528 results found with an empty search
- 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists | APA Justice
2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, December 2, 2020 The second webinar in this series tackling the harms created by the Justice Department’s “China Initiative” will examine the policy reforms needed to protect U.S. science and scientists. Justice Department’s profiling of scientists of Chinese and Asian heritage and criminalizing administrative issues are unjust and discriminatory. It will explore how the Justice Department’sgovernment current actions conflict with existing national policies to promote and protect fundamental scientific research. The government’s over-zealous and xenophobic targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists particularly drive needed scientific talents away from our nation. Speakers will discuss how this racial targeting not only undermines the rights and welfare of many Americans, but also detrimentally impacts American research and enterprise. Our expert panel will discuss constructive policy ideas and changes to ensure U.S. research security and to protect the future of American science and innovation. Previous Item Next Item
- Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" | APA Justice
Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" 2020-2022 China Initiative Thursday, March 17, 2022 On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced an end to the controversial “China Initiative,” and a series of changes to their national security approach to address concerns of profiling of Asian Americans and immigrants lifted up by Advancing Justice - AAJC and other civil rights and academic groups. The Townhall was a space for community members to ask questions about the Department of Justice’s announcement to end the “China Initiative,” what that means, and where we go from here.“ We were joined by representatives from participating organizations and special guests – Margaret Lewis , Xiaoxing Xi , and Frank Wu in their personal capacity. On March 17, 2022, a Community Town Hall was held to discuss the end of the China Initiative. The open forum was not recorded. Previous Item Next Item
- Chinese Exclusion Act | APA Justice
Timeline Visualization of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act Special Thanks to Martin Gold for use of materials from his book: Forbidden Citizens: Chinese Exclusion and the U.S. Congress English version: Chinese version: The first recorded arrival of three Chinese sailors in the U.S. travelled from Canton (now Guangzhou), China on board the ship Pallas to Baltimore, Maryland in August 1785. There is still a neighborhood called Canton in Baltimore today. It was settled and named by the ship's captain. By 1860, the census counted 34,933 Chinese living in California. More than three quarters of them were miners and laborers who first came to the U.S. during the 1848-1855 Gold Rush and then helped built and completed the First Transcontinental Railroad by 1869. Despite their contributions to the American society, these early Chinese arrivals encountered barriers due to their appearance and lifestyle. They were soon deemed incapable of assimilating into American culture and resented as threats to American labor. When economic conditions worsened and unemployment increased in the U.S. in the 1870s, prejudice against Chinese culminated into violence. Various legislations followed, leading to the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, which Iowa Congressman John Kasson described as "one of the most vulgar forms of barbarism." Initially set for a period of ten years, the Chinese Exclusions Act was extended for another ten years in 1892 and then became permanent law in 1902 after five additional Acts to extend and tighten the original law. The final Senate vote in 1902 was 76 yeas and one nay. The lone no vote was cast by Massachusetts's Senator George Frisbie Hoar. Extensions of the Chinese Exclusion Act further excluded Japanese, Koreans, and other Asians. Congress banned all Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens from 1882 to 1943, and stopped most Chinese from even entering the country beginning in 1882. These actions were legal because they were made into laws. They were democratically decided by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Barred from becoming voters, the Chinese had no political recourse against repeated discrimination. After the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943, the immigration quota for Chinese was set at 105 per year. It took another 20 years until the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 allowed more equitable immigration quotas for Asians to move to the U.S. Led by Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus , the House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution expressing regret in 2012 for the passage of discriminatory laws against the Chinese in the U.S., including the Chinese Exclusion Act. Earlier in 2011, a similar resolution sponsored by Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown was unanimously agreed to by the Senate. Unfortunately, history about discriminatory exclusion of Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans may still be in writing at this time. Library of Congress Chinese Exclusion Act 1860-2010 Chinese American Populations Census Bureau Chinese Exclusion Act Read the booklet The 1882 Project
- 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" | APA Justice
1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, September 30, 2020 This is the first of a series of webinars to examine the ramifications of the U.S. Justice Department’s “China Initiative” on the civil rights and security of Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants, and Chinese Nationals working in the U.S., as well as the consequences for the broader American society. The inaugural webinar is designed to provide policy-makers, journalists, attorneys, and community advocates with an overview of the “China Initiative” and the efforts civil rights advocates and the scientific community are making to protect the rights of those investigated and targeted under this discriminatory framework. Previous Item Next Item
- Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform | APA Justice
Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform 2023 FISA Section 702 Monday, June 26, 2023 The U.S. Constitution protects its people against unreasonable searches and seizures. However, under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the U.S. government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of phone calls, text messages, emails, and other electronic communications between Americans and foreigners. Information collected under this law without a warrant can be used to prosecute and imprison people, even for crimes that have nothing to do with national security. Asian Americans, especially Chinese Americans and the immigrant and scientific communities, have been targeted for warrantless surveillance that led to wrongful and unjust prosecutions. They include Temple University Professor Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 and possibly New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺. The current authorization of Section 702 will expire on December 31, 2023. What should the Asian American and immigrant communities know about Section 1 702? If it is not sunset, what reforms will be needed? What are the next steps for the communities? Previous Item Next Item
- 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" | APA Justice
5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, June 23, 2021 On June 16, 2021, a mistrial in Professor Anming Hu’s case was declared after the jury deadlocked and failed to reach a verdict. After two years of failing to find any evidence of economic espionage, federal prosecutors built a case against Professor Hu rooted in racial bias and profiling under the Department of Justice’s “China Initiative.” This is a telling outcome for the first case of a university professor tried under the “China Initiative,” indicating the deep flaws in the investigations, surveillance, and other efforts under this initiative. The defense attorney for Professor Hu will provide a briefing of the trial. Civil rights organizations, the academic community, and local community leaders, who organized activities to support Professor Hu and his family, will speak out on their concerns with the “China Initiative” and the deeply concerning investigation and surveillance of Professor Hu. We will also hear actions being taken by Congress. Previous Item Next Item
- 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present | APA Justice
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. Previous Item Next Item
- A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI | APA Justice
A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI 2024 FBI Dialogue, Hybrid Event Thursday, June 6, 2024 In 2022, the Department of Justice ended its China Initiative — a strategy to counter Chinese espionage and threats to U.S. research security — after academic and civil rights groups raised concerns about bias and damage to the United States' scientific enterprise. Since then, however, reports of border entry issues have increased for Chinese academic researchers and graduate students. This event brings together Jill Murphy, deputy assistant director of counterintelligence at the FBI, and the leadership of the FBI’s Houston field office for a dialogue with members of the academic and Asian American communities. It will examine gaps between federal science and technology policy and its implementation — particularly in the context of law enforcement at the U.S. border. It will also explore the possibility of establishing a regular communication channel between the academic and Asian American communities with FBI field offices. Previous Item Next Item
- 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations | APA Justice
1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations 2025-2026 Global Tensions Local Dimensions Thursday, October 16, 2025 From the ping-pong diplomacy that preceded formal diplomatic ties in the 1970’s to the robust educational exchanges that flourished in the reform era in the 1990’s, people-to-people connections have provided continuity during periods of political tension in the U.S.-China relationship. Yet in today's environment of strategic competition, people-to-people engagements, such as academic partnerships, student exchanges, business networks, and diaspora community ties, are increasingly restricted in the name of national security. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, whose families and networks often span both countries, increasingly find themselves in the crosshairs. This webinar will focus on the past, present, and future of people-to-people ties between the United States and China, as well as the implications for AAPI communities and U.S. policy. At a time of strained U.S.-China ties, and a concurrent rise in incidents of profiling and violence directed toward the AAPI community in the United States, this discussion will explore how U.S. foreign policy intersects with domestic policy and rights. About the Co-Hosts C100 is a nonpartisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, science, and the arts. Founded in 1990 by I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 and other distinguished leaders, C100 works to advance the full participation of Chinese Americans in U.S. society and to foster constructive dialogue between the United States and Greater China. As Cindy noted, global interactions have direct consequences for AAPI communities at home. USCET , founded in 1998 by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch 張之香 , is a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit dedicated to promoting mutual understanding between the United States and China through education and exchange. USCET strengthens American Studies in China, supports professional development for educators, and creates dialogue among students, scholars, and policymakers. Rosie noted that USCET’s first-ever public statement was issued to express concern over proposed restrictions on international student visas. APA Justice , advocate of over 10 years for fairness, equity, and justice for Asian Americans and beyond, is also a co-host of this series. Event Recap: Commitee of 100 U.S.-China Education Trust Previous Item Next Item
- Webinars (List) | APA Justice
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
- Webinars New (List) | APA Justice
All Webinars 2020-2022 China Initiative A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI Watch 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Watch China Initiative: Past and Present 中国行动的前世今生 Watch 1. From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Watch 2. Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community Watch 1. A Call to Stop Senate Bill 147 and All Alien Land Laws Watch 2. Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 Watch Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform Watch Reflecting on Prof. Gang Chen’s Case & Looking Ahead to the Future of the China Initiative Watch 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Watch 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Watch 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Watch 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Watch 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Watch Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Watch 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Watch 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Watch 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Watch 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Watch 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Watch Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Watch Webinars
- #366 12/1 Meeting; Giving Tuesday; Yanping Chen; Internatonal Students; CAIR Sues; US Data+
Newsletter - #366 12/1 Meeting; Giving Tuesday; Yanping Chen; Internatonal Students; CAIR Sues; US Data+ #366 12/1 Meeting; Giving Tuesday; Yanping Chen; Internatonal Students; CAIR Sues; US Data+ In This Issue #366 · 2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Giving Tuesday - Consider APA Justice · Herridge Petition in Yanping Chen v FBI et al · International Students Drop | Serica Storytellers · CAIR Sues Texas Officials Over Terror Group Designation · The U.S. Needs Better Data · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, December 1, 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: · Kin Yan Hui , National President, Chinese American Citizens Alliance · Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Edgar Chen , Special Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) 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 . *****The American Civil Liberties Union is an American nonprofit civil rights organization founded in 1920. Patrick Toomey works on issues related to privacy and surveillance, racial and ethnic discrimination, and the use of novel technologies like artificial intelligence. His litigation and advocacy often focus on national security prosecutions or policies where these issues intersect. Patrick has litigated high-profile cases challenging sweeping surveillance programs operated by U.S. intelligence agencies, and has represented Asian American scientists who have been wrongly investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. government. Patrick returns to provide updates on recent ACLU activities.The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), "The Voice for 80,000 AANHPI Legal Professionals," held its annual convention on November 6-8, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. On November 25, 2025, NAPABA issued a joint statement with local affiliates in response to the Eleventh Circuit split decision upholding Florida’s discriminatory Alien Land Law SB264. As Senior Advisor for NAPABA, Edgar Chen returns to update us on the latest from NAPABA. Giving Tuesday - Consider APA Justice GivingTuesday is an annual global day of generosity that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It serves as a counterpoint to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday by encouraging people to donate to charities, volunteer their time, or perform acts of kindness. Created in 2012, the movement has grown into a large-scale effort that raises billions of dollars for nonprofits and fosters a spirit of giving back. APA Justice has been advancing fairness, equity, and belonging for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for the past 10 years. We identify emerging issues through coalition work, community engagement, and data insights. We educate policymakers and allies through media collaboration, an online resource hub, and regular briefings. And we mobilize communities to advocate for practical solutions and stronger civic participation.Your support strengthens civil rights protections, elevates AAPI voices, and helps build a more inclusive America. Now, as a powered by the Committee of 100 initiative, APA Justice invites you to make a tax-deductible contribution to sustain this work at: https://bit.ly/Donate2APAJustice . Herridge Petition in Yanping Chen v FBI et al On November 14, 2025, former journalist Catherine Herridge filed a petition with the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in the case of Yanping Chen v FBI et al . Herridge was previously held in civil contempt for refusing to identify the confidential sources she used in Fox News reports about a counterintelligence investigation into Dr. Yanping Chen —an investigation that never resulted in any charges. Dr. Chen alleges that federal officials unlawfully leaked her private information to Herridge in violation of the Privacy Act. Herridge was held in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her confidential sources in a Privacy Act lawsuit filed by Dr. Yanping Chen against federal agencies, including the FBI. Dr. Chen alleged that federal officials leaked her private information to Herridge, which was used in Fox News reports about a counterespionage investigation into Dr. Chen, who was never charged for any wrongdoing. Herridge invoked the First Amendment reporter’s privilege to protect her sources, but the District Court ruled that Dr. Chen had met the criteria to overcome the privilege, citing the centrality of the information and exhaustion of alternative sources. Herridge appealed. The three-judge panel of the Appeals Court affirmed the District Court’s decision with a 3-0 ruling, stating that the reporter’s privilege can be overcome in Privacy Act cases when centrality and exhaustion are established.Herridge has now petitioned for a rehearing by the three-judge panel and rehearing en banc by the entire Appeals Court in the DC Circuit. To learn more about the case, read th e summary of the November 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting led by Dr. Chen's attorney Andrew Phillips and the APA Justice web page on Dr. Chen . International Students Drop | Serica Storytellers According to NBC News on November 17, 2025, U.S. colleges and universities experienced a steep 17% decline in new international enrollment for fall 2025 amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.New data from the Institute of International Education confirms this is the largest non-pandemic drop in more than a decade and follows a 7% decrease the previous academic year. More than half of the 825 surveyed institutions reported declines, with 96% citing visa application problems as a major obstacle. Fanta Aw , CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said visa delays and denials have made the U.S. “less competitive” globally, noting that “the U.S. is no longer the central place that students aspire to come to.” She also pointed to the Trump administration’s pause of new student visa interviews in May, which created severe backlogs.The downturn carries significant economic consequences. NAFSA estimates a $1.1 billion loss to the U.S. economy this year due to fewer international students. Last year, international students contributed nearly $43 billion and supported more than 355,000 U.S. jobs by spending on tuition, housing, services, insurance, and local goods. On December 2, 2025, the Serica Initiative will co-host an in-person event with David Wu , President, Baruch College, CUNY, and Frank Wu , President, Queens College, CUNY. As federal visa policies evolve, international students at City University of New York (CUNY) campuses face growing uncertainty. This timely conversation explores how student visa revocations are reshaping New York’s educational landscape. The panel delves into how immigration policy shifts ripple across classrooms, immigrant communities, and the city’s public higher education system — and how institutions can better advocate for and support affected students. The event will be moderated by Joan Kaufman , Senior Director for Academic Programs, the Schwarzman Scholars Program, and held at Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY, 219 W 40th St 3rd floor, New York, NY 10018. For more information and registration, please visit: https://bit.ly/47RWYHn CAIR Sues Texas Officials Over Terror Group Designation On November 20, 2025, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Legal Fund of America filed a lawsuit, Council on American-Islamic Relations Texas Dallas Fort Worth v. Abbott (1:25-cv-01878) , in the U.S. District Court for West Texas against Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton over Abbott’s proclamation designating CAIR as a foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organization on November 18. The designation prevents CAIR from acquiring property in Texas and imposes civil and criminal penalties, which the plaintiffs argue harm their advocacy work, fundraising, and reputation. CAIR argues in the lawsuit that Abbott acted to defame the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR contends that the proclamation violates constitutional rights, including protections for property and free speech, and strongly rejects Abbott’s characterization of CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist” and “transnational criminal” organizations. The lawsuit also notes that CAIR condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, contradicting Abbott’s allegations that CAIR’s executive director “publicly praised and supported” the attack. According to The Guardian , only the U.S. Secretary of State can officially designate foreign terrorist organizations under federal law. Abbott’s proclamation is tied to his broader efforts in Texas related to “foreign adversaries” and land restrictions. It bars CAIR members from purchasing land in Texas and allows Paxton to sue entities linked to CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood, but it does not carry federal immigration consequences, asset freezes, or criminal penalties. Abbott justified the designation by citing a 2007 case involving CAIR and the Holy Land Foundation; CAIR was never indicted and has denied the allegations.According to The Guardian , only the U.S. secretary of state can officially designate foreign terrorist organizations under federal law. Abbott’s proclamation is tied to his broader efforts in Texas related to “foreign adversaries” and land restrictions. It bars CAIR members from purchasing land in Texas and allows Paxton to sue entities linked to CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood, but it does not carry federal immigration consequences, asset freezes, or criminal penalties. Lena Masri , CAIR’s Litigation Director, said the lawsuit is “our first step toward defeating Governor Abbott again so that our nation protects free speech and due process for all Americans.” She warned, “No civil rights organization is safe if a governor can baselessly and unilaterally declare any of them terrorist groups, ban them from buying land, and threaten them with closure.” Several Republican officials previously called for an investigation into CAIR’s funding. CAIR has won three prior cases challenging Abbott’s alleged First Amendment violations. · 2025/11/20 Politico: CAIR Sues Texas Officials over Terror Group Designation · 2025/11/20 Houston Chronicle: Muslim civil rights group CAIR sues Greg Abbott over 'unconstitutional' terrorist designation · 2025/11/18 The Guardian: Texas governor Abbott designates Cair and Muslim Brotherhood terrorist groups · 2025/11/18 New York Times: Texas Governor Declares Muslim Civil Rights Group a ‘Terrorist Organization’ · 2025/11/18 Washington Post: Texas governor declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization The U.S. Needs Better Data According to Barron's on November 22, 2025, good data matter more than ever in a complicated world, and the U.S. is falling behind.The recent 43-day government shutdown exposed how essential—and fragile—America’s federal statistical system has become. When agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics stopped collecting and publishing key indicators, policymakers, businesses, and investors were left without reliable information on unemployment, inflation, retail sales, and more. Although critics have questioned data accuracy in recent years, the shutdown made clear that federal statistics remain the “gold standard.” Yet this gold standard is eroding due to shrinking budgets, declining survey participation, and significant staff losses, all of which lead to larger revisions and slower, less reliable reporting.Part of the challenge lies in structural limitations: much of U.S. economic data still relies on labor-intensive surveys of businesses and households, even as response rates fall and the economy evolves more rapidly. While private firms now generate high-frequency, real-time data—ranging from digital payments to satellite imagery—federal agencies have been slow to adopt these sources due to cost, technical barriers, and the difficulty of processing large, unstructured datasets. Still, promising efforts exist. The Chicago Fed, for example, has blended traditional government data with private-sector sources to provide more timely labor and retail indicators that closely track official statistics.Looking ahead, experts argue that the U.S. needs a more modern, collaborative, and better-funded statistical system. Solutions include expanding blended-data approaches, adopting standardized employer records like those piloted by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, and even consolidating major statistical units into a single national statistics agency—something every other G-7 country already has. Although America’s decentralized system offers some protections against data manipulation, the growing risks of outdated, incomplete, or delayed information are becoming too large to ignore. With the economy and population shifting quickly, safeguarding and enhancing the nation’s data infrastructure is essential for informed decisions by policymakers, businesses, and the public. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/12/01 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing - Estate of Jane Wu v Northwestern University2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/12/02 Serica Storytellers: The Presidents | David Wu & Frank Wu2025/12/08 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Alice Young2026/01/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations 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 November 28, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter
