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Newsletter - #382 UCLA Research; CAPAC; Perpetual Foreigner; US Universities Retreat; Science on Science #382 UCLA Research; CAPAC; Perpetual Foreigner; US Universities Retreat; Science on Science In This Issue #382 · UCLA Research Series: The Human Cost of Trump's Mass Deportation Drive · 03/10 CAPAC, Minnesota Leaders and Organizations Virtual Press Conference · 03/25 Webinar: The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype · SCMP : As U.S. Universities Retreat from China, Others Step In · Science : National Science Foundation and NIST · News and Activities for the Communities UCLA Research Series: The Human Cost of Trump's Mass Deportation Drive Over the past several months, the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge has released a series of three data-driven reports documenting the dramatic escalation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement under the Trump administration. Drawing on ICE administrative records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the reports paint a sobering picture of who is actually being targeted — and what it means for communities of color across the country. Report 1 (October 2025): Latino ICE Arrests Surge Under Trump The first report found that during President Trump's first 100 days, Latino arrests by ICE averaged 558 per day — more than double the rate under the Biden administration. Arrests surged further after White House adviser Stephen Miller directed ICE to make 3,000 arrests per day, peaking at a 253% year-over-year increase in June 2025. One of the most significant shifts was the dramatic rise in community arrests — occurring at worksites, schools, and public spaces — which grew by 255% and comprised 42% of all Trump-era arrests, up from 27% under Biden. Mexicans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans accounted for the largest shares, while Venezuelan arrests surged 361%. Notably, the data show that arrest rates were not tied to local crime levels, but instead appeared shaped by political alignment and the size of Latino noncitizen populations. Read the report on Latino ICE Arrests Surge Under Trump: https://bit.ly/UCLA_ICESeries1 Report 2 (December 2025): Asian ICE Removals Under Trump The second report examined the impact on Asian communities, finding that the number of Asians removed by ICE was one and a half times higher during the first six months of the Trump administration than the same period under Biden, rising steadily from over 400 per month in February 2025 to over 700 by July 2025. Over two-thirds of those removed came from India and China, with Vietnamese and Nepali removals surging twelvefold and tenfold, respectively. Non-criminals continued to make up 74% of Asian removals. More troubling still, the administration increasingly targeted ex-convicts who had long since served their sentences and reintegrated into their communities — the median time between conviction and deportation jumped from 2.5 years under Biden to 5.5 years under Trump, and removals of those convicted a decade or more ago increased sixfold. Read the report on Asian ICE Removals: https://bit.ly/UCLA_ICESeries2 Report 3 (January 2026): Latino ICE Detentions Dramatically Reshaped Under Trump The third report shifted focus to what happens after arrest. The number of noncriminal Latino detainees entering ICE custody each month increased sixfold during the first eight months of the Trump administration — from an average of 900 per month under Biden to about 6,000, peaking at nearly 10,500 in September 2025. Nearly three quarters of all immigrants detained had never been convicted of a criminal offense, directly contradicting the administration's claim that enforcement targets "the worst of the worst." Conditions worsened considerably: the median length of detention rose from one to three days under Biden to over 25 days under Trump, and 55% of noncriminal Latino detainees were transferred out of state — up from 18% — in some cases to obstruct access to legal support. Only 9% of noncriminal Latino detainees were released back into their communities under Trump, compared to 42% under Biden, while 88% were deported. Read the report on Latino ICE Detentions Dramatically Reshaped Under Trump: https://bit.ly/UCLA_ICESeries3 . The Bigger Picture Taken together, the three reports document a systematic escalation that goes far beyond targeting criminals or recent arrivals. The researchers warn that enforcement has created four overlapping harms: direct hardship for those detained, financial and emotional devastation for their families, widespread fear that discourages Latino and AAPI community members from going to work, school, or medical appointments, and broader damage to the U.S. economy through the loss of immigrant labor. For the AAPI community specifically, the data show that enforcement has already swept up hundreds of Korean workers, Vietnamese families, Chinese nationals, and others — and there is no sign of it slowing down. Sources: UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, in collaboration with the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, using ICE data from UC Berkeley School of Law's Deportation Data Project. 03/10 CAPAC, Minnesota Leaders and Organizations Virtual Press Conference WHAT : CAPAC, Minnesota Leaders and Organizations Highlight Impact of Trump’s Immigration Policies on Asian Communities WHEN : Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 4:00 pm ET WHERE : Virtual Press Conference HOSTS : · U.S. Representative Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Minnesota State Asian Pacific Caucus · Minnesota-based community organizations Speakers: · Rep. Grace Meng , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Minnesota State Representative Liz Lee , Secretary of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators (NAPACSL) · Minnesota State Representative Ethan Cha , Chair of the MN Asian Pacific Caucus · Xay Yang , Executive Director of Transforming Generations · Kaziah Josiah , Executive Director of Urban Village · Quyen Đình , Executive Director of Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) · Chhaya Chhoum , Executive Director of Southeast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN) · Along with other organizations DESCRIPTION : This is a virtual press conference to highlight the devastating impacts of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies on Asian communities. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3P2gt96 03/25 Webinar: The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype WHAT : The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype: New Data on Asian American Experiences WHEN : March 25, 2026, 2:00-3:00 pm ET WHERE : Webinar HOSTS: Committee of 100, NORC at University of Chicago Speakers: · Teresa Hsu , PhD, Founder and Executive Director of SPEAK (Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans & Kins) · Vivien Leung , PhD, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Santa Clara · Katie Soo , Trustee of the Asia Society Global Board of Trustees and Board Chair of Asia Society Southern California DESCRIPTION : This webinar is a conversation highlighting new findings from the second report in the 2025 State of Chinese Americans survey four-part series, examining how the assumption of foreignness shapes experiences of belonging for Chinese Americans and broader Asian American communities. The data reveals a troubling pattern: U.S.-born Asian Americans continue to be viewed as perpetual outsiders, facing race-based discrimination and questioning of their belonging at higher rates than any other racial group in the nation. For those who regularly encounter these assumptions, feelings of exclusion nearly triple, and psychological distress is almost twice as high. This stereotype can lead to dampened political engagement, and thus, decreased responsiveness from policymakers to Asian American community needs. Our panelists will explore what these findings and what can be done: REGISTRATION: https://www.committee100.org/events/perpetual-foreigner-stereotype/ SCMP : As U.S. Universities Retreat from China, Others Step In What began in 1978 with a small delegation of Shanghai professors visiting American universities — a trip personally approved by Deng Xiaoping 邓小平 — grew into decades of landmark U.S.-China academic partnerships. Today, that era is quietly coming to an end. On March 8, 2026, The South China Morning Post reports that elite Sino-American joint ventures are collapsing under the weight of geopolitical pressure, with casualties including the University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University joint institute, the Georgia Tech-Shenzhen Institute, the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, and the Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute. A 2025 House of Representatives report called for the termination of nearly 50 U.S.-China academic partnerships deemed "high risk," targeting programs at NYU Shanghai, Johns Hopkins, Temple University, and the University of Minnesota, among others. But the void left by American institutions is not going unfilled. China's Ministry of Education approved a record 285 joint education programs in 2025, drawing in universities from Russia, Britain, Italy, South Korea, Germany, and New Zealand. This brings the total number of active Sino-foreign partnerships to 1,589. As Denis Simon , former executive vice-chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, observed: "The US anxieties leave space or become harder to work with, and others step into it. China also wants a portfolio that reduces dependence on any single country — especially one in a contested strategic relationship." The shift carries long-term implications. Peterson Institute analyst Li Zhuowen noted that demand for elite STEM education in China remains strong regardless of where it comes from: "If the US cuts supply, students and universities will simply look elsewhere. These partners do not replicate US strengths one to one, but they are sufficient for China's current needs." Li was equally blunt about the future of flagship U.S.-China academic ventures: "The era of the 'flagship' US-China joint university is likely over for the near future. The trust required to build a new institution from scratch simply does not exist right now." Meanwhile, Chinese students are increasingly turning to joint-venture universities inside China as a cost-effective alternative to studying abroad, with enrollment at institutions like NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan hitting record highs even as Chinese enrollment at U.S. universities has fallen from a peak of 372,000 to 277,000. For many students, the calculus is straightforward. As one student told the SCMP : "The geopolitical climate and safety were major considerations … studying in the US was completely off the table for me." The consequences of America's academic retreat extend well beyond individual campuses. As the U.S. pulls back, it is ceding influence over the next generation of global talent — and handing competitors a strategic opening that may take decades to reclaim. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/4bcEu4H Science : National Science Foundation and NIST According to Science , from gutted fellowship programs to restricted foreign scientists, the Trump administration's interventions at two of the nation's premier research agencies are raising urgent alarms across the scientific community. A convergence of policy changes at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is painting a troubling picture for the future of American science. Over the past year, the Trump administration has moved aggressively to reorient federal research agencies around its political priorities—artificial intelligence and quantum computing—while simultaneously curtailing the very talent pipelines that have long powered U.S. scientific leadership. The consequences are being felt from graduate school applications to laboratory benches. NSF's Graduate Fellowship: A 70-Year Legacy at Risk Since 1952, NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program has been a launchpad for American scientific talent—producing over 50 Nobel laureates and providing three-year stipends exclusively to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The administration first cut the program nearly in half from its customary 2,300 awards. After a public outcry, 500 fellowships were restored, but skewed heavily toward AI and quantum computing. This year, NSF went further, returning at least 50 applications without review—most in biology and the life sciences. The paradox is glaring: a program designed entirely to cultivate domestic scientists is being gutted in the name of prioritizing American researchers. Meanwhile, China now supplies one-third of drugs licensed by Western pharmaceutical companies. Cutting the life sciences pipeline cedes that ground further. "The administration's actions fly in the face of its apparent goal of restricting federal funding only to domestic scientists." Read the Science editorial: https://bit.ly/4rPAcY6 NSF Leadership Confirms White House Control Over Grantmaking In a rare public briefing to the National Science Board, Acting Director Brian Stone and Chief Management Officer Micah Cheatham acknowledged that the White House has fundamentally reoriented NSF's $9 billion portfolio. When asked how the agency might respond to board recommendations—such as investing in food cost research—Stone was candid: NSF's role is to demonstrate alignment with administration priorities, not to generate them. The staffing toll is severe. NSF has lost 35% of its workforce in the past year, falling to roughly 1,300 employees. Only rotating scientists with AI or quantum expertise had contracts renewed. The agency's new "frontier initiatives" framework contains just two areas: AI and quantum. Annual grant solicitations have been cut in half. "I see it as the administration exerting political control over what has traditionally been NSF's ability to fund the best science." — Former senior NSF administrator Even the setting of the briefing underscored the disruption: NSF was evicted from its Alexandria headquarters in December 2025 to make room for HUD and was forced to hold its board meeting at the American Chemical Society—in a room too small for press or public. Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/3NlD1kI NIST Moves to Expel Hundreds of Foreign Researchers NIST is implementing sweeping restrictions on international researchers at its campuses in Boulder and Gaithersburg. Foreign scientists have already lost after-hours lab access without a federal escort, and a proposed rule would cap visiting researchers at a three-year maximum—a threshold most Ph.D. students cannot meet. Up to 500 foreign graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scientists could ultimately lose access, including green card holders. Scientists from "high-risk" countries—China, Russia, Iran, and others—face lab access reviews as early as March 31. The rollout has drawn sharp criticism for its opacity. Former NIST Director Patrick Gallagher noted there has been no written policy, no formal public statement, and minimal notice to affected researchers. House Democrats Zoe Lofgren and April McClain Delaney wrote to acting Director Craig Burkhardt in February calling the stonewalling "unacceptable" and noting that a recent GAO security report recommended nothing close to changes this drastic. The stakes extend well beyond NIST's campuses. Founded in 1901, the institute underpins American standards in everything from computer chips to atomic clocks—and has won five Nobel Prizes. Experts warn that gutting its international talent pool could cost the U.S. its hard-won lead in quantum science and AI. Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/4bsLZpw ***** Taken together from these Science reports, these developments at NSF and NIST represent a compounding threat to American scientific competitiveness. The administration has simultaneously restricted the entry of foreign-born talent through tighter visa policies, reduced the pipeline of domestic scientists through cuts to programs like the GRFP, and concentrated research funding in a narrow band of politically favored technologies. All of this is unfolding against a backdrop of deep cuts to federal research budgets and an exodus of experienced staff from the agencies that manage science funding. The paradox is hard to escape: an administration that says it wants to make America preeminent in science and technology is systematically dismantling the institutions and talent pipelines that built that preeminence. The United States' scientific leadership over the past century was not accidental—it was the product of open institutions, international collaboration, and long-term investment in basic research across all disciplines. Whether those foundations can be rebuilt, if damaged further, remains an open question. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/03/17 Equity Pulse: Is Your Citizenship at Stake? 2026/03/24 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. 2. USCET Is Hiring 2026 Summer Interns! This is an ideal opportunity for students passionate about advancing the U.S.-China relations and cross-cultural dialogue. Interns gain hands-on experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic nonprofit environment dedicated to fostering mutual understanding between the United States and China. US-China Education Trust (USCET) encourages eligible undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students to apply. The application is currently rolling with a deadline of Wednesday, March 25, 2026. To learn more, visit: https://uscet.org/internships/ . # # # 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 10, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Xiaofeng Wang 王晓峰 Associate Dean for Research James H. Rudy Professor of Computer Science, Engineering and Informatics Director of Center for Security and Privacy in Informatics, Computing, and Engineering Director of Secure Computing Indiana University Table of Contents Overview Continuing Developments Overview Xiaofeng Wang, a prominent cybersecurity professor at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), was terminated on March 28, 2025—the same day FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents conducted searches at his homes in Bloomington and Carmel, Indiana. The university has not publicly disclosed the reasons for his dismissal. Professor Wang's wife, Nianli Ma—a library systems analyst at the university—was also terminated on March 24, 2025. The American Association of University Professors' Bloomington chapter has criticized the university's handling of Wang's termination, asserting that it violated due process and university policies. The specific reasons behind the federal investigation remain undisclosed, and the search warrants have been sealed. Efforts have been made to unseal these documents to gain clarity on the situation. Professor Wang is reportedly represented by Attorneys Jason Covert and Jackie Bennett Jr. of Taft Law . References and Links 2025/04/10 Indiana Daily Student: Nianli Ma terminated 4 days before FBI searched her and Xiaofeng Wang’s homes 2025/04/03 The Herald-Times: IU professor Xiaofeng Wang investigated for academic misconduct before FBI search 2025/04/02 Indiana Public Media: Lawyers: Fired cybersecurity expert and wife safe and not charged with a crime 2025/04/02 Indiana Daily Student: IU computer science faculty condemn Xiaofeng Wang’s termination in letter 2025/04/02 WIRED: Cybersecurity Professor Faced China-Funding Inquiry Before Disappearing, Sources Say 2025/04/02 South China Morning Post: Exclusive | US cyber expert Wang Xiaofeng ‘is safe’ after FBI raids, source says 2025/04/02 Indiana Daily Student: IU professor and library analyst face no pending criminal charges, lawyers say 2025/04/02 Reuters: Cybersecurity professor targeted by FBI has not been detained, lawyer says 2025/04/01 South China Morning Post: US cyber expert Wang Xiaofeng took Singapore job before FBI raids: university letter 2025/04/01 Indiana Public Media: Fired prof accused of research misconduct, FBI involvement unclear 2025/03/31 CNBC: Indiana U. fired cybersecurity professor XiaoFeng Wang on day FBI searched his homes: Union 2025/03/31 South China Morning Post: China Initiative 2.0? Raids on scientist Wang Xiaofeng revive spectre from first Trump era 2025/03/31 Indiana Daily Student: Faculty organization alleges IU violated policy in terminating Xiaofeng Wang 2025/03/31 Fox-59: IU faculty protests firing of professor in FBI probe 2025/03/31 WTHR: I U professor allegedly fired after FBI raids on homes in Carmel and Bloomington 2025/03/31 WIRED: Cybersecurity Professor Mysteriously Disappears as FBI Raids His Homes 2025/03/30 ARS Technica: FBI raids home of prominent computer scientist who has gone incommunicado 2025/03/30 Indiana Public Media: FBI won’t say why agents searched homes of IU cybersecurity expert 2025/03/29 MSN: Professor Abruptly Fired Amid FBI Raid 2025/03/28 WTHR: FBI seizes boxes of evidence after searching Carmel, Bloomington homes Return to Table of Contents Continuing Developments On April 12, 2025, the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA) issued a public statement regarding the case of Professor Wang, condemning his termination by IU and raising serious concerns about the erosion of due process, threats to academic freedom, and the ongoing pattern of racial profiling targeting Chinese American scientists. FAPA also sent an open letter to IU President Pamela Whitten. On April 1, 2025, Stanford University cybersecurity scholar Riana Pfefferkorn filed a motion Tuesday to unseal the warrants used to execute searches of IU professor Xiaofeng Wang and Nianli Ma’s homes last week. She filed the motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. On April 17, 2025, John E. Childress, the acting U.S. attorney of the Southern District of Indiana argued the search warrants used in the FBI searches of Xiaofeng Wang and Nianli Ma’s homes March 28 should remain sealed in response to the motion to release the warrants. On April 14, 2024, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) hosted a State of Play Town Hall, in which Nianli Ma, wife of Professor Xiaoxeng Wang spoke about her family situation. AASF and a coalition of organizations and individuals wrote a letter to Rahul Shrivastav, Provost of Indiana University (IU) and requested reinstament of Professor Wang. On April 14, 2025, a GoFundMe campaign for Professor Wang was started by his son, Luke Wang, at https://bit.ly/3E70Vfm . Nianli Ma Professor Wang termination reportedly involved an undisclosed research grant from China in 2017-2018. On April 17, 2025, Day of Action for Higher Ed, IU computer science chair Yuzhen Ye said Professor Wang was not even aware of the grant when university officials asked him about it. “So apparently a researcher in China applied for this grant without his knowledge," she said "So (Wang) explained and also he provided a supporting documentation to IU. I truly believe this really could have unfolded in a very different way if IU administration had chosen to trust its own faculty or give them a fair chance to respond,” Professor Ye said. References and Links Southern District of Indiana: In Re: Motion to Uunseal Search Warrants (1:25-mc-00022) 2025/04/18 Herald-Times: Wife, son of cybersecurity professor Xiaofeng Wang make first comments since FBI raid 2025/04/17 Indiana Daily Student: U.S. attorney argues to keep search warrants for Xiaofeng Wang’s home searches sealed 2025/04/17 Indiana Public Media: IU department chair says Wang didn't know about undisclosed Chinese research grant 2025/04/17 Indian Public Media: Protest groups at IU unite for National Day of Action on higher education 2025/04/16 Guardian: The mysterious firing of a Chinese professor has Asian students on edge: ‘Brings chills to our spines’ 2025/04/15 South China Morning Post: ‘It hurts deeply’: Nianli Ma, wife of cyber expert Xiaofeng Wang, speaks up over FBI raids 2025/04/14 WIRED: A Cybersecurity Professor Disappeared Amid an FBI Search. His Family Is ‘Determined to Fight’ 2025/04/12 FAPA: Open Letter to Pamela Whitten, President, Indiana University 2025/04/12 FAPA: Public Statement on the Case of Dr. Xiaofeng Wang 2025/04/02 Indiana Daily Student: Stanford scholar files motion to unseal warrants used to search homes of Xiaofeng Wang 2025/03/31 AAUP IU Bloomington Chapter: Open Letter to Rahul Shrivastav, Provost, Indiana University Return to Table of Contents Previous Item Next Item

Xifeng Wu 吴息凤 Dean and Professor of School of Public Health, Vice President of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Director of the National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Zhejiang University, China Former Director, Center for Public Health and Translational Genomics, Professor, Department of Epidemiology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) Dr. Xifeng Wu is Dean and Professor of School of Public Health, Vice President of The Second Affiliated Hospital, Director of National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. She joined Zhejiang University in March 2019.Dr. Wu is also a naturalized U.S. citizen. She was Director, Center for Public Health and Translational Genomics and Professor, Department of Epidemiology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in Houston. Dr. Wu was subjected to multi-year harassment and investigations. She was put on administrative leave for over a year. During that time, she was not allowed to return to her research laboratory, talk to researchers in her research group and after three months all her research grants were reassigned to other researchers. In other words, her research career was put on hold since December 2017, immediately after MDACC turned over 10-years records of 23 researchers over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and 8 months before MDACC received the letters from the National Institute of Health (NIH) in August 2018.Dr. Wu retired from MDACC in early 2019. Several other Chinese American scientists were also forced to either retire or leave. Dr. Wu is one of many victims of ongoing racial profiling. While she is able to use her expertise to combat COVID-19 in China, her family still lives in Houston. This is a vivid example of how profiling results in U.S. loss of talent, competitiveness, and leadership in today's science and technology when we need them the most. Lessons Learned from Coronavirus Experience in Zhejiang and Hangzhou As the coronavirus crisis is ending in China in March 2020, the U.S. declared a national emergency. Dr. Wu published an article titled " 6 lessons from China's Zhejiang Province and Hangzhou on how countries can prevent and rebound from an epidemic like COVID-19 " in the World Economic Forum on March 12, 2020. It offers valuable lessons the global community including the U.S. could learn at national and local levels. They are Speed and accuracy are the keys to identification and detection Make the right decisions at the right time, the right place, for the right people Big data and information technology are important to avoiding a rebound Evaluate medical resources and response systems. Are we ready for a pandemic? How much stock do we need? Do we have enough health care personnel, and how do we protect them? Implementation of preventive measures in communities, schools, businesses, government offices and homes can influence the trajectory of this epidemic Keep the public well informed 2009 Rogers Award Lauds Wu for Cutting-Edge Research In 2009, MD Anderson published the following report on Dr. Wu receiving the Julie and Ben Rogers Award for Excellence in Research: “The words ‘visionary’ and ‘revolutionary’ have been used to describe the work of Xifeng Wu, M.D., Ph.D., professor of epidemiology in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at MD Anderson. “Recipient of the 2008 Julie and Ben Rogers Award for Excellence in Research, Wu has created a molecular epidemiology research program that bridges epidemiology, statistics, laboratory study and clinical research. With a focus on identifying cancer risk factors as well as markers that can predict an individual’s response to treatment, her research is essential in the quest to develop personalized cancer therapies and to improve prevention efforts. “’These models may help clinicians identify patients who are most and least likely to benefit from treatments, as well as those most likely to develop toxic reactions,’ she says. “Wu is the principal investigator on nine epidemiological studies funded by the National Institutes of Health. She is a collaborative investigator on many other NIH-funded grants, including a recent multi-institutional study of bladder cancer, which she directed. “’I see these integrative projects as the best way to translate science into medicine,’ she says. ‘They’re only possible through close teamwork within a large multidisciplinary group of scientists.’ “Though Wu began her medical education in China, she has spent all of her academic career at MD Anderson. She received her medical degree from Shanghai Medical University in 1984 and her Ph.D. in epidemiology from The University of Texas School of Public Health in 1994. She joined MD Anderson in 1995 as an assistant professor and by 2004 was a full professor. She held an Ashbel Smith Professorship from 2006 to 2008. She holds the Betty B. Marcus Chair in Cancer Prevention at MD Anderson and also is on the faculty of The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. “Wu is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in genetic cancer susceptibility markers and germline genetic variations. One of her major interests is pharmacogenetics, a new field that identifies genetic variations that can help determine why some patients respond better than others to therapeutic drugs. “Somehow Wu also finds time to lead a multidisciplinary team of 35 people. “’Mentoring trainees and junior faculty members is a responsibility and a privilege,’ she says. ‘They are the future of science and discovery, and I take great pride in their every success. To me, their success is my success. It is my dream that they will cherish the institution’s core values of caring, integrity and discovery as I do and spread them all over the world when they become independent investigators.’” References and Links Zhejiang University: Xifeng Wu 浙江大学: 吴息凤 2020/05/20 World Affairs Council: The Public Health Response to Covid-19 in Zhejiang Province and Washington State – Virtual Program 2020/03/18 ProPublica: The Trump Administration Drove Him Back to China, Where He Invented a Fast Coronavirus Test 2020/03/18 Chronicle of Higher Education: Hounded Out of U.S., Scientist Invents Fast Coronavirus Test in China 2020/03/12 World Economic Forum: 6 lessons from China's Zhejiang Province and Hangzhou on how countries can prevent and rebound from an epidemic like COVID-19 2019/06/20 South China Morning Post: Creating a climate of fear for Chinese scientists in the US benefits neither Washington nor Beijing 2019/06/17 Next Shark: FBI Accused of Targeting Chinese Americans Trying to Cure Cancer for ‘Spying’ 2019/06/14 Clean Technica: FBI & NIH Demonize Chinese Researchers As Trump-Inspired Paranoia Spreads Across America 2019/06/14 Axios: U.S. targeting Chinese cancer researchers 2019/06/13 Bloomberg Businessweek: The U.S. Is Purging Chinese Cancer Researchers From Top Institutions 2019/04/19 Science: Exclusive: Major U.S. cancer center ousts ‘Asian’ researchers after NIH flags their foreign ties 2016/10/21 Houston Chronicle: Research: Dr. Xifeng Wu 2009 MD Anderson Center: Accolades and achievements Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #63 Rallies With Yellow Whistle Continue; Racial Profiling At DOC; Congrats To Krystal! #63 Rallies With Yellow Whistle Continue; Racial Profiling At DOC; Congrats To Krystal! Back View PDF May 30, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

Newsletter - #302 Thank you Judy Chu! Franklin Tao Sues KU; Birthright Citizenship; WP Cartoonist Quits #302 Thank you Judy Chu! Franklin Tao Sues KU; Birthright Citizenship; WP Cartoonist Quits In This Issue #302 · Thank You, Congresswoman Judy Chu! · Breaking News: Professor Franklin Tao Sues Kansas University · Birthright Citizenship, 14th Amendment, Wong Kim Ark, and More · Famed Cartoonist Quits Washington Post · News and Activities for the Communities Thank You, Congresswoman Judy Chu! During the APA Justice monthly meeting on Monday, January 6, 2025, Congresswoman Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), delivered an inspiring New Year’s message to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Rep. Chu was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009, becoming the first Chinese American woman to serve in Congress. She is the longest-serving Chair of CAPAC, holding the position from 2011 to 2024. She succeeded Norman Mineta (1994–1995), Patsy Mink (1995–1997), Robert Underwood (1997–2001), and Mike Honda (2001–2011). As Rep. Chu transitions to the role of Chair Emeritus, Rep. Grace Meng has begun her tenure as the 6th Chair of CAPAC. Through her leadership and unwavering advocacy for the community, Rep. Chu has consistently championed the rights and well-being of AANHPI communities. Her impactful accomplishments include: · Leadership in Addressing Racial Profiling, Creating APA Justice, and Opposing the China Initiative : Rep. Judy Chu has been at the forefront of combating racial profiling, particularly in cases like Sherry Chen and Dr. Xiaoxing Xi , who faced wrongful accusations of espionage. She staunchly opposed the Trump administration's "China Initiative," which disproportionately targeted Chinese American scientists and researchers. Rep. Chu inspired the creation of APA Justice, a platform dedicated to addressing racial profiling, advocating for legal protection, and fighting systemic discrimination. · C ombating Anti-Asian Hate : In response to the alarming rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Chu championed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to enhance resources for combating hate crimes and improving their reporting and tracking. She also worked alongside community organizations to support victims and amplify public awareness, playing a key role in the national effort to confront and dismantle racial hatred. · Advancing Inclusion and Historical Reconciliation : As CAPAC Chair, Rep. Chu prioritized increasing AANHPI representation in government and leadership while addressing past injustices. She led the congressional resolution expressing regret for the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, acknowledging its long-standing harm and paving the way for historical reconciliation. Her dedication to inclusion and equity continues to shape a brighter future for AANHPIs across the nation. A summary of the monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Breaking News: Professor Franklin Tao Sues Kansas University According to The Independent on January 6, 2025, Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao ( 陶丰) , who was targeted by the Trump administration's controversial "China Initiative," has filed a lawsuit against the University of Kansas (KU). The lawsuit alleges that KU improperly reported him to the FBI based on false claims from a disgruntled visiting student attempting extortion. Despite being acquitted in 2024, Professor Tao’s career, reputation, and well-being suffered lasting harm. The lawsuit also criticizes KU for exacerbating racial fears and discrimination under the pretext of national security concerns, calling for accountability for its actions. Notably, the now-defunct "China Initiative," intended to address alleged espionage threats by Chinese academics, faced widespread criticism for racial profiling and targeting Chinese Americans, many of whom were later cleared of wrongdoing. Efforts to reinstate the initiative are still ongoing in Congress.Filed on January 3, 2025, Tao v. University of Kansas (2:25-cv-02005) demands a jury trial. In his complaint, Tao, a distinguished chemist with over 210 peer-reviewed articles and three books, alleges that KU's actions violated contractual, legal, and ethical obligations. Recruited by KU in 2014 for a tenured position, Tao became the first academic arrested under the "China Initiative" in 2019. The lawsuit claims KU terminated him unlawfully, breaching a 2020 agreement to withhold employment decisions until after the criminal trial concluded. Despite his acquittal, KU has refused to reinstate him.Professor Tao further asserts that KU collaborated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to surveil and prosecute him based on unsubstantiated accusations, provided misleading information to federal authorities, and failed to protect him against xenophobic fearmongering. The lawsuit argues that KU’s conduct reflects discriminatory practices and a betrayal of its commitment to academic rigor and innovation. Tao seeks accountability for the severe damage inflicted on his career, finances, and emotional health, and condemns KU’s role in perpetuating a "racist witch hunt." Read the Independent report: https://bit.ly/4a7mxDE . Read the APA Justice web page on Professor Tao: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm Birthright Citizenship, 14th Amendment, Wong Kim Ark, and More During the Q&A session of the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, birthright citizenship emerged as a significant topic of concern for AANHPI communities.President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged to end birthright citizenship for children born to non-citizen or undocumented immigrant parents. He threatens an executive order or other unilateral action on Day 1 of his presidency, bypassing the constitutional amendment process required to alter the 14th Amendment.The 14th Amendment explicitly guarantees birthright citizenship through its Citizenship Clause: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This clause, originally designed to grant citizenship to freed slaves after the Civil War, has served as the foundation for birthright citizenship in the U.S., affirming that anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically a citizen, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Legal interpretation of “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” excludes certain groups, such as children of foreign diplomats or enemy occupiers, but includes children of undocumented immigrants.The landmark 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark reinforced this principle. Wong Kim Ark , born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents, was denied reentry to the U.S. after a visit to China. His case arose during a period of intense anti-Chinese sentiment, codified in laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which severely restricted Chinese immigration and naturalization. Immigration authorities argued that his parents’ nationality disqualified him from U.S. citizenship. The Court ruled 6-2 in favor of Wong, affirming that birthright citizenship applies to all persons born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' nationality, provided they are not foreign diplomats or enemy combatants. This decision remains a cornerstone of U.S. citizenship law, underpinning the principle of jus soli (right of the soil). The decision has had lasting significance, serving as the legal basis for birthright citizenship in the United States. It remains a key precedent in debates over citizenship.According to the Pew Research Center , an estimated one million of the 4.3 million babies born in the United States in 2008 were the offspring of immigrants, about 340,000 of them by undocumented immigrants.The issue has resurfaced amid fears of heightened immigration enforcement and challenges to sanctuary city protections. According to the Voice of San Francisco report authored by John Trasviña , San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has vowed to lead efforts to defend immigrants against expected rollbacks of rights and attacks on birthright citizenship. Trasviña led the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) as President and General Counsel and was Dean of the University of San Francisco School of Law. According to MSNBC on January 7, 2025, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong emphasized the vital role immigrants play in the U.S., citing his own humble background and upbringing. He asserted his commitment to upholding the Constitution against "demagoguery." Tong stated, "birthright citizenship is part of our essential character. It is the core of the American Dream." He vowed to rally fellow attorneys general to form a firewall to protect birthright citizenship and other immigrant rights. The same broadcast reported that on January 6, 2025, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Robert W. McElroy , the former Bishop of San Diego, as the new Archbishop of Washington, D.C. Known for his outspoken defense of immigrants, Cardinal McElroy had said in 2016, when the Trump administration threatened massive deportations, "we must label this policy proposal for what it is — an act of injustice which would stain our national honor in the same manner as the progressive dispossessions of the Native American peoples of the United States and the internment of the Japanese." Famed Cartoonist Quits Washington Post According to CNN and multiple media reports, Ann Telnaes , a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post , resigned on January 3, 2025, following the newspaper's decision to reject her cartoon satirizing Jeff Bezos , the paper's owner, and other tech moguls. The cartoon depicted these billionaires kneeling before a statue of Donald Trump , symbolizing their efforts to gain favor with the incoming administration. On January 3, 2024, Talnaes posted an explanation of why she quit the Washington Post. She described how a cartoon criticizing billionaire tech and media executives was killed. This was the first time her cartoon was rejected due to its viewpoint, marking a concerning shift in editorial policy. The cartoon aimed at powerful figures, including Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, who were seen as cozying up to President-elect Trump. The cartoonist leaves the Post, emphasizing the importance of holding the powerful accountable, stating the Washington Post's motto, "Democracy dies in darkness."On January 4, 2025, The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists condemned The Post’s decision, accusing the newspaper of “craven censorship” and “political cowardice.”“Editorial cartooning is the tip of the spear in opinion, and the Post’s cowering further soils their once-stellar reputation for standing up and speaking truth to power. We weep for the loss of this once great newspaper,” it said, calling on other cartoonists to finish Telnaes’ sketch and post it online in a show of solidarity. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/15 Master Class: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Organizational Equity Initiatives in the Current Environment2024/01/16 Master Classes: Asian American Career Lessons2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting The 2025 Annual of the American Association for the Advancement Science (AAAS) will be held in Boston on February 13-15, 2025. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, AAAS Chief Executive Officer Sudip Parikh reported that by tradition, the theme of the conference of "Science Shaping Tomorrow" was selected by the President of AAAS, Dr. Willie E. May , a distinguished chemist and research leader who serves as the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Morgan State University. Dr. May served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and as Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). According to Sudip, international collaboration is a key focus of the meeting agenda. Large delegations of scholars from countries such as China, India, Japan, and others are expected to engage in robust discussions on the state of science and global collaborations. The breakthrough of the year is a small-molecule drug for HIV that offers six months of protection against HIV transmission.Register for the 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting today: https://bit.ly/3C7Ai8M # # # 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 January 8, 2025 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

2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists 2020-2022 China Initiative Wednesday, December 2, 2020 The second webinar in this series tackling the harms created by the Justice Department’s “China Initiative” will examine the policy reforms needed to protect U.S. science and scientists. Justice Department’s profiling of scientists of Chinese and Asian heritage and criminalizing administrative issues are unjust and discriminatory. It will explore how the Justice Department’sgovernment current actions conflict with existing national policies to promote and protect fundamental scientific research. The government’s over-zealous and xenophobic targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists particularly drive needed scientific talents away from our nation. Speakers will discuss how this racial targeting not only undermines the rights and welfare of many Americans, but also detrimentally impacts American research and enterprise. Our expert panel will discuss constructive policy ideas and changes to ensure U.S. research security and to protect the future of American science and innovation. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #303 Gene Wu on Being American; CALDA/Franklin Tao; Judy Chu; Bracing for Threats in SF; + #303 Gene Wu on Being American; CALDA/Franklin Tao; Judy Chu; Bracing for Threats in SF; + In This Issue #303 · Gene Wu: Being American and Shaping America · CALDA and Professor Franklin Tao's Lawsuit · Rep. Judy Chu's Remarks at 01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Bracing for Threats in San Francisco · News and Activities for the Communities From Governor Gavin Newsom's Office - Get Help Today on LA Fires Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance: · Online at DisasterAssistance.gov · Calling 800-621-3362 · By using the FEMA smart phone application · Assistance is available in over 40 languages · If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Please share with your families, friends, and colleagues in the Los Angeles area. Gene Wu: Being American and Shaping America Gene Wu 吳元之 came from China to the U.S. when he was four. Today he is the Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. His district covers part of Houston, a blue city in a red state.On December 31, 2024, Gene Wu was interviewed in a podcast by Define American with Jose Antonio Vargas , Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, filmmaker, and immigration rights activist. Gene Wu addressed a range of issues on being American, how immigrants continue to shape America, and systemic issues faced by the Chinese American and all immigrant communities today. Highlights of his talk: 1. Immigration Policy · Gene Wu frames immigration as a cornerstone of America’s success, advocating for education-based green cards and policies to attract global talent. · Criticizes restrictive immigration laws for contributing to labor shortages and economic challenges. 2. Systemic Challenges for Immigrants · Highlights issues like racial prejudice, hate crimes, and lack of trust in law enforcement among immigrant communities. · Warns against policies that undermine community safety by damaging relationships between immigrants and law enforcement. 3. Media Narratives on Immigration · Criticizes the media for oversimplifying immigration issues and failing to accurately portray the struggles and contributions of immigrant communities. 4. Political Leadership and Advocacy · Calls out policymakers for lacking nuanced understanding of immigrant issues. · Advocates for proactive community engagement to push for political change and counter discriminatory policies. 5. Coalition Building · As Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, plans to unite diverse racial and cultural groups to fight discrimination and build alliances for shared goals. 6. Personal Leadership and Vision · Draws on his immigrant background to champion equitable policies. · Emphasizes the importance of collective action and public advocacy to influence political and societal outcomes. Watch the podcast and get to know Gene Wu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de-RCgAMm8Y (37:31). According to AsAmNews and the Houston Chronicle , Gene Wu has sparked widespread discussion with his viral comments emphasizing the interconnected struggles of Asian and Black communities in the fight for civil rights from the podcast. Gene Wu argued that the privileges many Asian Americans enjoy today would not exist without the sacrifices made by Black Americans during the civil rights movement. He said, “The day the Latino, African American, Asian, and other communities realize that they share the same oppressor is the day we start winning because we are the majority now.” Wu highlighted how stereotypes, such as the “model minority” myth imposed on Asian Americans, have been used to pit minority groups against each other. His comments have resonated widely, going viral on social media platforms focused on Black and Asian audiences. They have also reignited discussions about the shared struggles of minority groups in the United States and the importance of unity in addressing systemic racism. Godfrey C. Danchimah Jr. , or simply Godfrey, is a Nigerian American comedian, impressionist and actor. He posted an Instagram response , in which he said, "I’m so happy that they’re having this conversation because black people and Asians are actually very similar. Here’s a fun fact, Bruce Lee 李小龙 , when he was in San Francisco, his first student was an African American." CALDA and Professor Franklin Tao's Lawsuit AsAmNews , Inside Higher Ed , NBC News , South China Morning Post , The Topeka Capital-Journal , and multiple other media have reported on the lawsuit filed by Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao (陶丰) against the University of Kansas (KU). APA Justice is tracking the case of Tao v. University of Kansas (2:25-cv-02005) with CourtListener.As the first academic indicted under the China Initiative in August 2019, Professor Tao endured a grueling five-year legal battle before being fully acquitted of all charges in July 2024. Despite his exoneration, KU has refused to reinstate Professor Tao to his tenured position.On January 8, 2025, the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 华美维权同盟 posted a Chinese-language report titled " 陶丰教授起诉堪萨斯大学歧视不公，CALDA全力以赴支持打响维权之战 " ("Professor Franklin Tao is suing the University of Kansas for discrimination and unfair treatment. CALDA is fully committed to supporting the fight for his rights").According to the report, CALDA has been actively working within the legal community to find attorneys who can seek justice for Professor Tao. After extensive discussions and careful negotiations with numerous experienced lawyers, they successfully helped Professor Tao secure legal representation from Karen R. King , a partner at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC, a prestigious New York law firm with a 50-year history of excellence, along with her team. Karen R. King and her colleagues have agreed to represent Professor Tao pro bono, offering their services without compensation. Since the case will be heard in federal court in Kansas, a local Kansas attorney is required to participate. To further reduce Professor Tao’s litigation burden, CALDA will also cover part of the fees and case-related expenses for the local attorney in Kansas, fully supporting Professor Tao in his pursuit of justice.Attorney Karen R. King has extensive experience in complex litigation, U.S. economic sanctions compliance, regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, securities litigation, and strategic legal consulting. She has represented global financial institutions, international corporations, and individuals in numerous cases before federal and state courts, as well as in investigations by U.S. regulatory and enforcement agencies.Karen is also dedicated to public service, assisting the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) in addressing anti-Asian hate and violence issues and achieving notable successes in related Supreme Court advocacy. She was named an "Outstanding Leader" by the New York Law Journal in September 2022 and recognized as one of the "Outstanding Women in Law" by New York Business in June 2023.Read the CALDA report: https://bit.ly/3C26avy Rep. Judy Chu's Remarks at 01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting On January 6, 2025, Congresswoman Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) delivered a heartfelt New Year welcome, addressing the challenges faced by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and highlighting the progress achieved through collective advocacy. As she has done in recent years during APA Justice’s January Monthly Meetings, Congresswoman Chu reaffirmed her commitment to advancing civil rights and combating discrimination. Congresswoman Chu recounted the inception of the APA Justice Task Force in 2015, emphasizing its formation to address racial profiling against Asian Americans, particularly scientists such as Sherry Chen 陈霞芬 and Dr. Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 . She stated, “I put out a call to mobilize and organize, and I’m so proud that you took action and created the APA Justice Task Force.”She expressed pride in the community’s advocacy, noting how their voices have become more influential in addressing issues such as racial profiling and defending civil rights. She condemned the China Initiative, a program initiated under President Donald Trump that disproportionately targeted Chinese American scientists. Despite its termination, she acknowledged the lasting damage it inflicted: “We saw time and time again how baseless accusations... resulted in protracted legal battles that upended lives and careers.” She credited collective efforts for ending the initiative but cautioned, “Our job is far from done.” Congresswoman Chu also condemned recent discriminatory land ownership laws at both state and local levels that specifically target Chinese and immigrant communities. She drew parallels between these laws and past racist legislation, sharing, “We’ve heard stories like... Mr. Zhiming Xu ... who was forced to cancel his contract to simply purchase a new home, losing both his property and a $30,000 deposit.” She highlighted legislative efforts to address this injustice, adding, “And it’s why Congressman Al Green and I introduced the Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act to block state laws that would discriminate against individuals based on their citizenship.”Celebrating increased AAPI representation in Congress, she noted a record 25 AAPI members in the 119th Congress and 80 members of CAPAC, the largest in history. She reiterated her commitment to opposing discriminatory agendas and supporting the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.Congresswoman Chu emphasized the critical role of organizations like APA Justice in mobilizing communities, advocating for civil rights, and resisting discriminatory policies. She urged continued vigilance and activism to defend against harmful policies targeting AAPI and immigrant communities while fostering collaboration to protect civil liberties. She concluded with a pledge of ongoing support, stating, “I look forward to continuing our work together this year and beyond.”Watch Congresswoman Chu's remarks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNT61PApwQ (8:17). A summary of the January 6 APA Justice monthly meeting is being reviewed before its release. Bracing for Threats in San Francisco According to the San Francisco Examiner on January 7, 2025, Chinese American immigrant-rights groups and political leaders in San Francisco are bracing for potential anti-immigrant policies under President-elect Donald Trump 's second term, set to begin on January 20, 2025. Trump's campaign promises of mass deportations, including targeting Chinese nationals, have sparked widespread fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu , himself the son of immigrants, voiced concerns about the harmful consequences of anti-Asian rhetoric, citing the spike in anti-Asian hate crimes during Trump’s first term. He emphasized the city’s responsibility to protect its diverse immigrant population, including the estimated 40,000 undocumented Chinese residents and their families. Local advocacy groups, such as Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), are working to address the fears gripping the community. Since Election Day, CAA has seen an increase in inquiries from Chinese immigrants, particularly about naturalization and legal protections. Jose Ng , CAA’s immigrants-rights program manager, emphasized the importance of spreading accurate information to counter rumors and prevent panic. The organization has launched initiatives to educate the community on their legal rights, including protections under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, and has conducted outreach through Chinese-language media to provide reassurance. San Francisco’s sanctuary city status remains a cornerstone of its immigrant protections, ensuring that local law enforcement cannot assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without a warrant or court order. Jorge Rivas , executive director of the San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, highlighted the city’s collaboration with nonprofits to prepare for potential federal policies. These efforts include analyzing Trump's proposed measures and ensuring a coordinated response. Officials have also encouraged immigrants to complete citizenship applications and other documentation while President Joe Biden remains in office.Despite the uncertainty, organizations like CAA are expanding their resources, including multilingual legal staff, to better serve immigrant communities. Ng stressed the importance of empowering residents through rights training and legal assistance to withstand potential challenges. “Don’t panic, because that’s what the administration wants,” he urged, while reaffirming San Francisco’s commitment to protecting its immigrant population. Advocacy groups and city officials remain united in their mission to support vulnerable communities and uphold the city’s long-standing values of inclusivity and justice.Read the San Francisco Examiner report: https://bit.ly/4jdpqHa News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/15 Master Class: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Organizational Equity Initiatives in the Current Environment2024/01/16 Master Classes: Asian American Career Lessons2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. White House Initiative Releases Final Report On January 7, 2025, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) released Rising Together, its final report to President Joe Biden.The report highlights the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for the communities, featuring updates from 29 federal agencies and 86 recommendations from the President’s Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs. Key focus areas include combating anti-Asian hate, promoting belonging, advancing data disaggregation, improving language access, addressing COVID-19 recovery, expanding outreach and engagement, and diversifying the federal workforce.Read the final report: https://bit.ly/4fLQw5m 3. Celebration of the Life of George Koo George Ping Shan Koo 顧屏山 , a distinguished advocate for U.S.-China relations and a prominent figure in the Chinese American community, passed away on September 24, 2024, at the age of 86. His death resulted from a head injury sustained during a fall on the pickleball court. Born in Hong Kong in 1938, George immigrated to the United States as a child. He earned degrees in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from Santa Clara University. Throughout his career, George was instrumental in fostering American-Chinese business partnerships and was a respected voice in the Chinese American community. He was a long-time member of the Committee of 100. A celebration of George's life will be held in Mountain View, CA, on February 2, 2025. # # # 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 January 13, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #204 AAPI Solidarity in Washington; Power in Voting; 1,000+ Faculty Letter to President; + #204 AAPI Solidarity in Washington; Power in Voting; 1,000+ Faculty Letter to President; + In This Issue #204 AAPIs Show Solidarity at 60th Anniversary of March on Washington Asian Americans Rise as a Powerful Voting Bloc Over 1,000 Faculty/Scientists Urge President Biden to Renew U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement News and Activities for The Communities AAPIs Show Solidarity at 60th Anniversary of March on Washington According to AsAmNews , supporters, volunteers, and staff from fifteen national AAPI organizations gathered at the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington on August 26, 2023.The original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place on August 28, 1963, in which over 200,000 people gathered for Black equality and civil rights– and during which Martin Luther King delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.The AAPI contingent was an intergenerational gathering – with American-born second generation and first-generation naturalized citizens, and Asians — representing multiple organizations and races. John C. Yang , president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian American Justice Center (AAAJ-AAJC) gave a rallying speech at the march.Multiple organizations made reference to the long history of AAPIs in civil rights work.“While JACL was the only Asian American organization to formally join the 1963 march, this year we look forward to being joined by hundreds more of our partner Asian American organizations,” the Japanese American Citizens League shared in a statement. “Chinese Americans had our long history of civil rights movement, e.g. Yick Wo v. Hopkins in 1886, Steven Pei , co-organizer of APA Justice and founding chair of the United Chinese Americans, told AsAmNews via email.[Thanks to donation of the Committee of 100 and the Yellow Whistle Project], United Chinese Americans, and other organizations, passed out yellow whistles as part of an anti-Asian hate project. The pamphlet describes the whistle as a “symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination and anti-Asian violence,” reclaiming the color yellow which “has been weaponized against Asians as the color of xenophobia.”According to Pei, half a million whistles have been distributed nationwide since April 2021, and another 300,000 have been ordered.Participants joined from across the country, including Texas, California, Massachusetts, and more. Tibetan American Baimadajie Angwang , who was accused of being a Chinese spy in 2020 under the "China Initiative" targeting AAPIs (all charges were dropped earlier this year), traveled from New York to attend the march.“We are here to be united. We are all the same. When they push the American dream to immigrants, they say if you work hard, follow the rules, you will be treated fairly. I did everything an immigrant is instructed to do but because of anti-Asian rhetoric, I got accused of being a spy who works for China,” Angwang told AsAmNews . Most importantly, AAPIs stated their commitment to anti-racism.“There are politicians and racists who want to exploit Asian Americans and use our community as a wedge in the fight for justice and civil rights, but we must refuse to be complicit in the oppression of Black Americans. We must do our part and march in racial unity alongside our Black community members – not only today but every day because our fight for equity is one and the same,” stated Louise Liu , Anti-Hate Communications Coordinator, AAAJ-AAJC.Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/45Jjgaq APA Justice has created an online photo album of the event and will add photos and content at https://bit.ly/3OVojxs . Did You Know Who Designed the MLK Statue? According to Wikipedia , Lei Yixin 雷宜锌 , a prominent Chinese sculptor born in Changsha, Hunan, China, designed the Stone of Hope, the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the King Memorial near the United States National Mall. Asian Americans Rise as a Powerful Voting Bloc A major message from the 60th Anniversary of March on Washington is voter registration and turnout. The 1963 March on Washington was a catalyst for landmark voting rights action, leading to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Advocates are sounding alarms about voter suppression and the rollback of voting rights protections, particularly those affecting Black and minority voters. Echo King , President of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance who joined the March on Washington event, commented that "if we are not at the table, we are part of the menu." Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, also participated in the event. So did Adrienne Poon , President of OCA-DC. According to NBC News on August 21, 2023, Asian Americans have emerged as a coveted voting bloc in the 2024 election, with both parties recognizing their power to decide the presidency and other competitive races.Asian American voter turnout spiked in 2020, surprising many political observers, and proved crucial to President Joe Biden ’s Electoral College victory. In battleground Georgia, Asian American turnout jumped by a startling 84% from the previous presidential election. Two years later, Sen. Raphael Warnock , D-Ga., sought to capitalize with an unusual move in his ultra-competitive contest: He produced ads in Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to mobilize Asian American voters. He carried 78% of that vote in the runoff and won.Now , with the next campaign underway, the political power of this voting bloc has sunk in. The national committees for Democrats and Republicans say they are launching unprecedented investments to court Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3Ece9DM Christine Chen , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), and Bob Sakinawa , Director of Policy and Advocacy, were also at the March on Washington event. During the August 7 monthly meeting, Christine reported 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. APIAVote’s Alliance for Civic Empowerment (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. State and local communities are urged to connect with APIAVote to build and strengthen their network to register and turn out voters from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Christine's 18-slide presentation is here: https://bit.ly/3DZBKY4 Over 1,000 Faculty/Scientists Urge President Biden to Renew U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement On August 24, 2023, Stanford University Professors Steven Kievelson and Peter Michelson sent a letter to President Joe Biden and members of the National Security Council, expressing their strong support for renewing the US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Their call for endorsement of the letter started on August 19. APA Justice amplified their call in its newsletter on August 22. A State Department spokesperson reportedly told NBC News on August 23 that there is likely to be a six-month extension. The current authority expires today, August 27, 2023.The letter to the President 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. Their names and institutional affiliations are included in the letter.Read the cover letter and the original letter with endorsers at https://bit.ly/44xTNPX Chinese Academics Are Becoming a Force for Good Governance in China According to Issues in Science and Technology, a quarterly journal published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and Arizona State University, Chinese bioethicists, legal scholars, and scientists released a consensus statement on March 5, 2023, condemning He Jiankui , the infamous scientist who used the CRISPR gene editing tool to edit the genomes of three babies born in 2018 and 2019. Released from prison in 2022, He quickly began advertising a new—and risky—gene therapy to patients. The March statement denounced He’s actions and urged Chinese authorities to be more accountable in their oversight. The statement also protested the censorship and secrecy shrouding He’s sentencing and called for more open, public discussion of scientific controversies in China.Global scientists and regulators welcomed the statement, which was released the day before the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing. It was one of the few times since He’s imprisonment in 2019 that the world heard directly from Chinese academics about how controversies involving human genome editing research should (or should not) be handled. And in China, the statement’s timing was particularly remarkable: it was released the very morning of the opening session of China’s annual National People’s Congress, a moment when the government is especially intolerant of dissent. This bold timing demonstrated that, contrary to common belief, Chinese academics are not passive followers of the Chinese Communist Party. Instead, China’s scientific community is making concerted efforts to actively shape science governance.The consensus statement reflects important changes in the domestic dynamics of Chinese science—particularly the increasingly prominent role of academics. Chinese academics have become a proactive, effective force demanding science governance in China, but international counterparts too often fail to recognize their role and so undermine their efforts. China still has much work to do to develop a trusted and accountable regulatory system worthy of its scientific advancement and ambition, but meaningful, sustainable reforms must come from within the country.Read the Issues in Science and Technology report at: https://bit.ly/45OdEf5 U.S.-China joint research papers drop for first time in 28 years According to Nikkei Asia on August 25, 2023, research papers jointly authored by scientists in the U.S. and China have declined for the first time in nearly three decades, underscoring the impact of decoupling in the face of heightened political tensions between the two countries. The tally fell 5% on the year to 51,630 papers in 2021, according to a report from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The last drop was a slight decrease in 1993.Although the pandemic slowed international exchanges between researchers in 2021, papers typically take years to write. COVID-19 is believed to have had only a minimal impact on joint papers published in 2021.In addition, the overall number of research papers jointly authored across international borders grew 7% to 577,166 in 2021. Factors other than the pandemic likely contributed to the decrease in Sino-American papers. "I suspect there are moves in the U.S. to avoid co-authoring with China due to the bilateral political tensions," said Tohru Yoshioka-Kobayashi , an assistant professor at Hitotsubashi University's Institute of Innovation Research.The U.S. took a hard line on China after Donald Trump became president in 2017. The souring relations deteriorated into a trade war in 2018, when the Trump administration raised tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing responded with retaliatory duties.The U.S.'s China Initiative anti-spying program ran from 2018 to 2022, with spillover effects on academia. The Trump administration tightened restrictions on Chinese student visas, taking such steps as shortening expiration dates for graduate students in high-tech fields. Current President Joe Biden has imposed controls on semiconductor exports to China, keeping bilateral tensions smoldering. A Japanese researcher working in China reports hearing a colleague say they returned from the U.S. because they no longer felt comfortable there. "As the result of Chinese-born researchers returning to China from the U.S., joint research projects with them are being completed inside of China," the Japanese researcher said. China produced more scientific papers than the U.S. in 2017, taking the global crown. China later bested the U.S. in research paper quality, based on the number of citations.Sino-American joint papers have increased roughly 20 times over two decades. Even with the drop-off in 2021, the U.S. remains China's biggest partner in collaboration, accounting for 36% of all of China's jointly written papers.If the decoupling intensifies, China may end up building a research infrastructure no longer reliant on the U.S. The number of Sino-American papers in chemistry dropped nearly 20% in 2021, while those in materials science declined more than 10%.China could also create a sphere of cooperation separate from the one dominated by American and European research. Pakistan rose to China's seventh-biggest research collaborator in 2021 from 10th place in 2020, with its share of joint papers with China growing to 4.6% from 3.6%.India and Saudi Arabia climbed to 13th and 14th place. Collaboration with emerging and Middle Eastern countries "may spark innovation due to the greater diversity," Yoshioka-Kobayashi said. Read the Nikkei Asia report at https://s.nikkei.com/47Otl7A News and Activities for The Communities 1. Asian American Studies Minor Launches at Fordham University According to Fordham News on August 23, 2023, Fordham University students will be able to minor in Asian American studies beginning this fall. The new minor will provide an interdisciplinary understanding of Asian American people and other members of the Asian diaspora, as well as a focus on Asian culture and history. The minor is part of Fordham’s new Asian American studies program, which faculty members hope to continue to expand. “The student population is really diverse,” said Stephen Hong Sohn , Ph.D., English professor and Thomas F.X. and Theresa Mullarkey Chair in Literature. “Not only do we want Asian American students and Asian students to have a place to explore their backgrounds and identities, but it’s really important for all students to take these types of classes because they need to learn about other cultures, other identities.” Read the Fordham News report: https://bit.ly/3QZTyKv 2. 2023 National Unity Summit The Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) will convene 2023 National Unity Summit in Washington DC from September 25 to 27, 2023. Main theme : Collaborating to Achieve Diversity, Unity and Equality Purpose : To create a community platform for all AAPI organizations and leaders to interact and collaborate on vital community issues. Concept : The 2023 National Unity Summit is an in-person event that showcases our [diversity] and unity while affording community leaders the opportunity to advocate on select issues.Read about the event and register at: https://bit.ly/3QXCVPM APA Justice has also posted the AAUC event at its newly created Community Calendar at: https://bit.ly/45KGyga Back View PDF August 27, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #104 Lieber Verdict; Zaosong Zheng; Shaorong Liu; Upcoming Trials; 01/03 Meeting; Much More #104 Lieber Verdict; Zaosong Zheng; Shaorong Liu; Upcoming Trials; 01/03 Meeting; Much More Back View PDF December 27, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter