A new AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll finds that most Asian American and Pacific Islander adults have experienced or witnessed some degree of upheaval because of the Trump administration’s heightened immigration policies. A majority also say the U.S. used to be a great country for immigrants, but is not anymore. The findings come after more than a year of immigration crackdowns. The poll indicates that the Trump administration's aggressive approach may be changing the way some see the U.S. itself. At the same time, AAPI adults are more likely than Americans overall to see the mixing of culture and values from around the world as central to the country’s identity.
Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang has pleaded guilty to being an illegal agent of the Chinese government. The news filled the unassuming suburban city outside of Los Angeles with anger, disappointment, and murmurs of quiet concern. Fears about spies and Chinese Communist Party influence abounded on social media. Arcadia’s population of about 53,000 is majority Asian, like many other cities in the region. Some residents worry Wang's indictment could bring unfair scrutiny on the broader Chinese and Asian American community. Acting Mayor Paul Cheng called the news a “slap in the face.”
Stop AAPI Hate is an organization that rose to national prominence for its meticulous reports on anti-Asian hate incidents at the height of the pandemic. The organization has announced Thursday it is launching a nonprofit called Stop AAPI Hate Action. It's a political and advocacy arm dedicated to getting more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders registered to vote and mobilize current voters. Over the past six years, the organization has elevated conversations about racism, discrimination and allyship. The voter initiative was sparked in part in response to actions from President Donald Trump’s administration.