Newsletter - #198 8/7 Meeting; Fear Over New US Laws Banning Property Ownership; China Initiative Legacy #198 8/7 Meeting; Fear Over New US Laws Banning Property Ownership; China Initiative Legacy In This Issue #198 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting "Can we move?" - Chinese Residents Fearful Over New US Laws Banning Property Ownership Axed China Initiative’s Racial Profiling Legacy Haunts Scientists in US 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, August 7, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), speakers will include: Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, to report on the latest developments of the lawsuit against Florida's discriminatory alien land law Echo King 金美声 , President, Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA), to provide on-the-ground reports about the July 18 court hearing, press conference, and protests in Tallahassee; and a report by Jenny Liu 刘洁 , President, Yick Wo Institution 益和学会 Cynthia Choi , Co-Executive Director, and Shanti Prasad , Advocacy Manager, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), to give a brief introduction of CAA and its recent roles and activities in alien land laws, warrantless surveillance/reauthorization of Section 702, anti-Asian hate, and related topics Christine Chen , Executive Director, APIAVote, to give a brief introduction of APIAVote, observations on the communities' reaction to the alien land bills/laws, introduction of laws in some states criminalizing those who assist voters (AP report: https://bit.ly/3NM9z3s ), and APIAVote plans for the upcoming 2024 elections The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org "Can we move?" - Chinese Residents Fearful Over New US Laws Banning Property Ownership According to the Guardian on July 26, 2023, a Florida law barring certain foreign nationals from buying property has brought confusion, thoughts of moving and protests. Earlier this year, Fort Lauderdale resident Yulin Wu ’s white co-workers told her not to worry about a Florida bill that would prohibit some Chinese people and entities from acquiring real estate. She had heard about the proposed legislation on Chinese-language social media.On May 8, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 264 into law, a measure that bars almost all property ownership for people or entities from various “countries of concern” including China, Cuba, North Korea and Russia. Under the law, they cannot buy property with some exceptions; individuals who hold a non-tourist visa or have been granted asylum can buy a residence of less than 2 acres (0.8 hectares) if it is at least 5 miles (8 km) away from a military base or “critical infrastructure”. The law singles out Chinese people with higher penalties for violation, but it does not apply to those who are naturalized US citizens or who have legal permanent “green card” residency.Wu said: “I don’t understand why this law passed. It definitely changed my feelings about Florida and the United States. I’m not welcome here.”That sentiment is echoed by many Chinese residents in the US as laws banning foreign property purchases, most targeting Chinese people, have proliferated around the nation. According to the advocacy group APA Justice , 33 states have proposed or enacted similar bans against ownership of real estate by people of specific national origins. As legislators have revised their bills to address arguments that they are bigoted, some have added exceptions for lawful permanent residents who hold green cards.Many Chinese residents in the United States, like Wu, are alarmed by this latest anti-Chinese development, and some are becoming activists.Wu, the first in her family to attend college, spoke to the Guardian via phone while visiting New York City. She’s now mulling a move there. Wu settled in Florida just two years ago, passed the bar exam and landed a job. Wu bought a townhome as an investment property just before Florida’s SB 264 was passed, and she wonders now whether she will be forced to sell it. The land of anyone who buys or sells property in violation of the law could be seized by the government. Wu’s townhome is located near an airport, and she’s unsure whether such an area is off-limits under the law. Gabriel Chin , a law professor at the University of California, Davis, said this latest trend follows a long history of “alien land laws”. Florida’s alien land law was only repealed in 2018, making it the last state to do so. Chin led his students in an effort to undo similar laws that remained on the books.At a July 18 court hearing in which a judge considered blocking the law, Chinese Americans demonstrated , some traveling from around the country. Zhengfei Guan is a University of Florida professor who has organized protests against the new law. He immigrated to the US in 2006. He noted that recently, “My daughter was asking, ‘Can we move?’” The 17-year-old, who is a US citizen, fears the increasingly hostile environment for people of Asian descent.He and Wu, the Fort Lauderdale lawyer, see the Florida measure as one component of the Chinese-US conflict, along with a trade war, accusations about the origins of Covid and violent attacks on Asian people. According to Guan, he and fellow Chinese academics have been adversely affected by China-fighting rhetoric and professional discrimination through the US justice department’s “China Initiative”. Discontinued last year, that federal effort investigated researchers under the theory that spies in unconventional places were sharing valuable intelligence data with Beijing. Even though Florida would allow Guan’s children, as citizens, to buy a house there, he perceives the property ban as part of a pattern of bias.This new batch of alien land laws has sparked confusion and thoughts of relocation, but also coalition building across the nation. Steven Pei , a Taiwanese immigrant and electrical engineering professor in Houston, flew to Tallahassee for last week’s court proceeding. Although naturalized, he observed: “Nobody can tell if I am a citizen or not. I have to prove it?”Pei credited Black politicians, especially US Representative Al Green of Texas, for key support in defeating that state’s version of an alien land law in May. Pei said: “He organized the major rallies here … and what really touched me is he has been meeting [ethnic] leaders every Saturday since March.” Green encouraged the formation of a new non-partisan Multicultural Advocacy Coalition that Pei said includes African Americans and Latinos alongside Asian Americans. Green himself said: “I’m concerned we not discriminate based on where you are from.” Recalling segregated facilities and having to step off the sidewalk if a white person were approaching during Jim Crow, he added: “I was unfortunate enough to be born a son of the segregated south. I know what discrimination is like. There are many things I lived through I would not want us to return to.”Read The Guardian report: https://bit.ly/3qf8itW . U.S. Senate Approves Amendment to FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act. According to Forbes and other media reports, the Senate voted 91-7 on July 25, 2023, to prevent China, Russia, North Korea and Iran from purchasing U.S. farmland—part of a bipartisan push to scrutinize adversaries’ business dealings in the United States. The proposed rule—passed as an amendment to the annual defense budget bill—would require the president to review farmland transactions from those four countries, and block any deals that would give a foreign entity from any of the countries “control” of U.S. farmland and waive those that don’t.The measure would also give the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, commonly known as CFIUS, the power to evaluate land deals, using data from the Department of Agriculture, and block those deals if it sees fit (CFIUS already evaluates other transactions with foreign actors).Prior to this amendment being attached, the bill was narrowly passed by the Republican-led House earlier this month, but that version included a number of conservative priorities related to abortion, transgender care and other hot-button issues that are unlikely to be accepted by the Democrat-controlled Senate. The Senate bill will return to the House for debate and a vote with the new amendments.Read the Forbes report: https://bit.ly/3DwWoPn After the Senate vote, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) provided a v ote explanation , which says in part: "As written, the language [of Rounds amendment No. 813 to S. 2226, the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act] seems to equate individuals from the specified countries as synonymous with their governments. Under this provision, if an individual with a valid visa, who has no connection to one of the governments listed, seeks to buy agricultural property above a certain threshold, the U.S. Government would deny them the ability to proceed with the purchase simply because of their national origin. While the national security concerns this amendment seeks to address are real, we must not discriminate on individuals based on national origin, race, or ethnicity. I voted in favor of my colleagues' amendment in order to continue the conversation on this important issue, but will not support any final provision that does not resolve these civil liberties concerns." Axed China Initiative’s Racial Profiling Legacy Haunts Scientists in US According to the South China Morning Post on July 25, 2023, physicist Xiaoxing Xi ’s life changed forever when a team of armed FBI agents burst into his home in Philadelphia and rounded up his family at gunpoint.Xi was arrested and charged with sharing sensitive US company technology on May 21, 2015 – three years before the Donald Trump administration launched its controversial China Initiative targeting scientists in the US for perceived connections with Beijing.The charges against Xi – who was accused of trying to transfer information to China about the design of a pocket heater – were dropped four months later, but not before he lost his position as chairman of the physics department at the Philadelphia-based Temple University. During the FBI’s investigation, Xi was also not allowed to appear on campus, apply for research grants or talk to his students, even privately.“That’s a very traumatic experience,” Xi said the US government’s case was based on four emails sent from his Temple University address that had nothing to do with the pocket heater.Xi’s ordeal took place under former president Barack Obama , but the Trump administration’s initiative vastly broadened the scope of later investigations into scientists of Chinese heritage in the US.About 150 academic scientists were openly investigated and two dozen hit with criminal charges before the initiative was eliminated by the justice department in February 2022. But the scrutiny has never stopped and there is little sign that the Joe Biden administration is doing enough to repair the damage, scientists of Chinese heritage have told researchers.The China Initiative, touted as a response to “economic espionage” by Beijing, was heavily criticized at the time as “unconstitutional” by the American Civil Liberties Union, which said it was based on racial profiling because it “singled out scientists based on their race, ethnicity or national origin”.A lasting impact of the initiative is the widespread fear still reported by many scientists with Chinese heritage, according to a study by researchers from Princeton University, Harvard, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).The study, published last month in the National Academy of Sciences peer-reviewed journal PNAS, found general feelings of fear and anxiety had led many of the scientists to consider leaving the US or refrain from applying for federal grants. Before he became a target for the FBI, Xi’s research was funded by nine federal grants and he had 15 people on his team. Today, Xi receives one grant for a much smaller focus of study, with just one researcher to help him.MIT mechanical engineering professor Gang Chen – who was arrested in January 2021 under the China Initiative and had his charges dismissed one year later – said he was afraid to apply for federal grants because of anxieties around being racially profiled.“Basically, I’m done with federal funding,” Chen told NBC Asian America in August. He has also shifted from nanotechnologies with obvious commercial applications to more fundamental research, according to the February edition of Nature .Another study, published in March by The Review of Higher Education , found a “consistent and statistically significant pattern” of racial profiling of Chinese and other Asian scientists.The researchers – from the University of Arizona and Committee of 100, a Chinese-American non-profit – surveyed about 2,000 scientists from the top US research universities and concluded that concerns about racial profiling remained, despite the end of the China Initiative.Lead author Jenny Lee said there was no sign of “any governmental action to undo the harmful effects” of the China Initiative.One Chinese-American scientist who recently returned to China, because of the initiative’s impact, said the aim of the initiative had been to create fear among scientists, as part of a US effort to contain China’s scientific progress.“[The US] has achieved its purpose. US-based scientists are coming back to China and those in China are afraid to go back to the US,” said the scientist, who requested anonymity because of the subject’s sensitivity. “It’s happening every day.”But some experts argue that cutting off relations with Chinese academia undermines Washington’s intention of competing and winning a technology race against Beijing. Junming Huang , an associate research scholar at Princeton University and co-author of the PNAS study, said the US should “continue to welcome and attract Chinese scientists to maintain [its] global leadership in science and technology in the long run”.“A key lesson we can learn from the China Initiative is we cannot apply a broad brush to solve problems and apply policies. We need surgical precision and data-based solutions that offer genuine steps moving forward to tackle specific problems,” he said.Despite the challenges reported by scientists of Chinese heritage in the US, not everyone is returning to China.Meanwhile, Xi’s efforts to seek redress from the courts for his experience continues. A lawsuit filed against the lead FBI agent and others in 2017, alleging that they “made knowingly or recklessly false statements” to support their investigation and prosecution was dismissed by a district court in 2021.Xi appealed the decision last year and in May the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled his case had been wrongfully dismissed. Xi and his family are waiting to see if the US government will appeal the ruling and move the case forward, he said. In written testimony presented in 2021, Xi said that “whether the US and China are in a cold war or hot war, it is wrong for law enforcement to profile Chinese scientists based on where they come from”.“All Chinese professors, scientists and students are not non-traditional collectors, or spies, for China,” he said.Speaking to the South China Morning Post last week, Xi said the China Initiative had been based on the assumption that Chinese scientists were “suspected of spying for China”. “That’s the fundamental reason for all these cases and all the investigations that have happened … In a sense, ‘presumed guilty until proven innocent’. This condition has not changed,” he said. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3rCJixk Back View PDF July 31, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #146 Seeking Accountability; Updates on Mingqing Xiao/Franklin Tao; Judge Parker; WH Event #146 Seeking Accountability; Updates on Mingqing Xiao/Franklin Tao; Judge Parker; WH Event Back View PDF September 22, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #131 Toby on AAU; Senate Targets Faculty Foreign Gift; Labs PostDoc Shortage; Twitter #131 Toby on AAU; Senate Targets Faculty Foreign Gift; Labs PostDoc Shortage; Twitter Back View PDF June 29, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #128 FBI Town Halls; ODNI Report; 6/6 Monthly Meeting; Webinar and Op-Ed; Memorial for Norm #128 FBI Town Halls; ODNI Report; 6/6 Monthly Meeting; Webinar and Op-Ed; Memorial for Norm Back View PDF June 2, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #97 DOJ Changed Report; Trial Dates; Yale/Princeton/Stanford/SIU News; Happy Thanksgiving #97 DOJ Changed Report; Trial Dates; Yale/Princeton/Stanford/SIU News; Happy Thanksgiving Back View PDF November 22, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #246 4/8 Monthly Meeting; JASON Report; Voting Gap; China Engagement; Delaware HB 322; More #246 4/8 Monthly Meeting; JASON Report; Voting Gap; China Engagement; Delaware HB 322; More In This Issue #246 · 2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · JASON Report on Safeguarding the Research Enterprise · Voter Registration Gap for Latinos and Asian Americans · Opinion: US Engagement Without Provocation of China · Delaware House Bill 322 Moves Forward · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 8, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Robert Underwood, Commissioner, President's Advisory Commission on AA and NHPI; Former Chair of CAPAC; Former President of University of Guam · Yvonne Lee, Commissioner, USDA Equity Commission; Former Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights · Chenglong Li, Zhong-Ren Peng , and Jiangeng Xue , Officers of Florida Chinese Faculty Association and Professors of University of Florida · David Inoue, Executive Director, Japanese American Citizens League · Cindy Tsai, Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100 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 . JASON Report on Safeguarding the Research Enterprise On March 21, 2024, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) released a new report by JASON, an independent science advisory group, titled " Safeguarding the Research Enterprise. " This report builds upon the 2019 Fundamental Research Security report. In this study, JASON was tasked to comment on specific steps NSF might take to identify sensitive areas of research and describe processes to address security in those areas. The report presents eight key findings and six recommendations for NSF's consideration. It emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in research while acknowledging various risks and the necessity to distinguish between sensitive and nonsensitive research.JASON recommendations highlight the importance of fostering a culture of research security awareness within the scientific community by providing substantive information to researchers about real risks, making resources available and encouraging continuous engagement with researchers and their institutions about the efficacy of research risk mitigation and control efforts. NSF is currently reviewing the findings and considering the implementation of recommendations as it develops new policy review processes for national security concerns. These policies are slated to be effective by the May 24, 2024, deadline set forth in the "CHIPS & Science Act of 2022."On March 31, 2024, Axios offered insights on the JASON report, suggesting caution in adding controls over fundamental science research. Many scientists emphasize the importance of an open research environment, essential for testing and exchanging results and hypotheses. Others argue that international collaborations offer insights into other countries' capabilities and help shape global science and tech standards. JASON highlights changes in fundamental research across physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science, with increasing scientific collaborations between countries. There is growing science and tech competition globally as nations invest in education and research infrastructure. The transition from basic science to practical technology is faster now, with advancements quickly commercialized. Many defense-related scientific breakthroughs are coming from civilian sectors and private companies, posing dual-use challenges. The rise of China in the science world order prompts re-evaluation of sensitive research handling.JASON advises NSF against broadly designating scientific fields as sensitive but recommends assessing project sensitivity case by case. It also cautions against expanding export controls to include fundamental research areas, warning of increased research costs, talent pipeline reduction, and hindrance to broader U.S. economic and national security interests.The project-by-project approach is "reasonable," says Tobin Smith , vice president for policy at the Association of American Universities, where the rubber hits the road for these policies.NSF is launching a Research on Research Security (RORS) program to delve into research security matters from an academic viewpoint. Currently, there is limited comprehensive data available on the issue, despite some information being published by the agency and others. NSF is working on a machine learning tool to scrutinize grants, papers, and related documents. This tool aims to uncover undisclosed affiliations, professional roles, or funding sources that could pose conflicts of commitment or interest. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is currently developing its Research Security Program Standard Requirement . A 2021 national security memorandum directed OSTP to establish research security standards for universities and other research institutions.Read the NSF announcement: https://bit.ly/4ajpFvv . Read the JASON report: https://bit.ly/3TGukke . Read the Axios report: https://bit.ly/3VBlve2 Voter Registration Gap for Latinos and Asian Americans According to NPR on April 2, 2024, in a pivotal election year, U.S. democracy continues to face a persistent challenge among the country's electorate — gaps in voter registration rates between white eligible voters and eligible voters of color. "For years, the shares of Black, Asian and Latino citizens age 18 or older signed up to cast ballots have trailed behind that of white adult citizens, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey."Based on national estimates from the last two federal election years, the disparity in registration rates between white and Asian eligible voters is around nine percentage points. Between white and Latino eligible voters, the gap is about 13 percentage points."Long-standing barriers to voter registration have made it difficult to close these gaps, and dedicated investment is needed to ensure fuller participation in elections and a healthier democracy, many researchers and advocates say," NPR said. The barriers and challenges include: · For some, economic needs overshadow political participation · Asian Americans and Latinos are less likely to be contacted by campaigns · Voting restrictions can disproportionately affect people of color · "...without our voice, nothing's going to be done" Read the NPR report: https://n.pr/49rvzcK Opinion: US Engagement Without Provocation of China According to the East Asia Forum on March 31, 2024, Johns Hopkins University Professor David Lampton and Stanford University Professor Thomas Fingar opined that the United States should seek engagement without provocation of China."China is in a phase of its foreign and domestic policy that emphasises an old bundle of policies attaching primacy to regime and national security at the cost of economic growth. At some point, China will move toward its other historical foreign policy bundle emphasising economic growth and more openness. The United States should hold open the door to the second policy package for the indefinite future, while deterring Beijing's most dangerous behaviour in its current policy incarnation. Washington needs to restore credibility to its One China Policy and lower the rhetorical temperature, a formidable challenge in the midst of a presidential election in the United States and when there is a high level of insecurity in Beijing," the professors said.Read the East Asia Forum essay: https://bit.ly/4cFddYG How Chinese Students Experience America In a comprehensive New Yorker report on April 1, 2024, Staff Writer Peter Hessler recounts his teaching experience at Sichuan University in China and tracks a class of students who have come to the United States through the Sichuan University–Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI). All SCUPI classes were in English, and after two or three years at Sichuan University students could transfer to the University of Pittsburgh or another foreign institution. SCUPI was one of many programs and exchanges designed to direct more Chinese students to the U.S. In the 2019-20 academic year, Chinese enrollment at American institutions reached an all-time high of 372,532. A generation earlier, the vast majority of Chinese students at American universities had stayed in the country, but the pattern changed dramatically with China’s new prosperity. In 2022, the Chinese Ministry of Education reported that, in the past decade, more than eighty per cent of Chinese students returned after completing their studies abroad.In the span of a single generation, China’s enrollment rate of college-age citizens had risen from eight per cent to 51.6 per cent by 2019. Following a number of his students from China to the United States, Hessler tells a story of how COVID, guns, anti-Asian violence, and diplomatic relations have complicated the ambitions of the 300,000+ college students who come to the U.S. each year. Read the New Yorker article or listen to it at https://bit.ly/3vt00l3 (51:04). Delaware House Bill 322 Moves Forward According to Coastal-TV on April2, 2024, an act to amend title 29 of Delaware code in regard to a commission on Asian and Pacific Islander heritage and culture was recently voted on with one person in favor of the bill and four others agreeing to move it forward but with further consideration needed. House Bill 322 is sponsored by William Bush of District 29. It would bring representation of the AAPI community. The Delaware Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Culture would do the following: 1. Provide the Governor, members of the General Assembly, and policymakers with recommendations to promote the welfare and interests of all people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who reside in this State 2. Establish, maintain and develop cultural ties between Asian and Pacific Islanders and Asian-Americans and Pacific Islander-Americans 3. Foster a special and compelling interest in the historical and cultural backgrounds of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, as well as in the economic, political, social and artistic life of the nations and territories involved 4. Help study, establish, or promote programs or events that will provide appropriate awareness of the culture, history, heritage, and language of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent 5. Provide a platform for the promotion of the cultural and historical heritage of any people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent Asian American advocate and student at the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy, Devin Jiang , said, "We can’t have a democracy when certain groups don’t have seats at the decision-making table. And for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we lack representation in all three branches of government in Delaware, other states across the country, and the federal government." said Jiang, "We don’t have seats in many rooms. This changes in Delaware: if passed and signed into law, HB 322 will bring about more political representation for AAPIs."Read the Coastal-TV report: https://bit.ly/3PLJXWi Blinken appoints chief diversity and inclusion officer According to NBC News on April 2, 2024, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appointed a new chief diversity and inclusion officer at the State Department ten months after the role became vacant. The position does not require Senate confirmation. Zakiya Carr Johnson will be tasked with building a workforce that “reflects America,” Blinken said in a statement. Although most at the State Department supported Blinken’s efforts to elevate issues of diversity and inclusion, a number also said that they would have liked the opportunity to share their thoughts ahead of Carr Johnson’s appointment. Chief among the challenges facing Carr Johnson will be “a massive retention issue at the department,” said Merry Walker , president of the Asian American Foreign Affairs Association. “Especially at the mid-levels.” Representatives from other State Department employee organizations expressed similar concerns about keeping staff on board. Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3U1kn1X News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/04/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/04/09 China Town Hall (2-part program)2024/04/17 Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist. A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative2024/04/18 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice 2024/04/19 Appeals Court Hearing on Florida SB 2642024/04/19 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and GalaVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF April 4, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #255 Registration Open for FBI Forum; Students from China; Bill Tracker; Trailblazers; More #255 Registration Open for FBI Forum; Students from China; Bill Tracker; Trailblazers; More In This Issue #255 · Registration Open: 06/06 Community Forum with The FBI · Welcoming Students from China and Customs and Border Protection · C100 Updates Alien Land Bill Tracker for 2024 · Trailblazing Asian American Legislators · News and Activities for the Communities Registration Open: 06/06 Community Forum with The FBI WHAT: A Dialogue Between Academic & AAPI Communities and The FBI WHEN: June 6, 2024, 4:00 - 6:00 pm Central TimeWHERE: This is a hybrid in-person and virtual event (registration required) · In-person: O'Connor Building, Rice University, Houston, Texas HOSTS: · Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC) · Science and Technology Policy Program, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Office of Innovation, Rice University · APA Justice Task Force OPENING WELCOME: · Sergio Lira, Vice President, TMAC; President, Houston Council, League of United Latin America Citizens (LULAC) · Paul Cherukuri , Chief Innovation Officer, Vice President for Innovation, Rice University PANELISTS: · Jill Murphy , Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, FBI Headquarters · Georgette "GiGi" Pickering , Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston Field Office · Kelly Choi , Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Houston Field Office · Gordon Quan , Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Quan Law Group, PLLC; Former Houston City Mayor Pro-Tem · David Donatti , Senior Staff Attorney, Legal Department, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum SUMMARY REMARKS: · Douglas Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston Field Office · Neal Lane , Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute for Public Policy; Former Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy MODERATOR: Steven Pei , TMAC and APA Justice Task Force DESCRIPTION: This event brings together Jill Murphy, the deputy assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, who oversees the FBI’s espionage investigations, and the leadership of the FBI Houston Field Office with members of the academic and Asian American communities to discuss the gaps between national science and technology policy and its implementation at the forefront of law enforcement, as well as to explore the possibility of a regular communication channel. REGISTRATION: · In-person. To be announced by Rice University · Zoom: https://bit.ly/3wjg759 Welcoming Students from China and Customs and Border Protection On May 8, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns posted a message on X welcoming students from China to study in the U.S. It is encouraging that the U.S. is welcoming Chinese students to come and study here again.However, marginalizing the secondary screening by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and related problems faced by the Chinese students at the border may inadvertently undermine the effort.Numbers can be misleading, depending on how they are used. There were about two dozen scientists and researchers prosecuted under the China Initiative. One may argue that it was a very small percentage of all the scientists and researchers in the U.S. (according to the National Science Foundation, there were 24 million employed as full-time scientists and engineers in 2019, https://bit.ly/3WxPIuM ). It is also true that the percentage is very small by that measure. But an issue is defined by how it is framed. The impact of the China Initiative can be very big from another perspective. When you look at the population of impacted persons under the China Initiative, those of Asian and particularly Chinese origin will stand out. The fair question to address the concerns at the border is: Among the students and scholars who faced secondary screening by CBP, what is the percentage of them being Asian or Chinese? How is their rejection rate compared with other groups of students and scholars? That may tell a different story.This observation was reported by U.S.-China Perception Monitor :2024/05/10 中美印象简报： 中国学生被关“小黑屋”是否被夸大 According to AP on April 13, 2024, far fewer young Americans now want to study in China. Both countries are trying to fix that. Only about 700 American students are studying at Chinese universities, down from a peak of close to 25,000 a decade ago. “We need young Americans to learn Mandarin. We need young Americans to have an experience of China,” Ambassador Burns said. Meanwhile, China is hosting American high school students under a plan Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled in November to welcome 50,000 in the next five years.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/3WAUJTz C100 Updates Alien Land Bill Tracker for 2024 Committee of 100’s ongoing effort to identify and monitor legislation that restricts property ownership by foreign governments, businesses, and people has been updated to cover the 2024 legislative session. It shows a continuing effort by state governments and Congress to limit the ability of such entities to own property in the U.S. As of April 25, 2024, · 151 bills restricting property ownership by foreign entities have been considered by 32 states (115 bills) and Congress (36 bills). · Of the 151 total bills, 78 are under consideration that would prohibit Chinese citizens from purchasing or owning property. · Of the 151 total bills, 7 passed and were signed into law in Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska (2 bills), South Dakota, and Utah, respectively. · Of the 7 bills passed so far, 3 prohibit Chinese citizens from purchasing or owning some form of property: Indiana’s HB 1183, Nebraska’s LB 1301, and South Dakota’s HB 1231. C100 has also updated the interactive map to track legislative activities by state and Congress in 2024, especially those related to the People’s Republic of China. It also allow users to view legislation that has passed or is currently under consideration in 2023.Visit the C100 Alien Land Bill Tracker at https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B Two lawsuits have been filed against Florida's alien land law known as SB 264: · SHEN v. SIMPSON (4:23-cv-00208) , filed on March 22, 2023 · National Fair Housing Alliance, Inc. v. Secretary of Commerce (1:24-cv-21749) , filed on May 6, 2024 Trailblazing Asian American Legislators According to the New York Times on May 6, 2024, opposition from the Asian American community in Texas, including a former Republican lawmaker of Chinese descent, helped roll back some provisions in an alien land bill known as SB 147. That former state representative was Dr. Martha Wong, an iconic trailblazer in the Texas legislature. Dr. Wong, a native Houstonian, is a third generation Chinese American. She is the first Asian American elected to the Houston City Council (1994-2000) and the first Asian American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives (2003-2007). She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and both a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Houston. She is 85 years old. On March 2, 2023, she testified in front of the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs on SB 147. "It's unusual for me to get up at 4:45 to get here and I see that I got here so late that I'm registered to be the last speaker," she remarked about her interest and importance of the matter. "The part regarding the security of our land is very important ... sometimes is that there are unintended consequences. The unintended consequences I think are what most people were speaking about today. The unintended consequences is causing many Asians to be discriminated against. It's not that the bill is discriminating, but it's that it's causing other people to be discriminating. I don't know how many of you know of which ethnicity I am - maybe only because of my name. I could be Korean, I could be Vietnamese, I could be Chinese, I could be Filipino."Watch Dr. Wong's testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMtMLubX_lY (14:06) Gene Wu was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012. Prior to being elected, he served as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, where he sought justice for thousands of crime victims. He is currently an attorney in private practice. Rep. Wu has been the leading voice opposing not only alien land bills but also across the nation. "This is not just a Chinese problem this is not just a Russian problem or Iranian problem or North Korean problem this is a problem for every community that has been targeted," says State Representative Gene Wu. "Senate Bill 147 is unconstitutional and un-American, and it's bad for business I hope my colleagues will see the consequences on this bill and work with us to ensure that every single Texan has the opportunity to live their American dream."To read more about alien land bills and Rep. Wu's leadership role, visit https://www.apajustice.org/alien-land-bills.html . He also hosts a monthly town hall meeting. Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for his next meeting and how to attend.According to a blog by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Sam Park and his family immigrated from South Korea to Georgia in the early 1980s. That was made possible only after immigration quotas, which severely restricted immigration from Asian countries and date back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, were abolished by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. He was raised by a single mother. By the power of the vote, Sam Park became the first Asian American Democrat elected to the Georgia Legislature in 2017. Since he was the only Asian American legislator serving in the Georgia Legislature, it was a lonely and challenging endeavor. Yet in knowing his history, Sam Park recognized that he stood on the shoulders of those who came before him and that he had a responsibility to continue the work of perfecting our union for all. He has learned that it is one thing to break a barrier, it is another matter to pave the way for others. Over the past eight years, Sam Parks has seen an increase in Asian American political participation, and more Asian Americans are running and getting elected to the Georgia Legislature, where it now has one of the largest Asian American legislative caucuses in the country. Read Rep. Park's blog: https://bit.ly/4dGfseJ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/05/22 Heritage, Culture, and Community: The Future of America's Chinatowns2024/06/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/06/06 A Dialogue Between Academic/AAPI Communities with The FBI2024/06/20-22 Social Equity Leadership Conference2024/06/27-30 2024 Chinese American Convention Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Did You Know? There were 10 charter members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) when it was formed 30 years ago in 1994: Rep. Norman Y. Mineta (Inaugural Chair), Rep. Patsy T. Mink , Del. Robert Underwood , Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi , Sen. Daniel Akaka , Sen. Patty Murray , Sen. Daniel Inouye , Rep. Neil Abercrombie , Rep. Robert Matsui , and Del. Eni Faleomavaega? Read the CAPAC press release: https://bit.ly/4ao5A6G 3. Sampling of AANHPI Heritage Month Activities and Articles 2024/05/16 Smithsonian Magazine: Explore Amazing Contributions Made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with Four Smithsonian Stories 2024/05/16 The Dallas Morning News: Richardson’s Chinatown: The history, development and needs of an Asian American enclave 2024/05/16 South Seattle Emerald Opinion: The History and Heritage of Asian and Pacific Islander Communities Belong in Our Classrooms 2024/05/01 PBS: What to Watch | Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Library of Congress: Celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month! Smithsonian: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Back View PDF May 20, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

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

Newsletter - #14 September 14 Meeting Agenda And Link To Join #14 September 14 Meeting Agenda And Link To Join Back View PDF September 9, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #227 1/8 Monthly Meeting; Justice4All; "China Spy"; Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act; + #227 1/8 Monthly Meeting; Justice4All; "China Spy"; Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act; + In This Issue #227 · 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Justice4All Protest in Miami - A Call for Unity Against Racism · Asian American Officials Cite Unfair Scrutiny and Lost Jobs in China Spy Tensions · White House Statement on Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 8, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Joanna Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed and invited speakers include: · Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, to kick off the New Year with us by reviewing 2023 and looking to what is ahead in 2024. · Haipei Shue 薛海培, President, United Chinese Americans (UCA), Hongwei Shang 商红伟, and Echo King 金美声, Co-Founders of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) to give us a report on the December 16 Justice4All protest in Miami. · Ted Gong, Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation, will introduce the 1882 Project, 1882 Foundation, and its upcoming activities in 2024, and Martin Gold , Pro Bono Counsel, 1882 Project; Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC, on a future lecture. · Dr. Yawei Liu 刘亚伟, Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center to introduce us to the China Focus at the Carter Center and the upcoming Conference for the 45th Anniversary of U.S.-China Relations in Atlanta. The 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 . Justice4All Protest in Miami - A Call for Unity Against Racism December 16, 2023, was a stormy day in Miami, but hundreds from the state of Florida and across the nation gathered at The Torch of Friendship to protest the unfair legislation of SB264 and SB846. SB 264 was passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, marking a troubling return to discriminatory policies reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act. It unfairly restricts most Chinese citizens — and most citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea — from purchasing homes in the state. SB 264 has raised significant concerns. Violations of the ban could result in severe civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to 5 years. Moreover, SB 264 mandates property registration, threatening law-abiding, taxpaying AAPI community members with an unprecedented and unreasonable penalty of $1,000 per day if their properties remain unregistered by December 31st, 2023. A lawsuit has been filed in the Northern District Court of Florida, arguing that SB 264 codifies and expands housing discrimination against people of Asian descent in violation of the Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. SB 846 put a roadblock in the path of Florida's public universities hiring Chinese graduate students and postdocs, which has sparked serious concerns among Florida’s academicians.Both state laws remind the communities of the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act when Chinese Americans and Asian Americans were subject to decades of discrimination and denied their lawful and constitutional rights. Leaders of the Chinese American community from across the country actively participated in this event, delivering inspirational speeches. Prominent figures included Congresswoman Judy Chu , former presidential candidate Andrew Yang , Texas State Representative Gene Wu , UCA President Haipei Shue , Co-founder of CALDA (Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance) attorney Clay Zhu , and North Miami Beach City Commissioner candidate Lynn Su . In addition, representatives from many organizations such as CASEC (The Chinese Association of Science, Education and Culture of South Florida), FAAJA (Florida Asian American Justice Alliance), The Yick Wo Institution, NAACP (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), LULAC (The League of United Latin American Citizens), and ACLU (The American Civil Liberties Union), lent their voices to the cause. The rally also saw strong support from African American, Indian American, Caribbean, Jewish, Cuban and other Hispanic communities, as well as professors from Florida’s public universities such as University of Florida, Florida State University, and Florida International University. Despite adverse weather conditions, impassioned speeches resonated through the crowd, delivering a clear and unified message: Florida must reject the echoes of a new Chinese Exclusion Act. The rally opened and closed with a powerful group sing-along of the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," symbolizing the collective strength and determination of Chinese Americans to overcome adversity.Visit the FAAJA website at https://www.faaja.org/ and read a press statement by The North American Economic Herald Media Group: https://prn.to/3H27hdt Asian American Officials Cite Unfair Scrutiny and Lost Jobs in China Spy Tensions According to the New York Times on December 31, 2023, national security employees with ties to Asia say U.S. counterintelligence officers wrongly regard them as potential spies and ban them from jobs.When Thomas Wong set foot in the United States Embassy in Beijing this summer for a new diplomatic posting, it was vindication after years of battling the State Department over a perceived intelligence threat — himself.Wong, a U.S. diplomat, faced a ban from working in China due to alleged concerns of foreign influence and preference. With a background in Chinese language and experience in the military, Wong aimed to contribute significantly to U.S.-China relations. However, he discovered that numerous Asian American diplomats encountered similar restrictions based on vague reasons provided during the security clearance process. This issue extends beyond the State Department, affecting various U.S. government agencies involved in national security and foreign policy. Employees with ties to Asia, regardless of their relevance, feel unfairly targeted by U.S. counterintelligence, limiting their potential contributions in crucial diplomatic, intelligence, and security roles.The concerns, notably raised by Asian American diplomats, led to bipartisan legislation attempting to address the problem. The military spending bill of December 14 includes language pushed by Representative Ted Lieu , Democrat of California, intended to make the department more transparent in its assignment restriction and review processes. While there have been instances of bans being reversed, many State Department employees still face restrictions without clear explanations. Additionally, counterintelligence officers can recommend bans based on investigations into job offers from countries deemed intelligence threats.The situation highlights the debate between addressing security risks and utilizing individuals with valuable language skills and cultural backgrounds to serve national interests. Despite some reversals, the issue of restrictive bans for government employees with Asian connections remains a point of contention within U.S. national security agencies. The New York Times report highlights instances of discrimination and suspicion faced by FBI counterintelligence officers due to their Chinese background. This issue has been exacerbated by concerns about Chinese espionage, leading to the establishment of the Justice Department's "China Initiative." This initiative involved investigating numerous ethnic Chinese scientists, often resulting in charges that were eventually dropped, causing harm to their careers and reputations. Despite the closure of the "China Initiative" in 2022, similar processes within national security agencies, occurring within secretive security clearance and assignment vetting, continue to impact individuals.Critics argue that the scrutiny faced by individuals with ties to China is unjustified, citing demographic shifts in the American population and emphasizing that having family in China does not inherently make someone susceptible to becoming a Chinese intelligence asset. However, some officials defend these security clearance denials or job restrictions, citing concerns about the Chinese government pressuring foreign citizens by targeting their family members in China.Legislation in 2021 revealed that the State Department had imposed the most restrictions for postings in China, followed by Russia, Taiwan, and Israel. The State Department refutes claims of discrimination, emphasizing adherence to guidelines from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and outlined criteria in the Foreign Affairs Manual. While there are senior Asian American officials in various U.S. agencies, concerns persist among Asian American employees regarding the ongoing suspicion and challenges they face due to their backgrounds.The passage underscores the persistent concerns of Asian American government employees, highlighted by Representative Andy Kim 's experience of being barred from work on Korean Peninsula issues, which he found disrespectful and humiliating. Many federal agencies conduct internal investigations without informing employees, such as the FBI's unit performing polygraph tests and potentially recommending security clearance revocation. At the State Department, background checks determine whether to impose assignment restrictions on diplomats.The security clearance process for officials is rigorous and intrusive, involving scrutiny of personal relationships, financial history, and more. Recent concerns about China's espionage have elevated the standards for clearance. Documents from the Defense Department show increasingly detailed assessments of China's spying efforts in the vetting of security clearances for federal contractors over the past two decades. In 2021, a Senate committee report exposed the Commerce Department's security unit for unlawfully investigating Chinese American employees like Sherry Chen . The report characterized the unit as a "rogue, unaccountable police force" that disproportionately targeted offices with high proportions of Asian American employees.Even government officers involved in China counterintelligence face suspicion from security officials due to their background, unfairly marking them as potential spies. Chris Wang , an FBI counterintelligence analyst, was placed in a surveillance program called PARM upon joining, subjecting him to extensive scrutiny of contacts, travel, and computer use. Despite his training and background, which included Chinese martial arts and study in Shanghai, he faced heightened suspicion due to his associations. Another former FBI officer, Jason Lee , is suing the agency for discrimination, citing instances where his familial ties were wrongly construed as evidence of espionage.Both Wang and Lee highlighted the challenges Chinese Americans face due to the stigma surrounding China, which often leads to unwarranted suspicions even when their connections are innocent. While the FBI asserted its commitment to fair polygraph tests and diversity, these cases shed light on the complexities and biases Chinese American employees encounter within security units.At the State Department, a group representing Asian American employees has been advocating for reforms to address assignment restrictions. Since 2016, legislation has been introduced to drive changes in this regard.While some diplomats, like Yuki Kondo-Shah , have successfully challenged assignment restrictions, there are ongoing concerns despite Secretary Antony Blinken 's recent announcement of relaxed restrictions. Specifically, the provision known as assignment review allows counterintelligence officers to recommend bans after investigating employees offered posts deemed to have special intelligence threats, extending beyond China to countries like Russia, Vietnam, and Israel. Tina Wong , a vice president of the U.S. Foreign Service union, highlights the problematic nature of this provision. Stallion Yang , another diplomat, gathered data for the Asian American Foreign Affairs Association, revealing prolonged investigations for employees with ties to Asia. While the State Department responded, stating only a few investigations led to rejection, diplomats argue that this overlooks cases where employees left due to extended investigations.Moreover, aspiring diplomats like Ruiqi Zheng , a China-born American, faced challenges securing security clearance due to ties abroad, ultimately being rejected after a nearly two-year process. Despite aspirations and selective fellowships, individuals like Zheng encountered barriers due to their backgrounds, reflecting ongoing challenges faced by foreign-born Chinese Americans within the State Department's security clearance process.Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/48FthXl . Read the case of Dr. Wei Su 苏炜: https://bit.ly/2E13gZU White House Statement on Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act On December 17, 2023, President Joe Biden issued the following statement on the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act:"Our nation was founded on the fundamental idea that we are created equal and deserve to be treated equally. But for 61 years, the Chinese Exclusion Act failed to live up to that promise. It weaponized our immigration system to discriminate against an entire ethnic group and was followed by further discrimination against many in Europe and all of Asia. The Act, along with racism and xenophobia in other parts of American life, was part of the anti-Chinese 'Driving Out' era which included the Rock Springs and Hells Canyon massacres. In 1943, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed and it was followed by laws that led to an immigration system that better reflected our values as a nation of immigrants. "On this anniversary, we remember those whose lives, families, and communities were irreparably harmed. We remember the brave and diverse voices – from Frederick Douglass to Blanche Bruce to Pearl Buck to the American Jewish Committee and so many others – who spoke up in solidarity against that Act and demanded a fairer and more just immigration system. And we recognize that despite the progress we have made, hate never goes away. It only hides. Today, there are those who still demonize immigrants and fan the flames of intolerance. It’s wrong. I ran for President to restore the soul of America. To bring people together and make sure we give hate no safe harbor. To celebrate the diversity that is our country’s strength. "For generations, people of Chinese heritage have enriched our country – from Chinese laborers who did backbreaking work to build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s to the Chinese Americans who serve in our military, to the authors, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and scholars of today. We honor them, and all immigrants, who continue to make extraordinary contributions to our nation."Read the White House stateme nt at https://bit.ly/48tXKrG News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/01/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2024/01/09 The Jimmy Carter Forum on US-China Relations in Honor of 45th Anniversary of Normalization 2024/02/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Back View PDF January 2, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #85 UTK's Catch-22; New Studies on EEA Released; SFCAUSE; Anti-Asian Hate/Racial Profiling #85 UTK's Catch-22; New Studies on EEA Released; SFCAUSE; Anti-Asian Hate/Racial Profiling Back View PDF September 23, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter