Newsletter - #335 Today’s Monthly Meeting; Ohio Alien Land Bills; Chinese Student Visas; Fulbright Finalists Disqualified #335 Today’s Monthly Meeting; Ohio Alien Land Bills; Chinese Student Visas; Fulbright Finalists Disqualified In This Issue #335 · Today’s APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Ohio Lawmakers and Community Members Speak Out Against Alien Land Bills Introduced · Organizations Outraged by Trump Administration Move to Revoke Chinese Student Visas · Trump Administration Disqualified Finalists in Fulbright Selection Process for Being Related to DEI and Climate Change · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, June 2, 2025 , starting at 1:55 pm ET . In addition to updates by Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Jiny Kim , Vice President of Policy and Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited speakers are: · Judy Chu , Member, U.S. House of Representatives; Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Ya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Juanita Brent , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Aki Maehara , Professor, Historian, East Los Angeles College · Christina Ku and Gerald Ohn, Co-Founders, Asian American Civil Rights League · Brian Sun , Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright · David Inoue , Executive Director; Larry Oda , Chair Emeritus; Gary Nakamura, Vice President, Japanese American Citizens League · Manjusha Kulkarni , Co-Founder, Stop AAPI Hate The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Ohio Lawmakers and Community Members Speak Out Against Alien Land Bills Introduced Earlier this year, the Ohio General Assembly introduced bills to restrict foreign property ownership. The House Bill ( HB1 ) was introduced on January 23, and the Senate Bill ( SB88 ) was introduced on February 10, and both were referred to the respective committees within a few days. The house bill number (1) seems to signify its importance, and the senate bill number (88) was said to be a snub at the number eight, which many in Asian countries deem as a fortunate number. The two bills have a similar text for the most part, which is to ban individuals, businesses, and governments of "a foreign adversary" from owning agricultural land from buying property within a 25-mile radius of military bases, airports, and "critical infrastructure", in the name of protecting national security. The Senate bill has additional restrictions that include forcing a current owner to sell their property at its original price. The Asian community raised alarm in May over the proposed bills and quickly mobilized members to participate in committee hearings and voice their concerns. Lawmakers in the Ohio General Assembly also expressed unease, introducing amendments aimed at narrowing the scope of the bills and reducing potential harm. Primary concerns include racial profiling and the targeting of Asian Americans, particularly those of Chinese descent, as well as the disturbing echoes of some of the darkest chapters in American history, such as California's 1913 Alien Land Law , the Chinese Exclusion Act , and the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. As of May 27, the Ohio HB1 received testimonies from 11 Proponents, 68 Opponents, and three (3) Interested Parties, and the Ohio SB88 received testimonies from four (4) Proponents, 231 Opponents, and eight (8) Interested Parties. · Columbus Dispatch : Opponents call Ohio property sales ban 'racist,' 'discriminatory' · Ohio Capital Journal : Hundreds push back against bill prohibiting foreign nationals from buying property in Ohio · WBNS/10TV (CBS affiliate): Asian American community voices concerns over Ohio bills targeting foreign nationals · State House News Bureau (NPR affiliate): A bill would bar Ohio land buys by businesses and immigrants from some countries · WKYC-TV Cleveland (NBC affiliate): Asian American community voices concerns over Ohio bills targeting foreign nationals · Toledo Blade : Ohioans of Asian descent fight ban on property sales to ‘foreign adversaries’ Organizations Outraged by Trump Administration Move to Revoke Chinese Student Visas The Trump Administration is "aggressively revoking" Visas for Chinese students According to the Associated Press , New York Times , and others, the Trump administration announced this week that it would begin "aggressively revoking" visas for Chinese students, including those allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or those studying in unspecified "critical fields." Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement Wednesday evening, adding that the State Department was revising visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of future applications from China, including those from Hong Kong. The move has sent shockwaves across U.S. universities, which collectively host over 275,000 students from China, making them the second-largest group of international students after India. Administrators, professors, and students expressed concerns that the lack of clarity about the policy’s scope, especially how “ties to the CCP” and “critical fields" are defined, will generate confusion and anxiety on campuses. Critics argue the visa crackdown could damage America’s scientific and technological competitiveness. “Shutting the door on Chinese students doesn’t just betray our values — it weakens our leadership in science, technology, and innovation,” said former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke. Universities have long relied on international students for both talent and tuition revenue. “I think it is terribly misguided, counterproductive, and another way in which we are shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University. Reactions from Organizations to the Announcement about Revoking Chinese Student Visas On May 28, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a statement expressing concerns, “The wholesale revocation of student visas based on national origin — and without an investigation — is xenophobic and wrong,” and “turning these students away —many of whom simply wish to learn in a free and democratic society — is not just shortsighted but a betrayal of our values.” On May 29, Advancing Justice I AAJC called Rubio’s announcement “another blow to international students and academia.” The organization condemned the policy as rooted in “fearmongering, racial profiling, and xenophobia,” and said, “exclusionary and discriminatory policies based on stereotypes rarely address actual national security concerns,” “fuel prejudice and unfair targeting of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans” and “have destroyed lives and careers and negatively impacted our country’s competitiveness in global innovation.” In the Asian American Scholar Forum ’s statement, Executive Director Gisela Perez Kusakawa said, “This policy threatens to dismantle the international talent pipeline that has long fueled American innovation and excellence…Treating them with blanket suspicion not only violates principles of fairness, due process, and our democratic values—it sends a chilling message to the world that America no longer welcomes global talent.” The Committee of 100 denounced the visa policy announcement. “This new visa policy will adversely and profoundly affect our colleges and universities, research institutions, scientific discovery, and startups in ways we have yet to fully comprehend,” said Gary Locke, Chair of the Committee of 100 and former U.S. Ambassador to China. U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET) criticized the policy as overly broad, discriminatory, and harmful to American soft power. It warned that the new visa policy “fails to distinguish between individuals who pose genuine risks and those simply seeking educational opportunities,” and “beyond undermining core American values of fairness and openness, these measures pose significant risks to U.S. economic competitiveness, soft power, and long-term diplomatic stability.” USCET said education remains the United States’ single largest service export to China, with spending by Chinese students reaching $14.4 billion USD in 2023 and creating 143,000 US jobs. Trump Administration Disqualified Finalists in Fulbright Selection Process for Being Related to DEI and Climate Change On May 29, Inside Higher Ed reported that the Trump administration staged an unprecedented intervention in this year’s Fulbright selection process, rejecting finalists whose research deals with race, gender, or climate change. The Fulbright Commission of Norway selected 17 finalists for this year’s US Fulbright Program , a prestigious academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. State Department and received approval from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) in January, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent an internal department cable requesting an additional step for the scholarship’s review process, which historically has entailed an initial project review by the Institute of International Education, a secondary review by a panel in the host country and final approval from the FFSB. The State Department ultimately nixed seven of the 17 finalists Norway selected — about 40 percent of their expected Fulbright cohort. The grounds for their rejections were “clearly political,” said Curt Rice , director of the Fulbright Commission of Norway; he said the finalists whose acceptances were overruled all had proposals that dealt with either diversity or climate change. “There is almost no precedent for them to change a list of finalists sent by a host country,” Rice concluded. News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/05/29 U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee - 25 Years Later2025/06/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/06/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/06/03 The Second Annual State of the Science Address2025/06/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/06/15-18 2025 Applied Statistics Symposium2025/06/16-24 Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area2025/06/29-30 2025 ICSA China ConferenceVisit 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 June 2, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #297 12/11 Webinar - Ted Lieu; Gene Wu; Andy Kim; New CAPAC Leadership; AAJC #297 12/11 Webinar - Ted Lieu; Gene Wu; Andy Kim; New CAPAC Leadership; AAJC In This Issue #297 · Ted Lieu to Deliver Remarks at Tomorrow's Land Ownership Webinar · Gene Wu Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Caucus · Andy Kim Sworn in as U.S. Senator for New Jersey · CAPAC Elected New Leadership · AAJC Calls for Sign-on to Open Letter on Select Committee on CCP · News and Activities for the Communities Ted Lieu to Deliver Remarks at Tomorrow's Land Ownership Webinar U.S. Representative Ted W. Lieu 刘云平 will deliver the opening remarks at the webinar co-hosted by the Committee of 100 and APA Justice titled " The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities " on December 11, 2024. On November 19, 2024, Rep. Lieu was reelected as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the fourth-highest position in House Democratic leadership. Lieu is a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired from the Reserve with the rank of Colonel. As a legislator, Lieu has established himself as a leader on artificial intelligence; the environment; cybersecurity; civil liberties; foreign affairs and veterans. As the highest-ranking Asian American in Congress, Lieu continues to champion policies promoting equity, justice, and inclusion.Register to attend the webinar today: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p WHAT : From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities WHEN: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar WHAT: Historically discriminatory policies are reemerging in state legislatures across the U.S. Originally designed to prevent non-citizens, particularly those from AAPI communities, from owning property, these laws are now being reframed as safeguards to national security. This webinar will discuss whether these laws properly address national security concerns or whether they are merely a pretext that infringes upon civil rights and liberties under the guise of protection. A panel of legal experts and advocates will delve into the history of alien land laws, examine their renewed impact on vulnerable communities and discuss key cases, including a bill recently introduced in Florida. This event is essential for anyone committed to upholding justice and equity in America. To learn more about current land ownership exclusion legislations, visit Committee of 100’s interactive map , which details specific bills, status, and text. Also, visit APA Justice Alien Land Bills webpage for the latest developments on current lawsuits challenging these laws and more. HOSTS: Committee of 100, APA Justice Moderator: Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100 Opening Remarks: Ted Lieu, U.S. Representative (CA-36), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Speakers: · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Gene Wu , Chair of Texas House Democratic Caucus Closing Remarks: Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice; Member, Committee of 100 REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p Gene Wu Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Caucus On December 4, 2024, the Texas House Democratic Caucus (HDC) elected Rep. Gene Wu (吴元之) as their new chair. Gene Wu has been representing District 137 in the Texas House of Representatives since 2013. He is known for his support of immigration, family and minority groups including Asians and Pacific Islanders, Blacks, and Hispanics. Rep. Gene Wu was the first legislator who brought the alien land laws to the attention of the public nationwide. He will speak at the webinar on " The impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities " on December 11, 2024. A dedicated advocate for the Asian Pacific American community in Texas and across the nation, Gene Wu regularly holds town hall meetings and travels nationwide, urging the community to confront the rising threat of anti-Asian legislation at both the state and federal levels. His 26-slide presentation offers a concise overview of the historical anti-Asian issue in the U.S., tracing its roots from the founding of the United States to the "China Week" in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2024. He also presented this issue during his town hall meeting on September 29, 2024: https://bit.ly/3XN7Ujm (49:37). · Texas Tribune: Houston Rep. Gene Wu to lead Texas House Democrats through GOP-dominated legislative session · Houston Chronicle: Houston Rep. Gene Wu chosen as next Democratic leader in Texas House · Houston Public Media: Houston Rep. Gene Wu elected Chair of Texas House Democratic Caucus · Chron: Houston’s Gene Wu elected Texas House Democratic leader in surprise move Andy Kim Sworn in as U.S. Senator for New Jersey On December 8, 2024, Senator-elect Andy Kim was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Phil Murphy , allowing him to assume office ahead of his elected term beginning on January 3, 2025. The appointment followed Kim’s certification by the Board of State Canvassers as the winner of the Senate race to succeed Bob Menendez . Kim was sworn in on Monday, December 9, 2024, becoming New Jersey’s newest senator.In a brief speech on the Senate floor, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) welcomed Kim, who he called “one of the most respected and admired members of the House Democratic caucus, where his talent was only matched by his decency.” “Today, I am appointing Senator-elect Andy Kim to the United States Senate so he can begin his term in office before the new year begins,” Murphy said in an official statement. “Taking this step will allow Senator Kim to embark on the smoothest possible transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running serving the people of New Jersey,” Murphy said. Senator Kim expressed gratitude for the opportunity: “It’s an honor to get to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate. It’s a dream that remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors, and one that I’m ready on day one to fight for. I want to thank Governor Murphy and Senator [George] Helmy for ensuring that New Jersey was well represented during this transition, and look forward to getting to work for the people.” On November 18, 2024, Senator-elect Kim addressed the APA Justice monthly meeting. He expressed gratitude to APA Justice for its efforts in addressing anti-Asian hate and discrimination and highlighted the challenges of creating a secure and inclusive environment for all, referencing his personal concerns for his children and elderly parents. Kim emphasized the importance of building coalitions to combat hate and discrimination in all forms, including policies like the China Initiative, which he described as fear-mongering. He pledged to continue fighting these issues in his role as a U.S. Senator and called on others to join him in these efforts. A summary of the November 18 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Read the New Jersey Monitor report : https://bit.ly/3ZJDxfD and Governor Murphy's statement: https://bit.ly/4g6niz0 . CAPAC Elected New Leadership On December 4, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) announced its leadership for the 119th Congress. Rep. Judy Chu ( 赵美心 , CA-28) transitions to Chair Emeritus. The newly elected leadership includes · Rep. Grace Meng ( 孟昭文 , NY-06), Chair · Rep. Mark Takano ( 高野马克 , CA-39), First Vice-Chair · Rep. Jill Tokuda ( 德田吉尔 , HI-02), Second Vice-Chair · Rep. Ami Bera , M.D. (CA-06), Whip · Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Freshman Representative APA Justice and other organizations issued statements reacting positively about the new leadership. · CAPAC Announces Newly Elected Leadership for the 119th Congress · APA Justice Applauds New CAPAC Leadership · APAICS Applauds Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Election as CAPAC Chair · NBC News: Rep. Grace Meng to lead congressional Asian caucus, replacing longtime chair Judy Chu · AsAm News: Grace Meng will lead congressional Asian caucus AAJC Calls for Sign-on to Open Letter on Select Committee on CCP Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC is preparing to send an open letter to House leadership, opposing the reauthorization of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (Select Committee). This letter is born out of concern that the harmful and targeted policies supported by the Select Committee—including the revival of the DOJ’s China Initiative as well as various iterations of land laws— will only continue to ratchet up anti-Asian sentiment in the 119th Congress.To read the open letter and sign on, interested organizations are asked to complete this form: https://bit.ly/4950dKv News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/12/10 National Immigration Inclusion Conference 2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Laws2024/12/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit 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 APA Justice website at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF December 10, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #282 Combating New McCarthyism; AASF Forum With NIH; Dr. Zhijian "James" Chen; More #282 Combating New McCarthyism; AASF Forum With NIH; Dr. Zhijian "James" Chen; More In This Issue #282 · AIP: House Pushes to Resurrect China Initiative · AASF Forum with the National Institutes of Health · Dr. Zhijian “James” Chen Wins “America’s Nobel” · News and Activities for the Communities AIP: House Pushes to Resurrect China Initiative According to the American Institute of Physics (AIP) on September 18, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to reinstate the Justice Department’s China Initiative under a new name. The bill known as H.R. 1398 passed on a vote of 237-180, with support from 214 Republicans and 23 Democrats.The legislation is unlikely to advance in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where the companion bill has only Republican cosponsors. In addition, the White House issued a statement strongly opposing the bill, stating it “could give rise to incorrect and harmful public perceptions that DOJ applies a different standard to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to the Chinese people or to American citizens of Chinese descent.”Rising in opposition to the bill, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) said that resurrecting the “misguided” China Initiative would represent a “clear step backwards.”“The China Initiative did not just waste valuable resources. If you were a person of Chinese descent working in American higher education, you were a suspect,” said Nadler, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. “Rather than keeping America safe, the China Initiative divided workplaces, ruined careers, and contributed to anti-Asian hate at the height of the pandemic,” he added.Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, also took to the House floor in opposition to the bill. She described the China Initiative as “the new McCarthyism,” referring to fears of communist influence in the U.S. during the Cold War that were stoked by Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI). “McCarthyism had deadly effects in the 1950s and so does the China Initiative, harming our country’s competitive edge by casting a chilling effect on our academic community,” Chu said. “While we all want to stop American secrets from being stolen, investigations should be based on evidence of criminal activity, not race and ethnicity.” “This bill would essentially re-establish the DOJ’s harmful and ineffective China Initiative, in all but name,” said Joanna Derman , director of anti-racial profiling, civil rights, and national security for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, in an email. “Instead of reviving a program that we know led to the racial profiling of Asian immigrant and Asian American scientists, we should be discussing policy solutions that would actually attract and retain top talent in critical STEM fields,” Derman continued. Last week’s vote is not the first time that the House has attempted to reinstate the China Initiative — a similar provision is in the House’s appropriations bill for DOJ. Various advocacy groups representing Asian Americans, such as the Asian American Scholar Forum and Stop AAPI Hate, have called for Congress to remove the provision from the final version of the appropriations bill.AIP is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of physics and related disciplines. Founded in 1931, it serves as a federation of scientific societies, supporting the physics community through a variety of initiatives, including publications, advocacy, education, and outreach.Read the AIP report: https://bit.ly/47yU0FU . Read the White House statement: https://bit.ly/3XvIXJ1 What is McCarthyism? McCarthyism refers to a period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States during the early Cold War, particularly in the late 1940s and 1950s. Named after Senator Joseph McCarthy , it is characterized by widespread accusations of communist infiltration in American institutions, often without substantial evidence. The movement targeted government officials, entertainment industry figures, educators, and union leaders, among others, accusing them of being Soviet sympathizers or communist spies. McCarthyism led to investigations by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and loyalty tests for federal employees. Many individuals lost their jobs, were blacklisted from industries (especially in Hollywood), or faced public shaming. The era also created a climate of fear and repression, where dissenting political views were suppressed.The term "McCarthyism" now broadly refers to the practice of making baseless accusations or using unfair investigative methods to suppress dissent and stoke public fear. The movement began to collapse in 1954 after McCarthy's own credibility was questioned during the televised Army-McCarthy hearings. The famous moment during the hearings came when Joseph Welch , an attorney for the Army, confronted McCarthy with the line, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" This marked a turning point in public opinion against McCarthy, leading to his censure by the U.S. Senate, and the eventual end of the era.McCarthyism left a lasting impact on American politics and culture, often viewed as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political persecution and mass hysteria.Watch the PBS video clip "Have You No Decency?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svUyYzzv6VI (5:46) Book Chapter on New Red Scare The FBI has a long history of surveillance of ethnic Chinese scientists in the United States. McCarthyism, the Economic Espionage Act, and more recently the China Initiative were initiatives adversely impacting Chinese and Chinese Americans living in the U.S. The stereotypes of Asian and Chinese scientists as “disloyal” stem from the perpetual foreigner trope. The key here is that most of them were U.S. citizens. They are as much an American as any other American, yet their “loyalty” is perceived as less trustworthy. This stereotype has harmful, life-altering consequences.Read this and other chapters from the book Communicated Stereotypes at Work by Anastacia Kurylo (Editor, Contributor), Yifeng Hu (Editor, Contributor), Wilfredo Alvarez (Contributor), & 29 more. ASIN:B0CSK2PGY3. Lexington Books (May 15, 2024) Opinion on Don't Bring "China Initiative" Back and More Statements On September 19, 2024, The Hill published an opinion by Mike German, senior fellow in the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program and a former FBI special agent. According to the opinion, allies of Donald Trump aim to revive the China Initiative, a failed Trump-era program targeting economic espionage by Chinese agents, which led to racial profiling and harm to U.S. science. The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 proposes its return, while Congress recently passed a bill to rebrand it as the "CCP Initiative."Originally launched in 2018, the China Initiative became a tool for targeting Chinese and Asian American researchers, rather than catching spies, leading to a chilling effect on scientific research. Although FBI Director Christopher Wray claimed widespread China-related misconduct, most investigations did not result in espionage convictions, instead focusing on minor administrative offenses.Read The Hill opinion by Mike German: https://bit.ly/47yBPQI Read more statements condemning the revival of the China Initiative:2024/09/20 1990 Institute: The 1990 Institute condemns H.R.1398, legislation that reestablishes the China Initiative 2024/09/18 AAASE: Open Letter to Congress 2024/09/18 OCA: OCA Condemns Measures Fueling Xenophobia and Discrimination 2024/09/09 ACE: Letter to House Leaders AASF Forum with the National Institutes of Health On September 19, the Asian American Scholars Forum (AASF) hosted a public forum with leadership from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The speakers included NIH Director Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli and NIH Principal Deputy Director Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak . AASF Executive Director Gisela Kusakawa moderated the forum. In her opening remarks, Dr. Bertagnolli acknowledged the valuable contributions of Asian scholars to the U.S. scientific community and reaffirmed NIH's commitment to building relationships with Asian scholars to address the most challenging research challenges in health sciences collaboratively. Dr. Bertagnolli expressed deep concern over the fallout that the U.S. government’s efforts to address troubling actions from China have had on Asian scholars and the difficulties they face. She stated, "We are here to tell you: we hear you, and we see you. We are ready to work together with you as partners in a productive manner."Kusakawa asked about Dr. Bertagnolli’s vision for NIH in the future, and how NIH can create a warm and welcoming environment to protect and empower Asian scholars. Dr. Bertagnolli highlighted that one of NIH’s strengths is its inclusiveness, which brings together the best scientists from diverse backgrounds to address cutting-edge scientific challenges. She noted that ensuring that Asian scholars feel welcome in this environment is crucial. She also noted that rebuilding trust in NIH among Asian scholars, especially those who have lost confidence in the government and NIH, remains an ongoing effort.Dr. Bertagnolli listed a number of steps to make Asian American scholars feel included and welcomed at NIH. She said that today’s forum was aimed at clearing up misunderstandings, and listening to the voices of Asian scholars. She also said NIH will provide more training on research integrity, use new disclosure forms, and explain NIH’s new policy matrix, which further clarifies NIH’s response to foreign adverse influence. She thanked Asian American organizations including AASF for their input in developing these policies. Kusakawa mentioned the recent passage of a bill in the House of Representatives attempting to reinstate the China Initiative and asked how NIH handles political pressure while protecting Asian scholars from excessive scrutiny and maintaining the integrity of NIH research. Dr. Bertagnolli said this was a very important question and emphasized that, regardless of the political climate, NIH remains committed to ensuring the quality and integrity of the research it funds. These policies, on the one hand, are a responsibility to taxpayers and, on the other, help protect researchers from undue foreign influence, which has long been a core principle of NIH policy, well understood by researchers.Dr. Bertagnolli specifically emphasized that, in 2022, NIH began updating its Policies & Procedures for Promoting Scientific Integrity in response to a presidential memorandum. Dr. Bertagnolli reiterated that maintaining research integrity and protecting it from harmful foreign influence has always been NIH’s policy.During the subsequent session, NIH Principal Deputy Director Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak continued to answer questions from AASF. In his responses, Dr. Tabak denied that NIH specifically targeted Chinese researchers based on their ethnicity and stressed that NIH’s investigations targeted certain behaviors that potentially violate the agency’s policy, not focused on individuals. He clarified two additional misunderstandings: first, that NIH is not involved in the now-defunct Department of Justice's China Initiative; and second, that NIH does not have the authority to stop research funding to an institution or university due to the actions of an individual.Dr. Tabak also mentioned that while NIH does not have the power to suggest actions to members of Congress proactively, it always cooperates when lawmakers request technical explanations and support. NIH can use these opportunities to clarify relevant issues to legislators and educate them on specific issues. Kusakawa further raised the issue of how to overcome the underrepresentation of Asian scholars in leadership positions. Dr. Tabak explained that NIH’s previous approach was to train senior researchers with the hope that they would move into leadership roles. Now, however, they have begun training younger researchers hoping to address the problem more effectively.Finally, Dr. Tabak praised the work of organizations like AASF. He stated that NIH looks forward to collaborating with AASF and universities to strengthen connections with Asian scholars. More than 600 people registered for the forum, and over 60 questions were submitted. The record of this event will be available publicly. Juan Zhang , editor at US-China Perception Monitor, contributed this report. Comments and Questions Submitted by APA Justice APA Justice submitted the following comments and questions for the AASF Forum with NIH:"Dr. Bertagnolli’s recent statement was an important first step. The forum is another positive step to repair relationships and rebuild trust."While it is important to turn the page and move forward, it is equally essential to reflect on what went wrong and the lessons learned from all sides over the past six years—particularly with the looming threat of a China Initiative revival."Over the past six years, both intended and unintended consequences have emerged. Hundreds if not thousands of researchers, an overwhelming proportion of them were of Chinese origin, were placed under suspicion, surveilled, investigated, or prosecuted—many of them continue to this day. More than 100 scientists and researchers lost their jobs and had their reputation and finances ruined. At least two prominent Chinese American researchers—one from Northwestern University and another from Arizona State University—died by suicide, reportedly as a result of inquiries or investigations initiated by the NIH."Does the NIH believe all these scientists and researchers were treated fairly and justly? Will the NIH conduct a review of some, if not all, of these cases to assess the fairness of the process and hearing of their appeals? Will the NIH work with institutions, faculty, and the Asian American and scientific communities to establish a consistent due process framework, ensuring that the accused have a fair opportunity to refute charges and defend themselves?" Dr. Zhijian “James” Chen Wins “America’s Nobel” According to Forbes , South China Morning Post , and multiple media on September 19, 2024, Dr. Zhijian “James” Chen 陈志坚 won the 2024 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, which is also known as "America's Nobel."Dr. Chen is Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of the Center for Inflammation Research at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center and the George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science. He was recognized for his discovery of the cGAS enzyme that senses pathogens like viruses and bacteria and triggers the body’s immune system. His work provides clues for new treatments of cancer and other diseases.“Dr. Chen’s research has elucidated the process by which our bodies fight off invasive pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and other microbes, through the detection of wayward intracellular nucleic acids. Insights into this signaling pathway provide a foundation for new approaches to the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases as well as vaccine development,” said Daniel K. Podolsky , M.D., President of UTSW. Shan-Lu Liu , a professor of virology at Ohio State University, also said that Dr. Chen's discovery had "opened new avenues" for understanding autoimmune diseases. "Dr Chen's work not only enhances our understanding of immune mechanisms, but also provides potential strategies for treating diseases linked to immune dysregulation," Dr. Liu said.Dr. Chen is the fourth UTSW faculty member to win a Lasker Award. The previous three winners are all Nobel laureates. The Lasker Awards recognize significant achievements in medicine and biomedical research. Since 1945, the Lasker Foundation has awarded more than 400 prizes to outstandig scientists and clinical researchers. A total of six individuals were recognized this year with awards in three categories — basic research, clinical research, and public service. Each award carries a stipend of $250,000.Dr. Chen is the sixth scientist of Chinese origin to receive a Lasker Award. He is also the second Chinese recipient in the basic research category, more than six decades after biochemist Choh Hao Li , who won in 1962. Dr. Chen, 58, was born in a rural area of China's southeastern Fujian province. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology from Fujian Normal University in 1985, he won an overseas scholarship to the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned a PhD in biochemistry in 1991. He set up a lab at UTSW in 1997 and was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences in 2014. Read the Forbes report: https://bit.ly/3zDR9yK . Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3Bm3doN News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 2024/09/25-26 APAICS Technology Summit2024/09/26 White House Initiative AA& NHPI Policy Summit2024/09/27 The War for Chinese Talent in America: The Politics of Technology and Knowledge in Sino-U.S. Relations2024/09/29 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/02 C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Initiative2024/10/06 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/10/08 Media Training for Election Season2024/10/10 China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach2024/10/11 China and the World Forum (Virtual): China-U.S.: Destined for War or Inevitable Peace?The Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moving to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we are moving the Newsletter webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF September 25, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #380 3/2 Meeting; Jane Wu Lawsuit; Birthright Citizenship; Higher Ed Mission; UMichigan; + #380 3/2 Meeting; Jane Wu Lawsuit; Birthright Citizenship; Higher Ed Mission; UMichigan; + In This Issue #380 · 03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · SCMP : Estate of Dr. Jane Wu Lawsuit Moves Forward · Supreme Court to Hear Opposition to End Birthright Citizenship · Call to Uphold Higher Ed’s Mission · Charges Against UMichigan Scientists from China Dropped · News and Activities for the Communities 03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Rep. Grace Meng 孟昭文 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), will deliver her remarks on the current state of CAPAC and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, in addition to updates from: · Dennis Jing , Staff Attorney, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following confirmed distinguished speakers: · Kaohly Her , Mayor, St. Paul, Minnesota · Chiling Tong 董繼玲 , Co-Chair, National APA Museum Commission · Mike German , Retired Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice 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 . ***** Mayor Kaohly Her made history as St. Paul’s first Hmong American mayor and was sworn in on January 2, 2026. She is a lifelong public servant with deep roots in community advocacy, education, and equity. Before serving as mayor of St. Paul, she represented St. Paul in the Minnesota State Senate, where she was known for her work on education, public safety, and economic opportunity. Mayor Her will provide an update on the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the Twin Cities. As Co-Chair of the National APA Museum Commission , Chiling Tong will provide an update on recent developments, strategic priorities, and next steps toward establishing a national museum dedicated to Asian Pacific American history and culture. She currently serves as President and CEO of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and is the Founding President of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF), a nonprofit organization established in 2000 to promote civic engagement, public service, and leadership development among college students and young professionals. SCMP : Estate of Dr. Jane Wu Lawsuit Moves Forward According to the South China Morning Post on February 25, 2026, Cook County Judge Jonathan Green has refused to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Northwestern University of mistreating Chinese American neuroscientist Dr. Jane Ying Wu 吴瑛 before her suicide, allowing the case to proceed to a substantive phase. At a hearing in Chicago, Judge Green ruled that the family’s central claims—including discrimination based on national origin, wrongful confinement, and severe emotional distress—were sufficiently supported to move forward. A next hearing is scheduled for mid-May. Dr. Wu’s family alleges that the former Charles L. Mix Professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine took her own life in July 2024 at age 60 “as a direct result of how she was treated” during years of scrutiny over her alleged ties to China under the now-defunct federal “China Initiative.” The complaint claims Northwestern sidelined her professionally by shutting down her laboratory, reassigning her NIH research grants, and dismantling her research team. It further alleges that in May 2024 she was removed from her office in handcuffs and involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric unit. According to the lawsuit, “the physical assault directed by Northwestern University and the forced hospitalization sent Dr. Wu into a severe state of shock.” After securing her release two weeks later, the complaint states that “with her career, her professional reputation and her personal sense of safety shattered,” Dr. Wu died by suicide on July 10, 2024. Judge Green indicated that the allegations—if proven—raise serious legal questions. He allowed claims related to discriminatory treatment, emotional harm, and the circumstances of Dr. Wu’s psychiatric admission to proceed, meaning the court will examine how and why she was hospitalized and whether university-affiliated doctors acted appropriately. The judge also granted the family permission to seek immediate access to Dr. Wu’s employment records, contracts, and tenure agreement after their attorney said Northwestern had refused to release them because she was deceased. The case is being closely watched within the Chinese American scientific community, many of whom say they were disproportionately affected by the China Initiative, launched during President Donald Trump ’s first term and disbanded in 2022. Earlier this month, more than 1,000 academics signed a letter calling on Northwestern to apologize for what they described as its “unjust treatment” of Dr. Wu. “The treatment is inconsistent with her status as one of very few endowed Asian American women professors and her 19 years of contributions,” the letter states, urging the university to “publicly acknowledge and apologize” and to reform internal policies to prevent similar cases. Dr. Wu was born in Hefei, China, earned her medical degree in Shanghai, and later completed a PhD in cancer biology at Stanford University. After postdoctoral work at Harvard and a decade at Washington University in St. Louis, she joined Northwestern in 2005. A leading researcher in RNA biology, her work focused on how cells process RNA, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. At the start of 2019, she held six NIH grants and served as principal investigator on five of them. Although the NIH reportedly cleared Dr. Wu in late 2023, her family alleges that Northwestern did not reinstate her lab space, restore her grants, or rebuild her research team, making it difficult for her to continue her work or secure new funding. Northwestern has previously said it “vehemently denies” the allegations. The lawsuit now moves into discovery, where internal communications, employment records, and medical documentation are expected to be examined. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/46pfvK6 . Read the story of Dr. Jane Wu: https://bit.ly/JaneWu . Supreme Court to Hear Opposition to End Birthright Citizenship Trump v. Barbara (No. 25-365) is a landmark 2026 Supreme Court case challenging Executive Order 14160, issued by the Trump administration, which seeks to deny automatic birthright citizenship to certain children born in the United States to undocumented or non-permanent resident parents. The ACLU-led class action lawsuit argues that the order violates the Fourteenth Amendment and long-standing Supreme Court precedent. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 1, 2026. NAPABA and Coalition File Amicus Brief On February 25, 2026, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), joined by 48 affiliated and partner bar associations, filed an amicus brief urging the Court to strike down Executive Order 14160. NAPABA argues that the order violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause by denying citizenship to children born in the United States to parents with temporary lawful status. The coalition contends that the order directly contradicts the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) , which affirmed that children born on U.S. soil are citizens regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The brief challenges the federal government’s interpretation of Wong Kim Ark (黄金德) and places the case within the broader historical context of discrimination against Chinese immigrants during the era of exclusion laws. NAPABA warns that upholding the executive order would disproportionately harm Asian American communities and risk repeating injustices rooted in racial exclusion. Founded in 1988, NAPABA re presents more than 80,000 Asian Pacific American legal professionals nationwide. Civil Rights Organizations Warn of “Citizenship Stripping” On February 26, 2026, the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), the Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice, and 71 additional nonprofit and grassroots organizations — including APA Justice — filed a separate amicus brief opposing Executive Order 14160. The coalition characterizes the measure as a “Citizenship Stripping Executive Order” and warns that upholding it could lead to retroactive revocation of citizenship, creating a permanent underclass of stateless individuals subject to lifelong discrimination, disenfranchisement, and exclusion from fundamental rights. The brief cites historical examples of citizenship revocation targeting racial minorities and women, including the denaturalization of South Asian Americans following United States v. Thind (1923) and the Expatriation Act of 1907, which disproportionately harmed Asian American women. The organizations caution that states and local governments could rely on the order to deny affected individuals voting rights, jury service, and other civic participation. They urge the Supreme Court to reject the order to prevent generational harm and preserve the constitutional guarantee of equality for all U.S.-born persons. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) On February 27, 2026, the House Litigation Task Force, co-led by CAPAC Chair Grace Meng , announced that 216 House and Senate Democrats filed a bicameral amicus brief in Trump v. Barbara urging the Supreme Court to reject President Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship. The lawmakers argue that the order violates the Fourteenth Amendment, longstanding Supreme Court precedent, and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, and warn that millions of Americans could face retroactive loss of citizenship if the administration’s interpretation prevails. The brief contends that the President is attempting to bypass Congress after legislative efforts to restrict birthright citizenship failed, calling the order an unconstitutional executive overreach. Harvard Law Scholars Challenge Constitutionality According to the Human Rights Program (HRP) at Harvard Law School, on February 23, 2026, HRP Director Professor Gerald L. Neuman , along with Professors Kristin Collins and Rachel Rosenbloom , filed an amicus brief challenging the executive order. Their brief argues that Executive Order 14160 is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause and independently violates the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The professors emphasize that 8 U.S.C. § 1401(a) guarantees citizenship at birth to anyone born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction, and that an executive order cannot override statutory protections enacted by Congress. Drawing on the legislative history of the Nationality Act of 1940 and the INA of 1952, they argue that Congress clearly codified near-universal birthright citizenship with only narrow exceptions — and that parental domicile or immigration status was never intended to limit a child’s citizenship. Read APA Justice's tracking of the oppositions to EO 14160: Birthright Citizenship , including visualization of its history: https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/2139841/Birthright-Citizenship/ Call to Uphold Higher Ed’s Mission According to Inside Higher Ed on February 27, 2026, at the American Council on Education’s annual meeting, ACE President Ted Mitchell emphasized that higher education must defend its independence against what he described as a “federal takeover” by the Trump administration. Mitchell acknowledged past attacks on universities, faculty, and students, while also highlighting successes such as protecting Pell Grants, research funding, and faculty rights. He called for improved accountability, graduation rates, tolerance, and viewpoint diversity on campuses. Former Education Secretary Arne Duncan and former U.S. Ambassador David Pressman drew parallels between the Trump administration and Hungary’s authoritarian tactics under Viktor Orbán , warning that universities could surrender independence under political or legal pressure. Pressman noted the speed at which elite U.S. institutions responded compared with Orbán’s decade-long approach. Discussion also focused on the challenges faced by public university presidents in politically constrained states and the role of ACE in coordinating sector-wide responses. Mitchell framed ACE as a platform to advocate for values and protect institutional independence where individual leaders may be limited. Charges Against UMichigan Scientists from China Dropped According to AP News on February 25, 2026, U.S. prosecutors dropped charges against three Chinese Ph.D. researchers at the University of Michigan— Xu Bai , Fengfan Zhang , and Zhiyong Zhang —who had been accused of helping smuggle biological materials into the United States. Defense attorneys said the dismissal followed intervention and negotiations by the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. The materials involved were mostly harmless laboratory worms commonly used in research, though officials initially described the case as a national security matter. The three researchers spent more than three months in jail before a federal judge dismissed the charges at the Justice Department’s request on February 5, 2026. They have since returned to China. Defense lawyers said prosecutors had been considering plea deals before abruptly dropping the case, calling the dismissal appropriate and career-saving for the students. A related researcher previously pleaded no contest and was deported, as was another scientist in a separate but similar case. Experts cited by the defense said the biological materials posed no public safety risk. Read the AP News report: https://bit.ly/4r3kUxQ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/03/03 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Henry Tang 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 02/26 Webinar on Global Competition On February 26, 2026, the U.S.-China Education Trust, Committee of 100, and APA Justice co-hosted a timely and substantive webinar on Global Competition for Talent and International Students, convening distinguished leaders and thoughtful voices from across the higher education landscape. Participants gained valuable insights from Dr. Fanta Aw and Professor Steven Chu , with Professor Margaret Lewis providing skillful moderation that guided a focused, dynamic, and engaging discussion. A written summary and the full video recording of the webinar will be shared in the coming days. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF February 28, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

The Trump administration recently announced Presidential Proclamation 10043 (PP 10043) - "Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers From the People's Republic of China." May 29, 2020 On May 29, 2020, the Trump administration announced Presidential Proclamation 10043 (PP 10043)" Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers From the People's Republic of China ." By September 9, 2020, CNBC reported that over 1,000 visas for Chinese nationals were cancelled because they were deemed security risks with military ties. These students were not given any explanation as to why their visas were revoked under the Proclamation, nor any opportunity to challenge the revocation. According to The College Post on February 5, 2021, Visa restrictions may block one-fifth of Chinese graduate STEM enrollment annually. On June 10, 2021, the American Council on Education (ACE) sent a letter , co-signed by a number of higher education associations, to the U.S. Department of State under the Biden administration outlining concerns about the application of Presidential Proclamation 10043 on student and scholar visa applications at U.S. embassies/consulates. On August 10, 2021, Forbes reported that " Biden Keeps Costly Trump Visa Policy Denying Chinese Grad Students ." On September 15, 2021, a Department of State Federal Register notice announced the Secretary of State's delegation of authority to the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs to make national interest determinations under the PRC "Military-Civil Fusion Strategy proclamation to exempt students and researchers who would be otherwise covered by the entry bar under that proclamation, but "whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees." On June 27, 2022, a civil lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois Urbana Division. Led by a professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a group of students affected by the PP10043 ban, the lawsuit challenges the U.S. Government's continuing efforts to ban the entry of Chinese nationals who seek to study at U.S. universities. The Trump administration recently announced Presidential Proclamation 10043 (PP 10043) - "Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers From the People's Republic of China." Previous Next Presidential Proclamation 10043

Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has urged FBI Director Christopher Wray to "hold biannual meetings with national leaders of Chinese American and Asian American organizations." April 2, 2020 On April 2, 2020, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and urged him to "hold biannual meetings with national leaders of Chinese American and Asian American organizations regarding issues of importance to those communities as you work to counter the foreign intelligence threat from the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC)." On May 29, 2020, the Assistant Director of the FBI Office of Congressional Affairs replied with this letter to Senator Warner. A previous meeting between the Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division and Asian American leaders was cited as productive in the letter. The background and context of the December 7, 2018 meeting is available here . Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has urged FBI Director Christopher Wray to "hold biannual meetings with national leaders of Chinese American and Asian American organizations." Previous Next Senator Warner Letter to FBI Director Wray

Programs and Initiatives Explore ways to get involved. Click on a program below to learn more about efforts to combat racial profiling and unfair government policies, or find them in the menu above. Advocacy Read More Advocacy for justice and fairness: our work with policy makers to push for AAPI rights and to ensure justice for AAPI academics and scientists. Community Networking Read More A network giving greater resources and a more assertive voice to the Asian American community. History & Education Read More Learn more about important historical events and cases involving Asian American people and culture. Yellow Whistle Campagn Read More Our partnership with the Yellow Whistle Project to promote self-protection and solidarity against discrimination and violence.

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

April 7, 2019 On April 7, the Committee of 100 (C100 百人会) issued a statement condemning racial profiling against Chinese Americans . The statement was broadly distributed to the media and read by C100 President Frank Wu during its annual conference in New York. The statement responds to a few high-level American government officials, respected media outlets, and opinion leaders who have stated or suggested in the last few years that all Chinese persons in America should be suspected of wrongdoing. However, "overzealous criminal prosecutions in recent years of innocent individuals such as Sherry Chen and Xiaoxing Xi, like Wen Ho Lee before them, have embarrassingly fallen apart, while ruining lives for no reason. Such targeting of individuals based on their ethnic heritage or national origin violates our shared American ideals. It simply has to stop." "Racial profiling is wrong and un-American in our nation of democracy." The statement concludes that "by standing up and speaking out for what is right and just, Chinese Americans can help lead the way in answering the call that is always before us as Americans: to embody more perfectly the ideals and principles of this great nation we call home." C100 pledges additional plans and actions beyond the released statement. A conference is scheduled for September 28, 2019 in East Palo Alto, California. Previous Next Committee of 100 Condemns Racial Profiling of Chinese Americans

A month after the launch of the China Initiative, a group of community leaders met with a senior FBI official and representatives at the FBI headquarters in Washington DC to convey concerns raised within the Chinese American community about the role of bias in its investigations, among other issues, in a futile attempt to establish a continuing dialogue to address the concerns. December 7, 2018 Table of Contents Overview FBI Headquarters Meeting FBI: “Non-Traditional Collectors” and “Whole-of-Society Response” 60 Minutes: “Collateral Damage” “Racial Profiling Harms Science” Links and References Overview On December 7, 2018, a group of community leaders met with a senior FBI official and representatives at the FBI headquarters to convey concerns raised within the Chinese American community about the concerns of bias in its investigations, among other issues. An attempt to establish a continuing dialogue with the FBI failed. Prior to the meeting, Asian American, civil rights, and scientific communities have already been expressing deep concerns about wrongful prosecutions of Chinese American scientists such as Sherry Chen and Xiaoxing Xi, as well as the broad brush rhetoric of “non-traditional collectors” against an entire group of students, professors, and scientists as a security threat to our country. FBI Headquarters Meeting The 90-minute meeting with a senior FBI official and representatives was held at the FBI headquarters. Attempts to establish a dialogue resulted in two monologues. On December 14, 2018, a public summary of the meeting was released: “The FBI stated that its mission is to protect all Americans, including Chinese Americans, while also highlighting national security threats and the political influence from foreign nations such as China. “The community leaders acknowledged the serious threat posed by trade secret theft within the U.S. where intellectual property has found its way to foreign nations, including China. They also expressed support for vigorous law enforcement action where wrongdoing occurs. At the same time, the community leaders spoke about the fear and suspicion created by certain actions by the FBI, particularly related to cases where apparent innocent parties were involved. “The 90-minute meeting at FBI headquarters was closed door, permitting for a frank and confidential conversation. Both sides expressed interest in a continuing dialogue. Community groups who want to dialogue with the agency can contact FBI field offices. Several already have held meetings or forums involving the FBI in Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. According to the FBI, it has community outreach specialists in each of its field offices who regularly engage with the various communities they serve. “The community leaders attending the meeting were Robert Gee, Vice Chair, Washington DC Region, Committee of 100; Andrew Kim, Visiting Scholar, South Texas College of Law and Litigator, Greenberg Traurig; Aryani Ong, community advocate; Steven Pei, scientist and Honorary Chair of United Chinese Americans; and Jeremy Wu, retired government official." The community leaders brought these talking materials to the meeting: Robert Gee: Committee of 100 Letter to FBI Official Andrew Kim: Prosecuting Chinese “Spies:” An Empirical Analysis of The Economic Espionage Act Steven Pei: FBI Meeting Talking Points Jeremy Wu: FBI Meeting Talking Points After the China Initiative ended, the FBI San Francisco field office hosted a town hall meeting with community organizations in May 2022, beginning a process to restart a dialogue with the communities. FBI: “Non-Traditional Collectors” and “Whole-of-Society Response” According to Inside Higher Ed on February 14, 2018, FBI director Christopher Wray told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that American academia is naïve about the intelligence risks posed by Chinese professors, scientists, and students. His broad-brush testimony targets a whole group of students, professors, and scientists as a security threat due to their national origin and race. In addition, Wray said he and the FBI “view the China threat as not just a whole-of-government threat but a whole-of-society threat on their end, and I think it’s going to take a whole-of-society response by us. So it’s not just the intelligence community, but it’s raising awareness within our academic sector, within our private sector, as part of the defense.” “It is wrong to cast an entire group of students, professors, and scientists as a threat to our country based simply on where they come from,” said Patrick Toomey, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which has joined a lawsuit by a Chinese American professor, Xi Xiaoxing, who was wrongfully arrested for sharing secret technology with entities in China. “The United States has a proud tradition of international academic collaboration, which attracts the best and the brightest to our universities, fosters innovation and ultimately benefits all Americans,” Toomey said. “The FBI’s mind-set has already led to overzealous investigations of Chinese Americans, with disastrous consequences for those wrongly tarred with suspicion.” The term “non-traditional collector” is an updated version of “ thousand grains of sand ” which was used by FBI analyst Paul Moore during the wrongful prosecution of Dr. Wen Ho Lee more than two decades ago. In response to Wray’s remarks in the Senate Committee hearing, the Committee of 100 and a coalition of organizations wrote a joint letter to FBI Director Wray, requesting a meeting to “engage in positive dialogue to advance our nation’s ideals as well as its national security.” Wray never responded to the coalition letter. 60 Minutes: “Collateral Damage” On August 26, 2018, CBS 60 Minutes updated its nationwide broadcast of “ Collateral Damage .” It describes how innocent Chinese Americans are wrongly accused of espionage related crimes as the government steps up the fight against theft of U.S. trade secrets and intellectual property by China. The 60 Minutes program also has an online segment titled “ The Spy Who Wasn’t .” It describes the lasting impact on innocent Chinese Americans far beyond the heavy legal fees and dropped charges. Their finances, careers, reputations, emotions, and families are severely damaged if not totally ruined. “Racial Profiling Harms Science” On March 21, 2019, three major scientific organizations voiced their concerns about racial profiling by publishing an open letter titled " Racial Profiling Harms Science " in Science. The Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA, 美洲华人生物科学学会), The Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network (CAHON, 美国华裔血液及肿瘤专家学会), and The Chinese Biological Investigators Society (CBIS, 华人生物学者教授学会) represent the largest and a rapidly growing professional group for scientists, mostly of Chinese descent, in many biomedical disciplines. The letter expresses concerns about the recent political rhetoric and policies that single out students and scholars of Chinese descent working in the United States as threats to U.S. national interests. Jump to: Overview FBI Headquarters Meeting FBI: “Non-Traditional Collectors” and “Whole-of-Society Response” 60 Minutes: “Collateral Damage” “Racial Profiling Harms Science” A month after the launch of the China Initiative, a group of community leaders met with a senior FBI official and representatives at the FBI headquarters in Washington DC to convey concerns raised within the Chinese American community about the role of bias in its investigations, among other issues, in a futile attempt to establish a continuing dialogue to address the concerns. Previous Next 2. Attempted Dialogue with FBI Failed

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

The House of Representatives has passed H.Res. 908, a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Asian bigotry as related to COVID-19. September 17, 2020 On September 17, 2020, the House of Representatives passed H.Res. 908, a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Asian bigotry as related to COVID-19. The resolution, introduced by CAPAC First Vice Chair Rep. Grace Meng, is a response to the over 2,600 reported anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents in recent months which have been driven by misperceptions about the coronavirus and how it spreads. The resolution reads as follows: (1) calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce any and all anti-Asian sentiment in any form; (2) recognizes that the health and safety of all Americans, no matter their background, must be of utmost priority; (3) condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination, anti-Asian sentiment, scapegoating, and ethnic or religious intolerance; (4) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, working with State and local officials-- (A) to expeditiously investigate and document all credible reports of hate crimes and incidents and threats against the Asian-American community in the United States; (B) to collect data to document the rise of incidences of hate crimes due to COVID–19; and (C) to hold the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, or threats accountable and bring such perpetrators to justice; and (5) recommits United States leadership in building more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant societies-- (A) to prioritize language access and inclusivity in communication practices; and (B) to combat misinformation and discrimination that put Asian Americans at risk. The House of Representatives has passed H.Res. 908, a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Asian bigotry as related to COVID-19. Previous Next House Resolution Condemns All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment Related to COVID-19