the U.S. government respects human rights and fundamental freedoms in its pursuit of national security — including reforming the surveillance and intelligence systems that have too often been turned against the very communities they were meant to protect. He is a former FBI Special Agent and one of the nation's leading voices on law enforcement and intelligence oversight. Before joining the Brennan Center in 2014, he served as Policy Counsel for National Security and Privacy at the ACLU's Washington legislative office. Speakers: Kaohly Her , Mayor, St. Paul, Minnesota. She was elected St. Paul's first woman and first Asian American mayor in 2025. Mayor Her was born in the mountains of Laos and came to the United States as a refugee at age three. A strong work ethic, her family's tenacity, and support from her community propelled Mayor Her to the highest levels of the Minnesota state government and now to City Hall. She served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025. Saira Hussain , Senior Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier Foundation. Saira litigates at the intersection of racial and immigrant justice, government surveillance, and technology, with cases challenging border searches of electronic devices, police surveillance of protesters, and law enforcement sharing of license plate reader data with ICE. Previously a Staff Attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, she focused on separating federal immigration enforcement from local law enforcement through litigation, advocacy, and coalition-building. She holds undergraduate and law degrees from UC Berkeley. Xiaoxing Xi , Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics, Temple University. A leading expert in superconductor technologies, Professor Xi was arrested in May 2015 by armed FBI agents in front of his family on false charges of sharing sensitive technology with China — dropped just four months later. His case, involving warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of FISA and Executive Order 12333, became a landmark in the fight against racial profiling of Chinese American scientists. He filed suit challenging the prosecution and discriminatory targeting, and in 2020 received the Andrei Sakharov Prize from the American Physical Society for his advocacy for open scientific exchange. John Yang , President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. At Advancing Justice | AAJC, John leads the organization’s efforts to fight for civil rights and empower Asian Americans to create a more just America for all through public policy advocacy, education, and litigation. John is an experienced attorney with over two decades of policy, litigation, and corporate expertise. He graduated with honors from George Washington University Law School. RESOURCES: APA Justice: Timeline Visualization of U.S. Mass Surveillance APA Justice: Warrantless Surveillance Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown Flyer-Landscape.jpg Previous Item Next Item

Webinars APA Justice offers a curated collection of recorded discussions and presentations that explore critical issues affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and broader justice concerns. Featuring expert insights on topics such as the China Initiative, racial profiling, alien land laws, warrantless surveillance, and civil rights advocacy, these webinars provide historical context, policy analysis, and community perspectives. Explore series China Initiative US-China Relations Warrantless Surveillance 2020-2022 China Initiative The China Initiative webinar series highlights a critical set of conversations examining how the U.S. Department of Justice’s China Initiative disproportionately targeted Chinese American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars—often conflating national security fears with racial profiling and discriminatory practices. 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Learn more >> 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Learn more >> 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Learn more >> 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Learn more >> 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Learn more >> Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Learn more >> US-China Relations The China Initiative webinar series highlights a critical set of conversations examining how the U.S. Department of Justice’s China Initiative disproportionately targeted Chinese American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars—often conflating national security fears with racial profiling and discriminatory practices. 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Learn more Warrantless Surveillance The China Initiative webinar series highlights a critical set of conversations examining how the U.S. Department of Justice’s China Initiative disproportionately targeted Chinese American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars—often conflating national security fears with racial profiling and discriminatory practices. Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know Learn more Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform Learn more All Webinars Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know Watch Read More A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI Watch Read More 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Watch Read More China Initiative: Past and Present 中国行动的前世今生 Watch Read More 1. From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Watch Read More 2. Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community Watch Read More 1. A Call to Stop Senate Bill 147 and All Alien Land Laws Watch Read More 2. Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 Watch Read More Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform Watch Read More Reflecting on Prof. Gang Chen’s Case & Looking Ahead to the Future of the China Initiative Watch Read More 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Watch Read More 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Watch Read More 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Watch Read More 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Watch Read More 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Watch Read More Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Watch Read More

website under development Mass Surveillance and ICE Webinar Learn more Birthright Citizenship Learn more China Initiative Chinese academics and researchers were systemically targeted in a government-led initiative and may be at threat again in the future Learn more Racial Profiling Targeting of individuals or groups due to their race or ethnicity Learn more History and Purpose of APA Justice A platform for Asian American justice and fairness Learn more Warrantless Surveillance The U.S. government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of American citizens Learn more APA JUSTICE WEBINAR SERIES Upcoming on March 24: Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown LEARN MORE Mass Surveillance and ICE Webinar Details Mass Surveillance and ICE Webinar Details Mass Surveillance and ICE Webinar Details Mass Surveillance and ICE Webinar Details The Latest Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges Read More We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264 Read More 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. Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 Read More Texas state representatives are attempting to stop foreign governments from purchasing Texas agricultural land. Rep. Judy Chu's New Year Greetings and 2022 Review Read More During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. Community Calendar 01 Racial Profiling 03 Warrantless Surveillance 02 The China Initiative 04 Alien Land Bills Learn more about the pressing AAPI issues of today. Yellow Whistle Campaign Our partnership with the Yellow Whistle Project to promote self-protection and solidarity against discrimination and violence. Advocacy Our work with policy makers to push for AAPI rights and to ensure justice for AAPI academics and scientists. Know your rights Protect yourself by knowing your rights. National Media Network A national media alert network giving greater resources and a more assertive voice to the Asian American community. WHAT WE DO Learn more Watchlist See important issues and legislation we're monitoring Report a Hate Incident Learn what it means to be Chinese American Library See important issues and legislation we're monitoring Report a Hate Incident Learn what it means to be Chinese American Resources Learn about the history, responses, and current state of the APA community. Name Email I accept terms & conditions Stay informed Stay up to date with the latest news and developments from APA Justice Last name Subscribe You've signed up for the APA Justice newsletter. Stay informed Stay up to date with the latest news and developments from APA Justice Name Email I accept terms & conditions Subscribe You've signed up for the APA Justice newsletter.

Latest Posts Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges July 24, 2023 We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. Read More Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264 May 22, 2023 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. Read More Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 January 23, 2023 Texas state representatives are attempting to stop foreign governments from purchasing Texas agricultural land. Read More Rep. Judy Chu's New Year Greetings and 2022 Review January 9, 2023 During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. Read More Campaign to Oppose The Nomination of Casey Arrowood July 29, 2022 Academics, elected officials, and civil rights groups across the country are raising concerns about the nomination of Casey Arrowood to be US Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Read More APA Justice Calls for Release of Report on Review of "China Initiative" March 8, 2022 On March 8, 2022, APA Justice sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, calling for the release of a report on the Department of Justice's review of the “China Initiative.” Read More Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges February 24, 2022 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. Read More 12. China Initiative Ends February 23, 2022 Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced the end of the China Initiative. The 1,210 days of the Initiative were extremely damaging to individuals and their families, as well as the Asian American and scientific communities. The end of the China Initiative is a welcomed start to correct the harms it caused. APA Justice is committed to continue its work to address racial profiling and seek justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American communities. Read More 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports December 2, 2021 On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. Read More < < 1 1 1 What's the best flavor? Activists Including APA Justice Resist New "Red Scare" Chinese Americans are increasingly finding themselves targeted by the US in what has become the new "Red Scare."

Newsletter - #388 Special Edition: What We Need to Know about Mass Surveillance and ICE Crackdown #388 Special Edition: What We Need to Know about Mass Surveillance and ICE Crackdown In This Issue #388 This special edition highlights the March 24, 2026 webinar, “ Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know .” A recording of the webinar is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoTNDznWVc4 (1:04:32) The webinar examined the intersection of mass surveillance and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. It featured Mayor Kaohly Her of St. Paul, Minnesota, alongside a panel of experts discussing current surveillance programs and their real-world impacts. Expanding surveillance authorities and immigration enforcement are increasingly converging in ways that significantly affect AAPI communities and raise urgent civil liberties concerns. The webinar was co-hosted by APA Justice Task Force , Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC , Asian American Scholar Forum , and Committee of 100 . It was moderated by Michael German , a retired fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice and former FBI special agent focused on law enforcement and intelligence oversight and reform. Bringing together four distinct perspectives—a mayor, a civil liberties litigator, a wrongfully targeted scientist, and a civil rights leader—the discussion helped the community better understand what is happening, why it matters, and what actions can be taken. Opening Remarks by Mayor Kaohly Her Mayor Kaohly Her — the first Asian American and first woman elected mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota — opened the March 24 webinar with a firsthand account that was both deeply personal and deeply alarming, offering a ground-level view of what the ICE crackdown has meant for her city and its communities. Mayor Her made clear from the outset that what the rest of the country has recently witnessed in Minnesota was not new to the AAPI community. As far back as April of last year, while still serving as a state legislator, she convened a meeting with ICE representatives who provided virtually no information about their operations — where they were going, who they were targeting, or what they were doing. Yet community members were already reporting detentions. "We knew in our communities, especially our Southeast Asian communities, that they were already being targeted," she said. "No one was paying attention to it at all." By summer, the situation had intensified dramatically. Mayor Her described weekends in which the AAPI community was "targeted heavily," with families so frightened that individuals scheduled for immigration check-ins simply stopped going — choosing instead to go into hiding for the foreseeable future. American citizens were being swept up. Businesses saw revenues drop by 60 to 70 percent. Children were moved to remote learning as schools shut down. People stopped going to the doctor out of fear of leaving their homes. "It was worse on the ground than what you all were seeing on the news," she said of the period from November through February. By January, however, St. Paul had built a remarkable grassroots response. Constitutional observer training sessions that once drew 30 or 40 people were filling rooms with hundreds. Volunteers built a sophisticated network — using Signal and coordinated radio frequencies — to track suspected ICE vehicles by following them from the Whipple building (a federal office complex located in the Twin Cities area. It houses various government agencies including ICE), logging license plates, and alerting community members in real time when those vehicles appeared in their neighborhoods. The city joined lawsuits alongside other municipalities, worked with the governor and attorney general to quadruple the number of clemency hearings from one to four per year, and partnered with foundations and private entities to distribute $4 million in relief to affected nonprofits and businesses. Mayor Her also described ongoing efforts to quantify the full economic and social cost of the enforcement operations — from lost business revenue to healthcare system impacts — to build the case for state-level relief. The Minnesota legislature is currently considering a relief package for emergency rent support and broader economic recovery. For those who want to help, Mayor Her encouraged financial contributions to the foundations supporting St. Paul communities, purchasing gift cards from affected local businesses, and connecting with community resources through the city's United Way 211 Immigration Resources and Hotline and its official City’s Response to Federal ‘Operation Metro Surge’ page. Mayor Her’s closing message was one of both exhaustion and resolve. After describing the extraordinary mobilization St. Paul had undertaken over the preceding months, she indicated that the community is now focused on the work of rebuilding — supporting residents, businesses, and organizations as they recover from the intense period of enforcement activity and fear that had gripped the city. Watch Mayor Her’s remarks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqHLYymP2Gk (14:13) ***** JFK Profile in Courage Award to People of Twin Cities On March 19, 2026, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced the 2026 Profile in Courage Award honoring the people of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, for demonstrating exceptional courage in defending their communities during a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation. The award will be presented on May 31, 2026, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Saira Hussain’s Opening Remarks Saira Hussain , Senior Staff Attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), outlined the scope of U.S. surveillance authorities, focusing on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the collection of Americans’ communications without a warrant when targeting individuals abroad. She described the program’s pending expiration as a difficult policy tradeoff: letting it lapse risks losing existing safeguards, while current reform proposals remain insufficient to protect civil liberties. EFF supports stronger reforms, including the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act to close the “data broker loophole.” She also highlighted expanding surveillance tied to immigration enforcement, including social media monitoring programs that may penalize disfavored speech, raising First Amendment concerns. Increased data sharing across agencies—such as IRS, DMV, and utilities—enables ICE to assemble detailed personal profiles, underscoring the need for clear limits to prevent information collected for one purpose from being repurposed for another. Founded in 1990, the Electronic Frontier Foundation is a leading nonprofit defending civil liberties in the digital world, advancing privacy, free expression, and innovation through litigation, policy advocacy, and technology development. Important resources from EFF: · Digital Privacy at the U.S. Border: Protecting Data on Your Devices · Section 702 reauthorization · Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act · Lawsuit against the State Department and DHS’s social media monitoring program of visa holders and permanent residents for “disfavored” speech · Other surveillance tools that ICE has access to · Surveillance Self-Defense Professor Xiaoxing Xi’s Opening Remarks Professor Xiaoxing Xi , a leading expert in superconductor technologies at Temple University, shared his experience of being wrongfully arrested in 2015 after federal authorities misinterpreted academic communications as evidence of espionage. Although charges were dropped within months, the personal, financial, and professional impact was lasting. He emphasized that innocence does not prevent harm once an investigation begins, particularly for individuals with international ties. He also raised concerns about surveillance authorities under Section 702, which can enable access to Americans’ communications without a warrant and may be applied beyond their intended scope. His case illustrates the need for stronger safeguards and accountability. Professor Xi is currently involved in litigation challenging the government’s use of Section 702 and related authorities. He was awarded the 2020 Andrei Sakharov Prize by the American Physical Society for his advocacy for open scientific exchange. John C. Yang’s Opening Remarks John C. Yang , President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, emphasized that policies like Section 702 have real human consequences, including wrongful investigations and lasting community harm. He placed these concerns within a broader historical pattern in which Asian Americans are treated as “perpetual foreigners,” particularly during periods of national security tension. He warned that similar dynamics are reemerging today amid U.S.-China tensions. He noted that current immigration enforcement and geopolitical dynamics are creating widespread anxiety in AAPI communities. To address these challenges, he outlined a three-part strategy: advocacy, education, and empowerment—advancing policy reforms, combating misinformation, supporting litigation, and strengthening civic engagement. Highlights of Panel Discussions Panelists discussed practical steps individuals and communities can take in response to expanding surveillance and enforcement practices. Saira Hussain noted that border authorities continue to assert broad powers to search electronic devices, creating uncertainty for travelers. She encouraged “surveillance self-defense,” including using strong passwords, limiting sensitive data on devices, and preparing in advance. She also outlined tradeoffs based on legal status: U.S. citizens may refuse to provide passwords but risk device seizure, while visa holders may face denial of entry. These realities require individuals to assess risk and plan accordingly. Professor Xi provided an update on his lawsuit, now in discovery, and highlighted ongoing concerns about failed prosecutions, unclear standards, and the broader human toll. Panelists emphasized that surveillance practices, once normalized, can expand beyond any single community. In closing, they urged sustained civic engagement—educating others, supporting advocacy efforts, and contacting elected officials to push for reforms, including changes to Section 702. In a democratic society, public awareness and participation are essential to safeguarding privacy, due process, and civil liberties. Resources from APA Justice For readers seeking deeper historical context, Madeleine Gable , Communications Associate, and Charlotte Ding , Product Developer, APA Justice, have led the creation of a comprehensive webpage on warrantless surveillance in the U.S., along with an interactive timeline. While the timeline focuses on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), it begins in 1967 and incorporates relevant context up until the present. The timeline is divided into five intervals of over 30 stories: I. Pre-FISA II. The origin (1978-2007) III. Codification and the rise of “incidental collection” (2008-2017) IV. The China Initiative and racial profiling (2017-2023) V. Modern reform and the 2026 reauthorization (2024-present) I. Pre-FISA Prior to the enactment of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 1978, concerns over government surveillance malpractice began to emerge in the 1960s, causing both lawmakers and the American public to devote more attention to national security and the protection of civil liberties. II. The Origin (1978–2007) This section describes the events following the initial enactment of FISA, including Executive Order 12333 and the events of the case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee . Additionally, this section discusses 9/11 and its implications on national security policy and subsequent controversy. III. Codification and the Rise of "Incidental Collection" (2008–2017) In 2008, Congress enacted the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which included a new section, Section 702, that authorizes the targeting of non-U.S. citizens reasonably believed to be abroad. This approach often involves “backdoor searches” that collect information on U.S. persons (including AAPI individuals) without a warrant. This section also chronicles the Snowden disclosures and the formation of various social justice organizations, including APA Justice. IV. The China Initiative & Racial Profiling (2018–2023) In November of 2018, the Department of Justice launched the China Initiative, a broad enforcement effort intended to counter alleged economic espionage and intellectual property theft linked to China. Over time, dozens of cases that disproportionately impacted academics of Asian descent under this initiative collapsed or were dismissed, revealing patterns of racial profiling, overreach, and insufficient evidence. V. Modern Reform and the 2026 Reauthorization (2024–Present) The final section recounts the extension of Section 702 and subsequent government reform and controversy, culminating with the expiration of Section 702 on April 20, 2026. In the weeks leading up to the expiration of Section 702, APA Justice will continue to update the webpage and the timeline with the most relevant information. · APA Justice timeline: Timeline Visualization of U.S. Mass Surveillance · APA Justice webpage: Warrantless Surveillance Additional Information Beyond the webinar, related developments underscore the broader national context: · No Kings Day . On March 28, 2026, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her joined a major rally with over 100,000 demonstrators at the Minnesota Capitol as part of nationwide protests emphasizing democratic values, civic participation, and the rule of law. Watch her remarks starting at around 2:08:20 in this video https://www.nokings.org/ (4:09:05). · Section 702 Reauthorization . With Section 702 set to expire on April 20, 2026, debate in Congress is focused on reform proposals addressing warrantless surveillance and oversight. Brennan Center for Justice has published a Resource Page outlining its use, proposed reforms, and the reauthorization process at: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/section-702-foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-fisa-2026-resource-page . · Impact on AAPI Communities . A coalition led by Advancing Justice | AAJC has published a fact sheet on the Impact of Section 702 on Asian Americans , highlighting how Section 702 has expanded over time, enabling “incidental” collection and backdoor searches that disproportionately affect Asian American and related communities, particularly amid geopolitical tensions. Reform efforts focus on requiring warrants, closing data broker loopholes, and limiting overly broad surveillance authorities. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/04/03 The China Debate We’re Not Having: Politics, Technology, and the Road Ahead 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future TogetherVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 03/26 NAPABA Webinar Video Posted On March 26, 2026, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) hosted a webinar titled “SCOTUS Oral Argument Preview: Who is Allowed to be a U.S. Citizen? Defending Birthright Citizenship and the Role of Asian American History.” The program previewed the U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara , a case addressing the scope of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. On April 1, 2026. Watch the video: https://vimeo.com/1177775020 (1:00:53). # # # 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 2, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Impacted Persons List Anming Hu 胡安明 Read more Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 Read more Charles Lieber Read more Chen Song 宋琛 Read more Davis Lu Read more Franklin Tao 陶丰 Read more Gang Chen 陈刚 Read more Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 Read more Haizhou Hu Read more James Patrick Lewis Read more Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 Read more Juan Tang 唐娟 Read more Kaikai Zhao 赵凯凯 Read more Kevin Wang Read more Lei Guan 关磊 Read more Lin Yang Read more Meyya Meyyappan Read more Mingqing Xiao Read more Qing Wang 王擎 Read more Simon Saw-Teong Ang 洪思忠 Read more Song Guo Zheng Read more Turab Lookman 特拉伯·鲁克曼 Read more Van Andel Research Read more Wuyuan Lu 陆五元 Read more Xiao-jiang Li 李晓江 Read more Xiaofeng Wang 王晓峰 Read more Xiaoming Zhang Read more Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 Read more Xifeng Wu 吴息凤 Read more Xin Wang 王欣 Read more Yanping Chen 陈燕平 Read more Yanqing Ye Read more Yu Zhou, Li Chen Read more Zaosong Zheng Read more Zhendong Cheng Read more Filter by Category China Initiative NIH Other Sort by Alphabetical by first name Alphabetical by last name

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Following a public campaign led by Maryland State Senator Susan Lee and a coalition in February 2022, Reps. Jamie Raskin and Judy Chu hosted a Democratic Member Roundtable on “Researching while Chinese American: Ethnic Profiling, Chinese American Scientists and a New American Brain Drain” in June 2022. It was the first congressional hearing where the profiling of Chinese American scientists and the damage to American leadership in science and technology were heard. June 30, 2021 Table of Contents Overview The Human and Scientific Costs of Racial Profiling Must be Heard Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity Bicameral Letter Urging DOJ Probe into Racial Profiling Links and References Overview Watch the video here. (1:42:15) On June 30, 2021, Representative Jamie Raskin, Chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Representative Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, held a Democratic Member Roundtable titled “Researching while Chinese American: Ethnic Profiling, Chinese American Scientists and a New American Brain Drain.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) has long targeted Chinese Americans in extensive investigations into foreign espionage, leading to multiple false arrests of innocent Chinese American scientists. These efforts ramped up in federal agencies under the Trump Administration’s China Initiative, causing numerous scientists to lose their jobs despite not unveiling chargeable criminal conduct. This roundtable examined the federal government’s alleged racial profiling of Chinese American scientists, and addressed how the continued harassment harms the broader U.S. scientific community. Opening Remarks by Representative Jamie Raskin: “That is not acceptable in the United States of America, which was founded on principles of equality and justice. We reject guilt by association, we reject notions of collective guilt or ethnic or racial guilt. The United States is a welcoming place, it is open to people of all backgrounds and to creative ideas, and to scientific research and inquiry. That is how we established ourselves as a world leader in innovation and technology, by allowing for free-flowing thoughts and theories. By targeting people who are ethnically Chinese, without evidence, we are hampering our ability to be that world leader and we are harming an entire community.” Opening Remarks by Rep. Judy Chu: “We need to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the Cold War. That means not spreading unfounded suspicions that paint all Chinese people as threats and which put innocent Chinese Americans at risk.” Witnesses and Their Testimonies Sherry Chen , a renowned hydrologist who was falsely accused of espionage in 2014, described the long-lasting effects of her mistaken arrest: “Until now, my life is still in limbo. My reputation is still under a cloud. The ordeal has taken away precious time in my professional career, and I can never recover the years I have lost. This injustice has now entered its tenth year and sadly there is still no end in sight. I keep fighting not only for myself but to do my part to make sure no one should ever be harmed because of their race or country origin.” Her written testimony: https://bit.ly/3S46zmo The Honorable Steven Chu , former Secretary of Energy and current Stanford professor, characterized the impact of racial profiling on Chinese American scientists: “Many of my Chinese-American faculty colleagues feel that they are under increased and unjustified scrutiny by the U.S. government. The Department of Justice’s ‘China Initiative’ and statements by U.S. funding agencies is [ sic ] creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.” His written testimony: https://bit.ly/3S4pTA8 Dr. Randy Katz , the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of California, Berkeley, expressed how this targeting has affected the greater scientific community: “These investigations and related actions – such as the increased interrogation of Chinese-American researchers by Customs and Border Patrol officers at airports – have resulted in a chilling effect on our Chinese-American research community in particular, and America’s international collaborations and our continued ability to attract the world’s best and brightest. My university has seen a precipitous decline in graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and visiting students from China that began even before the Covid-19 pandemic. This will have ramifications for America’s research enterprise for many years to come.” His written testimony: https://bit.ly/3Y9GoLo Dr. Xiaoxing Xi , a professor of physics at Temple University and naturalized citizen who was falsely arrested for alleged spying in 2015, explained: “People have asked me, ‘How can the Department of Justice avoid wrongly accusing innocent people like they did in your case?’ My answer is that they can’t unless they stop considering Chinese professors, scientists, and students as nontraditional collectors, or spies, for China. For example, in all the criminal cases involving university professors under the China Initiative, the DOJ has shown no evidence, zero, that those charged have stolen intellectual property. Yet, they are being prosecuted for felony crimes.” His written testimony: https://bit.ly/48kZUKe Statements from concerned advocates and experts including Maryland Senator Susan C. Lee , who contextualized the current racial profiling in the broader history of discrimination against Asian-Americans. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , which explained how actions taken by the Department of Justice and research grantmaking agencies has a chilling effect on international scientific collaboration. Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC , which submitted a number of recommendations of how to address racial profiling. Asian American Scholar Forum , which noted that Asian American professors chose to stay in the United States because they “believe, in democracy, freedom of speech, rule of law, and the research environment of freedom and exploration without fear.” Asian Pacific American (APA) Justice , which explained that “whether it is with malice or implicit bias or both, the checks and balance system has failed not only individuals but also an entire group of people who are targeted for their race, ethnicity, and national origin.” The Committee of 100, which submitted the research of Andrew Chongseh Kim and white paper on Prosecuting Chinese “Spies:” An Empirical Analysis of the Economic Espionage Act . Defending Rights & Dissent , which raised concerns about the FBI’s rhetoric around the “alleged threat from Chinese Americans in academia.” Patrick Eddington , of Defending Rights & Dissent, who expressed that freedom of association and open scientific exchange are “absolutely essential to advance human progress on a range of issues.” Stefan Maier , who stressed the importance of “academic freedom and a healthy, global scientific collaboration” to addressing “global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.” Tennessee Chinese American Alliance, called for attention to the recent trial of Dr. Anming Hu (United States v. Hu; Case No. 3:20-CR-00021) at Knoxville, Tennessee. Testimonies from the trial have alarmingly revealed the FBI’s violation of Dr. Hu’s civil rights and misconduct during the investigation. [download and link to PDF at https://bit.ly/48Gia0G .] The Human and Scientific Costs of Racial Profiling Must be Heard On February 1, 2021, concerns about racial profiling culminated in a request by an alliance of prominent scientific and civil rights leaders and organizations nationwide for a congressional hearing spearheaded by Susan Lee, Maryland state senator, and Terry Lierman, Co-Chair of the University of Maryland. For a good part of 2021, scholars, think tanks, media, professional and community organizations began to collect data, conducted surveys, analyzed case studies, and reported on their findings, most of them do not support the government’s rhetoric on the China Initiative and instead point to its damaging impact on individuals and communities, open science, and international exchange. The alliance wrote to Jamie Raskin, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and called for an oversight hearing to address the profiling of scientists and scholars of Chinese or Asian descent based on the misguided perception that simply being of Chinese or Asian descent or having ties to China make them prone to espionage. The alliance requested the committee look into the broad sweep of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s counterintelligence efforts and the National Institute of Health’s related actions against scientists of Chinese or Asian descent which have resulted in the loss of their jobs, reputations and devastation of their lives and families, even though they were later proven innocent. Maryland State Senate Majority Whip Susan Lee, whose district includes NIH, stated, “While we strongly support efforts to safeguard America’s interests and prosecute wrongdoers, it would be a grave injustice to target, stereotype, or place under suspicion an entire ethnic group. Many of these patriotic scientists have spent a lifetime of work dedicated to advancing medical breakthroughs which have made America one the global leaders in science and technology. They are a part of the solution to the United States’ global challenges, not a threat.” “The overzealous, broad, unchecked, and overreaching activities fueled by a xenophobic and toxic political climate have not only led to mistakes in investigations or prosecutions and civil rights violations, but also have crippled America’s ability to develop medical innovations that can enhance the quality of and save lives, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic. We need the committee to shine light on any discriminatory policies being employed by those agencies to ensure there is fairness, transparency and accountability,” said Terry Lierman. For decades, international scientific collaborations and exchanges between the United States and foreign academic and research institutions have been strongly encouraged and supported by the NIH and other academic entities, but now, they are being criminalized. “Science - like America itself - thrives on freedom, openness, and inclusiveness - there is no room for discrimination against men and women from China or anywhere else based on nationality," former White House science advisor Dr. Neal F. Lane said. "The PRC Government's rising nationalism and use of its economic clout to influence U.S. universities and society are real and growing, but any U.S. Government response that assumes all students, scientists, and scholars of Chinese descent are potential intelligence risks is unfair and unwise profiling that has no place in our democracy," said Dr. Wallace Loh, former President of the University of Maryland, College Park. To date, Congress has held numerous hearings focused only on the espionage threat, but it has not addressed the civil rights violations of Chinese Americans who have been wrongly targeted or the long term consequences and damages to the American research enterprise and minority communities if this pattern of racial profiling continues. “The Department of Justice launched the ‘China Initiative’ to counter perceived ‘national security threats.’ But the past two years have shown an over-emphasis on national security and an underemphasis on bias. I join others in calling for the end of the ‘China Initiative’,” said Professor Margaret Lewis of Seton Hall University Law School. “We are deeply concerned with the racial profiling and unjust prosecutions of Asian Americans and immigrants by the government,” said John C. Yang, Advancing Justice – AAJC’s President and Executive Director. “This latest wave of xenophobia has instilled fear within our communities as many Chinese Americans and immigrants are once again caught in our country’s long history of suspicion and racial discrimination against Asian Americans. We urge Congress to engage in oversight on this issue by holding a public hearing on this issue.” “Xenophobic targeting and persecution of Chinese Americans is causing irreparable damage not only to the impacted persons and their families, but also creates fear, suspicion, and hate towards the Asian American community. It must stop. It is grossly unjust and unfair to target an entire ethnic group from specific countries,” said Dr. Steven Pei and Dr. Jeremy Wu, Co-Leaders of the APA Justice Task Force. Full Package of Call for Congressional Hearing 2021/02/01 Calling for a Congressional Hearing on Racial Profiling of Asian American and Chinese Scientists Cover and Table of Content Press Release Letter to Rep. Jamie Raskin, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties with Signatories Articles, Letters and Statements from Professional Associations, Organizations and Societies Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity On May 5, 2021, a Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity was organized by the majority and the minority of the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Armed Services (House and Senate). Speakers for the event included: Dr. Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science Mr. Tobin Smith, Vice President for Science Policy & Global Affairs, Association of American Universities Dr. Maria Zuber, Co-Chair, NASEM National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable; Vice President for Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mr. Alexander Bustamante, Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance and Audit Officer, University of California System Mr. Frank Wu, President, Queen’s College, City University of New York Frank Wu’s remarks emphasized three “Cs” that should be promoted and one “C” to be avoided: Consistency of rules and enforcement priorities (among agencies and over time) Clarity of policies Communications to promote compliance (including anti-bias aspects) And not Criminalization Bicameral Coalition Letter Urging DOJ Probe into Racial Profiling On July 29, 2021, Rep. Ted Lieu delivered a bicameral coalition letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for an investigation into the Department of Justice's "repeated, wrongful targeting of individuals of Asian descent for alleged espionage." "Over the years, multiple people who happened to be of Asian descent have been falsely accused by the Department of Justice of espionage," including the false accusations of spying alleged against Wen Ho Lee , Sherry Chen , Xiaoxing Xi , Anming Hu , and many others. "The common thread in every one of these cases was a defendant with an Asian surname — and an innocent life that was turned upside down." "No person should be viewed by our government as more suspicious because of the individual’s race. We thus request an update on the mandated implicit bias training and request an investigation to determine whether the Department of Justice has a written or unwritten policy, program, pattern or practice of using race (or other civil rights classifications such as religion, gender and national origin) in targeting people for arrest, surveillance, security clearance denials or other adverse actions. We also specifically request whether, under the 'China Initiative,' there is a written or unwritten policy, program, pattern or practice to target people based on their race, ethnicity or national origin." Jump to: Overview The Human and Scientific Costs of Racial Profiling Must be Heard Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity Bicameral Letter Urging DOJ Probe into Racial Profiling Following a public campaign led by Maryland State Senator Susan Lee and a coalition in February 2022, Reps. Jamie Raskin and Judy Chu hosted a Democratic Member Roundtable on “Researching while Chinese American: Ethnic Profiling, Chinese American Scientists and a New American Brain Drain” in June 2022. It was the first congressional hearing where the profiling of Chinese American scientists and the damage to American leadership in science and technology were heard. Previous Next 7. Congressional Roundtable on Racial Profiling