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U.S. Rep. Grace Meng has introduced legislation to ensure that students across the U.S. learn about the contributions of Asian and Pacific Americans. October 5, 2020 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng announced the Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act on October 5, 2020 to ensure that students across the U.S. learn about the influence and contributions of Asian and Pacific Americans. Read more 2020/10/05 Rep. Grace Meng: Meng Introduced Legislation to Promote The Teaching of Asian Pacific American History in Schools 2020/10/06 Queens Daily Eagle: Meng introduces bill to ensure students learn about Asian American history U.S. Rep. Grace Meng has introduced legislation to ensure that students across the U.S. learn about the contributions of Asian and Pacific Americans. Previous Next Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act Introduced

Newsletter - #384 3/24 Webinar; Mayor Kaohly Her; WP: America Needs Immigrants; Ohio Bill; Equity Pulse+ #384 3/24 Webinar; Mayor Kaohly Her; WP: America Needs Immigrants; Ohio Bill; Equity Pulse+ In This Issue #384 · 03/24 Webinar: Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know · Remarks by St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her · George Will: America Needs Immigrants · Ohio Alien Land Bill (HB1) Faces Strong Community Opposition · Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake? · News and Activities for the Communities 03/24 Webinar: Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know On March 24, 2026, starting at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT, APA Justice, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Scholar Forum, and Committee of 100 will co-host a webinar on “ Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know. ” Moderator: Michael German is a Retired Fellow in the Brennan Center for Justice's Liberty and National Security Program. His work focuses on ensuring that the U.S. government respects human rights and fundamental freedoms in its pursuit of national security — including reforming the surveillance and intelligence systems that have too often been turned against the very communities they were meant to protect. He is a former FBI Special Agent and one of the nation's leading voices on law enforcement and intelligence oversight. Before joining the Brennan Center in 2014, he served as Policy Counsel for National Security and Privacy at the ACLU's Washington legislative office. Speakers: · Kaohly Her , Mayor, St. Paul, Minnesota. She was elected St. Paul's first woman and first Asian American mayor in 2025. Mayor Her was born in the mountains of Laos and came to the United States as a refugee at age three. A strong work ethic, her family's tenacity, and support from her community propelled Mayor Her to the highest levels of the Minnesota state government and now to City Hall. She served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025. · Saira Hussain , Senior Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier Foundation. Saira litigates at the intersection of racial and immigrant justice, government surveillance, and technology, with cases challenging border searches of electronic devices, police surveillance of protesters, and law enforcement sharing of license plate reader data with ICE. Previously a Staff Attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, she focused on separating federal immigration enforcement from local law enforcement through litigation, advocacy, and coalition-building. She holds undergraduate and law degrees from UC Berkeley. · Xiaoxing Xi , Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics, Temple University. A leading expert in superconductor technologies, Professor Xi was arrested in May 2015 by armed FBI agents in front of his family on false charges of sharing sensitive technology with China — dropped just four months later. His case, involving warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of FISA and Executive Order 12333, became a landmark in the fight against racial profiling of Chinese American scientists. He filed suit challenging the prosecution and discriminatory targeting, and in 2020 received the Andrei Sakharov Prize from the American Physical Society for his advocacy for open scientific exchange. · John Yang , President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. At Advancing Justice | AAJC, John leads the organization’s efforts to fight for civil rights and empower Asian Americans to create a more just America for all through public policy advocacy, education, and litigation. John is an experienced attorney with over two decades of policy, litigation, and corporate expertise. He graduated with honors from George Washington University Law School. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3N5BbEy RESOURCES: · APA Justice: Timeline Visualization of U.S. Mass Surveillance · APA Justice: Warrantless Surveillance Remarks by St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 2, 2026, Mayor Kaohly Her reported a troubling escalation of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, particularly targeting AAPI communities—including many law-abiding residents and citizens who are not criminals or national security threats. She cautioned that conditions are “far worse than what you see on the news,” describing individuals with valid documentation, long-time lawful status, and deep community roots being detained or swept into enforcement actions. Many were transferred to out-of-state detention facilities and later released once their lawful status was verified—only to be left to make their own way home. These were residents who had complied with federal check-ins for years, maintained steady employment, paid taxes, and raised families, yet were suddenly portrayed as public safety threats. Mayor Her emphasized that some had decades-old convictions or had been wrongfully convicted as minors tried as adults, or accepted plea deals years ago without fully understanding immigration consequences. Many had since rebuilt their lives, contributing meaningfully to their communities, and were not violent offenders or national security risks. Mayor Her also expressed concern that ICE enforcement actions are sometimes carried out by agents insufficiently trained to properly assess complex immigration documentation. She described situations in which individuals presented valid paperwork, yet agents either could not interpret it correctly or proceeded with detention pending later review. She underscored that lawful residents—including U.S. citizens—were often detained first and sorted out later. She described the systematic nature of targeting, noting that Hmong, Southeast Asian, and Korean communities were disproportionately affected. Agents went “door-to-door asking who the Asian neighbors were and where they lived,” and enforcement ramped up months before it drew broader attention. The community’s hyper-invisibility meant early incidents received little public notice, and protective measures had to be organized at the grassroots level, including accompaniment to federal check-ins, coordination with local churches, and establishing networks to support residents detained out-of-state. Mayor Her also linked the escalation to the shooting death in Minneapolis shortly after she took office, noting that broader visibility of these threats only came after incidents affecting other communities. In response, the City of St. Paul enacted ordinances limiting ICE activity on city property, requiring agents to display identification, and prohibiting face coverings to reduce confusion with local law enforcement. The city provided support to small businesses impacted by enforcement actions—some of which saw revenues drop 60–70%—backed legal challenges, coordinated community safety efforts, and organized strategies for protests and large gatherings to ensure constitutional rights were observed. At the state level, collaboration with the governor and attorney general expanded clemency hearings—from one per year to four per year, with eight reviews of paperwork annually—resulting in hundreds of pardons for immigrants whose past or unjust convictions had placed them at risk despite years of lawful conduct. Mayor Her highlighted that these measures “meant the world” to affected families and reinforced her central message: the individuals being detained are community members—not criminals or national security threats—and deserve fairness, competence, and due process. Watch a video of her remarks at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q-kw22N_Yg (11:29) George Will: America Needs Immigrants In a compelling Washington Post opinion, conservative columnist George Will makes an empirically grounded and deeply human case against the Trump administration's mass deportation policy — arguing that America needs immigrants as much as they need the blessings of American liberty. Will opens with a simple but powerful image: a regular at a neighborhood diner shows up one Sunday to find Jose , his waiter of 20 years, gone — deported. "Suddenly, the immigration issue has a face, and complexity." It is a reminder that behind every immigration statistic is a person woven into the fabric of American life. The data Will reports is striking. As of 2023, only 27 percent of the foreign-born population were undocumented, while more than half of all immigrants had become U.S. citizens. Prior to the Biden-era surge, 43 percent of undocumented immigrants had been in the country for at least 20 years, about a third were homeowners, and their 5 million U.S.-born children were citizens. As Will puts it plainly: "Talk of sending them 'home' is nonsensical. They are home." The economic case is equally compelling. A Cato Institute report covering 1994 to 2023 found that immigrants generated more in taxes than they received in government benefits at all levels, creating a cumulative fiscal surplus of $14.5 trillion in real 2024 dollars — equivalent to 33 percent of total inflation-adjusted deficits over that period. Immigrants make up nearly 24 percent of STEM workers, almost 16 percent of nurses, and over 28 percent of health aides — a workforce indispensable to an aging America whose birth rate has fallen below the replacement level. Between 2022 and 2023, for the first time since census data began being collected in 1850, immigration accounted for the entire U.S. population growth. Will closes where he began — at the diner. "That fellow having brunch at the diner will still get his waffles. But he will miss Jose, and millions like him, in more ways than he can easily imagine." For the AAPI community, Will's column resonates deeply. Asian Americans are among the immigrants who have built this country's scientific, medical, and economic foundations — and are among those most vulnerable to the surveillance, profiling, and enforcement policies that Will rightly calls "stomach-turning." His voice, from the right of the political spectrum, is a reminder that the case for immigrant dignity and the case for American prosperity are one and the same. Read George Will’s Washington Post opinion: https://wapo.st/4uv76yT Read Cato Institute’s report on Immigrants’ Recent Effects on Government Budgets 1994-2023: https://bit.ly/4cGL3yW Ohio Alien Land Bill (HB1) Faces Strong Community Opposition The Ohio House Public Safety Committee will hold its fourth hearing on House Bill 1 (HB1) on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 9:30 am in Room 114 of the Ohio State House , focusing on the substitute bill (sub-bill) they passed on November 19, 2025. This bill shares the same title as its senate companion bill, Senate Bill 88 (SB88): “Ohio Property Protection Act,” and is one of the alien land bill or laws tracked by the Committee of 100 that are aimed at restricting land or property ownership based on national origin, raising serious concerns about violations of federal and state laws, especially the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. What is extraordinary in the Ohio HB1 and SB88 is they impose restrictions on property ownership within a 10-mile (HB1) or 25-mile (SB88) radius around an overly broad list of items categorized as “critical infrastructure”, which includes daily utilities like telecommunications lines, power grids, water and sewer systems, television and radio facilities, and fiber-optic networks. Below is a map illustrating the restricted areas within a 10-mile radius around these “critical infrastructure” items, essentially “blanket the entirety of the State of Ohio,” as the sponsor of SB88, State Senator Terry Johnson said . To date, the Ohio HB1 and SB88 combined have received 14 proponent testimonies, and 296 opponent testimonies - reflecting strong opposition among Ohioans. Community members and organizations pointed out that even though the Ohio HB1 and SB88 were framed as security measures, they would not meaningfully enhance public safety. Instead, they would penalize individuals who are legally present in the United States, harm Ohio’s reputation as a fair and business‑friendly state, and undermine the constitutional and economic principles that have long supported our state’s growth. Justice for Ohio , a civil rights and advocacy organization, encouraged concerned individuals, businesses and organizations to submit opponent testimonies and send letters to legislators and ask them to reject Ohio House Bill 1. Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake? On April 1, 2026, the Supreme Court will hear arguments that could redefine what it means to be a U.S. citizen. It is a battle Chinese Americans have fought before. In 1898, Wong Kim Ark 黄金德 sued for his right to reenter the United States after being denied because of his Chinese ancestry. His Supreme Court victory established birthright citizenship as we know it. Now, that precedent is under attack in Trump v. Barbara . Join attorneys Wendy Feng , Arjun Shenoy , Tony Wang , Jennifer Wu on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT, as they break down the legal arguments and discuss what this case could mean for AAPIs and civil rights. They were directly involved in the drafting of the two amicus briefs filed by the AAPI community in this case. Even if you are a U.S. citizen today, this case could affect generations to come. Hear from top legal experts, ask questions, and engage on a constitutional right that now hangs in the balance. The “Equity Pulse” series hosted by the Committee of 100 highlights real-world policy impacts on AAPI communities and what we can do to challenge inequities. Registration link: https://committee100-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/9617732618234/WN_R6dq-FEaQVilfADvTmqmIg News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/03/17 Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake? 2026/03/19 AAUC Town Hall: In Challenging Times, Our Voices Matter 2026/03/24 Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know 2026/03/25 The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype: New Data on Asian American Experiences 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla ChengVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF March 16, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

Newsletter - #96 Updates On Sherry Chen, Franklin Tao, Charles Lieber; Latest On Campaign; Events + #96 Updates On Sherry Chen, Franklin Tao, Charles Lieber; Latest On Campaign; Events + Back View PDF November 18, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #32 12/02 Webinar; Franklin Tao; 12/07 Meeting; 2020 Census #32 12/02 Webinar; Franklin Tao; 12/07 Meeting; 2020 Census Back View PDF December 1, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #88 Rep. Raskin Remarks; Cooley Steps Up; House Hearing; White Paper; UTK; Week of Action #88 Rep. Raskin Remarks; Cooley Steps Up; House Hearing; White Paper; UTK; Week of Action Back View PDF October 11, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #47 End "China Initiative" And Racial Profiling; Charles Lieber; Gang Chen; Lots More #47 End "China Initiative" And Racial Profiling; Charles Lieber; Gang Chen; Lots More Back View PDF March 8, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #194: Florida Lawsuit/Land Bills; Chinese Scientists; Houston Needs Help; Colonel Kalsi; FBI #194: Florida Lawsuit/Land Bills; Chinese Scientists; Houston Needs Help; Colonel Kalsi; FBI In This Issue #194 Updates on The Florida Alien Land Bill Lawsuit Opinion: Banning Foreign Ownership of Land Doesn't Protect US. It Just Scapegoats Asian Americans Chinese Scientists Increasingly Leaving U.S. Houston’s Chinese American Community Is Asking The Public For Help Colonel Kalsi: Beyond The Call Understanding The FBI Webinar; Upcoming FBI-Community Roundtable Updates on The Florida Alien Land Bill Lawsuit On July 3, 2023, Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, provided these updates on the Florida alien land bill lawsuit: Back View PDF July 6, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

COVID-19 During the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents soared, reinforcing misconceptions about Asian Americans and endangering their communities. THE NUMBERS estimated AAPI essential workers 2 million daily reported anti-AAPI hate incidents 100 anti-Asian hate incidents reported in first few months of 2020 > 2300 Recent developments House Resolution Condemns All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment Related to COVID-19 This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. CAPAC Issues Messaging Guidance on Anti-Asian Hate This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. 2020 Ends With A Positive Story This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. More News Johns Hopkins University Unofficial Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. The COVID Tracking Project An unofficial project on U.S. testing data. 1point3acres An unofficial website built and maintained by first-generation Chinese immigrants in the U.S. World Health Organization Daily situation reports produced by the World Health Organization. U.S. CDC Updates by the U.S. Center for Decease and Control (CDC). Tracking COVID Cases Stop AAPI Hate The Stop AAPI Hate website was launched on March 19, 2020 by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) and Chinese for Affirmation Action . By April 23, 2020, over 1,500 incidents have been reported to the website. By the end of March 2021, the number increased to over 6,600. Periodic analytical reports are produced by Dr. Russell Jeung, and Kai Nham, San Francisco State University Asian American Studies. Reporting Anti-Asian Hate Crimes and Incidents Stop AAPI Hate NYC Human Rights Racism is Contagious Act to Change Stand Against Hatred Coronavirus and Racism "There are serious concerns of a global pandemic, but the coronavirus (now called COVID-19 by the World Health Organization) has also reawakened centuries-old prejudices against Chinese people," John Pompret wrote recently in an opinion for the Washington Post . He went on to cite several historical examples of how anti-Chinese racism in the U.S. always hinged on the belief that Asians harbor disease, dating back to the 19th century. The title of a Wall Street Journal opinion on February 3 included a term "Sick Man of Asia" which is a century-old derogatory reference to persons of Chinese origin. It sparked strong reactions from the Chinese American community nationwide. "Something's not right here folks," Mario Cavolo, an American living in China, wrote in his LinkedIn blog as he looked at the disparate treatment and reaction to the 2009 H1N1 virus that started in the U.S. compared to the 2020 coronavirus in China. "This vicious, political, xenophobic racist attacks and smearing of all things China needs to stop," Cavolo concluded. Virus knows no borders. It is not an excuse for division, prejudice, fearmongering, or xenophobia here or elsewhere in the world. The risk of COVID-19 should obviously not be under-estimated. However, hate messages, baseless rumors, prejudice, conspiracy theories, uncontrolled emotions, panic and uninformed behavior cause far more damage than the coronavirus itself. "Whether in a couple of weeks or months later, this nasty flu type Corona virus will begin declining and the joy of Spring will arrive," Cavolo optimistically observed.

Alien Land Bills WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME Prev Next Overview Alien land laws were a series of laws enacted in the United States, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the intent of restricting land ownership and leasing rights for non-citizens, particularly targeting Asian immigrants who were ineligible for citizenship, such as Chinese immigrants due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The Alien Land Laws varied from state to state but generally prohibited non-citizens, or aliens, from owning or leasing land directly in their own names. In some cases, they also restricted the ability of non-citizen corporations in which aliens were major shareholders from owning land. These laws were often discriminatory and aimed to discourage Asian immigrants from establishing permanent roots and economic stability in the United States. The Alien Land Laws were part of a broader context of anti-immigrant sentiment and racism prevalent during that time period. They contributed to the marginalization and economic disadvantage faced by Asian immigrants, particularly those of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino descent, who were significant contributors to the agricultural industry in states like California and Hawaii. Alien land laws were justified by politicians of the time as "national security" measures, yet they fueled economic hardship, violence, and discrimination against Asian immigrants. Over the decades, courts struck down or repealed most of these laws as unconstitutional, recognizing the equal protection rights of immigrant communities. However, similar patterns and justifications re-emerged with recent legislation, like Florida’s state law known as SB 264, echoing these historical discriminatory practices under new pretexts. References and Links Equal Justice Initiative: California Law Prohibits Asian Immigrants from Owning Land Immigration History: Alien Land Laws in California (1913 & 1920) Smithsonian Institution: A More Perfect Union - Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution Wikipedia: Alien Land Laws 2023/02/18 Racism.org: The End of California's Anti-Asian Alien Land Law: A Case Study in Reparations and Transitional Justice History of Alien Land Laws Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to customize this theme across your site. You can update and reuse text themes. Timeline Contents Go Go Select Title

Newsletter - #179 05/01 Meeting; Florida Rallies; CALDA; Indiana Hate Crime; Economic Peace Terms; News #179 05/01 Meeting; Florida Rallies; CALDA; Indiana Hate Crime; Economic Peace Terms; News In This Issue #179 2023/05/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2023/04/29 Florida Rallies; CALDA Issues Statement Indiana Woman Charged with Federal Hate Crime in Bus Attack America Has Dictated Its Economic Peace Terms to China Activities and News for the Communities 2023/05/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, May 1, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Erika L. Moritsugu , Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, will deliver a special message from the White House to start the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Brenna Isman , Director of Academy Studies, National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), will provide a brief description of the history, mission, and purpose of NAPA, its "Grand Challenges" campaign for public administration, and its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts and commissioned studies. Paula Williams Madison , Paula Williams Madison, Former Print and TV Journalist, Retired NBCUniversal executive and GE Company Officer, Former Vice President of the Los Angeles Police Commission and owner of The Africa Channel, will provide a recap of the April 17 Roundtable and share the possible next steps for this important work that may have long-lasting impact to the AAPI community and the American society overall.Updates will be provided in the meeting by: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum.The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . 2023/04/29 Florida Rallies; CALDA Issues Statement 1. 2023/04/29 Florida Rallies A 6-city rally is being organized by The Florida Asian American Justice Alliance to oppose the unfair and discriminatory Florida Senate Bill 264 and House Bill 1355 on Saturday, April 29, 2023, starting at 11:00 am ET. Tallahassee . 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 Jacksonville . Memorial Park, 1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204 Miami . Torch of Friendship, 301 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33126 Other cities are Gainesville, Orlando, and Tampa. For more information about the rally and how to get involved, please contact Jin at faaja.org@gmail.com . 2. CALDA Issues Statement Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against systematic racial discrimination for Chinese Americans. According to statement released by CALDA on April 23, 2023,"Our specialty is filing legal actions to invalidate laws, policies, or practices that are racially biased against Chinese Americans. Two years ago our founders successfully obtained a preliminary injunction in court against President Trump for his WeChat ban, and forced the federal government to pay nearly one million dollars for our attorney fees in the lawsuit. Recently we have filed legal actions to expose the racial bias behind several federal agencies’ unfair investigation of Chinese American scientists. In the last several months, we have been monitoring the situation in Texas, Florida, South Carolina and other southern states for their bills banning Chinese Americans from acquiring or owning real estates.These bills are racist, no matter what 'legitimate' purposes that the state legislators claim to serve. They are no different from the so-called 'alien land laws' that many states passed more than a hundred years ago to ban Asian people from owning land. All of the alien land laws were struck down by courts or repealed by the states subsequently. CALDA has decided to take on the same legal challenge in court if the current bills are passed.These bills are a blatant violation of the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by singling out Chinese Americans for unequal treatment. They also violate the federal Fair Housing Act for discriminatory practices. CALDA has already started the preparation of the legal challenges, and is now working with ACLU and several major law firms to join forces. Our plan is to file lawsuits as soon as any of these bills are passed, and we will not stop fighting until all of these laws are overturned."Read the CALDA statement: https://bit.ly/3oHzyAj Sunday Strategy Town Hall Meetings Opposing Alien Land and Other Discriminatory Bills For the past two months, a strategic town hall meeting has been held every Sunday under the organization and leadership of Professor Steven Pei , Inaugural Chair of United Chinese Americans and Co-Organizer of APA Justice. Frequent participants include community organizers of protests in not only all four major cities in Texas, but also Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee as well as supporters from California and other states. Paula Madison , retired media executive, and Gene Wu , Texas state representative, led recent discussions in very productive meetings with Florida community leaders and organizers. A media training by Gene Wu and Helen Shih of Texas followed just before the Florida hearing on April 19, 2023, despite the short notice and allowed speaking time (30 seconds per testifying person). Organizations and individuals interested in participating in future town hall meetings should contact Steven Pei at peiuh8@gmail.com . Indiana Woman Charged with Federal Hate Crime in Bus Attack According to a report by AP on April 21, 2023, Billie R. Davis , 56, of Bloomington, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Evansville on a charge of willfully causing injuries to the victim due to her race and national origin.” Davis, who is white, is accused of repeatedly stabbing the 18-year-old woman about seven times with a folding knife on January 11 as the victim, from Carmel, Indiana, waited to get off a bus in downtown Bloomington. WRTV-TV has reported that Davis told police she stabbed the woman multiple times in the head because it “would be one less person to blow up our country.” Asian Americans have increasingly been the target of racially motivated harassment and assaults in recent years, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic began, with many worrying that anti-Asian rhetoric linked to fraught relations between the U.S. and China could lead to more violence. Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/3V8st7Z In early January, local prosecutors told NPR that Davis was not charged with a hate crime because Indiana is one of four states that lack a comprehensive law. David Goldenberg , the Midwest regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said the lack of comprehensive hate crime laws in the state has major consequences. "Prosecutors need to prosecute these incidents as hate crimes when they are," Goldenberg told NPR in January. "The thing about hate crimes is it affects not only the individual victim but it affects the entire community." Read the NPR report: https://bit.ly/3Lrtsx2 America Has Dictated Its Economic Peace Terms to China According to an opinion in Foreign Policy by Adam Tooze , the Director of the European Institute at Columbia University, on April 24, 2023, after a rash of sanctions and overtly discriminatory legislation, with action on U.S. investment in China pending, and with talk of war increasingly commonplace in the United States, the Biden administration knows that it needs to clarify its economic relations with the country that is the largest U.S. trading partner outside North America. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has made her first major statement on economic relations with China since 2021. Judged by the tone, her message is intended to clarify and calm the waters of speculation and debate about motives and intentions. In the current situation, however, it is far from clear whether clarity actually contributes to calm.“The United States remains the most dynamic and prosperous economy in the world.” So, Yellen insists, America has no reason to seek to “stifle China’s economic and technological modernization” or to pursue a deep decoupling. Even when the Biden administration professes to be confident about America’s economic prospects, Yellen insists: “As in all of our foreign relations, national security is of paramount importance in our relationship with China.”At one level, this is obvious. No public official will ever say anything else. Security is the basic function of states. But everything depends on the scope of your vision of national security and the level of trust. And if you have to state the priority of national security in foreign relations out loud, you know you have a problem.So a strong and self-confident America has no reason to stand in the way of China’s economic and technological modernization except in every area that America’s national security establishment, the most gigantic in the world, defines as being of essential national interest. For this to be anything other than hypocrisy, you have to imagine that we live in a goldilocks world in which the technology, industrial capacity, and trade that are relevant to national security are incidental to economic and technological modernization more broadly speaking.Yellen pays lip service to that goldilocks vision, by insisting that U.S. measures against China will be tightly targeted. But, as everyone knows, those targeted measures have so far included massive efforts to hobble the world leader in 5G technology, Huawei, sanctions against the entire chip supply chain, and the inclusion of most major research universities in China on America’s entities list that strictly limits trade. The upshot is that America welcomes China’s economic modernization and will refuse the lure of the Thucydides trap so long as China’s development proceeds along lines that do not infringe on American leadership and national security. And America’s attitude will be all the more benign the more successful it is in pursuing its own national prosperity and preeminence precisely in those areas.Read the Foreign Policy opinion: https://bit.ly/41CwSlW Activities and News for the Communities 1. Xenophobia in America WHAT: Xenophobia in America with historian and author, Erika LeeWHEN: April 26, 2023, starting at 7:30 pm WHERE: In Person at Temple Emanu-El at 756 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090 and livestreaming WHO: Kol Tzedek Speaker: Erika Lee, Regents Professor, the Rudolph J. Vecoli Chair in Immigration History, the Director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota, and the President of the Organization of American Historians. Beginning July 1, 2023, Lee will join the History Department at Harvard University as the the inaugural Bae Family Professor of History. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3AqMyNh DESCRIPTION : The Kol Tzedek Speakers Series is an annual program addressing various topics of critical importance to the betterment of our world and how we can move forward with hope and action. This year, we are thrilled to present this program in person for the very first time. The lecturers we consider will be acclaimed authorities from their respective fields of specialization. The Hebrew term Kol Tzedek means righteous voice. 2. Bill to Teach Hmong and Asian American History in Wisconsin According to AsAmNews on April 22, 2023, a new bill in Wisconsin would require schools to teach Asian American, and specifically Hmong American history. Senate Bill 240 was introduced by Republican Senator Jesse James of Altoona and other lawmakers in early April. The bill was referred to the Committee on Education on April 14. It has received bi-partisan support so far. A total of 19 states now require Asian American studies to be taught in public schools. Wisconsin could be the next state to mandate an AAPI studies curriculum. Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/41MD3Um Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF April 25, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #336 Chinese Student Visas; Alien Land Laws; U.S. leadership in Science and Innovation #336 Chinese Student Visas; Alien Land Laws; U.S. leadership in Science and Innovation In This Issue #336 · Chinese Student Visa Revocations and Volatility · Latest Development on Alien Land Laws · National Academy of Sciences President Warns: “Course-Correct or Lose to China” · News and Activities for the Communities; USCET Is Hiring Chinese Student Visa Revocations and Volatility (Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Intern) In 1854, Yung Wing 容闳 graduated from Yale, becoming the first Chinese student to graduate from an American university. Since then, international enrollment in American higher education has expanded dramatically. During the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 1.1 million international students studied in the U.S., contributing nearly $44 billion to the economy and generating 378,000 jobs. India and China together comprised 54% of international students in the U.S. China sent 277,398 students to the U.S., remaining the top-sending country for undergraduates and non-degree students. At New York University (NYU), international enrollment has increased 250% in the last decade. International students in the U.S. can obtain either an F-1 visa or a J-1 visa . An F-1 visa allows noncitizens to enter the U.S. as full-time students and requires certain criteria to be met. A J-1 visa allows participation in approved exchange visitor programs for studying, research, training, or acquiring special skills. F-1 students may also be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT), permitting them to remain in the country and work in a position relating to their degree for up to a year after graduation. Students in STEM fields are eligible for a two-year extension. If a student’s visa is revoked, they may still be able to legally remain in the country; however, if their legal status is revoked, they may be subject to detention and deportation. In spring 2025, the Trump administration unleashed a harsh crackdown on international students in the U.S. as part of its broader strategy to rapidly reduce immigration. In March, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil , a recent Columbia graduate and green-card holder, due to his role in pro-Palestinian campus protests last year, sparking outrage and confusion across the nation. Simultaneously, the House Select Committee on the CCP requested information from six U.S. universities regarding Chinese students and staff in STEM at the institutions. On June 11, a federal judge in New Jersey blocked the Trump administration from deporting Khalil on foreign policy grounds. In April, the Trump administration began quietly stripping international students of their visas due to campus activism, criminal infractions, and even traffic violations. These charges were often long resolved or dropped. In response to visa revocations and deportation efforts, many international students across the country filed more than 100 lawsuits . A judge in Georgia issued a temporary restraining order restoring the legal status of 133 students after a lawsuit filed by ACLU Georgia. Similar legal victories have occurred in Wisconsin , Oregon , Ohio , and Minnesota . Meanwhile, four ACLU offices filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of international students throughout New England and Puerto Rico, intending to stop ongoing detentions and deportation efforts. The Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) filed Chen v. Noem (4:25-cv-03292) in the Northern District of California. Similar legal battles (ongoing and resolved) are detailed in APA Justice Newsletters 328, 331, and 332. After a nationwide injunction was ordered by the court, the Trump administration reversed its policy and restored thousands of international students’ F-1 registrations on or about April 25, 2025, after contributing to widespread anxiety, confusion, and chaos. During a hearing , the Department of Homeland Security admitted they used an FBI database to identify international students with criminal records, terminating hundreds of students’ records in less than 24 hours, suggesting little to no individual case review. One of the students targeted had a reckless driving charge that had long been dropped. Read Inside Higher Ed ’s article on this situation for more insight. Inside Higher Ed ’s coverage on this topic ended on April 24. On May 28, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the State Department will begin “aggressively revoking” visas for Chinese international students, targeting those associated with the Chinese Communist Party and those working in critical fields. The State Department will also enhance scrutiny of future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. The Trump administration has halted all new student visa interviews to implement a thorough social media vetting process. After Secretary of State Rubio’s announcement, organizations including the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Advancing Justice | AAJC , the Asian American Scholar Forum , the Committee of 100 , the U.S.-China Education Trust, and the 1990 Institute , as well as Rep. Judy Chu , Emeritus Chair of CAPAC, have issued statements condemning and criticizing the policy. On June 6, a coalition of American scholars and experts on China co-signed a petition to urge Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reconsider and pause any implementation of the planned policy change pending further review, including consultation with key stakeholders both inside and outside the U.S. government. In addition to Chinese international students, the State Department is also doubling down on international students at Harvard and those under OPT. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem ordered the termination of Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program, barring the university from enrolling international students and forcing existing international students to transfer or risk losing their legal status. On May 29, a federal court in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction. In an amended lawsuit filed on June 5, Harvard challenged President Trump’s latest move to bar foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend the college, calling it illegal retaliation for Harvard’s rejection of White House demands and attempting an end-run around the previous court order. On the same day, the State Department directed consulates around the world to stop processing visa applications for students planning to attend Harvard – less than an hour before a federal court in Massachusetts granted a temporary restraining order to Harvard, ruling that Trump's directive would cause "immediate and irreparable injury" before the courts have a chance to review the case. According to the Washington Post , the State Department reversed its guidance on June 6 and resumed processing visa processing for affected students. Latest Development on Alien Land Laws According to Newsweek on June 9, 2025, as of 2024, a growing number of U.S. states—more than two-thirds—have enacted or are considering laws restricting foreign land ownership, with a specific focus on Chinese nationals and entities. This wave of legislation is part of a broader response to escalating tensions between the United States and China, including trade disputes and national security concerns. According to the Committee of 100 , at least 27 states have considered or passed such laws. Some bills mention China by name, while others reference "foreign adversaries" or countries under scrutiny, which implicitly includes China. Concerns have intensified over Chinese land purchases near sensitive locations such as military bases. While Chinese investors reportedly own U.S. land equivalent to twice the size of New York City, the scale is still small in proportion to overall foreign land ownership. Nonetheless, the symbolic and strategic implications have drawn bipartisan attention. In 2023, Florida passed a law banning citizens of China and six other countries from owning agricultural land or property near military sites. Similarly, Texas enacted legislation barring land purchases by individuals linked to the governments of China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. States like South Dakota, Indiana, Nebraska, and Virginia have followed with their own restrictions. Other states remain divided. In January, Republican lawmakers in Arkansas introduced the “Not One More Inch or Acre Act” to bar any real estate transactions involving Chinese nationals or proxies of the Chinese Communist Party. However, not all proposed bills have succeeded. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs , a Democrat, vetoed a bill that would have blocked Chinese entities from purchasing significant land near strategic assets. Meanwhile, states such as Ohio, Michigan, and Georgia are still weighing similar legislative actions. As this issue continues to evolve, it reflects both geopolitical anxieties and domestic debates over property rights, economic openness, and national security. Read the Newsweek report: https://bit.ly/45iIQGk . National Academy of Sciences President Warns: “Course-Correct or Lose to China” On June 3, 2025, National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt delivered her second State of the Science address in Washington DC. Her warning was stark, as summarized by Politico : “Course-correct or lose to China.” A video of her address is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENzD7eVtZA (47:55).Dr. McNutt cited independent studies showing the U.S. is already trailing China in several key technology sectors. “The U.S. is no longer leading in key technologies,” she said, warning that U.S. scientific leadership is at risk unless the nation reverses damaging trends: budget cuts, grant cancellations, and restrictive research policies.To restore U.S. leadership in science and innovation, McNutt outlined a plan that includes: · Revive a culture of innovation . Budget cuts are leading to risk-averse research choices. Dr. McNutt called for data-driven reforms in peer-review systems to support bold, high-impact proposal. · Develop a national research strategy . “No sensible business runs a multibillion-dollar enterprise without a strategy—yet that’s what we’re doing,” McNutt said. She urged the U.S. to emulate countries like China and Germany, which use strategic, nonpartisan planning to guide research investment. · Strengthen science education . The U.S. lacks the STEM workforce to meet growing demand, and restrictive visa policies further hinder talent inflow. Dr. McNutt emphasized the broader societal need for science-literate professionals across all sectors. such as lawyers, politicians, and workers in manufacturing and transportation. · Sustain International Collaboration . Cutting-edge science increasingly relies on global partnerships. Dr. McNutt warned that turning away international students and collaborators squanders opportunities and weakens U.S. influence. · Reduce Regulatory Burdens . ed tape is draining research resources. And since the Trump administration has prioritized reducing regulations, McNutt hopes that push extends to research regulations. “I worry that the emphasis right now on waste, fraud and abuse only leads to more regulations, as everyone is assumed guilty until proven innocent.” Dr. McNutt also revealed that the National Academy of Sciences is grappling with a $40 million budget shortfall due to terminated federal contracts. As a result, it may need to lay off 250 more employees, following 50 recent departures—marking a sobering reminder of science’s precarious place in today’s policy landscape.On June 5, Science pointed out that the United States was already falling behind in its share of published research—even before the most recent waves of defunding and dismantling basic science. The percentage of papers in Science with at least one corresponding author supported by U.S. federal funding dropped from 54% in 2018 to 44% in 2024. In contrast, the number of published papers originating from China has doubled over the same period. On June 6, John Holdren and Neal Lane , two former directors of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, sounded alarm in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists , that U.S. science faces a crisis due to proposed massive funding and staffing cuts to key federal agencies. The National Science Foundation (NSF) could see its budget slashed by 55% and staff cut by 30%, undermining basic research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) faces a $20 billion reduction and deep staff losses, threatening critical biomedical research. Similar cuts target the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, NOAA, NASA, EPA, and USAID—agencies vital to health, energy, environment, and national security. These moves, they argue, are politically driven and risk reversing decades of bipartisan investment that positioned the U.S. as a global science leader. As China increases its research output, America is losing talent and momentum. The authors urge Congress to act decisively and restore support for science, warning that failure to do so endangers innovation, public welfare, and democracy itself. On June 7, Axios reported that the Trump administration’s science funding cuts and restrictions on foreign students are triggering a severe brain drain in the U.S. Quoting Dr. McNutt, America may never fully recover its leadership in global science, as countries like China aggressively recruit top talent. U.S. grant approvals have slowed to a 35-year low, while foreign institutions—like France’s Aix-Marseille University and Chinese research centers—are drawing increasing numbers of American scientists. The administration argues its policies will prioritize domestic talent, but experts say U.S. applicants cannot realistically fill the gap, especially in critical STEM fields. The result is a discouraged generation of young scientists and a weakened future pipeline. On June 9, the National Academies released a feature story about President Marcia McNutt’s annual State of the Science address with the title “NAS President Says U.S. Science Is Facing ‘Pessimistic’ Future, Urges Changes to Regain Leadership in Science”. News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/06/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/06/15-18 2025 Applied Statistics Symposium2025/06/16-24 Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area2025/06/29-30 2025 ICSA China ConferenceVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. USCET Is Hiring The U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET) is hiring a full-time Program Associate and a part-time Program Manager . These positions are ideal for individuals passionate about U.S.-China relations and cross-cultural dialogue. Join a dynamic nonprofit environment dedicated to fostering mutual understanding between the United States and China.Deadline is June 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. Rolling review begins on June 23, 2025 — early applications encouraged! For more information on full job descriptions and application details, visit https://bit.ly/3Fuaplv . # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF June 11, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter