The latest AAPI news from the NCAPA coalition and beyond.

What you should know this week

Muslim Ban to take partial effect

This week, the Supreme Court allowed parts of the Muslim ban to take effect until making their final decision in the fall. This “partial ban” imposes a 120-day ban on refugees who have no relationship to a person in the U.S. However, the State Department’s definition of “close familial relationships” excludes grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers- and sisters-in-law. The State of Hawaii has already challenged the partial ban in court for taking too narrow a view of family relations and failing to clarify as “bona fide,” a refugee’s connection to a resettlement agency.

We urge communities to stay united in opposition. NCAPA members Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), OCA and the Sikh American Legal Defense & Education Fund (SALDEF) have all issued statements opposing this un-American ban.

Anti-immigrant bills passed in the House

Yesterday, the House passed two anti-immigrant bills targeting sanctuary cities and undocumented immigrants. NCAPA strongly opposes these bills that do more harm to local communities and continue to foster an atmosphere of fear for immigrants and communities of color. Stripping funds from cities who have established policies to increase public safety and foster trust between law enforcement and residents will only make these cities less safe.

Families protest Trump administration's aggressive tactics to deport loved ones to Cambodia

More than 50 advocates rallied in front of the White House on Wednesday morning to protest the continued detention of Minnesota men Chamroeun Phan and Sameth Nhean. Both men received reprieves from deportation, but in an unusual move suggestive of an increasingly aggressive approach to these cases and thousands of others facing potential deportation, DHS appealed the decisions and refused to release either men to their families. Led by NCAPA member, the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) gave remarks at the rally.

SAALT declines attendance to DOJ hate crimes summit

South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) declined the invitation to attend the U.S. Department of Justice’s Hate Crimes Summit because of the Trump administration’s efforts to disregard the civil rights of all Americans. SAALT wasn’t convinced the summit would be a forum of substantive dialogue.

Supreme Court sides with The Slants

The Supreme Court sided with Asian American rock group “The Slants” in Matal v. Tam, saying it is unconstitutional to bar disparaging trademarks. Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and more NCAPA members expressed disappointment in the decision, saying the use of hateful remarks will continue to harm minority communities.

NCAPA IN THE NEWS

Southeast Asia Resource Center (SEARAC) executive director and NCAPA chair Quyen Dinh was quoted in the Huffington Post on the experiences of low-income Southeast Asian American families. This is in response to a victory out of Rhode Island--their House of Representatives just passed a bill that could reveal achievement gaps among Asian American students. (Kimberly Yam, Huffington Post)

TAKE ACTION

Protect Affordable Health Care Now!

Though Senate Republicans delayed the ACA repeal vote, we must keep up the pressure to oppose this bill. Tell your Senators what you think about their version of Trumpcare by finding and attending a local town hall near you. Share your health care story and tell them to oppose Trumpcare!

Download the Immigrant Know Your Rights Smartphone App
NCAPA member, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), has designed and translated a smartphone app for immigrants and community members who are in crisis or have been approached by police or ICE. The multilingual app currently supports Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and English.  Click here to download this helpful app!

Track hate incidents and view their databases

South Asian Americans Leading Together | Asian Americans Advancing Justice | OCA National | Southern Poverty Law Center | Muslim Advocates

ICYMI: AAPIS IN THE NEWS

NY Assembly Passes Bill That Would Help Asian-Americans In Need Get Resources (Kimberly Yam, Huffington Post)

Mazie Hirono Makes Senate Speech Against Health Care Bill Night Before Cancer Surgery (Doha Madani, Huffington Post)

A Man's Racist Rant on Snapchat Just Set Twitter Off (Koh, Pride)

School to be named after Sunita L. Williams, first Indian-American astronaut (Juhi A. Dasrath, MassLive)

‘Bubbly kid’ was fatally shot by King County deputy hours before high-school graduation (Christine Willmsen, The Seattle Times)

 Hawaii Challenges Enforcement of Trump Travel Order (Alex Johnson & Daniella Silvia, NBC News)

The Senate Health Care Bill: Taking Away Health Insurance for 22 Million Americans to Create a $700 Billion Tax Cut for the Wealthy (by former President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs Chair, Dr. Tung Nguyen, Huffington Post)

Celebrating the end of Immigrant Heritage Month

NCAPA is celebrating the end of Immigrant Heritage Month with features on our staff and interns. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see the posts!

 OPPORTUNITIES

SEARAC Operations Manager

Opportunities at Advancing Justice | AAJC

Opportunities at NAPAWF

More (including Hill) opportunities

Scholarships are available for SEARAC’s Inaugural Equity Summit. Application deadline: July 7

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is accepting applications for their Fall internship program. Application deadline: July 15, 2017.

JACL is accepting applications to the  Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellowship, providing fellows the opportunity to be placed in a Congressional office.

Become an APIAVote Volunteer

NCAPA Member Events

Thursday, July 6 - Sunday, July 9: JACL 48th Annual National Convention. D.C.

Thursday, July 13 @ 3:00 p.m. ET: NCAPA Education Committee Webinar - ESSA and K-12 Federal Education Policy: Experiences from AAPIs in California

Thursday, July 13 - Sunday, July 16: 14th Annual SABA North America Convention. D.C.

Thursday, Aug. 3 - Sunday, Aug. 6: 2017 OCA National Convention. Sacramento, CA.

Wednesday, Aug. 16 - Sunday, Aug 20: 2017 APALA Convention. Orange County, CA.