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Kaikai Zhao 赵凯凯 Docket ID: 1:20-cr-00187 District Court, S.D. Indiana Date filed: Aug 4, 2020 Date ended: July 26, 2021 Table of Contents Overview Five “Visa Fraud” Cases Links and References Overview On July 23, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of four scientists from China on claimed visa violation, including Kaikai Zhao. A fifth scientist was arrested for similar charges in August 2020. Kaikai Zhao applied for a United States Non-Immigrant Visa in June 2018 and was issued an F1 Visa for a PhD program studying machine learning and artificial Intelligence at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Indiana. On July 23, 2020, DOJ charged Kaikai Zhao and charged with one count of visa fraud and one count of making false statement. On July 23, 2021, Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Rinka motioned to dismiss the case against Kaikai Zhao “with prejudice, in the interests of justice.” On July 26, 2021, Judge James R. Sweeny, II, granted the dismissal of the case against Kaikai Zhao. The other four visa fraud cases were also dismissed at the same time. The five visa fraud cases including Kaikai Zhao were identified under the China Initiative, but they were removed from the DOJ online report after their dismissals. Five “Visa Fraud” Cases he Department of Justice (DOJ) announced visa fraud charges against four of five scientists from China on July 23, 2020. The fifth scientist, Lei Guan, was first charged in August 2020 for Destruction and Alteration of Records in a Federal Investigation with visa fraud charges added in September 2020. The announcement of the visa fraud cases coincided with the U.S. order to close China’s consulate in Houston, accusing it to be a "spy center" to conduct spying activities with local medical centers or universities. The five Chinese scientists are: Lei Guan (关磊) , Visiting researcher (mathematics), University of California at Los Angeles Dr. Chen Song (宋琛) , Visiting researcher (neurology), Stanford University Dr. Juan Tang (唐娟) , Visiting researcher (cancer), University of California at Davis Xin Wang (王欣) , Visiting researcher (neurology), University of California at San Francisco Kaikai Zhao (赵凯凯), Doctoral candidate (machine learning and artificial intelligence), Indiana University These five visa fraud cases were abruptly dismissed by DOJ in July 2021 without an explanation for the dismissals. Wyn Hornbuckle, a Justice Department spokesman issued a statement that said "[r]ecent developments in a handful of cases involving defendants with alleged, undisclosed ties to the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China have prompted the department to re-evaluate these prosecutions... We have determined that it is now in the interest of justice to dismiss them.” On July 22, 2021, Reuters reported that there was "recently disclosed evidence of a report by FBI analysts that questioned if the visa application question on 'military service' was clear enough for Chinese medical scientists at military universities and hospitals." In another report by the Washington Post, an unnamed official was quoted to say that "the punishment for visa fraud typically does not exceed a year. That fact, combined with the prospect of prolonged litigation in several instances, led officials to assess that the interests of justice were best served by dropping the cases." Upon further research, defense attorneys for Dr. Juan Tang filed a Defendant's Trial Brief and Memorandum Supporting Dismissal at Trial on July 19, 2021. It included a section on "The FBI’s Deliberate Failure to Disclose Critical Exculpatory Evidence to the Court and to the Defense Warrants a Dismissal of this Ill-Conceived Indictment." "There is dissension in the FBI’s own ranks," the trial brief started. It cited that the government intentionally did not comply with the discovery order for the trial and highlighted that "... just days ago, a heavily redacted report dated for release four months ago, on April 1, 2021, which the government did not disclose to this Court when it ruled on Dr. Tang’s Motion to Dismiss." Exhibit A shows a FBI Background Note dated April 1, which includes a statement that investigations and expert interviews "suggest that the visa application form (DS-160) potentially lacks clarity when it comes to declaring one's military service or affiliation." DOJ motioned to dismiss Dr. Juan Tang’s case four days before the trial was to start on July 26, 2021. On July 12, 2021, a partially redacted draft FBI report appeared as part of an exhibit in a non-motion response filed in the case of Lei Guan. The 28-page exhibit includes a draft white paper that provides assessments on seven cases under the "China Initiative," including the five that were dismissed. The draft paper states that targeting of the researcher and students "likely had minimal, short-term positive impact on the technology transfer threat from PRC students, scholars, and researchers." In addition, "[o]nly two of the arrests has a nexus to technology transfer violations, ... and none included charges related to other counterintelligence concerns." The operation "likely contributed to the deterioration of the FBI's delicate yet valuable relationship with some US universities by not exercising more caution before approaching PRC students." Although there was strong advice against investigating and arresting students and researchers with the operation, "several FBI field offices proceeded with visa fraud charges for individuals who met the criteria but did not meet the threshold for a high-priority technology transfer threat." "It is in the best national security interest of the FBI to strategically identify, target, and mitigate PRC technology transfer threats while also preserving educational opportunities in the United States for PRC students who do not pose a threat," said an unredacted portion of the FBI report. A footnote also stated that "the FBI does not consider clinical medicine an area of concern for PRC technology transfer." According to the exhibit, a FBI Supervisory Intelligence Analyst drafted the report as a response to a February 2021 award nomination. She was originally included as part of the award nomination but disagreed about the "high impact" the award's nomination claimed to have made. She did not think the arrest of the PLA students met the threshold for high impact at that time, as she assessed at an early stage the impact was minimal. The draft was a way for her to dispute the information contained in the awards packet. She removed herself from the award nomination. In December 2020, John Demers, former head of the China Initiative at DOJ, and William Evanina, former chief of the counterintelligence branch at ODNI, attributed without supporting facts and evidence that more than 1,000 Chinese researchers affiliated with China's People's Liberation Army fled the U.S. after the FBI conducted interviews in more than 20 cities and the State Department closed China’s Houston consulate in July 2020. Some of the visa fraud prosecutions were based on photos of the individuals in uniform. However, wearing a uniform does not always imply military service. There are two non-armed branches in the uniformed services of the United States, including the Public Health Service which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps which is part of the Department of Commerce. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #200 8/7 Monthly Meeting; US-China Science Agreement; Maui Need Help; March on Washington #200 8/7 Monthly Meeting; US-China Science Agreement; Maui Need Help; March on Washington In This Issue #200 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Future of 44-year-old Science Agreement Caught in Middle of U.S.-China Tensions Maui Inferno - The Communities Need Help 2023/08/26 March on Washington 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting APA Justice held its monthly meeting on August 7, 2023. Speakers included Nisha Ramachandran , Joanna Derman , Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Echo King 金美声 , Shuang Zhao 赵爽 , Andy Wong , Shanti Prasad , and Christine Chen . A written summary of the monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Presentation by Clay Zhu on Florida Chinese Radio Television (FCRTV) On July 22, Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Founder of Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) and a lead attorney in the lawsuit against Florida discriminatory alien land bill, gave a webinar "从微信案到佛州案：在美华人的维权之路和启发" to describe the road from the WeChat Ban to the Florida lawsuit and the inspiration of Chinese people in the United States to defend their rights. The webinar in Chinese was broadcast by FCRTV 佛州华语广播电视台. Watch the video at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOqobsVDX_A (2:05:26). Clay's 61-slide presentation is posted by the Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) at https://bit.ly/3OWbYdy Chinese for Affirmative Action 华人权益促进会 During the August 7 monthly meeting, Andy Wong andywong@caasf.org , Managing Director of Advocacy, and Shanti Prasad sprasad@caasf.org , Advocacy Manager, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), gave an introduction of CAA and described its recent roles and activities. CAA was founded in 1969 to protect the civil and political rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial democracy. Today, CAA is a progressive voice in and on behalf of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander community. It is also a co-founding partner of Stop AAPI Hate - the national coalition to address anti-AAPI racism in the U.S. Their 6-slide presentation is located here: https://bit.ly/3QBqQPQ APIA Vote During the August 7 monthly meeting, Christine Chen , Executive Director, APIAVote, gave an introduction of APIAVote and a report on "The Growing AAPI Electorate and What is at Stake." APIAVote’s work revolves around collaborating with national, regional, and local partners in order to equip advocates with the training, tools, resources, and best practices they need to do their best work as “trusted messengers” in their communities. Together, APIAVote’s Alliance for Civic Empowerment (ACE) envisions a world that is inclusive, fair, and collaborative, and where Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities are self-determined, empowered, and engaged. ACE is missing partners in some states in the Mid-West, South, and Northeast. Christine's presentation included the trend and historic AAPI turnout in 2020, a presidential election year, with 64% registered and 60% turnout. Christine also gave an outline of activities and training in 2023 and 2024. Her 18-slide presentation is located here: https://bit.ly/3DZBKY4 Future of 44-year-old Science Agreement Caught in Middle of U.S.-China Tensions According to Axios , the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and the South China Morning Post , one of the most foundational agreements between the United States and China, the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (STA), will expire on August 27, 2023.Originally signed in 1979, STA has been renewed about every five years with the last time being in 2018. The agreement laid out the terms for government-to-government cooperation in science, opening the way for academic and corporate interactions. It opened the door for scientists to collaborate in physics, chemistry, health and other areas. Cooperation between the countries helped China to transition from ozone-depleting CFCs and enabled the sharing of influenza data used to devise yearly vaccines.The STA signing gave "a form of permission for lab-to-lab, university-to-university, scientist-to-scientist cooperation," says John Holdren , former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) during the Obama administration. "It legitimized the whole notion that collaboration was respectable."More than four decades into the agreement that included a pandemic and several administrations of fiery rhetoric, the broader nature of that cooperation is being scrutinized over concerns about Beijing-backed intellectual property theft and the Chinese military benefitting from knowledge about U.S. scientific advances.Making a case for renewal, Deborah Seligsohn of CSIS, a think tank in Washington, said that as the first deal signed between Washington and Beijing after the normalization of ties, the agreement was of “enormous historic significance”.Seligsohn said the agreement had resulted in “many specific science and technology outcomes” that had greatly benefited the US and the rest of the world, from cooperation on the study of birth defects and influenza to fighting air pollution and HIV/Aids prevention.Over the years scientists on both sides had also worked together on almost 100 protocols and annexes under the agreement, “specifically, a number of changes to intellectual property protections”, she said. Seligsohn said non-renewal could complicate recent attempts to find areas of cooperation, including the “the types of people-to-people connections and educational exchanges” that Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed to promote during his visit to Beijing in June.“There is a real risk that any such improvements, including access to key health information and the ability to train the United States’ next generation of China experts, will be put at risk if the agreement lapses,” she said. Richard Suttmeier , a US-China science and tech cooperation expert at the University of Oregon, said letting the agreement lapse would not be “productive for finding the right terms for the larger relationship with China”.Suttmeier said it would probably be a mistake to let the deal lapse and the two countries needed to come up with an agreement that reflected the “realities of the third decade of the 21st century”. Suttmeier acknowledged that China had been the biggest beneficiary of the agreement – “largely because the US had been so far ahead of China in science and technology; there was less to learn from China than China could learn from the US”. “Nevertheless, the US benefited in a variety of ways,” he said. “Now, however, with China emerging as a scientific superpower, the flow of knowledge is going in both directions, so, in principle, the benefits to the US could be greater.” 2023/08/12 South China Morning Post : Clock ticks down for China-US science deal amid tech theft fears 2023/08/05 Axios : Future of 44-year-old science agreement caught in middle of U.S.-China tensions 2023/08/04 CSIS: The Case for Renewing the U.S.-China S&T Cooperation Agreement Maui Inferno - The Communities Need Help According to multiple media reports, Maui's wildfires have killed at least 96 people, a toll expected to rise. The fast-moving inferno, which started on August 8, 2023, spread from the brush outside of town and ravaged the historic city of Lahaina that was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It was one of three major wildfires on Maui.According to AP News on August 12, 2023, in the hours before a wildfire engulfed the town of Lahaina, Maui County officials failed to activate sirens that would have warned the entire population of the approaching flames and instead relied on a series of sometimes confusing social media posts that reached a much smaller audience.Governor Josh Green said the inferno that reduced much of Lahaina to smoldering ruins was the worst natural disaster in the state's history, making thousands of people homeless and leveling at least 2,700 buildings and “an estimated value of $5.6 billion has gone away.” Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area,A potent mix of high winds from Hurricane Dora, low humidity levels and a high pressure system over the North Pacific created deadly fire conditions in Hawaii. The fate of some of Lahaina's cultural treasures remains unclear. The historic 60-foot-tall banyan tree marking the spot where Hawaiian King Kamehameha III's 19th-century palace stood was still standing, though some of its boughs appeared charred.The fire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina in West Maui is now the deadliest US blaze in over 100 years, according to US Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell . Thomas Leonard , a 74-year-old retired mailman from Lahaina, didn’t know about the fire until he smelled smoke. Power and cellphone service had both gone out earlier, leaving the town with no real-time information about the danger. He tried to leave in his Jeep, but had to abandon the vehicle and run to the shore when cars nearby began exploding. He hid behind a seawall for hours, the wind blowing hot ash and cinders over him. Firefighters eventually arrived and escorted Leonard and other survivors through the flames to safety.President Joe Biden signed a Major Disaster Declaration to deliver additional federal resources and support for the emergency response. The action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Maui and provides aid on top of the actions already underway by federal agencies to help state and local search-and-recovery efforts. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is partnering with Native Hawaiian and community organizations and businesses to match up to $1,500,000 in donations for ʻohana (Hawaiian term meaning "family") impacted by the devastating wildfires on Maui. 2023/08/13 Maui Now: Here’s what critical aid FEMA, federal partners are providing for Maui fire response, recovery 2023/08/12 The Hill: Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez pledge $100 million to help Maui wildfire recovery 2023/08/26 March on Washington On August 26, 2023, a 2023 March on Washington will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders in 1963, to continue the fight for democracy, social justice and civil rights. Join the King family at the Lincoln Memorial to honor the past, acknowledge the present and march toward a future of progress and equality.Advancing Justice | AAJC is co-chairing this momentous event along with ADL, Human Rights Commission, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Legal Defense Fund, NAACP, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Council of Negro Women, National Urban League and UNIDOS.Advancing Justice | AAJC is working on a common gathering place for the AANHPI community place while at the same time making sure that we are well integrated into the March.Advocate Qian Huang 黄倩 reported that the National Action Network (NAN) is looking for hospitality volunteers on Friday, August 25, at 6:30 pm with a walk-through of all the volunteers. The set up work (stage, chairs, booth, flyer, t-shirts...) will be done by NAN. On August 8, 2023, ADL East hosted a webinar titled "The March on Washington: Together Towards Justice." It featured Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway and NAACP New Jersey State Conference President Richard T. Smith . The discussion focused on the historic 1963 March on Washington, the civil rights movement today, the importance of allyship, as well as how to register for this year's March on August 26. Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1MlImhhgbk (57:56) Back View PDF August 15, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #12 More On The Tao Case; Wen Ho Lee Revisited; Far Right And Police; Upcoming Activities #12 More On The Tao Case; Wen Ho Lee Revisited; Far Right And Police; Upcoming Activities Back View PDF August 31, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #279 Briefing to Oppose China Initiative Bill; AASF Forum with NIH; Xiaoxing Xi Interview+ #279 Briefing to Oppose China Initiative Bill; AASF Forum with NIH; Xiaoxing Xi Interview+ In This Issue #279 · CAPAC, Impacted Professors, and Asian American Leaders Oppose China Initiative Legislation · AASF Forum with the National Institutes of Health · MIT Science Policy Review Interview with Dr. Xiaoxing Xi · News and Activities for the Communities CAPAC, Impacted Professors, and Asian American Leaders Oppose China Initiative Legislation During the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 9 , 2024, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), reported that a congressional briefing and press conference will be held on Capitol Hill.On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 4:00p.m. ET, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Second Vice-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) will join victims of the discriminatory and now defunct China Initiative and leaders of Asian American advocacy organizations for a press conference ahead of the House floor vote on H.R. 1398 - Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2024. WHAT: CAPAC, Victims of China Initiative, and Asian American Leaders Host Press Conference Opposing China Initiative WHEN: Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 4:00 pm ET – 4:45 pm ET WHO: · CAPAC Chair Judy Chu · CAPAC Second Vice-Chair Mark Takano · Prof Gang Chen · Prof Anming Hu · Prof Franklin Tao · Gisela Perez Kusakawa – AASF · Other speakers may join WHERE: House Triangle, U.S. Capitol, Washington DC AASF Forum with the National Institutes of Health On September 19, 2024, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) will host an online forum with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Speakers will include NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli who will give opening remarks and NIH Principal Deputy Director, Dr. Lawrence Tabak who will give a presentation.This is the first public event after Dr. Bertagnolli issued a statement of support for Asian American, Asian immigrant and Asian research colleagues on August 15. "NIH greatly values our relationship with Asian researchers and recognizes their extraordinary contributions to advancing science," the statement said. "We are working with stakeholder groups, universities and academic professional organizations to take actions that repair our relationships with these valued members of the research community."The online event is open to the public. Register to attend the Zoom meeting: https://bit.ly/3ZgGNzp MIT Science Policy Review Interview with Dr. Xiaoxing Xi On August 27, 2024, MIT Science Policy Review published an extensive interview with Dr. Xiaoxing Xi , Chinese American physicist and the Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics at Temple University. Born in China, Dr. Xi moved to the United States in 1989 and has since become a naturalized U.S. citizen. In May of 2015, Dr. Xi was arrested at gunpoint by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for alleged espionage. He was placed on administrative leave and barred from accessing his lab. Four months later, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped all charges against him. Since then, Dr. Xi has launched a campaign against racial profiling in science, testifying before Congress and speaking at universities and conferences.The American Physical Society recognized Dr. Xi’s tireless advocacy by awarding him the Andrei Sakharov Prize in 2020. MIT Science Policy Review spoke with Dr. Xi about the ramifications of being wrongfully accused of espionage, historic parallels in Christopher Nolan ’s movie Oppenheimer, the government’s increasing hostility towards Chinese academics, and what patriotism means to him.The interview was organized in three parts: 1. "Advocacy has become part of my research portfolio." Dr. Xi filed a lawsuit in 2017 challenging his 2015 wrongful arrest, claiming unconstitutional evidence and discriminatory targeting of Chinese American scientists. After an initial dismissal, Dr. Xi won an appeal, allowing the case to proceed to the discovery stage. The process is ongoing without a clear timeline. His research has suffered, shrinking from nine projects to one, due to fear of government scrutiny. Xi now devotes significant time to advocacy, addressing racial profiling of Chinese American scientists. He speaks widely to raise awareness, aiming to impact U.S. policies and protect the scientific community from similar injustices. 2. Finding parallels in Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer explores the life of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer , his role in the development of the atomic bomb, and the repercussions of his association with the Communist Party, which nearly destroyed his career. The movie raises broader issues of science policy, such as open scientific exchange versus political compartmentalization. Dr. Xi found similarities between Oppenheimer’s situation and his own experience of false espionage accusations, particularly regarding political shifts that lead to the prosecution of once-celebrated individuals. Both cases involved the authorities disregarding evidence to serve political motives. While Oppenheimer's case occurred during McCarthyism, today, the fear of China has led to a wave of investigations against Chinese American scientists. Dr. Xi argues that false accusations and racial profiling continue, with both their cases and Oppenheimer's serving as examples of systemic injustices. Despite Oppenheimer sparking discussions on nuclear policy, the issue of false espionage accusations has not received comparable attention, possibly due to the global stakes of nuclear issues overshadowing individual injustices. 3. Science in the crossfire of geopolitical tension. The China Initiative, launched by DOJ in 2018, aimed to address national security threats from China, focusing on theft of trade secrets and espionage. By 2019, it began targeting academics, accusing them of espionage for routine practices like writing recommendation letters or participating in Chinese grant reviews. Nearly 38% of cases involved failure to disclose ties to Chinese universities. The program was officially ended in 2022 due to criticism of racial profiling and ineffectiveness. The Initiative negatively impacted academia, discouraging collaboration with Chinese-born scientists. Dr. Xi argues that increasing scientific literacy within agencies like the DOJ or FBI would not resolve the core issue, as the fundamental belief that Chinese scholars are spies drives these prosecutions. The real issue is a flawed theory that considers Chinese academics as "nontraditional collectors" of information for China, leading to unjust charges based on non-disclosure. Geopolitical tensions, fueled by anti-China sentiment in U.S. politics, make life difficult for Chinese-descended scientists. Laws like the CHIPS and Science Act further restrict collaboration with China. Dr. Xi compares the current situation to the mistreatment of Japanese Americans during WWII and emphasizes the need for highlighting these injustices.Read the MIT Science Policy Review interview: https://bit.ly/3XgtFHN Additional Reading Materials 1. Chapter 10 - Asian Americans as “the Perpetual Foreigner” under Scrutiny by Frank H. Wu Asian Americans play a prominent role in the state surveillance story, because Asian Americans play an ambiguous role in both international relations and domestic race relations. Although people of Asian descent have been arriving in the Americas since before the Civil War – Asian soldiers fighting on both sides of the internecine conflict – Asian immigrants and their American-born descendants, whatever their formal status and however assimilated, have been portrayed as “sojourners” only temporarily resident in the United States and likely to return to a homeland to which they have remained stealthily loyal. The persistent theme has been that Asians are inassimilable into American society, whether by biology, culture, or their own collective choices. The assumption that it is contradictory to be both Asian and American has been used, explicitly and implicitly, to justify discrimination against Asian Americans. The Cambridge Handbook of Race and Surveillance , pp. 190 - 222DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108241304.010[Opens in a new window] Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023 2. Chapter 6 - New Red Scare: The China Initiative by Steven Pei, Jeremy Wu, and Alex Liang 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. Communicated Stereotypes at Work by Anastacia Kurylo (Editor, Contributor), Yifeng Hu (Editor, Contributor), Wilfredo Alvarez (Contributor), & 29 moreASIN ‏ : B0CSK2PGY3Lexington Books (May 15, 2024) News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/09/10 Congressional Briefing and Press Conference on the “China Initiative” & Asian American Civil Right2024/09/10-12 Chronicle Festival: The Road Ahead to 20352024/09/12 AA4D: Nobel Laureates and Scientists for Democracy 2024/09/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/19 1990 Teachers Workshop: Asian American Identity2024/09/19 AASF Public Forum with the National Institutes of Health2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity Summit2024/09/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 2024/09/26 White House Initiative AA& NHPI Policy SummitThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. WHIAANHPI Announces Innovator Challenge to Combat Hate and Promote Healthy Communities The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Secretary (OS), Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA), in collaboration with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), is creating a rapid response national competition for 501(c)3 community based organizations to identify community-driven efforts to raise greater awareness of hate crimes and address the health consequences, including mental health, of communities burdened by bullying, hate and bias. Desired outcomes include the development of community-driven strategies and application of data-driven tools to combat bullying, hate, and bias to promote healthier communities.The Challenge.gov fund has $325,000 available for up to four (4) awards through this competition. Eligible 501(c)3 organizations may submit a maximum five (5) page proposal through Challenge.gov .Submission Period Opens: Friday, September 6, 2024, 9:00 AM ETSubmission Period Closes: Sunday, September 15, 2024, 11:59 PM ETLearn more and submit your proposal: https://bit.ly/3MDFJy2 3. San Francisco Interim Fire Chief Sandra Tong According to multiple media reports, San Francisco Mayor London Breed appointed and swore in Interim Chief Sandra Tong on September 3, 2024, with the Chinatown native becoming the department’s first Chinese American leader as it continues searching for a permanent successor to outgoing Chief Jeanine Nicholson following her retirement last month. The San Francisco Fire Commission said it unanimously supported Tong’s appointment. Tong spent the last five years serving on Nicholson’s command staff, most recently working as the deputy chief of emergency medical services and community paramedicine. She was born and raised in Chinatown and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sino-Soviet Relations from UC Berkeley, as well as a doctorate in organizational psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology.Tong has 35 years of experience working in emergency-medical services. Back View PDF September 10, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #237 NAPABA Report; Quincy Institute; Florida SB 864; Ex-FBI Spy Hunter; Section 702 Reform #237 NAPABA Report; Quincy Institute; Florida SB 864; Ex-FBI Spy Hunter; Section 702 Reform In This Issue #237 · Invited Report: Developments on Alien Land Laws in Missouri and Arkansas · The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft · Florida law SB 864 Undercuts US Leadership in Science · Ex-FBI Spy Hunter Sentenced · House Delays Plans on Surveillance Program Reauthorization Vote · News and Activities for the Communities Invited Report: Developments on Alien Land Laws in Missouri and Arkansas The following is an invited report by Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)"With no signs that the resurgence of foreign ownership legislation introduced in at least 34 states last year is slowing down, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has been following two recent developments in Missouri and Arkansas."In Missouri, Governor Michael Parson issued Executive Order 24-01 in January, which prohibits the acquisition of agricultural land by Chinese, Iranian, Russian, and other citizens from other designated adversarial countries within 10 miles of a military facility. While the text of the Executive Order itself does not mention China by name, the Governor's press release and remarks focused almost exclusively on China: "With heightened concerns regarding ownership of Missouri farm land by foreign adversaries, especially China, we are signing this order to safeguard our military and intelligence assets, prevent security threats to our state, and give Missourians greater peace of mind." The Governor's comments when announcing his Executive Order appeared to be partly in response to legislative proposals that could ban all foreign ownership - including by friendly countries. Governor Parson touted foreign investment by a list of countries including Israel, Sweden, Germany, the UK, and Japan as critical to the state's economy. "In terms of whether there has been evidence that Missouri farmland has been exploited for malign purposes, Governor Parson conceded that, 'While we have had no issues yet, we want to be proactive against any potential threats.' The Governor also remarked that if he had the authority, his ban would go a lot further: 'Believe me, if I had the authority, we wouldn’t just be talking about banning farm land but all commercial properties by foreign adversaries…regardless of rural or urban.' Responding to questions posed during the press conference, Governor Parson clarified that the Executive Order is not retroactive, but the plain language of the order reads, 'no Missouri agricultural land shall be acquired or owned' (emphasis added) by a citizen of a foreign adversary, which may raise some confusion about current owners. NAPABA is not aware of any other states where a governor had taken unilateral executive action to bar Chinese or other citizens from acquiring property without the passage of legislation. "Last fall, Arkansas became the first state (that NAPABA is aware of) to take an enforcement action against a Chinese (or any foreign) property holder under new alien land laws. Attorney General Tim Griffin ordered Northrop King Seed Company, a subsidiary of Swiss company Syngenta (which in 2017 was acquired by state-owned China National Chemical Corporation) to sell its property as it was in violation of state law that bars a 'prohibited foreign-party controlled business' from acquiring or holding land in Arkansas. China is considered a prohibited foreign party. Syngenta was also ordered to pay a $280,000 fine for failing to register with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture on time as a foreign owned entity. In a blistering response, Eric Boeck , President of Syngenta Seeds, United States and Canada called the order, 'a shortsighted public ultimatum that doesn’t have the American farmers, or independent seed companies we serve, best interests at heart,' and vociferously stated that 'the suggestion that China is using Syngenta to purchase land or conduct operations in the U.S. for any purpose other than supporting the company’s commercial business in North America is simply false.' According to both Boeck, and additional industry reporting , Northrop King Seed has owned the land in question, 160 acres in Craighead County, Arkansas since 1988, and the land is primarily used for seed research purposes that are specific to the soil type found in Arkansas, to accrue to the specific benefit of Arkansas farmers." The Committee of 100 tracks federal and state bills prohibiting property ownership by foreign individuals and entities in 2023 legislative sessions at https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Lora Lumpe , Chief Executive Officer, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, introduces the Quincy Institute and its plans and activities during the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024. Quincy Institute is a relatively new, standard think tank of about 4 years old. It has a global focus. One of its core areas is the US-China relationship. Its founding principle is that the US has come to rely too much on the use of military force. The Institute focuses on promoting an international relations theory called restraint, which calls for a use of force only when vital national interests are at stake. It prioritizes diplomatic solutions.Lora emphasizes the importance of finding positive areas of cooperation between the US and China. Quincy Institute has organized coalition calls and conferences to advocate for a more constructive US-China relationship. Quincy Institute is staffed with experts in US China security relations from a hard security perspective; another focus area for the Quincy Institute is trade, tech, and environment. It is pleased with the recent reinitiation of top-level dialogue, but crisis prevention mechanisms need to go a lot further. In this Congress, there have been about 600 bills initiated, cutting across almost every committee. Almost every one of them is hostile toward China and focuses on a threat or an alleged threat posed by China to US national interests. The Institute aims to foster a constructive relationship. In addition, · Quincy Institute has an online publication called Responsible Statecraft that publishes about a thousand pieces of journalism and analysis a year - some from the staff and some from outside scholars. · Prior to the meeting of Presidents Biden and Xi last November, Quincy Institute organized a coalition call to bring together people from different sectors including academic, national security, climate, farm and agriculture. The coalition called on the two presidents to engage in a more concerted effort to strengthen the bilateral relationship. · The Institute believes that broad sectors of American civil society want a decent workable relationship, and yet so much of what we see in the media, coming out of Congress, and often from the White House, is pointing to China as a threat. Quincy Institute held a half-day long conference with foreignpolicy.com – a main platform for Washington thinkers on US foreign policy to reframe or ask some different questions about the US China relationship, including panels on economy and national security. · On trade and technology, Quincy Institute tries to sharpen the contradiction between the alarmist view or zero sum take and its perspective on cooperation and diplomacy. · Quincy Institute also engages in investigative journalism, frequently looking at the sources of influence in the making of US foreign policy, such as foreign government funding of think tanks as well as corporate funding of think tanks and news outlets, trying to at least raise questions about whether those sources of financial support may in fact be impacting some of the analysis, commentary, and reporting that comes out. · Lora refers to the Quincy Institute website with several pieces of in-depth analyses on the US-Taiwan-China relationship and paths to preventing conflict, pointing to the fundamental need of education on the One-China policy that has played a role in maintaining peace and allowed for the growth and development of Taiwan for the past 45 years. Lora encourages others to view them as allies in promoting a more diplomatic approach to US-China relations and expresses her enthusiasm for collaboration and look forward to working closely with others in the future.Contact Tori Bateman , outreach coordinator, at Tori@quincyinst.org . Visit the Quincy Institute website at https://quincyinst.org/ . Read the partial summary of the February 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting at: https://bit.ly/49mmzXk Florida law SB 864 Undercuts US Leadership in Science According to Science report on " New Florida Law Blocks Chinese Students From Academic Labs ," Florida’s SB 846 hinders and potentially prohibits hiring applicants from China or six other “countries of concern” unless the university obtains a waiver from the state.According to a letter to Science on February 15, 2024, any state’s decision to shut out international scholars will push talented individuals elsewhere, cause delays in existing research efforts, threaten local job growth potential, and endanger US global leadership in research and development.Scientists born outside of the United States have contributed to global understanding and progress as well as to the US economy, society, health, and national security. About 58% of the 72,000 postdoctoral scholars (postdocs) working in the United States are internationals. Having obtained the highest level of education in their fields, many are in their late 20s and 30s and are poised to assume leadership positions across society.Welcoming postdocs from other nations drives innovation and builds stronger research institutions capable of greater accomplishments and economic development. There is no credible evidence of a surplus of domestic-born postdoc scientists and researchers whose career pathways are put at risk by international scholars. Moreover, by turning away the brightest minds from the seven targeted countries, Florida increases the chances that these individuals will instead find opportunities in other countries, including US competitors, a lost opportunity for innovation that could threaten the very national security that SB 846 purports to protect.More than 300 faculty members have signed the petition https://bit.ly/3I3kK5y at the University of Florida that questions the policy and advocates for the freedom to hire top talent regardless of national origin. The National Postdoctoral Association, which supports US postdocs of all nationalities, joins their call. Read the Science letter: https://bit.ly/49F85Sa . Read the Explainer on SB 864 by the Asian American Scholar Forum: https://bit.ly/3UJNdER Ex-FBI Spy Hunter Sentenced According to the Washington Post and AP News , the FBI’s former top spy hunter in New York was sentenced in Washington to 28 months in prison for concealing at least $225,000 in payments he received from a former Albanian intelligence official while working for the bureau.Charles McGonigal will serve his punishment on top of a 50-month prison term he received separately in New York last year for illegally conspiring with a Russian oligarch who wanted to be removed from a U.S. sanctions list.McGonigal, 55, is one of the highest-ranking FBI agents ever convicted of criminal charges. He was special agent in charge of the counterintelligence division of the FBI’s New York City office from 2016 to his retirement in September 2018.McGonigal now has been sentenced to a combined 6½ years behind bars for the two offenses.McGonigal expressed remorse and sorrow for what he called “mistakes,” saying he betrayed the confidence and trust of his loved ones.The judge told McGonigal that it appears he “lost his moral compass” at the end of a distinguished FBI career, when he held one of the highest national security positions in the federal government. She said his remorse seemed genuine.“Unfortunately, it doesn’t repair the damage,” she added.Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/4bHuEHt . Read the AP News report: https://bit.ly/3woUEra House Delays Plans on Surveillance Program Reauthorization Vote According to Roll Call on February 14, 2024, the House shelved plans to hold floor votes this week on a bill to reauthorize a powerful surveillance authority, amid sharp divisions over how far Congress should go in providing privacy protections. The move came shortly after a House Rules Committee meeting on the bill to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which revealed there was no clear agreement on a rule to allow floor consideration of amendments.Sharp divisions over privacy protections in Section 702 of FISA remainSection 702 allows the U.S. government to collect digital communications of foreigners located outside the country. But the program has been the subject of lawmaker concern because it also brings in the communications of Americans and allows the FBI to search through the information without a warrant. The agency can search through the data based on a single field, such as an email address.The House Judiciary Committee has advanced one bill, and the House Intelligence Committee has advanced another. Republicans posted a new bill, which more closely resembles the Intelligence Committee bill, for consideration on the floor.Read the Roll Call report: https://bit.ly/4bJI0Dh 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. Census Bureau: Exploring the Diversity and Growth of the Asian American Population WHAT: Exploring the Diversity and Growth of the Asian American Population WHEN: February 22, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 pm Eastern Time WHERE: Webinar HOST: U.S. Census Bureau SPEAKERS: · Mariecris (Mac) Treece, US Census Bureau · Anh Nguyen, US Census Bureau DESCRIPTION: Did you know there are more than 24 million people who identified as Asian alone or in combination in the 2020 Census? And the largest Asian group, which grew by over 50 percent are Asian Indians. Join us to discover the diverse and growing Asian population. Build your knowledge to paint a local portrait of Asian Americans including where they live, which industry sector they work in, homeownership rates, business ownership, and more. Lastly, we will demonstrate how to access data.census.gov to create an Asian community profile in selected geographies. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3wuJCjR 3. Norman Mineta Statue Unveiled at San Jose Airport According to NBC News on January 25, 2024, the city of San Jose unveiled a new statue at San Jose Mineta International Airport to honor of its namesake Norman Mineta . The statue stands 6 feet tall and is made of bronze. It was funded by Mineta's supporters and commissioned by nonprofit organizations. Mineta was the mayor of San Jose in the 1970s before serving in Congress for 20 years. He later became the U.S. commerce secretary under the Bill Clinton Administration and transportation secretary during the George W. Bush Administration. Mineta passed away in 2022 at the age of 91. Read the NBC News report: https://bit.ly/3wk6McU 4. Memorial Service for Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee On February 17, 2024, a memorial ceremony was held in Florida for Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee 李华伟 , former Chief of the Asian Division at the Library of Congress and Dean Emeritus of Ohio University Libraries. He was 92.During his five-year tenure (2003-2008) at the Library of Congress, Dr. Lee made a lasting impact through his initiatives, including international partnerships that led to the Japanese Rare Book Collection and the Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection. Dr Lee also established the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection with the support of Rep. Mike Honda , former Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.In 2005, Dr. Lee testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission for a hearing on the status of the Library’s Chinese collection. He was recognized internationally for his contributions to bridging cultures between the United States and many other countries. Dr. Lee was one of the founders and a past president of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA). He was honored by CALA in a video paying tribute to his life on June 25, 2013: https://bit.ly/42FiOcZ (17:10) Back View PDF February 19, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #243 Florida Rally Today; AAJC Updates; History in California; Corky Lee; Mexico Brief; + #243 Florida Rally Today; AAJC Updates; History in California; Corky Lee; Mexico Brief; + In This Issue #243 · Rally Today: Florida Professors and Advocates Demand Board of Governors Address SB 846 · Advancing Justice | AAJC Updates from March APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Humanity in Confronting History in California · Fifty Years of Photographic Justice: Corky Lee’s Asian America · Mexico Files Amicus Brief; Chinese Crossing Southern Border · News and Activities for the Communities Rally Today: Florida Professors and Advocates Demand Board of Governors Address SB 846 On March 26, 2024, professors, students, and advocates will host a rally before the Florida Board of Governors meeting at the University of Florida. Asian American scholars and local and national community members will gather to demand that the Florida Board of Governors address their concerns with SB 846, which restricts Florida’s public colleges and universities from hiring graduate students and researchers from certain “countries of concern,” including China and Iran. The legislation, which took effect on July 1, 2023, further restricts Florida’s public colleges and universities from participating in partnerships or agreements with individuals or entities from these countries. It has raised concerns on academic freedom and impacts on the Asian American community not just in Florida but nationwide. The law has created confusion and a chilling effect on researchers, and could lead to broader harms on scientific innovation and the pipeline of scientific leadership in Florida and the U.S. At this rally, students and professors will share personal stories about the negative impact of the legislation on themselves, peers, and their local community, as well as the fearful environment that it has fostered especially at a time of increased anti-Asian hate and violence. National representatives are flying in from across the country to support local community members and to voice that what is happening in Florida could have a rippling effect across the country. Vincent Wang , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, will speak at the rally, which will be held at Reitz Union, North Lawn, University of Florida Gainesville Campus, on March 26, 2024, starting at 12 noon ET. The "We Belong" Yellow Whistles will be distributed during the rally. Please join.Read the media advisory: https://bit.ly/3PEyOq9 Breaking News: Academics challenge Florida law restricting research exchanges from prohibited countries like China According to AP on March 26, 2024, two graduate students from China whose studies were put on hold, and a professor who says he is unable to recruit research assistants, sued Florida education officials, trying to stop enforcement of a new state law which limits research exchanges between state universities and academics from seven prohibited countries.The law is discriminatory, unconstitutional and reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which instituted a 10-year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the United States, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Miami. The new law also usurps the power of the federal government, which has exclusive authority over immigration, national security and foreign affairs, the lawsuit said.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/3PEfkCd Advancing Justice | AAJC Updates from March APA Justice Monthly Meeting During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 4, 2024, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that the House cancelled a much anticipated vote on Section 702, the circumstances around which are highly problematic. The key takeaways include: 1. The House Intelligence Committee, led by Chairman Mike Turner , reneged on a pre-negotiated deal to move FISA reauthorization and reform to the House floor; 2. The House Judiciary Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Section 702, submitted amendments to the base bill and testified in favor of their amendments while the House Intelligence Committee failed to even appear. Chair Turner and other House Intelligence Committee members also cryptically hinted at a so-called destabilizing foreign military capability that they heavily implied was related to Section 702, but it was later identified to be completely unrelated. Chair Turner undermined national security and wrongfully created national panic. It was clearly designed to scare members ahead of the plan to vote on Section 702, which was ultimately taken down. The White House and members of Congress and Civil Society have all been appalled at this behavior and issued statements to that effect. But in terms of next steps, Advancing Justice | AAJC will, in coalition with other AAPI organizations, prepare to defend against any efforts to jam Section 702 reauthorization into any imminent must-pass legislation. To that end, Joanna learned that 702 reauthorization is not in the first minibus and will continue to stay vigilant and monitor. Joanna deferred to Thông Phan to report on the state alien land laws. Advancing Justice | AAJC is tracking land-law-related language in the national security supplemental. It appears that a narrowly tailored version of the Rounds amendment was ultimately dropped, and the national security supplemental at the time of reporting looks to be less harmful.A summary for the meeting is being prepared at this time. 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 . Humanity in Confronting History in California According to AP , in May 2021, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe had issued a formal apology for Antioch’s mistreatment of early Chinese immigrants, including the torching of Chinatown and driving out its residents, which has been documented by local newspapers and historians. Thorpe’s actions led to major cities like San Jose, Los Angeles and San Francisco passing similar resolutions.The 2021 apology has also led to local residents and historians delving deeper into the past and working to establish a Chinatown Historic District, complete with murals and museum exhibits highlighting the history and accomplishments of the community in Antioch.Before getting involved with the Antioch Historical Society and becoming committee chair for its Chinese History Project, Hans Ho said he had no idea a Chinatown once existed there. Chinese people were undoubtedly treated as second-class citizens, said Ho, who emigrated from Hong Kong in the 1960s. He was also one of the representatives from the Chinese American community to receive Thorpe’s apology, an act that moved him to tears.Chinese laborers were among the early population in Antioch, which was named in 1851. They likely numbered just under 100, said Lucy Meinhardt , an Antioch Historical Society Museum board member. They worked in farms, canneries and mines. They helped build river levees and established a Chinatown where the city’s downtown now stands. Today, the city of more than 111,000 is 25% white while Asians make up 12%. Hispanic and Black residents are 35% and 20% of the population, respectively. Even creating a space for some materials related to Chinese residents at the Antioch Historical Society Museum has gotten pushback. “(One board member) said that they wanted this to be an ‘American’ museum,” said Dwayne Eubanks , a past president of the historical society, who is African American. “I took umbrage to that.” He held up a picture of his father in his Army uniform and told the man: “This is an American.”On March 16, 2024, Eubanks, Meinhardt and Ho all attended the May We Gather event in Antioch, which organizers described as the first national memorial service and pilgrimage in response to anti-Asian violence. Attendees, including the three local residents, walked meditatively with Buddhist monks, nuns and lay leaders, around the city block where Antioch’s Chinatown stood 150 years ago.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/49elUGm According to NBC News on March 6, 2024, In 1939, the Dongs, a Chinese American family in Coronado, California, found themselves unable to rent a house amid racially restrictive housing laws that favored white buyers and renters. Emma and Gus Thompson , a Black entrepreneurial couple in town, allowed the family to rent and eventually buy their Coronado property when nobody else would. Now, to thank the Thompsons for helping them get a toehold in American society, the Dongs are donating $5 million to Black college students using proceeds from the sale of the house. “It may enable some kids to go and flourish in college that might not have been able to otherwise,” Janice Dong , 86, said about the plan to sell the family home they later purchased, as well as an adjacent property. The Dong family will also work to have San Diego State University’s Black Resource Center named after Emma and Gus, who was born into slavery in Kentucky. Lloyd Dong Jr. , 81, said the Thompsons gave their family a start with the land, and it is time for them to do the same for others. “Without them, we would not have the education and everything else,” Lloyd Dong Jr. said. The Dong family’s roots in California date back to the late 19th century. Lloyd Dong Sr. was a farmer in the Central Valley before he moved to Coronado to become a gardener. In 1939, Gus and Emma Thompson gave the Dong family a place to stay, a promise to sell them the land and a chance to build a better life. It was a time in Coronado, a resort city known for its opulent hotel and white sand beaches on the San Diego Bay peninsula, when people living on the margins of society found it difficult to live within city limits. Racially restrictive housing covenants prohibited immigrants and people of color from renting and buying in Coronado.The Dong and Thompson families were on the same side of history. They were people trying to make it in a land that didn’t see them as full citizens. It wasn’t abnormal then to have marginalized individuals living together and supporting one another.Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3vAdCL7 Fifty Years of Photographic Justice: Corky Lee’s Asian America Corky Lee 李扬国 (1947-2021), known also as "Asian American Photographer Laureate," was a Chinese American activist, community organizer, and photojournalist. He called himself an "ABC from NYC ... wielding a camera to slay injustices against APAs." Corky documented Asian American and Pacific Islander communities for fifty years, breaking the stereotype of Asian Americans as docile, passive, and, above all, foreign to this country. A selection of the best photographs from his vast collection will be officially released on April 9, 2024. It covers his start in New York’s Chinatown in the 1970s to his coverage of diverse Asian American communities across the country until his untimely passing in 2021. Read about the book: https://www.corkylee.org/about-1 . The link also provides information about a national book tour starting at the Chinese American Museum in Washington DC on April 11, and including New York events at the Asia Society on April 18 and Chinatown on May 4, as well as stops at Boston, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pasadena, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. For more information, contact Tina Wang , National Book Tour Coordinator, at wangxintian0928@gmail.com . Mexico Files Amicus Brief; Chinese Crossing Southern Border According to CNN on March 21, 2024, Mexico is warning a federal US court in a friend-of-the-court brief that if its judges permit a controversial Texas immigration law known as SB 4 to take effect, the two nations would experience “substantial tension” that would have far-reaching consequences for US-Mexico relations.“Enforcement of SB 4 would inappropriately burden the uniform and predictable sovereign-to-sovereign relations between Mexico and the United States, by criminalizing the unauthorized entry of noncitizens into Texas from outside the county and creating diverging removal requirements between and among individual states and the national government,” they wrote in the brief. “Enforcement of SB 4 would also interfere with Mexico’s right to determine its own policies regarding entry into its territory, undermine U.S.-Mexico collaboration on a legal migration framework and border management, and hinder U.S.-Mexico trade,” the attorneys told the court.Mexico said it was backing the law’s challengers, which include the Biden administration. Its attorneys argued in the brief that the law – if allowed to take effect – “will be applied in a discriminatory manner.”Mexico’s 11 consulates in Texas have been ordered to provide protection and guidance and have made legal support available for any Mexican nationals across the state who “starts to have a problem,” under the new law, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said.Read the CNN report: https://cnn.it/497YaDR . According to a 60 Minutes report on February 4, 2024, about 37,000 Chinese nationals trying to escape repressive politics and a bleak economy, headed to the U.S. via the southern border in 2023. This is about 1.5% of the total of 2.5 million. It is an increase from 323 in 2021.According to the South China Morning Post on February 15, 2024, from a high of 2.2 million temporary visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2016, only about 160,000 were granted in 2022, a fall of more than 90%. This has led some Chinese citizens to take desperate measures to enter the US for a better life. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/03/26 Rally: Florida Professors and Advocates Demand Board of Governors Address SB 8462024/03/28 CSIS: U,S,-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward2024/04/02 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Summit2024/04/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/04/17 Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative2024/04/18 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic JusticeVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. AA & NHPI Higher Education Leadership Summit WHAT: AA & NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit WHEN: APRIL 2, 2024, 8:30 - 5:15 pm Pacific Time WHERE: UC Berkeley - Martin Luther King, Jr. Building, 2495 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704 HOSTS: White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; U.S. Office of Personnel Management DESCRIPTION: The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) is dedicated to advancing educational equity and opportunity for all Americans. In 2024, we are continuing to bring together students, faculty, and administrators from across the country to highlight the critical role that Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs) play in increasing access to higher education and promoting workforce development. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3Vncrco Back View PDF March 26, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #23 APA Justice Meetings; Charles Lieber Lawsuits; New Visa Rules; Early Voting; 2020 Census #23 APA Justice Meetings; Charles Lieber Lawsuits; New Visa Rules; Early Voting; 2020 Census Back View PDF October 19, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #206 9/11 Meeting; Bill Richardson/Wen Ho Lee; NO Alien Land Laws; FISA Reform; More News #206 9/11 Meeting; Bill Richardson/Wen Ho Lee; NO Alien Land Laws; FISA Reform; More News In This Issue #206 2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Bill Richardson and Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 Reminder: Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws Sign-On Letter: Asian Americans for FISA Reform News and Activities for The Communities 2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, September 11, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates 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 Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed and invited speakers include: Clay Zhu 朱可亮 (confirmed) , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, to report on the latest developments of the lawsuit against Florida's discriminatory alien land law Deborah Seligsohn (confirmed) , Senior Associate (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; Assistant Professor, Villanova University on the case for US-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA) https://bit.ly/3OMc8En Steve Kivelson (confirmed), Prabhu Goel Family Professor of Physics Luke Blossom Professor, Stanford University, on the joint letter with Professor Peter Michelson to President Joe Biden and members of the National Security Council on renewing the STA https://bit.ly/44xTNPX Sudip Parikh (invited) , Chief Executive Officer and Executive Publisher Science Family of Journals at AAAS, on moving open science, basic research, and US-China collaboration forward in today's environment. Ting Wu (invited) , Advisor, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Office of the Chief of Staff, The White House, on the letter to the President and more 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 On August 24, 2023, Stanford University Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson sent a letter to President Joe Biden and the Members of the US National Security Council to express their strong support for renewing the Agreement Between the United States and China on Cooperation in Science and Technology , which was signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping on January 31, 1979. Their letter was endorsed by over 1,000 faculty and scholars from many US universities including multiple Nobel Laureates, members of the National Academies, and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Read the letter: https://bit.ly/44xTNPX . Read the APA Justice coverage: https://bit.ly/3E9NmI8 Bill Richardson and Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 On September 1, 2023, Bill Richardson , 75, passed away in Chatham, Massachusetts. He was a Member of US House of Representatives (1983-1997), US Ambassador to the United Nations (1997-1998), Secretary of Energy (1998-2001), and Governor of New Mexico (2003-2011).Born in Pasadena, California, in 1947 to a Spanish-born mother and a Nicaraguan-born father, Bill Richardson grew up in Mexico City before attending boarding school in Massachusetts. In 2002, he became the only Hispanic leader of a US state when he won the New Mexico governorship.By any measure, Bill Richardson was an extraordinary American politician and diplomat. He won admiration for his commitment to securing the release of US citizens detained around the world, including journalists Laura Ling 凌志美 ( Lisa Ling 凌志慧 's sister) and Euna Lee 유나리 from North Korea in 2009 and basketball star Britney Griner from Russia last year. In 2011 he launched his non-profit foundation, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, where he renewed his work seeking the release of detained Americans. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times.Bill Richardson's tenure as Secretary of Energy was marred by the prosecution of Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , a Chinese American nuclear physicist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory who was wrongly accused of spying for China. Dr. Lee was later cleared of espionage charges and released with an apology from Judge James Parker, who passed away last year . Eventually, Dr. Lee won a $1.6 million settlement against the federal government and several news outlets for the accusation. While admitting to making some mistakes, Bill Richardson did not apologize for his role in the matter which remains a deep wound in the Asian American community.In a LinkedIn post, Parag Mehta , a staff member of the first White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) under the Clinton Administration in 1999, recalls his experience in working with Bill Richardson to draft an “apology” he could use in his confirmation hearings for Secretary of Commerce under the Obama Administration. Parag Mehta tried three times to craft language for the Governor. Each time, he was rebuffed because Bill Richardson did not want to use words like “sorry” or “apologize.” The issue became moot when he withdrew his nomination. Dr. Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer for APA Justice, served as National Ombudsman and Director of the Office of the Ombudsman under Secretary Bill Richardson at the Department of Energy. References and Links: Wikipedia: Bill Richardson https://bit.ly/44AAe9S Wen Ho Lee with Helen Zia: My Country Versus Me: The First-Hand Account by the Los Alamos Scientist Who Was Falsely Accused of Being a Spy https://amzn.to/2MlV7Ak 2023/09/03 LinkedIn by Parag Mehta: Bill Richardson https://bit.ly/3Ps8foB 2000/01 Department of Energy: Final Report: Task Force Against Racial Profiling http://bit.ly/2T8UGvJ 2000/01/19 Department of Energy: Richardson Releases Task Force Against Racial Profiling Report and Announces 8 Immediate Actions https://bit.ly/3LnXoYy Reminder: Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws On August 25, 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) put out a call for the public to tell Congress: Say NO to Discriminatory Land Laws."Dangerous laws are being introduced at the state and federal level right now that use 'national security' as an excuse to discriminate against immigrants from China. In Florida, for example, Governor DeSantis has banned many Chinese immigrants from buying a house in much of the state – a move that is both unconstitutional and unfortunately, not new."This type of 'alien land law' should sound alarm bells for all of us. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, to the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, to the ongoing post-9/11 surveillance of Black and Brown communities – we’ve seen how such racist policies created under the guise of 'national security' are racist and used to scapegoat entire communities."We cannot allow history to repeat itself: Tell your Members of Congress to speak out against any law that falsely equates Chinese people with the Chinese government."Thanks to ACLU, take one easy step to tell Congress NO to discriminatory land laws at https://bit.ly/3qRsFOh Sign-On Letter: Asian Americans for FISA Reform Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), and Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) are reaching out to request your support for a critical issue that impacts our Asian American community – reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which will expire at the end of this year unless Congress reauthorizes it. AAJC/AASF/CAA have included a draft letter (see link: https://bit.ly/3RbMIlh ) that is set to be shared with members of Congress regarding the urgent need for FISA reform. This letter highlights the concerning history of how Asian Americans have been disproportionately affected by national security programs that have often been fueled by bias, prejudice, and unchecked surveillance. The proposed reforms in the letter seek to ensure that such abuses do not continue and that our communities are treated fairly and justly.As a partner who shares concerns for the well-being and protection of our Asian American community, AAJC/AASF/CAA request your support by signing onto this letter by completing the sign-on form. The deadline to sign on is Thursday, September 7, at 5:00pm ET.For more information on FISA reform, check out the following resources: Advancing Justice-AAJC on FISA Section 702 reform ( https://bit.ly/464ca0l ) APA Justice webinar: "Perils of Warrantless Surveillance - The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Reform" ( https://bit.ly/44ZCJ6o ) Foreign Affairs article: “The Coming Fight Over American Surveillance What’s at Stake as Congress Considers FISA Reform” ( https://bit.ly/3sGhQPN ) If you have questions about subsequent strategies surrounding Congressional outreach or require further information, please reach out to Andy Wong (CAA/Stop AAPI Hate) at andywong@caasf.org or Joanna Derman (AAJC) at jderman@advancingjustice-aajc.org . If you know a scholar who has been directly impacted and surveilled, please reach out to Gisela Perez Kusakawa at gpkusakawa@aasforum.org at AASF, which seeks to provide a voice to the Asian American and scholar community. News and Activities for The Communities 1. Current US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns Meets Former US Ambassador to China Gary Locke In a continuing series by the US mission in China, Ambassador Nicholas Burns meets with Ambassador Gary Locke 骆家辉 , the first Chinese-American Ambassador to China. Part 1. Ambassador Gary Locke shares what democracy means to him and reflects on government “of the people, by the people, for the people” (2:04) Part 2. Ambassador Gary Locke was not only the first Chinese American to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China, but also the first Chinese American governor in the continental U.S. He shares his experiences growing up and reflects on his decision to run for office. The United States is a nation of immigrants, and our diversity is a source of strength. (2:29) Part 3. Ambassador Gary Locke talks about how his immigration story and the greater story of U.S. immigration relates to democracy. (2:37) Part 4. Ambassador Gary Locke on how Americans and our government should promote democracy and democratic values in the world. (2:18) Part 5. Former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke on why he is optimistic about the future of democracy globally and the potential of democratic values to elevate people all around the world. (1:41) Gary Locke is Chair of the Committee of 100 百人会. Watch Volume 4 of the series with Gary Locke: https://bit.ly/3PaKkZt 2. KTSF-TV26 Chinese Journal: Roles and Responsibilities of San Francisco FBI Field Office San Francisco FBI Field Office Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp and Supervisory Special Agent L. Wu were interviewed in the Chinese Journal 華人叢刋 program by KTSF-TV26. They discussed their roles and responsibilities, including matters such as national security, interaction with local law enforcement, human trafficking, financial fraud, and anti-Asian hate crimes. The San Francisco Field Office has 800 agents and staff members. It is one of 56 FBI field offices across the country. The interview was conducted in Cantonese and English. Part 1 interview: https://bit.ly/3PpYc3m (9:01) Part 2 interview: https://bit.ly/3Lc5KnG (8:40) Part 3 interview: https://bit.ly/3Lazy4d (4:18) 3. 2023/09/19 Is National Voter Registration Day September 19, 2023, is National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) . Volunteers and organizations from all over the country will hit the streets in a single day of coordinated field, technology, and media efforts to register as many eligible voters as possible. Since 2012, over 5 million Americans have been registered to vote through NVRD efforts. APIAVote has long been a partner of NVRD, and will partner again this year.Join APIAVote on Thursday September 7 at 4pm EST to learn more about NVRD and how to implement a successful voter engagement program so we can mobilize AAPIs to the polls and display our collective power across the country. Register for the event: apia.vote/NVRD2023 .APA Justice has also posted the event at its newly created Community Calendar: https://bit.ly/45KGyga 4. Motion Denied: Yanping Chen 陈燕平 vs FBI et al Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 brought a Privacy Act lawsuit against multiple federal agencies and personnel for allegedly leaking information to journalist Catherine Herridge , who published a series of investigative reports about Chen’s affiliations with the Chinese military on Fox News Network in 2017. After discovery failed to identify the source of the alleged leak, Chen issued subpoenas to Herridge and Fox. Both non-parties then moved to quash these subpoenas on the grounds that requiring them to divulge their source or sources violated the First Amendment’s qualified privilege for journalists and a federal common law newsgathering privilege. Last month, the District Court partially denied Herridge’s motion and permitted Chen to depose her. Herridge responded by requesting that the Court certify that order for interlocutory appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) and stay the order pending appeal. On September 6, 2023, the Court denies Herridge's motions.Read APA Justice coverage of the case of Dr. Yanping Chen: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Yanping_Chen Back View PDF September 7, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #278 9/9 Monthly Meeting; Harmful Anti-China Rhetoric; NASEM Report; War for Chinese Talent #278 9/9 Monthly Meeting; Harmful Anti-China Rhetoric; NASEM Report; War for Chinese Talent In This Issue #278 · 2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Rhetoric of Who is Tougher on China Has Tragic Consequences · International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment · The War for Chinese Talent in America: The Politics of Technology and Knowledge in Sino-U.S. Relations · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, September 9, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Christine Chen , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Vote · Jane Shim , Director, Stop Asian Hate Project, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) · Tori Bateman , Director of Advocacy, Quincy Institute · Sandy Shan , Director, Justice Is Global 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 . ***********APIAVote is the nation’s leading national, nonpartisan organization to engage, educate, and empower Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to strengthen their voices and create impact. Since 2007, APIAVote’s mission is to work with local and state community based organizations to mobilize AAPI communities in electoral and civic engagement. After attending and hosting events at the RNC and DNC, Christine Chen will update us on the state of AAPI voters in the upcoming November elections. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization founded in 1974 to protect and promote the civil rights of Asian Americans. It is a key member of the legal team that filed suit against Florida's alien land bill known as SB 264 in 2023. More recently, it filed an amicus brief with 11 Asian Pacific American organizations in support of Dr. Yanping Chen 's privacy rights lawsuit. Jane Shim will update us on the these latest developments and related AALDEF activities.After five years of discussion across the progressive community, the Quincy Institute has teamed up with the Institute for Policy Studies and Justice is Global to produce a brief on " A Program for Progressive China Policy . " It proposes a new policy framework that would shift the current US approach of pressure and exclusion against China toward a relationship rooted in solidarity, healthy competition, and cooperative efforts to address shared challenges. Tori Bateman and Sandy Shan will give a joint presentation on the brief and discuss plans for its promotion over the next few months. Rhetoric of Who is Tougher on China Has Tragic Consequences On September 1, 2024, The Washington Post reported that 171 campaign ads for congressional and presidential candidates have already mentioned China in this election cycle. These ads include a range of dark insinuations: one candidate allegedly recruited as a spy by Chinese leaders in his youth, another accused of profiting from a Chinese fentanyl manufacturer, and a third alleged to have sold Chinese-made SUVs at his car dealership. Both Democrats and Republicans are aggressively associating their opponents with China as the 2024 campaign intensifies. They hope that invoking China—a country many Americans blame for the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis, and ongoing economic challenges—will sway voters in their favor.China-bashing has long been a staple of U.S. politics. In 2016, former President Donald Trump made cracking down on China central to his campaign, and both parties have historically capitalized on voter anger over outsourcing, especially in Rust Belt states. However, as tensions between the two nations rise in 2024, the issue has become especially heated, with candidates sparring over locked in battles over who is more connected to China. During the 2020 cycle, 82% of China-related ads for Senate candidates were funded by Republicans or GOP-aligned groups. This cycle, however, most of these ads are paid for by Democrats, with 36% coming from Republicans.Some of the attacks have veered into conspiratorial territory, evoking Cold War-era fears. Republicans, for example, have made unfounded claims that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz , Kamala Harris ’s running mate, may have been “groomed” by China. Walz, who traveled to China numerous times as a young English teacher and later as a member of Congress, has been baselessly insinuated by GOP figures like Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as being a Chinese plant. The barrage of negative ads and rhetoric suggests that future Congresses may adopt an even more hardline stance toward China, partly to appease voters’ growing skepticism. Since 2019, Congress has sharpened its tone, introducing six times as many China-related bills in 2021 as in 2013. In recent years, lawmakers have allocated billions more to counter China’s military, restricted its access to semiconductors, and bolstered global anti-China coalitions. Countering China remains one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement on Capitol Hill.However, there is growing concern that this intense focus on China could lead to a broader blame game targeting Chinese people, including immigrants. Since the pandemic, the FBI has reported a surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Calif.), who serves on the House subcommittee overseeing U.S. foreign policy spending, warned that for some of her colleagues, "it all starts and ends with China," which she warns could "create a lot of potential for violence in our communities again."Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3XaMcFG The scientific and Asian Pacific American communities are still mourning the tragic passing of Northwestern University Professor of Neurology Dr. Jane Y. Wu who was reportedly subject to years of endless investigations by the National Institutes of Health's "China Initiative." APA Justice is currently looking into the reported suicide of an internationally renowned professor of electrical engineering at the Arizona State University during the "China Initiative." There has already been a reported suicide of a Stanford University professor at the beginning of the "China Initiative." Rhetoric of who is tougher on China has tragic consequences on the Asian Pacific American community, especially those of Chinese descent. International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment On August 29, 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) released a consensus study report titled International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment . The report recommends ways to improve relative to programs and incentives used by the U.S.'s strategic competitors. At the request of the U.S. Department of Defense, this report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and their corresponding scientific, economic, and national security benefits. The report acknowledges the legitimate concerns about protecting U.S. intellectual property and national security but also points out the negative consequences of the China Initiative. It notes that the initiative has created a climate of fear among researchers, particularly those of Chinese descent, and has led to a decline in collaboration between U.S. and Chinese scientists. This, in turn, could hinder the U.S. innovation ecosystem, which has long benefited from the contributions of international researchers.Specifically on the China Initiative, "The U.S. Department's China Initiative resulted in lingering, chilling effects on attracting and retaining Chinese-origin STEM talent because of a fear of and actual harassment and intimidation. Such chilling effects extend to other vulnerable groups, including both foreign and domestic students and professionals, and result in the loss of talent from the United States, avoidance by researchers of some fields of inquiry and the pursuit of federal funding, and reduction of international collaborations," the NASEM panel finds. The report also discusses how the U.S. government's response to China’s Thousand Talents Program, including increased scrutiny of researchers with ties to the program, has contributed to the broader concerns about international talent programs. The report critically examines the role of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies in managing the risks associated with international talent programs. While these agencies are tasked with protecting national security, their involvement has led to tensions with the academic and research communities. The report highlights instances where aggressive law enforcement actions have resulted in the wrongful prosecution of researchers, damaging careers and undermining trust in the U.S. as a welcoming destination for international talent.The report suggests that a more balanced approach is needed, one that protects national security without undermining the contributions of international researchers. It calls for clearer guidelines and better communication between law enforcement agencies, universities, and researchers to ensure that security measures do not harm the U.S. research ecosystem.The report concludes with several recommendations for improving the management of international talent programs in the U.S. and the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining scholars, It advocates for policies that strike a balance between protecting national security and maintaining an open and welcoming environment for international researchers. The report also calls for increased transparency in the implementation of security measures, as well as efforts to rebuild trust within the academic community.Read the NASEM report: https://bit.ly/3TgaHQl Juan Zhang , editor at US-China Perception Monitor, contributed this report. According to Science on September 3, 2024, the NASEM report warns that the U.S. risks losing its status as a global leader in research due to a broken immigration system. The report highlights the importance of allowing more immigrants with advanced degrees in STEM fields to stay in the country, as the U.S. heavily relies on foreign-born scientists. It criticizes the now-defunct China Initiative that targeted Chinese scientists under the guise of preventing economic espionage. The panel urges the government “to take measures to address the lingering chilling effects of the China Initiative.” Gisela Kusakawa , who leads the Asian American Scholar Forum, calls the critique a “milestone” for a NASEM report.The panel suggests that U.S. immigration policy should be reformed to attract and retain top international STEM talent. Recommendations include easing the green card process for foreign-born STEM experts, removing country-specific caps, and granting green cards to those who earn advanced degrees in the U.S.The report also warns that restrictive policies in the name of national security could backfire if perceived as discriminatory, and it advocates for more transparency and fairness in research security measures. The report calls for a significant investment in domestic STEM education but notes that building a strong domestic talent pool could take decades, similar to the long journey the U.S. took to achieve energy independence.The report recommends a massive investment aimed at attracting more domestic students into STEM fields akin to the push after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.The panel chair, Mark Barteau , chair of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University, predicts it could take a long time, using as an analogy how long it took the United States to achieve energy independence. “Richard Nixon [in 1973] was the first U.S. president to say that the solution is not to turn off imports but to boost domestic production,” Barteau says. “And it took us decades to achieve it. I'm not sure the timeline between oil and STEM talent is all that different.”Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/47fYktj The War for Chinese Talent in America: The Politics of Technology and Knowledge in Sino-U.S. Relations On September 27, 2024, Stanford University will host a book talk on "The War for Chinese Talent in America," featuring David Zweig , Professor Emeritus, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, as speaker.In 2018, the Trump Administration launched the "China Initiative," a campaign aimed at curbing China's efforts to access U.S. technology. Dr. Zweig’s new book documents the U.S. government's measures to limit technology transfer to China and features case studies of several unknown victims of this campaign. It also explores the detrimental effects on Sino-American scientific collaboration and the education of Chinese students in America. Join the China Program at Stanford's Shorenstein APARC for a presentation by the book's author on this critical topic in U.S.-China relations.Dr. Zweig is from Canada and has been a China expert for 50 years. He is fluent in Mandarin. He spoke at the September 2020 APA Justice monthly meeting. His presentation, meeting summary, and video recording are located here: https://bit.ly/3Q9Uda6 . Register for the Stanford University event here: https://stanford.io/4e97uKB News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/09/10-12 Chronicle Festival: The Road Ahead to 20352024/09/12 AA4D: Nobel Laureates and Scientists for Democracy 2024/09/19 1990 Teachers Workshop: Asian American Identity2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity Summit2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 2024/09/26 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. Relations2024/10/02 C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Initiative The Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. Copyright © 2024 APA Justice, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in or have expressed interest. Our mailing address is: APA Justice P.O. Box 1242 McLean, VA 22101 Add us to your address book We do not share, sell, rent or trade any of your information with third parties unless you provide explicit consent. Read our Privacy Policy here . Back View PDF September 5, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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