Recent weeks have been difficult with both man-made and natural disasters wreaking havoc on our communities. We share the deep sentiments of sorrow, mourning, fear and frustration at slow hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, gun violence in Las Vegas, and nuclear brinkmanship with North Korea. As we all work harder for our country and our communities, we remind ourselves to value what’s important and hold our loved ones close.

Thank you for reading the NCAPA weekly roundup. As an update, NCAPA will be temporarily suspending publication of our roundups until further notice.

A LOOK AHEAD

Because the Trump Administration is ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, all DACA renewal applications must be received by USCIS no later than this Thursday, Oct. 5.

UPDATES

• Happy Filipino American History Month! This month, we celebrate the stories and contributions Filipino Americans have made to our nation for centuries. Celebrate this month with NCAPA member the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) as they host their 20th anniversary gala and several events.

• The Trump Administration has extended the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders until Sept. 30, 2019. At this time, it does not appear that new staff nor new President’s Advisory Commissioners have been named.

NCAPA NEWS

NCAPA Condemns Latest Trump Muslim Ban

Read our statement and statements from our members in response to the latest version of the discriminatory Muslim ban.

Celebrating 10 Years of Asian American, Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions

Last week, the NCAPA education committee and partners hosted a Congressional briefing and highlighted stories on social media to celebrate 10 years of the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions program (AANAPISIs), a program that benefits students in 35 states and six Pacific Islands by providing grants to advance educational opportunity. Representative Judy Chu also sponsored a Congressional resolution celebrating the accomplishments and tenth anniversary of AANAPISIs. Highlights from the week can be seen on social media with the hashtag #AANAPISIWeek.

SEARAC and NAPAWF Applaud Representatives Jayapal and Smith for Introducing  "Dignity for Detained Immigrants" Act

Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) and Adam Smith (WA-9) introduced the "Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act," legislation that would repeal mandatory and indefinite detention, phase out private detention facilities and establish program alternatives to costly detention. The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) and National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) issued statements of support.

Supreme Court Case Could Help or Hinder Voter Suppression

AAJC, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund submitted an amicus brief to stop Ohio’s voter purge practice and to keep other states from following suit.

NCAPA Members Continue to Fight for Clean Dream Act

NCAPA and our members continue to push members of Congress for a clean DREAM Act.  Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC held a webinar about the termination of DACA and DACA renewal. NCAPA members and Asian American Dreamers also recently joined CAPAC leadership and House Democratic leaders to urge Congress to show compassion and quickly pass a clean DREAM Act.

More recent NCAPA member events:

• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum VOICES Convention

• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) Summit

• South Asian Americans Leading Together Congressional Briefing on Rising Hate Violence

• National CAPACD Convention

• NCAPA Education Committee webinar on the Native Hawaiian Education Act (NHEA) & Hawaiʻi State ESSA Plan.

 TAKE ACTION

Tell The Trump Administration: No Backdoor Muslim Ban

From AAJC: Submit individual comments on the Backdoor Muslim Ban.

Sign your organization up to endorse the 10/18 #NoMuslimBanEver mobilization!  See more information below.

Save Tule Lake

Tule Lake is where more than 24,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during
World War II. Modoc County, California, where Tule Lake is located, is planning to build a three-mile-long, eight-feet-high, barbed-wire fence that would cut off Japanese American access to the site upon which they and their families were incarcerated.

• Write a letter using this sample template to Modoc County to oppose the fence construction.

• Join JACL this Thursday, Oct. 5, between 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET to raise awareness to save Tule Lake using the hashtags #JACL4TuleLake #SaveTuleLake.

DACA Renewal Funds

The deadline to renew DACA is Oct. 5 for benefits that expire by March 5, 2018. Several funds have been set up to support renewal fees for undocumented immigrants.

• CASA DREAM Act Fund

Here are a few ways to protect immigrants and urge Congress to pass the DREAM Act:

• Call Congress

• Visit www.defenddaca.com to either locate a mobilization or organize one yourself.

• Educate your communities and spread the word on social media. Things you should know about DACA ending and more resources are available from United We Dream at weareheretostay.org.

Stop Repeating History

Reject the Shameful Legacy of Japanese American Incarceration and Call Upon the U.S. Supreme Court to Fulfill Its Role as Defender of the Constitution

Support Hurricane Relief

Click here for resources and ways to support AAPI communities affected by the recent hurricanes.

Add Your Name: Asian Americans Against White Supremacy

Sign the pledge from Asian Americans Advancing Justice to stand up for democracy and reject white supremacy.

Tell Congress: America Needs Our Immigrants

Sign the Asian Americans Advancing Justice petition to tell your member of Congress to oppose the RAISE Act, which would separate families and cut in half the number of green cards available each year.

Download the Immigrant Know Your Rights Smartphone App
NCAPA member NAKASEC 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

Health Coverage Rate Ticks Up for Some Asian-American Groups (Chris Fuchs, NBC Asian America)

Who are the Dreamers? White, Black and Asian DACA Youth Explain Why Immigration Reform Matters (John Haltiwanger, Newsweek)

Events

Oct. 5: AAJC American Courage Awards. D.C.

Oct. 12-14: SEARAC -  Moving Mountains: A Southeast Asian Equality Summit  

Oct. 21: NaFFAA 20th Anniversary Gala. D.C.

Oct. 27: OCA National Corporate Achievement Awards. D.C.

Nov. 2-5: NAPABA Convention. D.C.

 OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer with AALDEF for Election Protection

2017-2018 JACL Kakehashi Program

LEAP Emerging Leaders Program

The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is accepting submissions for CAAMFest May 2018. CAAMFest is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian and Asian American films.

SAALT: Community Partnerships Manager, Policy Associate

SALDEF: Deputy Executive Director

APIASF Scholarship & Programs Intern

Become an APIAVote Volunteer

NAKASEC: Communications Coordinator, National Immigrant Rights Campaign Coordinator, National Organizing & Policy Coordinator

APIAHF Digital Communications Specialist

NAPAWF: Chicago Organizer, NYC Senior Organizer, Georgia Senior Organizer, Finance and Operations Associate

National CAPACD: Director of Development and Communications, Business Operations Coordinator

NAPCA: Project Director – Senior Community Service Employment Program, Accounts Payable Accountant

SALDEF SikhLEAD Internship Program (Applications on a rolling basis. If interested, email resume and writing sample to [email protected].)

Golden Door DACA Scholarship

More Opportunities (including Hill positions)