Newsletter - #125 BIA Kicked Off/Open Letter; March for Racial Justice; Updates on Tao/Xiao; NBER Paper #125 BIA Kicked Off/Open Letter; March for Racial Justice; Updates on Tao/Xiao; NBER Paper Back View PDF May 16, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #268 Franklin Tao Speaks; Brain Drain; Research Collaboration Decline; Sheila Jackson Lee + #268 Franklin Tao Speaks; Brain Drain; Research Collaboration Decline; Sheila Jackson Lee + In This Issue #268 · The Injustice and Ordeal of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao · Reverse Brain Drain? Exploring Trends among Chinese Scientists in the U.S. · Nature : China–US research collaborations are in decline · Remembering Sheila Jackson Lee · News and Activities for the Communities The Injustice and Ordeal of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao On July 11, 2024, Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao was cleared of the final charge against him under the now-defunct China Initiative. He and his wife have accepted an invitation to speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting on August 5, 2024.Professor Tao was the first academic scientist indicted under the China Initiative on August 21, 2019. As a tenured associate professor at the Kansas University (KU), he conducted research on fundamental studies of catalysis for chemical transformation, promotion of energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. On June 24, 2020, the government charged him with a second superseding indictment, bringing the total to ten counts including wire fraud and false statements against Professor Tao. These charges were unrelated to espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China.The case against Professor Tao started from fabricated allegations by a disgruntled visiting scholar. After failing to extort Professor Tao for $300,000, she later admitted to the FBI that she had hacked into his email account to fish for "evidence" and then used phony aliases to submit fabricated complaints to both KU and the FBI.Before the jury trial, the government voluntarily dropped two charges. The trial on the remaining eight counts began on March 21, 2022. The jury acquitted four counts and convicted him on the other four counts. On September 20, 2022, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson acquitted the three wire-fraud counts. Only a false statement count was left. On January 18, 2023, Judge Robinson sentenced Professor Tao to no jail time, no fine, and two years of probation for the remaining false statement conviction. The district court terminated the probation early in February 2024.Professor Tao appealed the conviction of the last count in February 2023. On July 11, 2024, the 10th Circuit Appeals Court ruled in a 2-1 vote that reversed the conviction of making a false statement, clearing all charges imposed on Professor Tao.The acquittal of the last of the 10 original charges marked the end of Professor Tao's five-year ordeal of criminal persecution, initiated by racial profiling under the China Initiative. Despite not being tried for espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China, his faculty position was terminated in January 2023. He expects KU should reinstate him.While Professor Tao's innocence has now been confirmed, the process has had a tremendous impact on his finances, career, reputation, and family.APA Justice has closely tracked Professor Tao's case from the beginning. The Asian American communities were mobilized to fully support Professor Tao.The media was engaged. Amicus brief was submitted. Funds were raised for his legal defense. Turnout rallies were organized.APA Justice has compiled the details of Professor Tao's ordeal into a web page. It is still a work in progress, but it is available for public review here: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm . If you wish to attend the August 5 APA Justice monthly meeting or provide feedback to the web page, please send a message to contact@apajustice.org . 2024/07/23 Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao WHAT: Press Conference WHO: Professor Franklin Tao, his wife, his lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, Members of Congress, representatives from Asian American civil rights and scientific organizations WHEN: July 23, 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm ET WHERE: Cannon House Office Building, Room 454, Capitol Hill, Washington DC Reverse Brain Drain? Exploring Trends among Chinese Scientists in the U.S. According to an update by the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions (SCCEI) on July 15, 2024, along with native-born Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants have become a large and visible demographic group in American science, technology, and engineering. However, the pressure of potential federal investigations since the 2018 launch of the "China Initiative" by the U.S. Department of Justice has provided scientists of Chinese descent in the U.S. with higher incentives to leave and lower incentives to apply for federal grants.While most China-born, U.S.-based scientists intend to stay in the U.S., the number leaving has steadily increased. After the Department of Justice implemented the "China Initiative" in 2018, departures increased by 75%, with two-thirds of the relocated scientists moving to China.Surveyed scientists of Chinese descent in the U.S. report anxiety and new difficulties in pursuing their research, with 61% considering leaving the U.S. and 45% avoiding federal grant applications.The update says U.S. science will likely suffer given the loss of scientific talent to China and other countries. Read the SCCEI update: https://stanford.io/3zQOf9P . Nature : China–US Research Collaborations are In Decline According to Nature on July 19, 2024, scientists have been warning that political tensions between China and the United States, combined with the pandemic, have affected research collaborations between the two countries. But it takes time for evidence of this sort of decline to accumulate in research databases. The latest evidence comes from an analysis conducted by Springer Nature ’s team in China. They found that in 2022, the total number papers co-authored by researchers from China and their international peers declined for the first time since 2013.The proportion of research papers with Chinese and international co-authors has been falling for even longer. At its peak, in 2018, 26.6% — roughly 110,000 articles — of China’s output in the InCites database was co-authored with international colleagues. By 2023, the proportion of the country’s articles with international peers had dropped by 7.2%, despite China’s overall number of articles almost doubling to 759,000 over the same period.The drop in internationally co-authored papers is mainly due to China’s declining share of papers published with US researchers, which fell by 6.4% between its peak in 2017 and 2023 — the largest decline of any country included in the analysis. The findings were presented at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on April 25.The decline in US-China collaborations echoes findings from a 2022 analysis conducted for Nature, which found that the number of researchers with dual US and China affiliations on research articles in Elsevier’s Scopus database had fallen by more than 20% between 2019 and 2021. The crackdown under the China Initiative resulted in several scientists being arrested over their ties to collaborators or institutions in China, and has stoked fear among researchers of Chinese descent. Since then, the US government has adopted a range of policies focused on tightening research security. And in July 2023, the Chinese government implemented its revised counter-espionage law, which broadened the definition of what constitutes spying.The crackdown on perceived foreign interference in both the United States and China is making researchers more cautious about collaborating. Restrictive policies and the climate of fear could end up driving talent away from certain countries and fields, leading to a “brain drain and a loss of valuable human capital.” The faltering collaborative ties between the United States and China could also result in the countries pursuing the same types of research separately, increasingly prioritize domestic interests over international cooperation, which could make scientific research a more nationalistic endeavor.Read the Nature report: https://go.nature.com/4cP5h6O . Remembering Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (pictured in red above) died in Houston on July 19, 2024, at the age of 74. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a force in American politics. Born in Queens, New York, she was appointed a municipal court judge in Houston in 1987. She won a place on Houston's City Council two years later. In 1994, she defeated incumbent Congressman Craig Washington in the primary for a solidly Democratic seat. She won the general election that November. She was only the fourth member to represent the district since it was redrawn to represent Houston, following Barbara Jordan , Mickey Leland , and Washington. She wound up holding it for nearly 30 years, longer than all three of her immediate predecessors combined.Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a local, national and international humanitarian, who fought for racial and criminal justice. She was a fierce champion of the peopleIn March 2020, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee expressed outrage at the uptick in violence against Chinese Americans and pleaded for the President to cease and desist from calling the Coronavirus the Chinese Virus. "Violence directed against individuals on the basis of their race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation is disturbingly prevalent -- and poses significant threats to the Chinese American community during this worldwide pandemic. Domestic terrorism is growing, and these words and attacks only create increasing fear in a time when our nation should be unified and stand together," she said in statement. On February 11, 2023, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee wore the "We Belong" Yellow Whistle and joined hundreds of protesters marching through Houston's Chinatown in opposition to SB 147 - a proposed law that would prohibit Chinese citizens from owning property in Texas. She carried the banner with Texas Representative Gene Wu , Congressman Al Green , and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner , insisting to complete the entire march. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee also spoke on the stage . "No to SB 147, because the Statue of Liberty has not fallen, and the American flag is still standing," she said. "Stop the Asian hate. Stand for the American flag."We mourn the passing of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and the loss of a true friend of the Asian American community. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/07/23 Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao2024/07/25-28 Leadership Convention by NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals) 2024/07/27-28 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony2024/08/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/08/19 DNC Convention, AAPI Briefing & Reception, Chicago, IL2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity SummitThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. Back View PDF July 23, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #66 Anming Hu Trial - FBI Agents Lied; Demers Leaving DOJ; OSTP Director On Federal Rules #66 Anming Hu Trial - FBI Agents Lied; Demers Leaving DOJ; OSTP Director On Federal Rules Back View PDF June 15, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

"We encourage all who have witnessed or experienced micro-aggressions, bullying, harassment, hate speech, or violence to help us document. The more information we have, the better we can respond and prevent further incidents from occurring." Report Hate Incidents Stop AAPI Hate < > On July 10, 2020, retired Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick published an opinion Racism affects our nation's soldiers in CNN. He wrote about the racial bias he's faced as an African American in the US Army and highlights the story of Pvt. Danny Chen (陈宇晖), a Chinese American soldier who committed suicide in 2011 after enduring racially motivated hazing. "With images of statues being torn down bombarding our screens, it's hard not to feel, as a minority myself, that America is failing to address the real problem of racism. As I grapple with the wider challenges that racism presents for our country, its national security and myself personally, I continue to be haunted by my memories of a young US Army enlisted soldier named Danny Chen," Bostick wrote. "He was the only child of first-generation Chinese Americans in New York City. He wanted to join the Army, but he needed parental permission as a 17-year-old. His parents disapproved. Chen had high test scores and received a full scholarship to attend college. In January 2011, at 18 years old, while still in college and against his mother's wishes, he enlisted in the Army as an infantryman." "By October 2011, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, Pvt. Danny Chen lay dead at 19, not by the hand of an expected US combat foe, but by an enemy even more insidious -- the ugly and irrational idea that one American is better than another based on the color of their skin." Danny Chen Harry Lew (廖梓源) was born in 1990 in Santa Clara, California. He enlisted in the Marines in 2009. In his second year, he was sent to Afghanistan in 2011 in his first combat deployment. On April 3, 2011, Lew was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head. He had been on guard duty. His death was investigated by the Marines and determined to be suicide after being hazed by his fellow Marines. Harry Lew was a nephew of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Judy Chu. Harry Lew Raheel Siddiqui was a 20-year-old Marine Corps recruit. He was born and raised near Detroit, Michaigan, as the oldest child and the only boy from a family who emigrated from Pakistan in the 1990s. In March 2016, he left for boot camp on Parris Island, S.C. Two weeks later, he was dead. Authorities on Parris Island say Raheel Siddiqui leaped over a third-story barracks railing, killing himself. But allegations soon arose that he’d been hit and hazed by a drill instructor, and was slapped, perhaps repeatedly, just before his death. Despite that, a South Carolina coroner deemed it a suicide — an act his family insists that Raheel, as a faithful Muslim and a doting son, was morally and constitutionally incapable of making. A year later, the New York Times Magazine published a comprehensive report on the death of Raheel Siddiqui. Raheel Siddiqui The stories of Danny Chen, Harry Lew, and Raheel Siddiqui Bruce Yamashita is a third-generation Japanese American lawyer who was born in Hawaii. He joined the Marines in February 1989 because he was attracted to the Corps elite force and believed that joining the Marines would validate his own status as a U.S. citizen. However, he was not only challenged by the brutality of the boot camp itself, he was also attacked with ethnic taunts by the training officers. On April 7, 10 weeks after his enrollment, Yamashita was kicked out of the Marine Corp "because of the color of his skin." On top of that, he was insulted by the commanding officer and the rest of the staff in the headquarters. Yamashita fought the racial prejudice and discrimination. He challenged the Marine Corps’ decision and won his case. He was commissioned as a captain in the United States Marine Corps on 18 March 1994. Yamashita wrote a book titled "Fighting Tradition " about his struggle to fight and expose the racial discrimination against Asian Americans and other minorities within various levels of the Corps. A documentary titled A Most Unlikely Hero was made in 2003 about his battle against racism in the Marine Corps. Fighting Tradition: A Marine's Journey to Justice

Newsletter - #325 Rep. Mark Takano; Birthright Citizenship; "Hands Off!"; Xiaofeng Wang; Litigations; + #325 Rep. Mark Takano; Birthright Citizenship; "Hands Off!"; Xiaofeng Wang; Litigations; + In This Issue #325 · Remarks by Rep. Mark Takano at APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Birthright Citizenship: Legal, Historical, and Civic Resistance to EO · Nationwide "Hands Off!" Rallies · China Initiative 2.0? The Case of Professor Xiaofeng Wang · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities Remarks by Rep. Mark Takano at APA Justice Monthly Meeting Rep. Mark Takano, First Vice Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in the 119th Congress, opened the April 7, 2025, APA Justice monthly meeting with a recorded video message, now available at https://bit.ly/3R595Yv (2:23).In his remarks, Rep. Takano strongly condemned the Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act—a law historically used to incarcerate Japanese Americans, including members of his own family, during World War II. He expressed deep concern that this authority is now being used to deport individuals without due process, warning that such actions edge the nation toward a constitutional crisis. He criticized the Justice Department’s refusal to provide transparency regarding those detained or deported, which has left families in anguish and non-citizen residents in fear. Rep. Takano further warned that these abuses are part of a broader pattern of civil liberties violations, particularly targeting the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. He cited disturbing policies such as the revival of the discredited China Initiative, attacks on birthright citizenship, and the promotion of racial suspicion. These actions, he said, are aimed at silencing and sidelining those who do not "agree, act, or look like" those in power. Reaffirming his commitment to justice, Rep. Takano pledged to use his voice and platform to defend vulnerable communities and urged APA Justice and its allies to continue their advocacy. He welcomed input from the meeting that could support CAPAC’s work and broader community efforts.Rep. Takano’s office can be contacted at Takano.Press@mail.house.gov or 202-225-2305. A summary of the full April 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting is currently in preparation. Birthright Citizenship: Legal, Historical, and Civic Resistance to EO On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14160, seeking to revoke birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States. The move triggered swift and widespread legal opposition. States, civil rights organizations, and advocacy groups, promptly filed multiple lawsuits, asserting that the order violates the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment and defies mor than 125 years of established legal precedent, most notably the Supreme Court's landmark 1898 decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark . 1. Trump Administration's Retcon 特朗普政府的重塑 Edgar Chen 陳春品 served for a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, in the Office of Legislative Affairs, and as senior trial attorney leading investigations and civil and criminal cases against suspected human rights violators. Among his previous work, he was Policy Director for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and continues to advise the organization on combating anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination. Chris M. Kwok 郭文 is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Asian American studies at Hunter College.On March 28, 2025, Edgar and Chris published an article for the Just Security Litigation Tracker on legal challenges to actions taken by the Trump administration. Titled " The Trump Administration’s 14th Amendment Retcon: ‘Wong Kim Ark’ Does Not Limit Birthright Citizenship ," the article argues: "It was no coincidence that President Donald Trump announced on the campaign trail that he would seek to end birthright citizenship via executive order on the heels of the 125th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark. For well over a century, Congress, the courts, the executive branch, and the American public have understood and adhered to the principle set forth by the Court in 1898 that U.S. citizenship is automatically conferred to anyone born in the United States (except the children of diplomats and occupying foreign powers). Trump’s Executive Order No. 14160, however, distorts the Wong Kim Ark decision, apparently in the belief that the Court’s language provides a blueprint to limit birthright citizenship only to the children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (“LPRs” or green card holders). Not so. To retcon Wong Kim Ark’s parents as the equivalent of current day green card holders is both legally and historically mistaken."Read the full article: https://bit.ly/4chB1SA 陳春品（Edgar Chen ）在美国司法部任职十年，期间曾担任刑事司助理司法部长的法律顾问、立法事务办公室成员，并担任高级审判律师，主导对涉嫌侵犯人权者的调查以及民事和刑事案件的处理。在此之前，他曾担任全美亚太裔律师协会的政策总监，并持续为该协会提供建议，协助应对反亚裔仇恨犯罪和歧视问题。 郭文 (Chris M. Kwok) 是亨特学院亚裔美国人研究的兼职助理教授。2025年3月28日，陳春品和郭文在《Just Security Litigation Tracker》上发表了一篇关于法律挑战特朗普政府政策的文章。标题为《特朗普政府重塑《第十四修正案》—《黄金德案》并未限制出生公民权》，文章主张："特朗普总统在竞选期间宣布，他将通过行政命令终止出生公民权，这一决定恰逢美国最高法院在《美国诉黄金德案》（United States v. Wong Kim Ark）判决125周年之际。这绝非巧合。在过去一个多世纪里，美国国会、法院、行政部门和公众都一直遵循并承认该案确立的原则，即在美国出生的人（除外交官及外国占领国的子女外）都自动获得美国公民身份。然而，特朗普签署的第14160号行政命令（Executive Order No. 14160）曲解了《黄金德案》的裁决，似乎认为该判决提供了一种限制出生公民权的法律依据，使其仅适用于美国公民和合法永久居民（即“LPR”或“绿卡持有者”）的子女。但事实并非如此。将黄金德的父母错误地“重塑”（retcon）为现代绿卡持有者，既不符合法律，也不符合历史事实。"阅读APA Justice的张涓全文翻译: https://bit.ly/3FYgQx1 2. Timeline Visualization: Past and Present on Birthright Citizenship With few exceptions (such as children of foreign diplomats), anyone born on U.S. soil automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at birth. Birthright citizenship grants automatic citizenship to individuals born within a country's territory, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status. In the United States, it is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which states: "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." Despite its deep-rooted history, President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January 2025 attempting to strip birthright citizenship, bypassing the constitutional amendment process. APA Justice's Jeremy Wu and Madeleine Gable have created a timeline visualization of 39 stories that traces the historical background, legal struggles, and ongoing battles surrounding this fundamental right. With exceptions of the Native Americans and Pacific Islanders, the United States is a nation built and prospered by immigrants. Some came earlier than others. Some came more willingly than others. But we all belong to this nation. Watch the timeline visualization in 2D or 3D: https://bit.ly/4hvY4L4 3. Amicus Briefs Filed with Supreme Court According to the New York Times on April 4, 2025, immigrant groups and leaders of 22 Democratic-led states pushed back sharply against the Trump administration’s request that the Supreme Court lift a temporary nationwide ban blocking the president’s order to end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants and foreign residents.Three federal courts, in Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington State, have blocked the Trump executive order while litigation proceeds. · Casa Inc. v. Trump (8:25-cv-00201) @Maryland. “There is nothing ‘modest’ about the government’s request for emergency relief in this case,” according to the brief filed on behalf of two immigrants’ rights groups, CASA Inc. and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. If the justices granted the government’s request, the challengers argued, “chaos would ensue.” Supreme Court Case Number is 24A884. · State of Washington v. Trump (2:25-cv-00127) @Washington. The Plaintiffs emphasize in a brief that the injunction upholds over 125 years of constitutional precedent under the Fourteenth Amendment and warn that lifting it would cause profound and irreversible harm to fundamental rights, risking statelessness for newborns and violating core democratic principles. They urge the Court to preserve the injunction while appeals proceed. Supreme Court Case Number is 24A885. State of New Jersey v. Trump (1:25-cv-10139) @Massachusetts. A number of attorneys general of Democratic-led states filed a brief that said lifting the nationwide block would allow the administration “to strip thousands of American-born children of their citizenship, in every state or at least in 28 states, while these challenges proceed — even if doing so would contravene settled nationwide precedent.” Supreme Court Case Number is 24A886. 4. APA Justice Monitors Continuing Developments APA Justice has developed a web page to cover the Birthright Citizenship issue at https://bit.ly/3CNjtR1 . It currently covers: · What is Birthright Citizenship? · Donald Trump Executive Order · Why Protect Birthright Citizenship? · Timeline Visualization · Historical Context · Related Media · Legal Battles · Summary Readers are encouraged to visit the website and send their suggested edits and additions to contact@apajustice.org . Nationwide "Hands Off!" Rallies According to AP News , AsAmNews , CNN , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, on April 5, 2025, " Hands Off! " demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. According to AP News , hundreds of thousands of protesters across the United States participated in "Hands Off!" rallies, expressing opposition to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk . The demonstrations, spanning from New York to Alaska, were fueled by concerns over the administration's policies and Musk's involvement in government affairs, particularly through the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). Protesters voiced fears about government downsizing, potential privatization of public services, and the overreach of Musk's influence in public policy. These nationwide protests underscore a growing public apprehension regarding the direction of current governmental actions and the roles played by influential private individuals in shaping policy decisions. According to CNN , the "Hands Off!" protests unfolded across all 50 U.S. states and globally, including London and Paris. Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost spoke at a rally in Washington DC, urging people to take action by protesting, donating to mutual aid, participating in direction action and focusing on legislative strategies. “Throughout human history, authoritarians, they’re never satisfied with the power they have, and so they test the bounds, they push the limits, they break the law, and then they look at the public to see if they’re quiet or if they’re loud,” said Rep. Frost.According to the Washington Post , tens of thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Washington Monument to oppose President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk 's policies, including the dismantling of federal agencies and the imposition of sweeping tariffs. Speakers like Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) criticized the administration for economic downturns and authoritarian tendencies. There is no future with a president who has “the politics of Mussolini and the economics of Herbert Hoover... Our founders wrote a Constitution that does not begin with ‘We the dictators,’ the preamble says ‘We the people,’” Rep. Raskin said , holding signs condemning the administration. “No moral person wants an economy-crashing dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” The White House postponed spring garden tours due to the anticipated size of the protests. AsAmNews published a collection of pictures of Asian Americans participating at the "Hands Off! protest in St. Paul, Minnesota. China Initiative 2.0? The Case of Professor Xiaofeng Wang According to multiple media reports, Xiaofeng Wang 王晓峰 , a prominent cybersecurity professor at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), was terminated from his position on March 28, 2025—the same day that FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents searched his residences in Bloomington and Carmel, Indiana. The university has not publicly disclosed the reasons for his dismissal.As of now, neither Professor Wang nor his wife, Nianli Ma —a systems analyst at the university—have been arrested or charged with any crimes. Their attorney confirmed that the couple is safe and unaware of any pending criminal charges.The American Association of University Professors' Bloomington chapter has criticized the university's handling of Professor Wang's termination, asserting that it violated due process and university policies. Professor Wang had recently accepted a position at a university in Singapore prior to his dismissal from IUB.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. According to Indiana Public Media , Professor Wang is represented by Attorneys Jason Covert and Jackie Bennett Jr. of Taft Law .APA Justice is monitoring developments in Professor Wang’s case: https://bit.ly/42tbPVR Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of April 8, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 178 (4 closed cases). These are some of the latest developments: · According to AP News , on April 7, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in a sharply divided 5-4 decision that the Trump administration can proceed with deporting Venezuelan migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act -- so long as each individual receives a court hearing prior to removal. The decision stems from President Trump's classification of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as an "invading force" in J.G.G. v. Trump (1:25-cv-00766) . TheCourt's conservative majority also determined that legal challenges must ve filed in Texas rather than Washington, D.C. In response, ACLU has filed an emergency lawsuit seeking a new temporary restraining order in a different court, consistent with the Court's ruling, to prevent immediate deportations and ensure due process protections. · Attorneys general from 21 states, led by Rhode Island, have filed a federal lawsuit State of Rhode Island v. Trump (1:25-cv-00128) to block President Trump’s March 14 executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and six other federal agencies. The plaintiffs argue the order violates both the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by bypassing Congress and abruptly defunding programs without due process. The suit notes that 85% of IMLS staff were placed on leave, grants were rescinded, and no public explanation was offered. The states are seeking an emergency injunction to restore agency functions and prevent irreparable harm to public services and interstate programs. · The New Civil Liberties Alliance, funded by conservatives Leonard Leo and Charles Koch , has filed suit against Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. The group argues that this action is unlawful, as the IEEPA was not designed for tariffs and the power to impose them lies with Congress. The lawsuit, Emily Ley Paper Inc v. Trump (3:25-cv-00464) , contends that IEEPA was never intended for economic tariffs and that such powers rest with Congress. The suit is supported by Simplified, a Florida-based importer, and underscores growing unease among business leaders and even some Republicans about the economic fallout of Trump’s tariff policies. The plaintiffs also challenge the administration’s attempt to link the tariffs to the fentanyl crisis, arguing that the rationale is pretextual. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar 2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/14 State of Play Virtual Town Hall2025/04/15 China Connections: A Conversation with Emily Feng2025/04/22 Scholars Not Spies: Fighting for International Academic Workers’ Rights in an Era of Rising US-China Conflict2025/04/24 CHINA Town Hall: The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/05/06 Asian American Careers - How to Build Your Personal Network, including Through Strategic AlliesVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area Founded in 2019, US-Sino Culture Exchange Consortium (USCEC) 美中文化促进会 is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering mutual friendship and cultural exchanges between the United States and China. Its mission encompasses four key objectives: · Promoting people-to-people cultural exchanges between China and the United States. · Supporting the development of local U.S. artists. · Promoting traditional Chinese cultural arts. · Safeguarding and advancing the well-being of Chinese Americans. As part of its activities to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and China, USCEC will host a 9-day immersive program titled "Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area." Total cost is $980 which includes round trip air, visa applications, local accommodations, local transportation, guided tours, and workshops. Application deadline is April 18, 2025. WHAT : Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area WHEN : June 16-24, 2025 WHERE : Greater Bay Area, China HOST : US-Sino Culture Exchange Consortium (USCEC) 美中文化促进会 DESCRIPTION : A 9-day immersive program for American youth (18-38) to explore China's innovation, culture, and academic exchanges. PROGRAM ITINERARY: https://bit.ly/3R51XLH APPLICATION : https://bit.ly/42nvOUG (deadline April 18, 2025) 3. 2025/04/24 China Town Hall: President Trump's China Policy Each year, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) hosts a nationwide town hall, inviting three keynote speakers and broadcasting through their partner network. This year's online event will be held on April 24, starting at 6:30 pm ET. The topic is "The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy," featuring: · Ryan Hass , Director, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution · Matthew Turpin , Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution · Lingling Wei , Chief China Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal As part of the town hall, there will also be in-person discussions hosted by local network partners.In Atlanta, the Carter Center’s China Focus Initiative, in partnership with NCUSCR, Emory University’s Asia Global Collective, and China Research Center, will feature Jeremy Goldkorn , Editor of the China Week, and Editorial Fellow, ChinaFile, as the keynote speaker. His talk will be on “China in the Age of American Isolation.” The in-person event will be held at Emory University, Math and Science Center, Room E208, in Atlanta, with door opening at 5:15 pm ET. Register for the in-person event: https://bit.ly/3Ym8vJI . Register for the virtual event: https://bit.ly/4lCTyNA In Washington DC, the US-China Education Trust, in partnership with NCUSCR and Young China Watchers, will feature Sean Stein , president of the US-China Business Council, as the keynote speaker. The in-person event will be held in Room 505, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University in Washington DC, starting at 5:30 pm ET. For more information and to register for the events, visit https://bit.ly/42tDaGn # # # 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 April 9, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #2 SCMP Report, NSF Exclusive, Injunction Against ICE Directive Filed, And More #2 SCMP Report, NSF Exclusive, Injunction Against ICE Directive Filed, And More Back View PDF July 9, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Congressional Actions Track Congress's statements and actions for the AAPI community. Our watchlist contains all of the most pertinent issues and legislations to the Asian American community. Check it out Our Watchlist See organizations', scientists', and community groups' statements and responses to AAPI issues. Explore Community Responses Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 Read More CAPAC Issues Messaging Guidance on Anti-Asian Hate Read More Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act Introduced Read More House Resolution Condemns All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment Related to COVID-19 Read More Senator Warner Letter to FBI Director Wray Read More House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Statement on Racial Profiling Read More

Newsletter - #393 Monthly Meeting Today; APA Heritage Month; NSB Fired by Trump; SCOTUS Case; FISA 702+ #393 Monthly Meeting Today; APA Heritage Month; NSB Fired by Trump; SCOTUS Case; FISA 702+ In This Issue #393 · APA Justice Monthly Meeting Today · May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month · Entire National Science Board Fired by Trump · Supreme Court Case Affecting the Rights of 12.8 Million Green Card Holders · More on FISA Section 702 · News and Activities for the Communities APA Justice Monthly Meeting Today APA Justice will hold its monthly meeting today, May 4, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. We are honored that Congressman Dave Min will lead off the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with opening remarks. Elected in 2024 to represent California’s 47th Congressional District in the heart of Orange County, Rep. Min is the son of Korean immigrants and a proud graduate of California public schools. He previously served in the California State Senate from 2020 to 2024. Prior to his public service, he was a law professor at the University of California, Irvine. In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are also honored by the following distinguished speakers: · Robert Underwood , former CAPAC Chair; President Emeritus, University of Guam; Co-Founder, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) · Madalene Mielke , President and CEO, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) · Martin B. Gold , Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . ***** The 1882 Project was a national grassroots effort advocating for U.S. Congressional resolutions formally expressing regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The successful campaign led to the House and Senate passing these historic resolutions in 2012. During the monthly meeting, Martin B. Gold, pro bono attorney for the 1882 Project, will offer his perspective on how the milestone of the 2011 and 2022 Congressional regret of the discriminatory Chinese exclusion legislation. Ted Gong , Executive Director of The 1882 Foundation, will give brief comments following Marty’s remarks to open the Q&A and discussion session. The 1882 Foundation evolved from the 1882 Project, dedicated to educating the public about the history and ongoing impact of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. On July 4, 2026, The 1882 Foundation will host an event to unveil a mural of Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee 李彬華 at the Chinatown in Washington D.C. Dr. Lee attended Barnard College and later earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University in 1921, becoming the first Chinese woman in the United States to earn a doctorate in economics. Her academic work and public advocacy reflected her belief that education and civic participation were essential to a thriving democracy. In the 1910s, Lee became an activist for women's suffrage, and participated in the 1912 New York City women's suffrage parade, where she rode on horseback. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting American women the right to vote. Yet Mabel herself could not vote —barred from citizenship under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Watch the NBC4 report about the mural: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgwbaJzQ-h0 (2:50) May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Did you know May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and · President Jimmy Carter signed the resolution to create the Asian Pacific American Heritage Week in 1978? · Representatives Frank Horton and Norman Y. Mineta introduced the House resolution and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced the Senate resolution? · President George H. W. Bush expanded the celebration from a week to a month in 1990? · Hiram Fong 鄺友良 was the first Asian American U.S. senator, serving from Hawaii from 1959 to 1977? · Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from California from 1957 to 1963? Patsy Mink was the first Asian American elected to the House. serving from Hawaii (1965–1977 and 1990–2002)? · George Ariyoshi was the first Asian American to serve as a U.S. governor, holding office in Hawaii from 1974 to 1986? · Bing cherry was developed by Ah Bing in the mid-1850s? · Dr. Sammy Lee was the first Asian American man and Vicki Draves was the first Asian American woman to win Olympic gold medals, both achieving this at the 1948 London Summer Olympics? Visit the website hosted by The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: https://asianpacificheritage.gov/ . Entire National Science Board Fired by Trump According to Science on April 25, 2026, President Donald Trump abruptly dismissed all 22 members of the National Science Board (NSB), which governs the National Science Foundation. Because the NSB sets policy and approves major spending, the move marks a sharp break from longstanding governance norms and raises concerns about NSF’s independence. Former member Keivan Stassun says the action follows a pattern of sidelining the board, particularly by the Office of Management and Budget, which directed major initiatives without required NSB approval. Tensions intensified after the board opposed a proposed 55% budget cut. Critics, including Rep. Zoe Lofgren and former NSB chair Victor McCrary , warn the firings could politicize oversight. With NSF lacking a permanent director since Sethuraman Panchanathan stepped down, and reports that board directives were already being ignored, the decision deepens concerns about weakened governance and accountability. Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/48CvOEr In a report by the American Institute of Physics on May 1, the White House justified its mass firing of the NSB by citing constitutional concerns tied to the United States v. Arthrex decision. The ruling requires that decisions by non–Senate-confirmed officials be reviewable by a Senate-confirmed authority, and the administration argues the NSB’s structure may no longer comply. The White House says it plans to work with Congress to update the law but has not detailed how. Former board member Julia Phillips said the NSB had already adjusted its role to emphasize advisory recommendations rather than binding decisions to align with the ruling. Democrats, including Zoe Lofgren and Maria Cantwell , dispute the constitutional rationale and argue the firings undermine scientific governance. The move adds to instability at the National Science Foundation, which lacks a confirmed director, faces proposed budget cuts, and has seen staffing and operational disruptions—prompting concern across the scientific community about U.S. research leadership. Association of American Universities President Barbara Snyder said the firings leave NSF “rudderless,” and the American Association for the Advancement of Science issued a statement calling the move “destabilizing.” The Association of Public Land-Grant Universities said it was “dismayed” by the firings . Union of Concerned Scientists CEO Gretchen Goldman criticized the firings as an “unseemly political maneuver” aimed at limiting independent science. The American Chemical Society said it is “deeply concerned” by the firings and connected them to what it called a “troubling recent trend to dissolve scientific advisory bodies.” Since returning to power in 2025, the Trump administration has dissolved or merged more than 100 scientific advisory committees, according to a recent analysis by Nature. Other scientific societies that issued statements critical of the firings include: the American Astronomical Society, the National Academy of Education , the American Society for Microbiology, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the Biophysical Society , and the American Institute of Biological Sciences . (AAS is an AIP member society) Read the AIP report: https://bit.ly/4cXgTWx Supreme Court Case Affecting the Rights of 12.8 Million Green Card Holders The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case of Blanche v. Lau on April 22, 2026, with a decision expected by early July. The case addresses when a returning lawful permanent resident (LPR) can be treated as an “applicant for admission” rather than a returning resident with presumptive entry rights. The case arises from the experience of Muk Choi Lau , a green card holder who faced a pending trademark counterfeiting charge in 2012. After traveling abroad, he was “paroled” into the United States instead of being formally admitted—placing his legal status in question. At issue is the evidentiary standard required at the border. The government argues it can defer proof of a disqualifying crime to later removal proceedings. Lau contends that LPRs are entitled to admission unless the government has clear and convincing evidence at the time of reentry that they committed a disqualifying offense. A report by Just Security highlights the broader stakes, warning that the government’s position could allow border officials to deny reentry and place green card holders in legal limbo based on pending charges or suspicion, potentially without timely judicial review. The report also questions the case’s factual basis and argues it may not warrant such sweeping legal change. The Court’s decision could have far-reaching implications for more than 12 million green card holders, shaping whether—and under what conditions—their status can be challenged when they return to the United States. Read the Just Security report: https://bit.ly/3ORY8fj More on FISA Section 702 On April 30, 2026, CNBC reported that on April 30 the House and Senate passed a 45-day extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. The surveillance program, allowing the U.S. to collect the communications of foreigners, even when interacting with U.S. citizens, was due to expire at the end of April 30. The extension sets up further debate on the controversial spy program when the House and Senate return from a pre-planned recess in mid-May. On April 29, 2026, The Hill reported that the House passed a bill to extend Section 702 of FISA for three years and includes modest reforms, such as expanded oversight, stricter internal review of searches involving Americans, and increased penalties for misuse. However, the bill faced significant opposition from privacy-focused lawmakers in both parties, who object to the lack of a warrant requirement for accessing Americans’ data. Political dynamics have also shifted, with fewer Democrats and more Republicans supporting renewal compared to prior votes. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where its path is uncertain—particularly due to an added provision blocking a central bank digital currency, which some senators oppose. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between national security priorities and civil liberties protections. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/05/11 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Steven Chu 2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future Together 2026/05/13 The Model Minority Trap: How ‘Positive’ Stereotypes Harm Asian Americans 2026/06/01 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Unveiling of Mabel Ping-Hua Lee Mural WHAT : Unveiling of Mabel Ping-Hua Lee Mural WHEN : July 4, 2026 WHERE : Chinatown Archway on H Street, Washington DC HOST : The 1882 Foundation DESCRIPTION: Mabel Ping-Hua Lee 李彬華 was a Chinese American suffragist, scholar, and community leader who believed that democracy depends on equal opportunity for all. FOR MORE INFORMATION : Visit https://1882foundation.org/Mabel/ # # # 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 May 4, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #343 8/4 Meeting; No China Initiative; Heartland to China; Court Defiance; Denaturalization #343 8/4 Meeting; No China Initiative; Heartland to China; Court Defiance; Denaturalization In This Issue #343 · 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 1100+ University Faculty on Harm of Revival of China Initiative · Support the 2nd Heartland Leaders Delegation to China – October 2025 · How the Trump Administration is Defying the Courts · DOJ Prioritizing Denaturalization · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Al Green, Member, U.S. Congress (invited) · Munira Abdullahi , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Guangya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Min Fan , Executive Director, US Heartland China Association The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . 1100+ University Faculty on Harm of Revival of China Initiative In a letter addressed to House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro , Stanford Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson , on behalf of over 100 Stanford faculty and more than 1,000 faculty and senior research staff nationwide, urge Congress to reject efforts to reinstate the Department of Justice’s China Initiative. The professors argue that the initiative, originally launched to counter intellectual property theft by the Chinese government, instead produced unintended and damaging consequences for the U.S. scientific community and broader national interests. They contend that the China Initiative disproportionately targeted scientists of Chinese descent, fostered a climate of fear and suspicion in academia, and discouraged international collaboration. As a result, it had a chilling effect on global scientific exchange and pushed highly trained researchers—especially in STEM fields—to leave the U.S. or avoid coming altogether. This, the letter argues, played into the hands of the Chinese government more than it thwarted espionage, effectively weakening American leadership in science and innovation. Professors Michelson, Kivelson, and their colleagues emphasize that immigrant scientists are a cornerstone of the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Nearly half of the U.S. STEM PhD workforce is foreign-born, with Chinese nationals making up a significant portion. They note that approximately 90% of Chinese STEM PhDs trained in the U.S. choose to stay, often contributing to cutting-edge research and development in academia and industry. While affirming the importance of protecting national security and intellectual property, the authors advocate for a more balanced, targeted approach to risk management—one that avoids casting suspicion broadly on scientists based on ethnicity or nationality. They cite both the 2022 decision by the DOJ to end the China Initiative and the National Academies' recommendation to reduce its lingering harmful effects as evidence of broad expert consensus. The letter stresses that reviving the China Initiative would not serve U.S. interests and would instead jeopardize the country's ability to attract top global talent. The professors urge Congress to prioritize American competitiveness and innovation by fostering a welcoming and inclusive research environment rather than reviving policies that undermine it. The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) issued a strong statement of support for the letter, emphasizing that the China Initiative was not only discriminatory but counterproductive to U.S. innovation and national security. AASF warned that reviving the program would drive away critical global talent, weaken scientific progress, and harm the very competitiveness it purports to protect. Executive Director Gisela Perez Kusakawa stated, “Reinstating the China Initiative would be a grave mistake, not only from a civil rights perspective, but also for America’s future as a global leader in science and technology.” AASF reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all scholars while supporting efforts to maintain U.S. scientific leadership through openness, fairness, and international collaboration.A parallel effort led by Stop AAPI Hate and over 60 civil rights, academic, and advocacy organizations—including APA Justice—echoed these concerns in a joint letter to the same congressional leaders. They urged Congress to remove language in the FY 2026 appropriations bill that would effectively reinstate the China Initiative through the DOJ’s National Security Division. The coalition emphasized the discriminatory nature of the initiative, highlighting its history of racial profiling, unjust prosecutions, and chilling effects on scientific research. They cited high-profile cases such as those of Drs. Anming Hu and Gang Chen as emblematic of the initiative’s failure and harm, and warned that any reinstatement would reverse hard-won progress in civil rights, undermine trust in government, and diminish America’s leadership in science and technology. Support the 2nd Heartland Leaders Delegation to China – October 2025 U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is organizing the 2nd Heartland Leaders Delegation to China this October to attend the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue (YMRD) in Wuhan, Hubei Province. USHCA invites the Chinese American community to nominate local leaders to join this important delegation and support their travel and participation. The Chinese American community has always been a bridge between the U.S. and China - championing dialogue, trust, and enduring relationships. As U.S.-China relations deteriorated over the past decade, Chinese Americans often found us stuck in the middle of two global powers. At this critical junction, people-to-people exchanges are among the most effective ways to restore mutual understanding and trust. In recent years, vital exchange programs have been cut, including the Fulbright program and funding for fact-finding travels to China for U.S. congressional staff and lawmakers. Despite all these challenges, U.S. Heartland China Association launched a new exchange program: the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue (YMRD), a groundbreaking initiative that builds people-to-people and region-to-region connections between the Mississippi River Basin community and the Yangtze River Basin of China. 2023: Strong Beginning launched by Six U.S. Mayors . The inaugural Yangtze-Mississippi Exchange took place in Shanghai in 2023, where a delegation of six U.S. mayors met with their Chinese counterparts. This was the first U.S. Mayors Delegation to visit China post pandemic ( Press Release , Video recap ) and a powerful demonstration of what’s possible when regional leaders engage globally directly. 2024: Building Momentum in Memphis . The Yangtze-Mississippi Exchange, renamed as Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue (YMRD), was held in Memphis , with American mayors hosting more than 30 Chinese delegates from Shanghai, Chongqing, Hubei, and Jiangxi. Local leaders from both countries led key discussions on topics such as climate resilience, climate smart agriculture, and green transportation. The dialogue in Memphis underscored how cities are playing an essential role in advancing practical cooperation with Chinese peers. 2025: Charting the next phase in Wuhan . The 3rd YMRD will be held in Wuhan on October 29-30, 2025. Delegates will have an opportunity to not only visit China (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan) but also to leverage the foundation laid by two prior dialogues to engage with their peers on topics of shared interest in a key region of China. Why Your Support Matters The success of this dialogue depends on the strength of the U.S. delegation and support from the local community as USHCA is dealing with significant funding cuts like many nonprofits in this space. YMRD needs the support of the Chinese American community now more than ever. Here is how you can help: · Nominate local leaders (mayors, county executives, head of local chamber of commerce, business leaders) to join the delegation. · Connect USHCA with local stakeholders interested in exchange and cooperation. · Sponsor or help fund delegate participation and programming. At its core, the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue is about local leadership driving global impact. With your help, we can ensure more voices are at the table, and that meaningful relationships continue to grow across the Pacific. Let’s build the future from the ground up—through shared values, mutual respect, and real-world collaboration. Min Fan 范敏, Executive Director of USHCA, has accepted an invitation to speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025 . For more information or to offer support, please contact Min Fan at mfan@usheartlandchina.org How the Trump Administration is Defying the Courts Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to recent analysis from The Washington Post , the Trump administration is accused of defying court rulings in roughly a third of the more than 160 lawsuits it has lost, raising concerns about its disregard for judicial authority in the U.S. Of the 337 lawsuits filed against the administration since the beginning of Trump’s return to office, courts have ruled against the administration in 165 of the lawsuits. In 57 of those cases, the Post found that the administration is accused of defying or frustrating court oversight. The Trump administration has routinely defied court rulings, provided false information, withheld evidence, quietly circumvented court orders, and devised pretexts to pursue actions that have been blocked. Such conduct is unprecedented for any presidential administration and threatens to undermine the judiciary’s rule as a check on the executive branch. As of yet, no judge has taken punitive action to force compliance. Legal analysts are unsurprised as courts are typically slow to begin contempt proceedings for noncompliance. Furthermore, the judicial system cannot enforce their own rulings — that authority remains with the U.S. Marshals Service. Judges are concerned the U.S. Marshals will not comply with court directives, as an entity of the executive branch whose director is appointed by the president. Immigration cases have seen the most resistance, as evidenced in the case of Kilmar Abrego García . The Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate his return after the administration deported him to a notorious prison in El Salvador despite a court order forbidding his removal to that country. He remained there for almost two months. The administration also clashed with Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg who ordered that deportation flights to El Salvador be turned around. The administration disregarded the order. According to a whistleblower complaint filed by fired Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni , Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told staffers that a judge might try to block them, and that it might be necessary to tell a court “f— you’’ and ignore the order. The Trump administration also disregarded the order of U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher , a Trump appointee, to facilitate the return of a Venezuelan man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador. Other problematic cases regard cuts to federal funding and the workforce. Such clashes involved layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the freezing of all federal grants and loans by the White House Office of Management and Budget, and a ban on transgender people in the military. Judge Boasberg remains the only judge to actively pursue sanctioning the administration for its conduct. The contempt proceedings he instigated were paused without explanation by an appeals court panel three months ago. On January 21, 2025, Just Security started a Litigation Tracker on Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions . The number of cases it is tracking closely resembles Washington Post ’s report although it treats over 100 lawsuits involving the removal of F-1 foreign student visa registration as one. The New York Times also maintains a tracker on Lawsuits against Trump’s Agenda in topical order. The administration’s pattern of disregarding judicial rulings undermines a fundamental principle of democratic governance: that no branch of government is above the law. When court orders are ignored without consequence, it erodes public confidence in the judiciary’s ability to serve as a check on executive power. DOJ Prioritizing Denaturalization Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to an internal memo published online on June 11, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is aggressively prioritizing denaturalization cases and expanding the criteria necessary for pursuing denaturalization cases. The memo lists 10 categories of priority for such cases. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate wrote that denaturalization will be among the agency’s top five enforcement priorities for the civil division. This renewed focus reflects a broader historical pattern. As NPR explains, denaturalization was heavily employed during the McCarthy era of the late 1940s and early 1950s to revoke the citizenship of individuals who concealed criminal convictions or affiliations with prohibited groups—such as Nazis or communists—on their naturalization applications. According to a report published by Cassandra Robertson , a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, there were about 22,000 cases of denaturalization filed a year during the McCarthy era. In 1967, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that found denaturalization “inconsistent with the American form of democracy, because it creates two levels of citizenship.” Between 1990 and 2017, the DOJ filed an average of 11 denaturalization cases per year. However, the practice saw expansion under the Obama administration as they began using new digital tools to find potential denaturalization fraud cases going back decades. Denaturalization grew even more prevalent during President Trump's first term. Irina Manta , a Hofstra University professor and co-author of the report with Robertson, found an average of 42 denaturalization cases filed per year during President Trump’s first term and an average of 16 per year filed during President Biden’s term. The first Trump administration sought to significantly expand the government’s use of denaturalization and chose to file denaturalization cases via civil courts rather than criminal. In 2018, the Trump administration created a new office within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services dedicated to reviewing and initiating denaturalization proceedings against thousands of individuals. Denaturalization, the legal process of revoking U.S. citizenship from a naturalized immigrant, carries significant consequences. Once stripped of citizenship, the individual returns to the immigration status they held before becoming a U.S. citizen. Afterwards, they may face deportation if they do not have lawful immigration status and/or serve jail time if denaturalization was due to a criminal conviction. According to the DOJ memo, there are two grounds for denaturalization: 1. Procurement of naturalization by concealing a material fact or by willful misrepresentation 2. Illegal procurement of naturalization In M aslenjak v. United States in 2017, the Supreme Court unanimously held that only an illegal act that played a role in an individual’s procurement of U.S. citizenship could be grounds for criminal denaturalization. This decision narrowed the scope under which an individual could be denaturalized. According to Robertson, the especially concerning aspect of the DOJ memo is that it directs the federal government to pursue denaturalization efforts via civil litigation. In civil proceedings, the individual subject to denaturalization is not entitled to an attorney, and there is a lower burden of proof for the government to reach. Robertson insists that pursuing denaturalization via civil litigation violates due process and infringes on the rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Sameera Hafiz , policy director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, is especially concerned with the expanded criteria of which crimes put an individual at risk of denaturalization. According to the memo, expanded criteria include national security violations and acts of fraud against individuals or against the government, such as Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud or Medicaid fraud. Hafiz says this is synonymous with “trying to create a second class of U.S. citizens,” where U.S. citizens born in the country are safe and those who were not are at risk of losing their citizenship. The memo also gives U.S. attorneys broader discretion to determine eligible denaturalization cases. Steve Lubet , professor emeritus at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, said the memo grants the federal government “wide discretion” on deciding whom to target, calling the categories “so vague as to be meaningless.” Lubet also raised concerns about the impact of denaturalization on families, particularly children who received U.S. citizenship through a parent whose naturalization was later revoked. Robertson remains concerned about the prioritization of denaturalization as “there just aren’t very many cases that fit within the framework of priorities.” This will cause the administration to focus on “people who have not committed any serious infraction, or maybe any infraction at all.” Concerns remain that the government’s aggressive denaturalization efforts could lead to the revocation of U.S. citizenship of many individuals who made minor or unintentional mistakes in their application. Many of the questions are vague, broad, and unclear. In addition, courts have not specified what constitutes an offense material to the individual obtaining citizenship and could be the basis for a denaturalization proceeding. The focus on denaturalization is the latest effort by the Trump administration to reshape the immigrant landscape in the U.S. Since his return to office, President Trump has also sought to end birthright citizenship and curtail refugee programs. The Denaturalization Fact Sheet produced by the National Immigration Forum is a concise, informative document that explains what denaturalization is, the legal grounds for it, and how the process works. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/07/24 2025 ILF Scholarship & Awards Gala2025/07/25 From Classroom to Commerce: The Value of Chinese Students to American Business2025/07/25-27 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony 2025/07/28 (Digital) Travel Safety and Security Training2025/07/29 C100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Linda Chao Yang2025/07/29 From Heartland to Mainland: 2025 Future Ag Leaders Delegation2025/07/29 Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: American Scholars to China2025/07/31 (Digital) Travel Safety and Security Training2025/07/31-08/10 Asian American International Film Festival2025/08/02-07 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Travel Safety & Security Training on July 28 and 31, 2025 Are you currently overseas and traveling back to the United States later this summer? The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is offering a one-hour information session with the Democracy Security Project (DSP) on how you should mitigate both cyber and physical vulnerabilities while traveling. The team at DSP will offer practical and pragmatic solutions on a number of subjects like handling your devices, data privacy, and border security best practices.The same session is offered twice, on July 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET and July 31 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Register and receive the Zoom information at: · Register for the July 28 meeting here . · Register for the July 31 meeting here . For more information on the event, please email: · AFT Union Leadership Institute ( uli_support@aft.org ) · AFT Higher Education Division ( highereddept@aft.org ) # # # 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 July 24, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #1 Reminder Of July 6 Meeting #1 Reminder Of July 6 Meeting Back View PDF July 5, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #290 Special Edition: McCarthyism and The Good, Bad, and Ugly of The Media #290 Special Edition: McCarthyism and The Good, Bad, and Ugly of The Media In This Issue #290 · Rise and Fall of McCarthyism with The Media · Historical Media Bias Against U.S. Persons of Asian Origin · Role of Media in The Wen Ho Lee Case and The Yanping Chen Case · Media's Role in a Modern McCarthyism - The "China Initiative" · McCarthyism Expanding to Beyond Scientists · News and Activities for the Communities During "China Week" in September 2024, Representative Judy Chu , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), took the House floor to denounce efforts to revive the "China Initiative," calling it a New McCarthyism.This is a special edition on McCarthyism and The Good, Bad, and Ugly Roles of The Media. Rise and Fall of McCarthyism with The Media According to a PBS report on McCarthyism from August 23, 2006, in the late 1940s and 1950s, America was gripped by fears of communism’s spread, particularly in Eastern Europe and China. Capitalizing on these anxieties, on February 9, 1950, 41-year-old Senator Joseph McCarthy delivered his infamous "Enemies from Within" speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, claiming to have a list of 205 "card-carrying" communists in the U.S. government. Although he never substantiated this claim, it fueled the Red Scare and set the stage for McCarthyism, an era of intense political repression and paranoia.The media played a significant role in amplifying and spreading McCarthyism. Newspapers, radio, and television often reported McCarthy's accusations uncritically, lending credibility to his unverified claims. For instance, the New York Times covered McCarthy’s “205 communists” allegation without questioning its validity. Historian Margaret Brennan noted that McCarthy’s numbers changed frequently, saying, “he had no list. He had no names. It was all a big lie." Yet, the impact was horrific, 6,000 federal employees left the government in the last two years of the Harry S. Truman Administration. At the end of the McCarthy era, "there was never anybody in government that they could prove to be a card-carrying communist," Brennan said.Sensational headlines and broadcast coverage heightened public fear, reinforcing McCarthy’s portrayal of Communism as a pressing internal threat. Television brought the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings and the Red Scare directly into American homes, magnifying McCarthy’s influence. The McCarthy-Army hearings, televised from April to June 1954, marked a turning point. Over 36 days, an estimated 188 hours were broadcast, reaching a large national audience. During these hearings, Army counsel Joseph Welch famously rebuked McCarthy, asking, “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?” This moment is widely viewed as the beginning of McCarthy’s downfall. Most journalists initially refrained from challenging McCarthy due to Cold War tensions and fears of being labeled Communist sympathizers. However, broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow played a pivotal role in countering McCarthyism. On March 9, 1954, Murrow’s See It Now broadcast exposed McCarthy’s fear-based tactics, marking a major turning point in public opinion.The following is a transcript for a 2-minute excerpt of Murrow's broadcast: "No one familiar with the history of this country can deny that congressional committees are useful. It is necessary to investigate before legislating, but the line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one, and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. His primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind as between the internal and the external threats of communism. We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men—not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy's methods to keep silent, or for those who approve. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of a republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation, we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom—wherever it continues to exist in the world—but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn’t create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully. Cassius was right: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves. Good night, and good luck." Edward R. Murrow profoundly shaped broadcast journalism, setting standards with his commitment to factual reporting, democratic principles, and the press’s role as a vigilant watchdog. The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University continues this legacy, promoting ethical journalism, strategic communication, and digital media, all inspired by Murrow's unwavering dedication to integrity and accountability in the media. References and Links Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University: website 2017/04/23 YouTube : Edward R. Murrow - See It Now (March 9, 1954) (2:02)2014/12/16 C-SPAN : Senator Joe McCarthy's "Enemies from Within" Speech (14:59)2006/08/23 PBS : McCarthyism Historical Media Bias Against U.S. Persons of Asian Origin Throughout U.S. history, media have often depicted Americans and immigrants of Asian origin through biased and derogatory stereotypes, particularly during times of geopolitical tension. Their coverage has fueled harmful public perceptions and policies with lasting impacts on Asian communities.Notwithstanding the 61-year Chinese Exclusion era (1882-1943) and the Alien Land Law period from the first state law in California in 1913 to the mid 1950s, American newspapers contributed to the anti-Japanese sentiment by portraying Japanese Americans as disloyal spies or saboteurs. Headlines warned of a “Fifth Column” within the U.S., stoking fear and prejudice. This coverage, often based on unsubstantiated claims, helped garner public support for the internment of 120,000 persons of Japanese heritage, about two thirds of them U.S. citizens.No Japanese American was ever proven to have committed espionage for Japan during World War II, despite extensive U.S. government investigations.Before his children books, Dr. Seuss ( Theodor Seuss Geisel ) worked as a political cartoonist and propagandist during World War II, creating cartoons and illustrations that were published in newspapers and used in military training films. One of his infamous cartoons on February 13, 1942, shows Japanese Americans lined up as the "Fifth Column" along the West Coast, awaiting "the signal from home," playing into widespread fear and prejudice and helped to justify Japanese American internment and other discriminatory measures. On February 21, 1942, two days after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing internment, the Los Angeles Times published an editorial endorsing it, asserting that Japanese Americans posed a national security risk. Along with other outlets, the LA Times shaped public opinion by promoting fear-based narratives questioning Japanese American loyalty.Seventy-five years later, on February 19, 2017, the LA Times formally recanted its 1942 editorials. Acknowledging the paper's role in promoting internment, it expressed regret for fueling anti-Japanese sentiment and drew parallels with current issues of xenophobia, discrimination, and anti-immigrant rhetoric. The 2017 editorial warned against repeating such injustices, highlighting the need to protect civil liberties for all. References and Links Wikipedia: Dr. Seuss 2017/02/19 LA Times editorial: Looking Back with Shame 2012/02/21 The Daily Mirror : Times Editorial Praises Japanese Evacuation Role of Media in The Wen Ho Lee Case and The Yanping Chen Case History repeated itself before the LA Times issued its 2017 editorial.On March 6, 1999, the New York Times identified Chinese American nuclear scientist Dr. Wen Ho Lee as a suspect in alleged espionage at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Using alarmist language, anonymous sources, and unsubstantiated allegations, the report relied heavily on stereotypes and ethnic background, fueling widespread public suspicion of Dr. Lee and, by extension, other Chinese Americans in the scientific community.. Dr. Lee was arrested nine months after the New York Times report and imprisoned in solitary confinement for nine months before charges were dropped. U.S. District Judge James Parker apologized to Dr. Lee, condemning the government’s handling of the case.On September 26, 2000, the New York Times published an editorial acknowledging its role and errors in uncritically accepting government claims, but it stopped short of a full apology.In 2006, Dr. Lee settled a privacy lawsuit, accusing government agencies of leaking sensitive information. The U.S. government paid $895,000, and five media organizations—the New York Times , Washington Post , Los Angeles Times , ABC News , and Associated Press —contributed $750,000 to protect their reporters from being compelled to disclose their sources. Dr. Lee’s case highlighted issues in journalistic ethics and transparency, but similar patterns emerged when Dr. Yanping Chen , a Chinese American academic and founder of the University of Management and Technology in Virginia, became the target of a federal investigation in 2010. Although no charges were filed, leaked details of the closed investigation surfaced in a series of Fox News reports in 2017, making misleading insinuations to accuse her of spying for China.In 2018, Dr. Chen filed a lawsuit against federal agencies, alleging Privacy Act violations and racial profiling. Her case raised broader concerns about government leaks and anti-Asian prejudice. Dr. Chen subpoenaed Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge to identify her sources. The U.S. District Court imposed a fine of $800 per day until Herridge complied. Herridge has appealed.On July 29, 2024, the Asian American Legal and Education Defense Fund (AALDEF) and a coalition of 11 organizations filed a 43-page amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals in support of Dr. Chen. The brief addresses issues of racial prejudice and the negative stereotyping of Asian Americans, particularly in the context of government actions against Dr. Chen.The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit will hold a hearing of oral arguments on Dr. Chen's case on November 18, 2024. References and Links CourtListener: Chen v. Federal Bureau of Investigation (1:18-cv-03074) 2024/08/07 AADELF: The Red-Baiting of Dr. Chen and the Dangerous Target It Puts on All Asian Americans 2024/07/29 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: Brief of Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Asian American Advocacy Organizations as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiff-Appellee 2006/06/03 Washington Post : Wen Ho Lee Settles Privacy Lawsuit 2003/01/08 Wen Ho Lee and Helen Zia: My Country Versus Me: The First-Hand Account by the Los Alamos Scientist Who Was Falsely Accused of Being a Spy 2001/02/04 New York Times : The Making of a Suspect: The Case of Wen Ho Lee 2000/09/26 New York Times : From The Editors; The Times and Wen Ho Lee 2000/09/14 New York Times: Statement by Judge in Los Alamos Case, With Apology for Abuse of Power 1999/03/06 New York Times: BREACH AT LOS ALAMOS: A special report.; China Stole Nuclear Secrets For Bombs, U.S. Aides Say Media's Role in a Modern McCarthyism - The "China Initiative" In March 1950, Herb Block , a political cartoonist known as "Herblock" for the Washington Post , coined the term "McCarthyism" shortly after Senator Joseph McCarthy delivered his "Enemies Within Us" speech. This term describes the practice of making unfounded accusations of subversion, disloyalty, or treason without sufficient evidence. Today, McCarthyism symbolizes any campaign or movement that seeks to silence or punish dissent or perceived disloyalty through fear and intimidation, rather than through fair, evidence-based processes.Launched by the Department of Justice in 2018, the "China Initiative" reflects contemporary McCarthyism through its reliance on broad suspicion and racial profiling under the guise of national security. It was joined in effect by the National Institutes of Health in the name of research security and integrity. These initiatives then shifted focus from security concerns to profiling Chinese academics and scientists, fostering an atmosphere of fear and a chilling effect within academic and research communities. Many researchers of Chinese descent reported feeling unfairly targeted solely due to their ethnicity or international connections.The consequences of the "China Initiative" have been severe; even when charges were eventually dropped, individuals faced damaged careers, personal trauma, financial ruin, and even loss of life. Hundreds, if not thousands or more, of Asian Americans and immigrants, particularly those of Chinese origin, have been subjected to surveillance, investigations, and threats of prosecution. Many more endure daily assaults, hate incidents, and discrimination as a result. The media's role in the "China Initiative" brought a range of both positive and negative impacts. Jamie Satterfield , an investigative reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel , played a crucial role in highlighting the wrongful accusations against Dr. Anming Hu , a University of Tennessee professor prosecuted under the “China Initiative.” Her reporting exposed significant flaws in the government’s case, illustrating how the FBI targeted Hu based on unfounded suspicions and employed aggressive tactics, including attempts to coerce him into espionage.Satterfield documented the trial proceedings in 2021 meticulously, revealing key admissions from FBI agents about false accusations and fabricated evidence against Hu. Her work not only drew national attention to the injustices faced by Hu but also sparked broader discussions about racial profiling, due process, and fairness within the framework of the "China Initiative," emphasizing its detrimental impact on innocent Chinese American academics.On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports. The first report revealed that the "China Initiative" deviated from its national security goals. Key findings include a lack of official definition for the initiative, a shift from economic espionage to “research integrity” issues, and a high dismissal rate for cases. Notably, only about 25% of those charged were convicted, with about 90% of defendants being of Chinese heritage. The second investigative report highlighted gaps in the information provided by DOJ. MIT Technology Review constructed a database to track every case made public under the "China Initiative." Shortly after MIT Technology Review requested comments, DOJ updated its webpage, removing cases that contradicted its narrative of success. Less than three months after the MIT Technology Review reports, DOJ announced the formal end of the "China Initiative."Both Satterfield and MIT Technology Review exemplify the positive role of investigative journalism, utilizing facts and evidence to expose the overreach, profiling, and flaws of the initiative. Their efforts raised public awareness and sparked dialogue about racial bias in government investigations, holding agencies accountable and prompting policymakers and civil rights organizations to reconsider the initiative's efficacy and ethics, ultimately contributing to its termination in 2022.In contrast, some media outlets resorted to alarmist and sensational language, reinforcing stereotypes and depicting Asian Americans and immigrants—particularly those of Chinese descent—as potential threats. Headlines often emphasized national security concerns without adequate context, exacerbating public fears about espionage and fostering an atmosphere of suspicion. By uncritically repeating government statements, some of these outlets lent the initiative unwarranted credibility. They frequently overlooked the scientific and academic contributions of Chinese and Chinese American professionals, sidelining their valuable work and contributions to the American society. References and Links APA Justice: 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports CourtListener: United States v. Hu (TV1) (3:20-cr-00021) 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review : The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it. 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review : We built a database to understand the China Initiative. Then the government changed its records. 2021/06/13 Knox News : Trial reveals federal agents falsely accused a UT professor born in China of spying McCarthyism Expanding to Beyond Scientists There are continuing attempts by Republican members in Congress to reinstate the "China Initiative" or under a different name. Alien land laws are being revived and expanded at both the federal and state levels that will risk reinforcing racial discrimination."Enemies Within Us" against immigrants in a nation of immigrants has resurfaced as a prominent topic in the lead-up to the November 5, 2024, U.S. presidential election, framing a focus on Chinese influence in America. Media, politicians, and campaign ads are again promoting anti-Asian rhetoric and harmful political narratives and stereotypes about Chinese Americans as perpetual foreigners or national security risks. On September 3, 2024, The Washington Post released a report titled "How China Extended Its Repression into an American City," alleging Chinese government interference within U.S. communities. As explained in the Asia Times, "The Washington Post ’s Witch Hunt on Chinese Americans" lacks evidence. An October 4 opinion argues that the Washington Post report fosters distrust toward Chinese American communities by selective use of biased sources—primarily anti-CCP activists and U.S. government entities. By failing to represent voices within the Chinese American community who have diverse views on China, the opinion contends, the report risks fostering harmful stereotypes and echoing historical patterns of profiling minority groups based on geopolitics. A more balanced approach would involve perspectives from diaspora organizations that may experience complex, often nonpolitical relationships with Chinese institutions. It also warns against blanket assumptions about the loyalties of Chinese Americans, potentially leading to unfounded public suspicion of these communities.On October 21, 2024, a Wall Street Journal report alleged China of using hometown organizations in New York City’s Chinatown to influence local communities, pressure Chinese Americans, and advance its political goals. Without evidence of specific influence activities, Representative Grace Meng , the only Chinese American congresswoman from New York, was implicated in the Wall Street Journal report because of her association with Chinatown and hometown organizations.Chinatowns in the U.S. emerged as ethnic enclaves largely because of social, economic, and political conditions in the U.S. in the mid-19th century dating back to the Qing Dynasty. These communities offered safety, employment, and a cultural connection to home for new immigrants facing systemic discrimination and harsh labor conditions. Discriminatory laws forced segregation and led to the establishment of Chinatowns and hometown associations as self-sustaining neighborhoods where immigrants could find mutual support, housing, work opportunities, and Chinese-owned businesses, fostering community resilience against external hostilities. Guilt by association, the unfair assignment of blame to individuals based solely on their affiliations rather than on concrete evidence, was a central tactic of McCarthyism. While WWII-era suspicions focused on a supposed "Fifth Column" of internal threats, the "Thousand Grains of Sand" theory arose during the Wen Ho Lee case in the 1990s, insinuating alleged widespread infiltration efforts by Chinese agents. The term evolved to "Non-traditional Collectors" as the "China Initiative" began, with scrutiny directed toward Chinese and Chinese American scientists and academics suspected of espionage.Now , with media coverage increasingly emphasizing potential links to foreign influence in Chinese American communities, guilt by association appears to be broadening beyond scientists and researchers. With the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal already linking community organizations or elected officials to foreign interference based on limited or circumstantial connections, guilt by association, or a new McCarthyism, may become more pervasive again with the assistance of media. "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason," - Edward R. Murrow References and Links 2024/10/21 Wall Street Journal : How Beijing Recruited New York Chinatowns for Influence Campaign 2024/10/04 Asia Times opinion : The Washington Post’s witch hunt on Chinese Americans 2024/09/03 Washington Post : How China extended its repression into an American city News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/11/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/06 Asian American Women in Media and Music2024/11/10 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/12 Threats to International Engagement and Academic Freedom2024/11/14 An Advice and Networking Event (Financial Services, Investing and Consulting)2024/11/15 Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue2024/11/15-17 AAASE Inaugural Annual Summit2024/11/17 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/18 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/11/24 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. NOTE: Because the regular scheduled day falls on the eve of Election Day, we have moved the next APA Justice monthly meeting to Monday, November 18, 2024. The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . 2. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moved to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF October 30, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #218 GSRA Makes Sweeping Section 702 Reforms; APEC Summit; Proposed H1-B Rule Change; More #218 GSRA Makes Sweeping Section 702 Reforms; APEC Summit; Proposed H1-B Rule Change; More In This Issue #218 · GSRA Introduced to Make Sweeping Section 702 Reforms · APEC Summit in San Francisco on November 11-17 · DHS Issues Proposed Rule to Modernize the H-1B Specialty Occupation Worker Program · News and Activities for the Communities GSRA Introduced to Make Sweeping Section 702 Reforms According to multiple media reports and statements, a bipartisan, bicameral bill was introduced on November 7, 2023, by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) that would rein in the U.S. surveillance state and significantly reform the laws the government uses to warrantlessly spy on Americans — including Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Known as The Government Surveillance Reform Act (GSRA), the 206-page bill would reauthorize Section 702 for four years.The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin , D-Wisc., Steve Daines , R-Mont., Mazie Hirono , D-Hawaii, Cynthia Lummis , R-Wy., Jon Tester , D-Mont., Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass., and Edward Markey , D-Mass.In the House, the bill is cosponsored by Reps. Andy Biggs , R-Ariz., Rep. Pramila Jayapal , D-Wash., Thomas Massie , R-Ky., Rep. Sara Jacobs , D-Calif., Rep. Nancy Mace , R-S.C., Rep. Judy Chu , D-Calif., Rep. Lloyd Doggett , D-Texas, Rep. Barbara Lee , D-Calif., Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Rep. Ted Lieu , D-Calif. The bill’s reforms include: · Protecting Americans from warrantless backdoor searches, ensuring that foreigners aren’t targeted as a pretext for spying on the Americans with whom they are communicating, and prohibiting the collection of domestic communications. · Extending similar reforms to surveillance activities under Executive Order 12333, including by limiting warrantless searches of Americans’ communications and prohibiting the targeting of foreigners as a pretext for surveilling Americans. It also limits the acquisition of Americans’ information as part of large datasets. · Requiring warrants for surveillance of Americans’ location data, web browsing and search records, including AI assistants like Alexa and Siri, vehicle data and by prohibiting the government from purchasing Americans’ data from data brokers. · Exceptions to ensure the government can continue to use Section 702 for defensive cybersecurity purposes, to assist in locating and rescuing hostages overseas and emergency provisions in cases where there isn’t sufficient time to get a warrant in advance. The bill has been endorsed by dozens of civil society organizations including Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), and Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) which are leading a coalition of Asian American organizations to oppose the renewal of Section 702 of FISA unless significant revisions are put into place. In addition, APA Justice supports an open letter to Congress prepared by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that individuals are urged to sign on: https://bit.ly/3EFkg3R .Additional coalition activities will be coming soon after the introduction of GSRA. Read the press statement by Senator Ron Wyden: https://bit.ly/3SxLn8V and watch the press conference: https://bit.ly/3u04gqS Links to some media reports and statements: · ACLU: Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan Government Surveillance Reform Act to Rein in Warrantless Government Surveillance · Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC: Calls the Government Surveillance Reform Act Much-Needed Reform to Curb Warrantless Government Surveillance of Asian Americans · Axios : Lawmakers unveil first bill to renew controversial surveillance program · Just Security : The Year of Section 702 Reform, Part IV: The Government Surveillance Reform Act · The Record : Bipartisan bill aims to have wide impact on federal surveillance efforts APEC Summit in San Francisco on November 11-17 The 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, also known as APEC, will be held in San Francisco on November 11-17, 2023. It was founded in Canberra, Australia, in 1989 as an informal dialogue forum to promote regional economic integration . APEC's members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. They represent about 38% of the global population. Their economies account for about 62% of global GDP and almost half of global trade.The APEC Summit will host these 21 member economies from the Pacific Rim regions, including President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping . According to Reuters on November 8, 2023, Presidents Biden and Xi are expected to hold summit talks as they seek to stabilize tense ties by meeting in-person for just the second time in nearly three years. Exact timing and other logistical details have not yet been formally announced.Visit https://www.apec2023sf.org/ for more information about the APEC Summit. It includes an External Stakeholder Events web page on a number of concurrent side events for broader public or targeted audience engagement that are organized by a wide variety of leading business, civil society, or nonprofit groups unaffiliated with the official APEC 2023 program or the United States Government. DHS Issues Proposed Rule to Modernize the H-1B Specialty Occupation Worker Program On October 20, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would modernize the H-1B specialty occupation worker program by streamlining eligibility requirements, improving program efficiency, providing greater benefits and flexibilities for employers and workers, and strengthening integrity measures. The period to submit written comments closes December 22, 2023: https://bit.ly/49mYwYJ . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2023/11/09 Quincy Institute: East Meets West Event 2023/11/09-12 NAPABA Convention2023/11/11 Association of Chinese Professionals 2023 MetroCon2023/11/12 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting2023/11/15 1990 Institute Media Narratives - Evaluating U.S.-China HeadlinesVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. 2023/11/09 Quincy Institute: East Meets West Event WHAT: East Meets West WHEN: Thursday, November 9, 8:30 am - 11:15 am Eastern TimeWHERE: Hybrid event; Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DCHOST: Quincy InstituteDESCRIPTION: Unpacking U.S.-China relations in the lead up to the Biden-Xi meeting at APEC REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3QsCtqN 3. 2023/11/15 Media Narratives - Evaluating U.S.-China Headlines WHAT: Media Narratives - Evaluating U.S.-China Headlines WHEN: Wednesday, November 15, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Eastern TimeWHERE: Virtual Teachers Workshop via ZoomHOST: The 1990 Institute SPEAKERS: · Kaiser Kuo, The China Project · Amy Qin, The New York Times · Bochen Han, South China Morning Post DESCRIPTION: The panel will delve into their first-hand experiences of their careers as journalists to highlight some of the complexities of news reporting in the context of U.S.-China relations. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/49kn1Wc 4. 2023/11/18 Inaugural Jimmy Carter Conversation on U.S.-China Relations WHAT: In-person event: Inaugural Jimmy Carter Conversation on U.S.-China Relations WHEN: Saturday, November 18, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Pacific Time, reception and dinner to follow (note: email confirmation required for dinner yawei.liu@cartercenter.org ) WHERE: Del Santo Reading Room, Lone Mountain Main Building 270, University of San Francisco, 2820 Turk Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118HOSTS: The Carter Center; University of San FranciscoSPEAKERS: · Max Baucus, Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to China · Zoe Zongyuan Liu, Council on Foreign Relations · Orville Schell, Asia Society · Amy Celico, Albright Stonebridge Group · Ker Gibbs, University of San Francisco DESCRIPTION: Speakers will debate and discuss the legacy of U.S.-China relations and how to peacefully manage the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/40wINlD Back View PDF November 9, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter