Search this site

Newsletter - #98 Letter to AG; NYT Report; "Chinese Initiative" Cases; 12/06 Monthly Meeting; More #98 Letter to AG; NYT Report; "Chinese Initiative" Cases; 12/06 Monthly Meeting; More Back View PDF November 29, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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. CommunityTownhall 20220317.png Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #310 Getting China Right at Home; Trump Action Tracker; Birthright Citizenship; DEI Attacks #310 Getting China Right at Home; Trump Action Tracker; Birthright Citizenship; DEI Attacks In This Issue #310 · Launch of ACF: Getting China Right at Home · Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions · Lawsuits Against Executive Orders on Birthright Citizenship and DEI · Understanding Attacks on DEI in Higher Ed · News and Activities for the Communities Launch of ACF: Getting China Right at Home On February 3, 2025, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University offcially launched the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF). ACF aims to add rigor and reason to the public and policy conversation about China and the variety of domestic and international issues that intersect China’s global role, bringing together experts and practitioners to foster informed public dialogue, promote evidence-based research, and support the next generation of scholars and practitioners. Jim Steinberg , Dean of Johns Hopkins University SAIS, and Jessica Chen Weiss , Inaugural Faculty Director of ACF and David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, led off the all-day event with welcoming remarks. Senator Andy Kim discussed what is at stake in U.S. policy on China in a Fireside Chat .According to the inaugural ACF report titled Getting China Right at Home: Addressing the Domestic Challenges of Intensifying Competition , there is bipartisan agreement that advancing American interests requires getting policy right at home on issues from technology, data, trade, investment, energy, law, and labor, to the concerns of local constituencies, including governors, mayors, and Chinese Americans. Getting China Right at Home offers a spectrum of fresh perspectives on ways to center the vitality of American democracy, economy, and society in the United States’ strategy toward China.ACF is in Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Contact saisacf@jh.edu for more information.In an interview with the South China Morning Post on February 3, Weiss argues that the U.S.-China rivalry need not be a zero-sum game. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing areas where both nations can cooperate for mutual benefit, suggesting that a collaborative approach could lead to more positive outcomes than a purely competitive stance. Weiss advocates for policies that balance competition with engagement, aiming to manage differences while working together on global challenges. Read the South China Morning Post interview: https://bit.ly/3Qa8h3K Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions On January 29, 2025, Just Security launched a Tracker monitoring legal challenges to Trump Administration actions. The Tracker is expected to expand with periodic updates. It features a search function and allows sorting by Topic, Executive Action, Case Name, and Date Filed. To help maintain its accuracy and completeness, missing cases and updates should be reported to lte@justsecurity.org . As of February 5, 2025, the Tracker at https://bit.ly/3QpPIsR has 35 entries: Immigration and Citizenship (12) · Birthright Citizenship Executive Order (7) · Punishment of sanctuary cities and states (1) · "Expedited Removal" Executive Order (2) · Discontinuation of CBP One app Executive Order (1) · Access of Lawyers to Immigrants in Detention Executive Order (1) Structure of Government/Personnel (12) · Reinstatement of Schedule F for Policy/Career Employees Executive Order (3) · Establishment of "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) Executive Order (4) · Solicitation of information from career employees (1) · Disclosure of personal and financial records to DOGE (2) · "Fork Directive" deferred resignation offer to federal employees OPM Directive (1) · Removal of agency employees (1) Government Grants, Loans and Assistance (2) · “Temporary Pause” of grants, loans, and assistance programs (2) Civil Liberties and Rights (5) · Housing of transgender inmates Executive Order (2) · Ban on transgender individuals serving in the military Executive Order (1) · Ban on gender affirming care for individuals under the age of 19 ender Ideology Executive Order ; Denial of Care Executive Order (1) · Immigration enforcement against places of worship Policy Memo (1) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (1) · Ban on DEIA Initiatives in the executive branch and by contractors Executive Order ; Contracting Executive Order (1) Removal of Information from Government Websites (1) · Removal of information from HHS websites under Executive Order on "Gender Ideology Extremism" Executive Order ; Policy Memo (1) Actions Against FBI/DOJ Employees (2) · Department of Justice review of FBI personnel involved in January 6 investigations Executive Order on Weaponization (2) Lawsuits Against Executive Orders on Birthright Citizenship and DEI According to the National Park Service , "Chinese Americans filed more than 10,000 lawsuits to fight the discriminatory laws enacted in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s.” Twenty of these cases were heard by the US Supreme Court. These cases set legal precedents for many landmark human rights lawsuits. In addition, Part 2 of the 2003 PBS Documentary on " BECOMING AMERICAN: The Chinese Experience " describes how the Chinese boldly filed over 10,000 lawsuits challenging laws and practices designed to harass and oppress them. When Wong Kim Ark , a 22-year-old cook born in San Francisco, sued to be considered a citizen, it was a decisive victory against discriminatory legislation. We thank those who came before us for their courage and perseverance in securing the freedoms we enjoy today. It is our responsibility to honor their legacy by continuing the fight for future generations.On January 30, 2025, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump ’s executive order on birthright citizenship. OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates v. Rubio (1:25-cv-00287) argues that the order is unconstitutional and would cause irreparable harm to immigrant families, including OCA members expecting children who would be denied citizenship. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, it is one of eight known lawsuits against the order (one of which was consolidated in the same U.S. District Court). The legal team is led by Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC. Read the complaint: https://bit.ly/3WMKlHA .According to New York Times on February 5, 2025, Judge Deborah L. Boardman issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Trump’s attempt to unilaterally eliminate automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to undocumented or temporary immigrants on U.S. soil. The injunction applies nationally and is more permanent than the 14-day temporary restraining order issued on January 23 by a federal judge in Seattle. In most cases, a preliminary injunction remains in force until a case is resolved or a higher court overturns it. “The executive order conflicts with the plain language of the 14th Amendment, contradicts 125-year-old binding Supreme Court precedent and runs counter to our nation’s 250-year history of citizenship by birth,” Judge Boardman ruled. “The United States Supreme Court has resoundingly rejected the president’s interpretation of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. In fact, no court in the country has ever endorsed the president’s interpretation. This court will not be the first.” The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center is representing the plaintiffs in CASA Inc. et al v. Trump et al (8:25-cv-00201) On January 20, 2025, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued a joint statement condemning President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, calling it a violation of the 14th Amendment and his constitutional duty. They emphasized that birthright citizenship, upheld in the 1898 Wong Kim Ark case, is a fundamental right and vowed to oppose any efforts that undermine equality, justice, and civil rights.On February 4, 2025, a coalition of higher education and civic leaders filed a lawsuit to stop President Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders. National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump (1:25-cv-00333) challenging two Trump executive orders that seek to eliminate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. The first order mandates the removal of DEIA programs and professionals from federal agencies and halts “equity-related” grants and contracts. The second order threatens federal funding, civil investigations, and enforcement actions against DEIA programs, both in the public and private sectors. National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, American Association of University Professors, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland, argue that these orders are unconstitutional, violate free speech protections, and unlawfully usurp congressional control over federal funding. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the state of Maryland. The legal team is led by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC and Democracy Forward Foundation. Read the complaint: https://bit.ly/42JONuC . Understanding Attacks on DEI in Higher Ed On January 31, 2025, the Chronicle of Higher Education announced a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Legislation Tracker on bills that would prohibit colleges from requiring classes to graduate that promote concepts such as systemic racism, reparations, and racial or gender diversity, or from offering student-orientation programs with such content. The Tracker allows readers to quickly understand what practices are at risk of being banned, where legislation is making progress, and what laws have been enacted. If the summations of the legislation are not enough, links to browse through the bills themselves are provided. The Chronicle invites questions and comments to editor@chronicle.com . Read the DEI Legislation Tracker: https://bit.ly/4goHoDX The Chronicle of Higher Education has also been documenting the reduction of DEI initiatives across numerous U.S. colleges and universities. As of January 31, 2025, their tracking indicates that 232 campuses in 34 states have altered or eliminated DEI-related offices, positions, training programs, diversity statements, and other activities. These changes are largely in response to anti-DEI legislation and mounting political pressure. The pace of these modifications has increased, especially with the federal administration's intent to remove DEI efforts across various sectors, including higher education. The Chronicle's resource provides detailed information on these developments, helping readers understand the evolving landscape of DEI in academia. Read the most recent updates: https://bit.ly/3CPOT9f News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/02/10 Federal Employees: What are my whistleblower rights?2025/02/12 Federal Employees: How might my benefits be affected?2025/02/13 China Initiative: Impacts and Implications2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/18 Protecting Our Organizations: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Compliance Virtual Training2025/02/23 World Premier of "Quixotic Professor Qiu" with Xiaoxing Xi2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. February is Black History Month Black History Month is an annual observance in February that honors the history, achievements, and contributions of African Americans. It was established by historian C arter G. Woodson in 1926 as Negro History Week and later expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976. The month serves as a time to recognize the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans throughout U.S. history, from the fight against slavery and segregation to advancements in civil rights, culture, politics, science, and more. Various events, educational programs, and community activities are held nationwide to celebrate and reflect on African American heritage. 3. Book: The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education The softcover edition of The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps, has been released with a discount code valid until February 12, 2025. The book explores the history, challenges, and achievements of Chinese Americans in academia, featuring 36 narratives from chancellors, presidents, deans, and other leaders. It highlights their contributions to higher education, diversity, and social justice while addressing barriers like the "bamboo ceiling." For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/411FQeF # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF February 7, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #28 Meeting Summaries; Profiling Updates; Presidential Transition; More Events #28 Meeting Summaries; Profiling Updates; Presidential Transition; More Events Back View PDF November 13, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #118 CAPAC Meets President; Senator Wicker on DOC; Letter to Olsen; Editorials; Anming Hu #118 CAPAC Meets President; Senator Wicker on DOC; Letter to Olsen; Editorials; Anming Hu Back View PDF March 8, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

Newsletter - #238 Erika's Message; Day of Remembrance; OSTP/House Hearing; AASF Updates; US-China STA; + #238 Erika's Message; Day of Remembrance; OSTP/House Hearing; AASF Updates; US-China STA; + In This Issue #238 · Erika Moritsugu - 2023 Review and 2024 Outlook · Day of Remembrance for Japanese American Incarceration · OSTP Guidance and House Science Committee Hearing · Updates from the Asian American Scholars Forum · State of Renewal of US-China Science and Technology Agreement · News and Activities for the Communities Erika Moritsugu - 2023 Review and 2024 Outlook Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, The White House, reviewed the Year of the Rabbit (or Cat in Vietnamese zodiac) in 2023 and remarked on the Year of Dragon in 2024 during the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024. She was joined by her colleagues Ting Wu and Barbara Holston .Erika highlighted the significance of her role at the White House and extended Lunar New Year greetings. Erika reviewed the accomplishments of the White House Initiative on AA and NHPI, including initiatives such as regional economic summits, the Mental Health Summit, and the publication of the National Strategy to advance equity for AA and NHPI communities, all with strong commitment of the Biden administration. Erika described President Joe Biden 's proclamation recognizing AANAPISI programs and the renewal of the President’s Advisory Commission on AA and NHPI, including the hiring of new permanent staff.While Erika and her team are proud of what has been accomplished for our communities, by our communities, and with our communities so far, they also know that there is still more to do in ensuring equity, justice, opportunity, and safety for AA and NHPI in the new year.Looking ahead to 2024, Erika outlines goals to advance the President's agenda, including increasing federal contracting dollars for disadvantaged small businesses and combating hate-fueled violence.On research security, Erika reaffirms that the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to the integral role of AA and NHPI and people of all national origins in this country and supporting collaboration with international partners when it is in our interest. The White House is aware of the perceptions, biases, stereotypes and efforts to implement research security policies that may be influenced. The Federal government collaborates with researchers and institutions to develop guidance ensuring: · Protection of America's security and openness while recognizing the importance of global collaboration in basic research. · Clarity in the guidance provided to researchers. · Prevention of the guidance from fueling xenophobia or prejudice. On the People’s Republic of China (PRC), although the United States and the PRC are in competition, the Administration remains committed to maintaining open lines of communication and responsibly managing that competition. The Administration is keenly aware that the United States and the PRC are economically interdependent and share interest in addressing transnational costs and reducing the risk of conflict. It also expects the PRC to be a major player on the world stage for the foreseeable future.That means that even if we compete, we want to find ways to live alongside one another.Last year the Administration launched a period of intensive diplomacy. It was an all-hands-on-deck effort across the cabinet, scanning the full range of the relationship with the PRC. It was direct about our differences. The meetings were also used to find space to coordinate on issues where our interests overlap, culminating in the summit between President Biden and President Xi in Woodside, California, where progress was made on three major issues. 1. President Biden and President Xi started counter narcotics cooperation, 2. Announcement of military-to-military communication that has been frozen for more than a year, 3. Announcement of a new dialogue aimed at managing the risk of artificial intelligence. The Administration acknowledges the concerns of the AA and NHPI communities regarding tensions in the US-PRC relationship. It pledges to redouble efforts to protect these communities from any impacts. President Biden emphasizes that hate must have no safe haven in America and commits to combatting hate-fueled violence. The Administration is dedicated to ensuring safety, opportunity, and justice for all members of the communities. Recent events underscore the importance of government responsiveness to community needs. Erika and her team recognize the vital role of community engagement and partnership in their work. She expresses gratitude to community leaders for their activism and collaboration.Erika concluded her remarks with a big Mahalo Nui Loa for what we do for our communities and for sharing the space at the APA Justice meeting.Read the partial summary of the February 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting at: https://bit.ly/49jyZPH . Watch Erika's talk and the February monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/49okkmc (57:00) Day of Remembrance for Japanese American Incarceration On February 19, 1942, following the attack by Imperial Japan on Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry to WWII, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 , which led to the forced removal and incarceration of over 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry during World War II. This day is recognized annually in the Japanese American community as the Day of Remembrance, and was recognized in 2023 by President Joe Biden who called the order “one of the most shameful periods in our Nation’s history.”According to AP News , from the extreme heat of the Gila River center in Arizona, to the biting winters of Heart Mountain in Wyoming, Japanese Americans were forced into hastily built barracks, with no insulation or privacy, and surrounded by barbed wire. They shared bathrooms and mess halls, and families of up to eight were squeezed into 20-by-25 foot rooms. Armed U.S. soldiers in guard towers ensured nobody tried to flee.Approximately two-thirds of the detainees were American citizens.When the 75 holding facilities on U.S. soil closed in 1946, there was no clear consensus of who or how many had been detained nationwide. Duncan Ryūken Williams , the director of the Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture at the University of Southern California, and a team of researchers took on the mammoth task of identifying all the detainees and honoring them with a three-part monument called “Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration.” “We wanted to repair that moment in American history by thinking of the fact that this is a group of people, Japanese Americans, that was targeted by the government. As long as you had one drop of Japanese blood in you, the government told you you didn’t belong,” Williams said. The first part of the Irei monument is the Ireichō, the sacred book listing 125,284 verified names of Japanese American detainees. The team recorded every name in order of age, from the oldest person who entered the camps to the last baby born there. “We felt like we needed to bring dignity and personhood and individuality back to all these people,” Williams said. “The best way we thought we could do that was to give them their names back.”Read the AP News report: https://bit.ly/49loOda . Read the Ireichō Exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum: https://bit.ly/3UKzJsH . The exhibition closes on December 1, 2024. Read President Biden's statement: https://bit.ly/3I5QPtl . Read the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus statement: https://bit.ly/3SCdSRe OSTP Guidance and House Science Committee Hearing On February 14, 2024, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced the release of two memoranda aimed at supporting a secure and fair research ecosystem in the United States: 1. On Policy Regarding Use of Common Disclosure Forms , OSTP outlines guidelines on the use of common disclosure forms for federal agencies to use when evaluating proposals. These will help the government identify conflicts of commitment and potential duplication with the work of foreign governments. 2. On Guidelines for Federal Research Agencies Regarding Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs , The OSTP guidance provides a definition of foreign talent recruitment programs, guidelines for federal employees regarding foreign talent recruitment programs, and guidelines for individuals involved in malign foreign talent recruitment programs in federal projects. On February 15, 2024, The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing titled " Examining Federal Science Agency Actions to Secure the U.S. Science and Technology Enterprise ." Four witnesses testified at the hearing: · The Honorable Arati Prabhakar , Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy · Dr. Rebecca Keiser , Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation · The Honorable Geri Richmond , Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, Department of Energy · Dr. Michael Lauer , Deputy Director for Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health A hearing charter is posted here: https://bit.ly/3OOkw5W . A video of the hearing is available here: https://bit.ly/3T8ltsz (2:39:21). Updates from the Asian American Scholars Forum Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), highlighted the following points during the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024: · Expressing gratitude for recent efforts by Rep. Grace Meng and others opposing the reinstatement of the China initiative, recognizing the Biden administration's actions in ending it, and the release of NSPM 33 to harmonize disclosures. She emphasized AASF's ongoing opposition efforts with a coalition of 50 organizations and the importance of community support in this endeavor. · AASF will hold its annual symposium on July 27 focusing on emerging technologies. It will honor Asian American pioneers and involve high school students in celebrating Asian American history and innovation. The symposium will feature top scientists in AI, life sciences, and other emerging technologies. Gisela encourages community participation and emphasizes the importance of Asian American representation in shaping policies and regulations for emerging technologies. AASF celebrates Asian American scholar excellence and strives to shift away from the environment of scapegoating. · Gisela discussed AASF's accomplishments in the past year, including its growth and mobilizations to improve the climate on university and college campuses, support of individual cases, as well as advocacy efforts with the Biden administration, Congress, federal agencies, community partners. AASF operates behind the scenes with partners listening to stories of people on the ground and seeing how AASF can make sure that their stories are not just collateral damage, but that on a high level AASF can change many of these policies that are directly impacting them. · AASF launched a pioneer project and collaboration with the National Asian Pacific American Smithsonian Museum, which was shared by the National Science Foundation Director and has over 18,000 viewers. AASF is committed to preserving the history of Asian American scholars and addressing urgent issues, such as incidents of profiling at the border and impacts of a restrictive Florida law SB 864 that restricts Florida's public colleges and universities from hiring researchers and graduate students from several countries of concern that include China and Iran. AASF has prepared an explainer and is working on an impact assessment specifically for professors. Gisela emphasized the importance of keeping Congressional members aware and community support and involvement in their efforts. In conclusion, Gisela expressed appreciation for support and hopes for continued growth and advocacy for the Asian American scholar community in the upcoming year.Contact Gisela at gpkusakawa@aasforum.org . Read the partial summary of the February 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting at: https://bit.ly/49jyZPH . Watch Gisela's talk and the February monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/49okkmc (57:00) State of Renewal of US-China Science and Technology Agreement According to Nature on February 8, China and the United States will once again probably delay the renewal of a decades-old Science and Technology Agreement (STA). The two nations have been negotiating for the past six months but need more time to settle new terms and conditions requested by both sides, sources tell Nature .The STA, which is usually renewed every five years, was due to expire on August 27 last year. The US and China approved a six-month extension of the current agreement until February 27, to give officials time to renegotiate. Now, it looks like they will delay it again, and approve a second extension, says Denis Simon , a specialist on US–China innovation and trade relations at the Institute for China–America Studies in Washington DC.According to Simon, over the past six months, US and Chinese negotiators have met several times to hash out a new pact — a positive sign. The US wants assurances of the personal safety of its scientists who travel to China for collaborative projects and greater clarity over the access, ownership and sharing of data, According to Marina Zhang at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, China also has some reservations about renewing the pact as it currently stands. It is concerned that the agreement might encourage Chinese scientists to leave and work in the United States. Deborah Seligsohn , a specialist in US–China relations at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, observes that the US might also want to restrict the fields of research while the previous agreement had no restrictions on the types of research that were available for partnership. Researchers slam this idea. Professor Steven Kivelson at Stanford University in California, says that ending collaboration with China in quantum materials would be like “cutting off our own arms.” Kivelson and his colleague, Stanford Professor Peter Michelson , wrote to US President Joe Biden last year urging the government to renew the pact. More than 1,000 academics signed the letter: https://bit.ly/44xTNPX .Read the Nature report: https://go.nature.com/3T3Cx2B . Read the Congressional Research Service backgrounder: https://bit.ly/4bFqtMh When asked about the state of the renewal of the US-China STA during the House Committee hearing on February 15, 2024, OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar responded that the matter is in the hands of the State Department. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/02/22 Census Bureau: Exploring the Diversity and Growth of the Asian American Population2024/02/27-28 President's Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs Meeting and Solicitation for Oral and Written Comments2024/02/28 WHI: Community Engagement Event2024/02/29 CAMDC Deadline for Essay Contest2024/03/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/03/04 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. UCA: 2024 Chinese American Convention United Chinese Americans (UCA) announced that it will hold the 2024 Chinese American Convention in Washington DC on June 27-30, 2024. Visit https://bit.ly/3T41PxC if you wish to propose a topic for the convention. Back View PDF February 22, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #356 Ohio Rally; Mike German; Birthright Citizenship; 7/7 Meeting Summary; Student Arrivals #356 Ohio Rally; Mike German; Birthright Citizenship; 7/7 Meeting Summary; Student Arrivals In This Issue #356 · Ohio Residents Rally Against Anti-Immigrant Property Bills · Mike German Retires After Distinguished Career · Appeals Court Rules Against Trump Order to End Birthright Citizenship · July 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted · International Student Arrivals Drop 19% · News and Activities for the Communities Ohio Residents Rally Against Anti-Immigrant Property Bills On September 27, 2025, hundreds of Ohio residents rallied at the Statehouse to protest Ohio House Bill 1 (HB1) and Senate Bill 88 (SB88), legislation they argue discriminates against immigrants from China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia under the guise of national security. Organized by the Asian American Coalition of Ohio, Justice for Ohio, and the Ohio Chinese American Association, with support from 11 organizations including the ACLU of Ohio, the protest condemned the bills for threatening immigrants’ property rights and civil liberties. The Ohio HB1 and SB88 would bar non-U.S. citizens from these countries from owning or purchasing property, with SB88 mandating that affected property owners sell within two years. The bills also prohibit businesses controlled by “restricted persons” or headquartered in “foreign adversary” countries from owning Ohio real estate. Critics argue Ohio HB1 and SB88 violate the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act, which bans discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or national origin in housing. They draw parallels to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and alien land laws, recalling historical injustices like the 1887 Los Angeles Chinese Massacre and the WWII incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. Protesters also decried the Ohio HB1 and SB88’s use of an overly broad definition of “critical infrastructure”—including everyday facilities like cell towers, power lines, railroads, and water and sewage lines —to restrict property ownership within 25 miles of such sites, effectively covering most of Ohio. They warn this could displace families, workers, and businesses, devastating the state’s economy. A similar Texas law, SB17, has already led to discriminatory lending practices, and Ohio residents fear HB1 and SB88 could trigger a similar chilling effect, forcing economic loss and displacement. The rally, attended by diverse communities including Asian, Black, White, Muslim, and faith leaders, urged lawmakers to halt the bills immediately. Media reports: · Ohio Capital Journal: Demonstrators protest Ohio land ownership measures that target Chinese immigrants · The Lantern: House Bill 1, Senate Bill 88 Protested Saturday at the Ohio Statehouse · Toledo Free Press: Ohio Statehouse rally against HB1 and SB88 · World Journal: 批俄州新法歧視華人 華社聚集州府抗議 · Justice for Ohio: 9/27 People’s Rally against Ohio HB1/SB88 Recap Reel Mike German Retires After Distinguished Career Mike German , a longtime civil liberties advocate and former FBI agent, has retired from his position as a fellow in the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program. Widely respected for his expertise on privacy, civil liberties, and federal law enforcement reform, his retirement marks a significant loss to the national community of advocates and scholars.Mike spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 6, 2025, reflecting on his career and his work exposing white nationalism, government overreach, and the scapegoating of minority communities—including Asian Americans targeted under the China Initiative. At the same meeting, Pat Eddington , Senior Fellow in Homeland Security and Civil Liberties at the Cato Institute, shared a blog post titled “ A Retired FBI Agent’s Advice on Fighting Authoritarianism .” In it, he paid tribute to Mike: “Mike’s well-earned rest from the insanity of the public policy arena will leave not just the Brennan Center without one of its most authoritative voices on civil liberties—his departure creates a void in the entire privacy and civil liberties professional community that absolutely nobody will be able to fill.” Pat also noted that Mike leaves behind a powerful parting gift: thoughtful analysis and guidance on how to resist the growing tide of coercive, law enforcement-enabled authoritarianism emanating from Washington. Mike’s final essay for the Brennan Center, “ Federalism as a Check on Abuses by Federal Law Enforcement ,” argues that state and local governments can—and must—counter federal overreach by conditioning their cooperation and ending partnerships when necessary. He reminds readers that federal agencies rely far more on local law enforcement collaboration than the reverse. The essay warns that unaccountable task forces, immigration raids, and fusion centers have eroded state and local control, often at the expense of community values and civil rights. Mike calls on state and local leaders to reassert their constitutional authority to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of residents from federal abuse. A full summary of the October 6 APA Justice meeting is in preparation. Appeals Court Rules Against Trump Order to End Birthright Citizenship According to AP News , CBS , Newsweek , Reuters , The Hill , and multiple media reports, a federal appeals court in Boston has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals became the fifth federal court to block the president’s executive order on birthright citizenship, finding it likely unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. Chief Judge David Barron , writing for the court, noted: “Our nation’s history of efforts to restrict birthright citizenship — from Dred Scott in the decade before the Civil War to the attempted justification for the enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act in Wong Kim Ark — has not been a proud one... Those efforts were rejected — once by the people through constitutional amendment in 1868 and once by the Court relying on that same amendment three decades later — at a time when tensions over immigration were also high.” The court upheld nationwide injunctions halting enforcement of the order and warned against breaking from the nation’s longstanding tradition of recognizing birthright citizenship. California Attorney General Rob Bonta welcomed the ruling, calling it a vital protection of constitutional rights.A separate appeals court issued a similar decision. The ACLU emphasized that citizenship “cannot depend on a politician’s discretion.” In a statement , Connecticut Attorney General William Tong praised the First Circuit for upholding the nationwide injunction. He called the ruling “as clear as it gets,” stating that there is “zero legitimate debate” — anyone born on U.S. soil is an American citizen under the Fourteenth Amendment. Tong added that his office will continue to “vigorously and relentlessly defend our nation of laws and the safety of our families.”Connecticut joined 17 other states, the District of Columbia, and the City of San Francisco in challenging the order. The Supreme Court previously struck down a nationwide injunction but remanded the case for further review. The U.S. District Court in Massachusetts reaffirmed the injunction, which has now been upheld by the First Circuit.Tong, who was born in Hartford and became the first U.S. citizen in his family by right of birth, noted the issue’s personal significance. He attended Supreme Court oral arguments on May 15, 2025, and discussed the matter earlier at the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025.The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a definitive ruling on the legality of the president’s executive order on birthright citizenship. July 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Summary for the July 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/3KGWFWQ .We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Paul Cheung 鄭文耀 , President, Committee of 100 · Lynn Pasquerella , President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) · Toby Smith , Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy, American Association of Universities (AAU) · Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Founder and President, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance · Tony Chan 陳繁昌 , Former President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Former President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ***** Toby Smith pointed out that American Association of Universities (AAU) priorities have not changed dramatically but the volume and nature of the challenges have evolved. Research Funding and Student Aid Cuts The most recent development is the Reconciliation Bill. AAU remains concerned about several of its implications, particularly regarding student aid. AAU saw reductions, including the cancellation of the Grad PLUS loan program and new caps on student loan amounts. While AAU successfully pushed back against some proposed restrictions—such as additional Pell Grant eligibility requirements that would have mandated taking more credit hours—other troubling elements remained.One particularly concerning provision was the increase in the endowment tax on private universities. The final version adopted the Senate’s smaller increase rather than the much higher rate proposed by the House, but it still represents a significant hit.Beyond the tax provisions, AAU's major focus continues to be on research funding. The proposed budget included a 40% reduction for NIH and a 56% cut to NSF. However, cuts began even before the budget was released, in the form of grant cancellations.In several cases, researchers were informed that grants—already funded and underway—were being terminated due to changes in administration priorities. Some of these grants were cut under the guise of opposing DEI, while others targeted areas such as climate change, AIDS, and vaccine research. This is deeply troubling.What’s especially concerning is the apparent weaponization of research funding as a punitive response to unrelated campus controversies—something AAU has seen at institutions like Harvard, Penn, and Columbia. Universities conduct research on behalf of the American people and serve as a primary mechanism through which our government advances innovation and discovery. When a cancer research grant is canceled mid-project, it doesn’t just hurt faculty or students—it undermines societal progress.Before World War II, universities were hesitant to accept federal funding due to fears of government interference in academic research. After the war, visionaries like Vannevar Bush helped establish a post-war scientific enterprise, convincing institutions that public funding and academic freedom could coexist. Unfortunately, today we are witnessing those old fears becoming reality once again. Legal Action and Public Advocacy Campaign: AAU has existed for 125 years—founded in 1900—and until this year, had never sued the federal government. Now, AAU has initiated four lawsuits, adding the Department of Defense to the list that already included NIH, NSF, and the Department of Energy. These lawsuits challenge the unilateral capping of indirect cost recovery—implemented without notice and in violation of OMB’s uniform grant guidance. The lawsuits have progressed well so far, and Toby remains optimistic. They are being pursued under the Administrative Procedure Act, not the broader issues addressed in recent Supreme Court decisions.More broadly, AAU has shifted into crisis-response mode. Increasing numbers of university presidents are traveling to D.C. to meet with members of Congress. The AAU Board, which previously met quarterly, is now meeting weekly. A new ad hoc committee has been established to help build a renewed University–Federal Government partnership. AAU is also working closely with various constituency groups to raise concerns about the sustained attacks on research and higher education—making the case that what’s at stake is not just the future of universities, but the future of the nation.As a major new step, AAU has launched a 501(c)(4) organization to support a nationwide advertising campaign. The campaign is already live in key states, encouraging constituents to contact their members of Congress. The message is simple but powerful: Research matters. Whether it’s agriculture, health, national security, or economic growth—research drives American strength.And the people conducting this research—many of whom came to this country because they believe in its values—deserve our support. They are essential to our future. International Student Arrivals Drop 19% According to AP News , Inside Higher Ed , and multiple media reports, in August, international student arrivals in the U.S. fell by 19 percent compared to August 2024. The drop aligns with forecasts of visa-related disruptions but contrasts with Department of Homeland Security figures suggesting a slight increase, which experts say are inaccurate due to incomplete reporting and data timing issues.Experts caution that entry data does not capture students who stayed in-country over summer or those who arrived later, yet the drop aligns with reports of institutions enrolling fewer international students this fall.One educator observed: “We’ve heard [all summer] of reduced capacity at key posts around the world even after the freeze was supposed to be lifted.” The National Travel and Tourism Office data indicate that visa freezes and delays during peak months severely restricted student entry, especially from Africa (-32%), Asia (-24%), and the Middle East (-17%). The steepest national declines came from Iran (-86%), Syria (-63%), Haiti (-57%), Ghana (-51%), Nigeria (-48%), and India (-45%), the largest source of international students. Experts warn the true decline may exceed 20%, with ripple effects on university finances, local economies, and U.S. global competitiveness. Analysts also fear deeper losses in 2026 as students increasingly turn to other countries. The Institute of International Education is expected to release more definitive fall enrollment data in November. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/10/10 Defending Academics and Institutions in Foreign Interference and Research Security Matters2025/10/16 Bridging Nations: The Power of People-to-People Exchange in U.S.-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the Law2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/11/20 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing2025/11/25 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Elaine ChaoVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. C100 Conversations: Elaine Chao 赵小兰 WHAT : Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heros: Elaine Chao 赵小兰 WHEN : November 25, 2025, 6:00 pm ET WHERE : Online event HOST : Committee of 100 Moderator: Peter Young , Chair of the Conversations Initiative and Committee of 100 New York Regional Chair and Board Member Speaker : Elaine Chao , 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation DESCRIPTION : Secretary Elaine Chao is the first Asian-Pacific American woman to serve in the President’s cabinet in American history. She has been confirmed to two cabinet positions by the United States Senate on a strong bipartisan basis: U. S. Secretary of Labor and U. S. Secretary of Transportation. She will reflect on her remarkable journey as an immigrant, trailblazer, and leader at the highest levels of government, and her insights on leadership, resilience, and service to the nation. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/48ozpXq # # # 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 October 10, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #159 1/9 Meeting; Thomas Keon Under Fire; Franklin Tao; NSF Grant Inequity; Community News #159 1/9 Meeting; Thomas Keon Under Fire; Franklin Tao; NSF Grant Inequity; Community News In This Issue #159 2023/01/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Thomas Keon Under Fire Update on the Case of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao 陶丰 Asian Researchers Face Disparity With National Science Foundation Asian American and Academic Community News and Activities 01/09/2023 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, January 9, 2023. Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心 , Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), to review 2022 and look to what is ahead in 2023 Sherry Chen 陈霞芬 , Hydrologist, U.S. Department of Commerce, to remark on her historic settlement and justice Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President, United Chinese Americans, and Vincent Wang 王文奎 , Co-organizer, APA Justice; Chair, Ohio Chinese American, to recap Justice for Sherry Chen Congressional Reception and more Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director, and Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, National Security Project, ACLU, look forward to 2023 after the historic settlement of Sherry Chen as the Top 4 ACLU accomplishment in 2022: the Third Circuit Court decision on Professor Xiaoxing Xi's case; questioning of Asian American scientists at the border; upcoming debate in Congress about whether to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which may increasingly sweep up people communicating with family, friends, and business contacts in China; and efforts to strengthen protections against profiling and discrimination by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). John Trasvina , Civil Rights Attorney; Former Counsel, Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution; Former Dean, University of San Francisco School of Law, to discuss the nomination for U.S. Attorney of Eastern District of Tennessee John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC on the Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program and Related Activities The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei, Vincent Wang, and Jeremy Wu - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Read past monthly meeting summaries here: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP . Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Thomas Keon Under Fire On January 5, 2023, Inside Higher Ed published " Battling the Fallout of a Racist Comment ." According to the report, Purdue Northwest (PNW) faculty members want Chancellor Thomas L. Keon to step down after a racist remark. Keon is clinging to his job despite a reprimand from the Board of Trustees. As pressure mounts both on and off campus, Keon is resisting calls for his resignation.On December 14, Keon issued an apology. On December 16, the PNW chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) concludes in a press release that "the time has come for Chancellor Keon to resign, or else to be removed by the Purdue University Board of Trustees." On December 22, Purdue’s Board of Trustees announced that it had reprimanded Keon for his “offensive and insensitive” joke, which was “unbecoming of his role as chancellor, and unacceptable for an occasion that should be remembered solely for its celebratory and unifying atmosphere.” The day before the reprimand, the PNW Faculty Senate passed a vote of no confidence in the chancellor and requested Keon's resignation.“What he did was reprehensible, and no one who has done anything that offensive should ever be in a position to represent a university,” said Thomas Roach , PNW’s Faculty Senate chair. “And the Board of Trustees should know that, and they should have removed him immediately without us having to take that vote. The board is treating it as if he made this little mistake, and they don’t want to damage his career because of one mistake. Well, that’s a pretty big mistake for the chancellor of the university.” In addition to the faculty, some PNW student groups denounced Keon. Condemnations of the chancellor’s actions have also rolled in from outside groups, including the Asian American Scholars Forum , Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education , Association for Asian American Studies , OCA , Japanese American Citizens League , National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum Indiana Chapter , Committee of 100 , Friends of the Chinese American Museum , and Asian American Alliance. On January 6, the Urban League asked Keon to resign from his post on its local affiliate's board.On January 1, Mung Chiang 蔣濛 , a Chinese American born in China, began his tenure as the 13th President of Purdue University . At age 47, he is the youngest president of an Association of American Universities (AAU) university. Observers and advocates are reportedly hoping Chiang will address the issue regarding the chancellor. Update on the Case of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao 陶丰 Kansas University (KU) Professor Franklin Tao was the first academic to be indicted under the now-defunct "China Initiative" in August 2019.On January 18, 2023, Dr. Tao will be sentenced on a single count for false statements that he did not disclose his relationship with Fuzhou University (FZU) in China as a Chang Jiang Distinguished Professor. There was no evidence that Dr. Tao received any payment from FZU, but the disclosure was false because Dr. Tao had conflicts of time or interest, according to the government. As a result of the conviction of one count, Dr. Tao faces a sentencing guideline range of 0-6 months. Federal prosecutors want a sentence of 30 months in prison.According to the Sentencing Memorandum , attorneys for Dr. Tao requested a sentence of time-served, concluding that: "Dr. Tao not only has no criminal history; he has no prior arrests. There can be no serious suggestion that Dr. Tao is at risk to re-offend. Given that Dr. Tao has essentially been on probation for the past three and one-half years, required to wear an ankle-bracelet and unable to travel without Court permission; given the ruinous effect of this prosecution on his career, his life, and his family and his finances, a sentence of time-served is appropriate and justified. This conviction, alone, is enough, and is no 'slap on the wrist': the life that Dr. Tao knew prior to his arrest is over, forever. He was convicted of a felony—a label that he will be forced to wear for the rest of his life. He and his family have already endured great psychological trauma during the last three and one half years, with everlasting consequences for all of them. His family is on the brink of bankruptcy. No pecuniary harm resulted from Dr. Tao’s conduct. In the circumstances of this case, a sentence of time-served is sufficient to satisfy the statutory purposes of sentencing." Professor Tao was originally charged with eight counts of wire fraud and two counts of false statements. After the government voluntarily dismissed one wire fraud and one false statement count before trial, the jury acquitted Professor Tao of three additional wire-fraud charges and one false statement charge. The Court subsequently granted Professor Tao’s Motion for Judgment of Acquittal and acquitted Dr. Tao on the three remaining wire fraud counts. The lone remaining count is false statements.Read more about Dr. Tao's case at https://bit.ly/3fZWJvK Asian Researchers Face Disparity With National Science Foundation On January 4, 2023, the New York Times reported on " Asian Researchers Face Disparity With Key U.S. Science Funding Source. " According to the report, White researchers fared best in winning grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) based on the findings of a paper published in November in the journal eLife . Asians encounter the highest rate of rejections, challenging an academic stereotype. The NSF is a federal agency that finances several billion dollars in grants each year to support a swath of basic science research in the United States, including biology, chemistry, computer science, geosciences, mathematics and physics. For university professors and others in academia, the NSF often provides the crucial financial lifeblood for a successful career. From 1999 to 2019, the proportion of proposals that received funding fluctuated between 22 and 34 percent depending on the number of submissions and the available budget, which varies based on yearly congressional appropriations. In 2019, for example, NSF received 41,024 proposals and financed 27.4 percent of them. A typical grant lasts three years, and the average annual award amount that year, including both new awards and continuing awards, was $189, 000.Latino scientists did slightly better than average that year, with 29 percent of their proposals funded, and proposals by Black scientists did slightly worse than average, at 26.5 percent. For proposals led by white scientists, 31.3 percent were funded, while only 22.7 percent of those led by Asian scientists were funded. The eCell paper was authored by seven researchers led by Dr. Christine Yifeng Chen , a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. It was also reported and discussed by the American Physical Society on November 8, 2022. The eCell paper infers that white scientists have received a “surplus” of 12,820 NSF awards over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, Asian scientists have a “deficit” of 9701 awards. For Black and Hispanic scientists, the deficits are 417 and 175 awards, respectively. The racial disparity issue echoes a commentary published last year in the journal Cell by Yuh Nung Jan , a professor of physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, that showed that Asian scientists in biomedical research rarely received top prizes in their fields. Dr. Jan found that just 57, or less than 7 percent, of 838 winners of American biomedical prizes were Asian, even though Asian scientists now account for more than a fifth of the researchers in these fields. The NSF will launch a new program called Analytics for Equity this month, asking researchers to propose projects that would investigate diversity data at the NSF and other federal agencies. The National Science Board, which sets policy for NSF, voted to establish a commission to study NSF review process, citing “internal and external reports of racial disparities in merit review." Asian American and Academic Community News and Activities Portman Amendment Excluded from FY23 NDAA. On December 9, 2023, seven community groups including APA Justice issued a press release applauding the exclusion of Senate Amendment 5810, the Safeguarding American Innovation Act, in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. Introduced by Senator Rob Portman , this amendment would have had long standing impacts and ramifications for the broader Asian American and immigrant communities, particularly those of Chinese descent. It would have criminalized disclosures on federal grant applications and subjected immigrants, scientists, researchers and their families to imprisonment, steep civil fines, immigrant visa restrictions, and enduring damage. Supported by dozens of other immigrant rights groups, Asian American advocates, and professional organizations, the coalition submitted a formal letter to the offices of House Speaker Pelosi , House Minority Leader McCarthy , Senate Majority Leader Schumer , and Senate Minority Leader McConnell . AASF Campaign on Disclosure Requirements. After their submission of recommendations to the National Science Foundation (NSF), Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) is continuing its campaign on disclosure requirements. Organizations are welcomed to join. The goal is to educate groups such as the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association that do not normally work on science or research security to become more engaged in disclosure issues. Read more about the AASF recommendations at https://bit.ly/3ZihfPZ . Contact Gisela Kusakawa , AASF Executive Director, for more details at gpkusakawa@aasforum.org Growing Concerns about Border Harassment. There are growing concerns that students and faculty of Asian origin, particularly those of Chinese origin, are increasingly getting harassed at the border. Members of the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) were reportedly too frightened to travel abraod during the holidays and kept their travels domestic. AASF is gathering stories from its members and the community network in partnership with the US-Asia Institute at the New York University Law School. Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director of the ACLU National Security Project, will include this topic as part of his talk at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 9, 2023. The President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The Commission held its fourth public meeting over the course of two days on December 5-6, 2022, to approve additional recommendations for submission to President Joe Biden. Watch the meeting on YouTube day one (video 2:03:08) and day two (video 1:59:13). The Commission released its inaugural report detailing recommendations on six primary areas - Belonging, Inclusion, Anti-Asian Hate, Anti-Discrimination; Health Equity; Immigration and Citizenship Status; Language Access; Data Disaggregation; and Economic Equity - that were approved on May 12, 2022, and transmitted to the President on August 24, 2022. In addition to the December meeting, the Commission held public meetings in February, May, and September. Learn more about the Commission and the Biden Administration's whole-of-government approach to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. https://bit.ly/3invK4g Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF January 9, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #54 Comments To NIH; 04/05 Meeting Summary; "We Belong" Yellow Whistle Project #54 Comments To NIH; 04/05 Meeting Summary; "We Belong" Yellow Whistle Project Back View PDF April 12, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #180 5/1 Meeting; Preemption of Real Property Discrimination; Vincent Chin; Cato Report; + #180 5/1 Meeting; Preemption of Real Property Discrimination; Vincent Chin; Cato Report; + In This Issue #180 2023/05/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting CAPAC Organizational Endorsement Form for Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act Vincent Chin Institute Launched - Rhetoric Can Result in Harm and Even Murder Cato Institute: Abandoning the US, More Scientists Go to China Activities and News for the Communities 2023/05/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, May 1, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Erika L. Moritsugu , Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, will deliver a special video from the White House to start the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Brenna Isman , Director of Academy Studies, National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), will provide a brief description of the history, mission, and purpose of NAPA, its "Grand Challenges" campaign for public administration, and its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts and commissioned studies. Paula Williams Madison , Paula Williams Madison, Former Print and TV Journalist, Retired NBCUniversal executive and GE Company Officer, Former Vice President of the Los Angeles Police Commission and owner of The Africa Channel, will provide a recap of the April 17 Roundtable and share the possible next steps for this important work that may have long-lasting impact to the AAPI community and the American society overall.Updates will be provided in the meeting by: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum.The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. 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 . CAPAC Organizational Endorsement Form for Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act The Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act (draft) is sponsored by Rep. Al Green (TX-9) and co-led by Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28). We kindly ask that all organizations who would like to endorse do so by filling out the form here no later than Friday, May 5, 12pm ET. This form is for ORGANIZATIONAL endorsement only.As you may be aware, there are state laws throughout the U.S. that place restrictions on the acquisition or possession of real property in those states by citizens of foreign nations. These laws are often driven by concerns over commercial interests or national security. However, recent legislation introduced in states like Texas, South Carolina, and others include a flat prohibition on the purchase or acquisition of real property by the citizens of a select number of countries – Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China.We have seen policies like this before in our nation’s history – in the 1800s, when anti-Chinese sentiment culminated in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the creation of alien land laws, or during World War II when tensions with Japan led to the stripping of land ownership rights from Japanese immigrants and the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. By refusing individuals from these foreign countries basic property rights, these bills take an unacceptable step toward xenophobia, nationalism, and discrimination. Therefore, the Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act would do exactly that – preempt at the federal level state laws that would seek to deny foreign citizens the right to acquire real property in the United States. Full text of the bill can be read here: https://bit.ly/3HjM8fG . Fill out the form to endorse the bill here: https://bit.ly/426n97q Please email Scott Bell ( scott.bell@mail.house.gov ), Nisha Ramachandran ( nisha.ramachandran@mail.house.gov ), and Casey Lee ( casey.lee@mail.house.gov ) if you have any questions. Six-City Rally to Protest Florida Senate Bill 264 and House 1355 On April 29, 2023, The Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) and a broad coalition of organizations led a state-wide rally to protest the Senate Bill 264 and House Bill 1355 in Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee, and Tampa. According to a joint press release , these bills violate the United States Constitution, the Florida State Constitution, the Fair Housing Act, and federal and state regulations that protect civil liberties and equal rights for all immigrants. By preventing Asian and other immigrants from owning real property, these bills unfairly discriminate against a specific group of people based on their national origin.The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and its regional affiliates issued a statement opposing the Florida bills , so did the United Chinese Americans . An online petition to End AAPI Hate and Discrimination in Florida has collected more than 27,000 signatures.At Orlando, WESH2-TV reported on the event; FCRTV佛州华语广播电视台 provided a livestreaming report (video 1:18:29). Snapshots from the rallies: Vincent Chin Institute Launched - Rhetoric Can Result in Harm and Even Murder According to NBC News on April 26, 2023, and Ethnic Media Services on April 28, 2023, the Vincent Chin Institute was launched on April 26, 2023, at a news conference at the Congressional Triangle in Washington, D.C. joined by Members of Congress Judy Chu , Grace Meng , Mark Takano , the Smithsonian Under Secretary for Education Monique Chism , the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center APAC Acting Director Yao-Fen You , and Helen Zia .The launch coincided with the release of the second edition of the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide which is available in Arabic , Bengali , Simplified Chinese , Traditional Chinese , and English . Additional versions in Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese will reportedly become available. The Legacy Guide was co-written by Helen Zia, which provides further education about the history of anti-Asian discrimination and racism in the United States.Excerpts of the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide recommendations include: Be prepared for anti-Asian incidents Engage your campus, community, church, workplace employee resource groups, social clubs and the like to educate and increase awareness to combat hate toward any people Reach out to local businesses Be a courageous ally Call on national, state and local leaders Support solidarity movements Demand that your state include curriculum about Asian Americans at the K-12 levels Connect the dots. Know your own Asian American stories and those of other marginalized people in America Stay informed Amplify the voices and stories of historically marginalized communities In 1982, the horrific baseball bat beating death of Vincent Chin on the eve of his bachelor party, and the miscarriage of justice that allowed his two white killers to be freed without spending a night in jail, ignited the modern Asian American civil rights movement and built a multiracial, multicultural coalition united for equal justice and human dignity which stands as a landmark of American history.Over 40 years later, Vincent Chin's story remains starkly relevant— especially in an era of sharp anti-Asian racism and Sinophobia. At the time, the economic rivalry between the US and Japan triggered targeted hate against Asian Americans, and was a direct cause of Chin’s death. At the launch, speakers drew parallels between the circumstances of Chin’s death and the anti-Asian racism today that puts all Asian Americans at risk. They highlighted how Chinese Americans are scapegoated for the COVID-19 pandemic; face proposed discriminatory legislation, such as alien land laws and Trump’s "China Initiative;" and are routinely suspected of spying for China. Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to congress, was also recently accused of being disloyal to the US by Texas Rep. Lance Gooden . These effects, though aimed at Chinese Americans, inevitably affect all Asian Americans. Chin, for instance, was killed in an era of anti-Japanese sentiment — despite being Chinese himself.Speakers contended that learning from the circumstances of Chin’s death is critical to prevent the same hate from threatening AAPI lives. Yet Chin’s story remains underdiscussed: It is rarely taught in schools, and the historical context surrounding it is often missing. Chu, for instance, frequently references Chin’s death when opposing anti-China rhetoric in Congress. Yet, she is consistently met with ignorance from other legislators on his story. "Each time we take on this fight… I talk about what happened to Vincent Chin. Some members of Congress are shocked because they never even heard of story,” said Chu. “Already, Asian Americans have been suffering three years of anti-Asian hate due to Trump calling Covid-19 ‘China virus’ and ‘kung flu,’” she said. “But now, the rhetoric and tension about the U.S.-China relationship comes on top of that, potentially escalating that violence. Today, the focus has shifted to extremists engaging in racial profiling of Chinese Americans.” “Today, over 40 years later, what we learned is that the rhetoric used around economic competition with Asian countries can result in harm and even murder of Asian Americans here at home,” Chu said. Read the Ethnic Media Services report at https://bit.ly/420wCNK . Read the NBC News report at https://nbcnews.to/42am6Ua . Visit the Vincent Chin Institute website at https://www.vincentchin.org/ Cato Institute: Abandoning the US, More Scientists Go to China According to the Cato Institute on April 11, 2023, The Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD)—an intergovernmental organization with 38 member countries—has published new data showing that the United States is losing the race for scientific talent to China and other countries. China’s strategy to recruit scientific researchers to work at China‐affiliated universities is working. In 2021, the United States lost published research scientists to other countries, while China gained more than 2,408 scientific authors. This was a remarkable turnaround from as recently as 2017 when the United States picked up 4,292 scientists and China picked up just 116. As Figure 1 shows, the rest of the OECD and China have both surpassed the United States for net inflow of scientific authors. The OECD data are not measuring the movement of non‐Chinese into China or non‐Americans into the United States. The OECD tracks inflows and outflows of published scientific researchers based on changes in institutional affiliation. If an author who was previously affiliated with a different country publishes another article in a new country, the new country will be credited as receiving a new research scientist. The OECD credits more Chinese scientists returning to China for the sudden reversal in Chinese and American inflows. This is a disturbing trend that started before the pandemic. In fact, it appears to coincide with the Trump administration’s “ China Initiative ”—more accurately titled the anti‐ Chinese initiative . Launched in November 2018, the Department of Justice’s campaign was supposed to combat the overblown threat of intellectual property theft and espionage. In reality, it involved repeatedly intimidating institutions that employed scientists of Chinese heritage and attempting malicious failed prosecutions of scientists who worked with institutions in China. U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling has even admitted that the initiative that he helped lead “created a climate of fear among researchers” and now says, “You don’t want people to be scared of collaboration.” If Chinese scientists are afraid to work in the United States, that means that the United States will not benefit from their discoveries as much or as quickly as China will. Although the Justice Department claims to have shut down its “China Initiative,” Cato colleagues doubt that Chinese scientists will be free from unjust scrutiny going forward. The U.S. National Institutes of Health is still bragging about having caused the firings of more than 100 scientists and shutting down research by over 150 scientists— over 80 percent of whom identify as Asian . The administration continues to maintain contrary to evidence that Chinese industrial espionage—by scientists working in the United States—is a significant threat to the country. Universities and U.S. companies think the far greater threat is losing out on talented Chinese researchers. If the United States wants to deal a blow to the Chinese Communist Party, it should start by trying to fix the damage that it has done in the last few years and liberalize immigration from China . Read the Cato Institute blog: https://bit.ly/3AJ9w28 News and Activities for the Communities 1. U.S.-China Scholarly Exchange Initiative A new report by the CSIS Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics recounts a groundbreaking U.S.-China scholarly exchange initiative that occurred during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Trustee Chair Scott Kennedy and Professor Wang Jisi of Peking University, founding president of Peking University’s Institute of International Strategic Studies (IISS), argue that although the deterioration in U.S.-China relations pre-dates the mutual physical isolation of the two countries from each other, renewing robust direct communication between the two societies is necessary, if not sufficient, to stabilizing ties. The report documents the goals and planning for their trips, the unique challenge of traveling during the pandemic, and their observations regarding developments within the two societies and with respect to the bilateral relationship. The report concludes by explaining how the reduction in connectivity has led to the creation of echo chambers, which has fed a vicious cycle further propelling the worsening of ties. They offer a set of five policy proposals intended to interrupt this dynamic, including restoring direct connections across the two societies and resuming and expanding dialogue between the two governments. Read the joint report at: https://bit.ly/3AAbguR Preceding their Breaking the Ice report launch, Scott Kennedy and Wang Jisi summarized their report in Foreign Affairs . They write that: "Whether one believes that the United States and China are destined to be adversaries, might somehow find a pathway back to greater cooperation, or will have a more complicated relationship, it should be clear that it would be better for people from both countries—government officials, business leaders, scholars, and ordinary citizens—to have a greater understanding of each other. And there is no better way to build such mutual understanding than through face-to-face interactions and visits in which people can observe each other’s societies and speak at length in formal and informal settings about their perspectives and experiences." Read the Foreign Affairs report: https://fam.ag/3ViNHQH 2 . Charles Lieber Sentenced to Time Served According to AP on April 26, 2023, former Harvard Professor Charles Lieber -- who was found guilty of concealing his affiliation with a Chinese recruitment program as part of the now-defunct "China Initiative" -- was sentenced to time served in prison (two days) and two years of supervised release with six months of home arrest. He has already paid a fine of $50,000 and restitution to the Internal Revenue Service of $33, 600.In December 2021, Lieber was found guilty of concealing his affiliation with the Wuhan University of Technology and his participation in China’s Thousand Talents Program, a program designed by the Chinese government to recruit high-level scientists, and failing to report payments on his taxes.Lieber’s case was one of the most notable to come out of the U.S. Department of Justice’s "China Initiative," started during the Trump administration in 2018 to curb economic espionage from China.Lieber's attorney Marc Mukasey stressed that Lieber was never charged with espionage-related offenses; was never accused of misusing grant money; there was no theft or trade secrets or intellectual property; and he did not disclose any proprietary research to the Chinese government or university.In February 2022 under the current administration, a decision was made to revamp the program and impose a higher bar for prosecutions after a review based on complaints that it compromised the nation’s competitiveness in research and technology and disproportionally targeted researchers of Asian descent. The federal government ended up dismissing multiple cases against researchers or had them thrown out by judges. Anqi Zhang , one of Lieber’s former doctoral students who is now doing post-doctoral work in chemical engineering at Stanford University, thinks her mentor’s motives have been misrepresented by the government. “He’s the best scientist and the best mentor in the world,” she said. “He’s a pure scientist, he worked very hard, and was focused completely on the science.”Read the AP report at: https://bit.ly/3oNTxND While making false statements to federal agents should not be excused, Professor Xiaoxing Xi of Temple University pointed out in his lecture to Iowa State University (video 58:52) on April 10, 2023, that the investigation of Professor Lieber started because there were "too many Chinese students in his lab." (time mark 22:24)According to Chemistry World on April 27, 2023, as a nanoscience pioneer, Lieber and his research group had received more than $15 million in grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense. Over his career, Lieber published more than 400 research papers, and he was the principal inventor on more than 50 patents. Lieber’s contributions to nanotechnology also earned him the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 2012.Dozens of prominent scientists including many Nobel laureates spoke up for Lieber in a March 2021 open letter . They called the DOJ’s case against him "unjust" and urged the agency to drop it. Their letter also described Lieber as "one of the great scientists of his generation" and warned that government actions against academic like him are having "a chilling effect" on international scientific collaboration.Lieber, who is living with advanced lymphoma and had been on paid administrative leave since his arrest, officially retired in February with little fanfare. Read the Chemistry World Explainer at https://bit.ly/3oUU9kR . Read the APA Justice webpage on Charlie Lieber at https://bit.ly/328FTJP Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF April 30, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #84 State Of Insecurity Report; 09/13 Meeting Summary/Video; "China Initiative" Unraveling #84 State Of Insecurity Report; 09/13 Meeting Summary/Video; "China Initiative" Unraveling Back View PDF September 17, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter