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As we gather with family, friends, and community this Thanksgiving, we extend our gratitude to everyone who continues to stand with us in the fight for civil rights.

We are thankful for our dedicated supporters, our coalition partners, our community members, and our staff who work tirelessly every day to build a more just and equitable future.


** Follow Advancing Justice – AAJC on social media!
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In the Media

Revocation of Chinese students' visas reignites fear of being othered ([link removed])

The State of Connectivity Within the AANHPI Community ([link removed])

DOJ sued over cuts to grants for fighting hate crimes ([link removed])

Expert: Immigrants Used as ‘Poker Chips’ in Birthright Case ([link removed])

Anti-Asian hate crimes in 2024 second-highest on record ([link removed])


** Advocacy
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Advancing Justice – AAJC Testifies Before Congress on Census Accuracy

Advancing Justice – AAJC’s President and Executive Director John C. Yang submitted written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government during its hearing, “Enumeration or Estimation: Why Inaccurate Census Results Hurt American Citizens.”
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Watch John’s full testimony ([link removed]) at the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. Learn why an accurate census matter for every one of us.

In his statement ([link removed]) , he emphasized:

“A census every ten years is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and, when there is an accurate count, serves as a foundation for a functioning government and our democracy.”

His testimony highlighted the profound impact of census accuracy on political representation, federal funding, civil rights enforcement, and language access programs that serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Advancing Justice – AAJC continues to advocate for a fair, accurate, and equitable census. Watch the full video and testimony above.


** Advancing Justice – AAJC Urges Supreme Court
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** to Uphold Voting Protections for Communities of Color
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On October 15, civil rights groups, including Advancing Justice – AAJC, rallied at the steps of the Supreme Court as arguments began for Louisiana v. Callais. The outcome of the case will decide the rights of Black Louisianans to have meaningful civic representation, and to be protected from discriminatory redistricting. However, the implications of the anticipated decision will affect communities of color nationwide. The gathered coalition of civil rights organizations represented the diversity of voters: communities of color, women, and religions.

John C. Yang, Executive Director of Advancing Justice – AAJC, address attendees on behalf of Asian American voters. Watch John’s remarks above and catch the full video here ([link removed]) .


** Giving Tuesday
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December 2, 2025, is Giving Tuesday, we invite you to stand with us by supporting our mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans.

Your contribution helps us:
* Protect voting rights
* Advance immigrant justice
* Fight discrimination
* Strengthen our democracy

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Donate Now ([link removed])


** Litigation
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** Litigation Update: A Victory for Voting Rights as Court Strikes Down Key Part of Trump’s Unlawful Voting Executive Order ([link removed])
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On October 31, 2025, a federal court permanently struck down a key provision of President Trump’s March voting executive order that attempted to impose a burdensome “show-your-papers” requirement on individuals registering to vote using the federal voter registration form.

The court found that the President lacked the authority to unilaterally change federal election procedures, authority that the Constitution clearly reserves for Congress and the states. This ruling makes permanent the preliminary injunction issued in April.

A coalition of civil rights organizations ([link removed]) , including Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and others, brought the case.


Advancing Justice – AAJC continues to lead and partner in critical litigation to protect the civil rights of our communities. From stopping unlawful immigrant deportations to protecting voting rights, education access, and communities against hate, we are in court challenging discriminatory policies that threaten the well-being and inclusion of Asian Americans and all marginalized groups.

Lawsuit says U.S. Deported Migrants to Ghana to Sidestep Restrictions ([link removed])

Civil Rights Groups Respond to Court’s Decision Allowing Refoulement of West African Immigrants ([link removed])

Here’s a snapshot of our current open cases:
* Challenge to Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship ([link removed])
* Challenge to Anti-Diversity Executive Order ([link removed])
* Challenge to Anti-Voting Executive Order ([link removed])
* Challenge to Cancellation of Naturalization Grants by DHS ([link removed])
* Challenge to Cancellation of Anti-Hate Grants by DOJ ([link removed])


** Milestones Toward a More Equitable Democracy
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This year marks two major anniversaries in the pursuit of voting rights:
* 60 years since the passage of the Voting Rights Act (VRA)
* 50 years of Section 203, the VRA provision that protects language access in voting for Asian American and other language minority communities

While the VRA as a whole protects voters from racial discrimination, Section 203 specifically recognizes that language barriers can be just as disenfranchising. It requires certain jurisdictions to provide bilingual voting materials and language assistance at polling places for communities with limited English proficiency.


** Civil Rights Attorneys Warn of
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** Escalating Threats to Democracy
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Advancing Justice – AAJC joined fellow members of the Voting Rights Working Group for a virtual press briefing to reflect on the law’s legacy and the intensifying efforts to undermine its protections.

Attorneys representing the nation’s leading civil rights and voting rights organizations warned that the freedom to vote remains under coordinated and escalating attack, particularly for communities of color. The event underscored the urgent need for federal and state-level reforms, litigation, and community mobilization to protect and expand access to the ballot.

Watch the full panel discussion ([link removed]) here.

Read: Civil Rights Attorneys Warn of Ongoing Threats to Voting Rights on 60th Anniversary of VRA ()

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** What You Can Do:
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* Support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
* Demand Congress act now to restore and strengthen the VRA.
* Stay Informed: Visit our Know Your Rights – Voting () page for tools and resources to protect your vote.
* Donate to Defend Democracy: Your support allows us to continue our legal and advocacy work to safeguard voting rights for AAPI and all communities. Click here to donate today. ([link removed])


** Defending Public Education for All Children
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There have been renewed threats to strip undocumented children of their right to access K-12 public education a move that would devastate families and harm more than 136,000 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students currently enrolled in public schools.

We’re working to protect the civil and human rights of all students and families.
Here’s what you need to know and how to take action. Click below to get the full impact.
Education Access Fact Sheet ([link removed])

Education access doesn’t end at high school. 70% of Asian American undergraduate students rely on federal financial aid to pursue higher education. It’s a lifeline and a critical tool for achieving upward mobility and economic justice in our communities.

We've created a fact sheet showing just how essential this resource is for Asian American students. Dive deeper into the topic. Click below.
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We’ve just released translated versions of our Education Access and Education Funding fact sheets in six Asian languages! Education should be accessible and equitable for everyone.

These resources are now available in:
Arabic (عربي), Chinese (中文), Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ), Hindi (हिन्दी), Korean (한국어) and Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt).
Education Funding Fact Sheet ([link removed] )


** Meet Our New Team Members
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** Sofia Costas (she/her)
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Assistant Director, Strategic Communications

We are thrilled to welcome Sofia Costas as our new Assistant Director for Strategic Communications at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. Sofia brings nearly a decade of experience leading high-impact communications campaigns across the civil rights and advocacy landscape.

In this role, Sofia focuses on messaging, media strategy, and narrative development to advance civil rights, expand access to democracy, and elevate the voices of Asian American communities nationwide.

Before joining Advancing Justice – AAJC, she served as Senior Manager for Strategic Communications at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, where she led major national campaigns, rapid-response communications, and coordinated messaging across a coalition of more than 200 organizations.

Sofia previously worked at GQR Research, supporting political and public interest campaigns with public opinion research and message development. She also has extensive experience in culturally responsive communications for multilingual audiences.

She holds a master’s degree in media and strategic communications from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

Ellie Peltz

Immigration Manager


Elie Peltz is the Manager for Immigration Advocacy at Advancing Justice – AAJC. Elie has previously worked on a range of immigration, humanitarian, and civil rights issues in both governmental and non-profit capacities. Before joining Advancing Justice – AAJC, Elie served as an attorney-advisor at FEMA. During the Biden Administration, he worked at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on various humanitarian immigration programs, including DACA, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and refugee issues. Elie has also previously served as a staffer for Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) and as a program assistant at the Kettering Foundation. During law school, he supported immigration advocacy and legal representation efforts at the Legal Aid Society, Catholic Migration Services, and the Model International Mobility Convention Project. Elie received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.


** Meet our Fall 2025 Interns
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We are excited to welcome our newest interns to the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC team!

This talented group of students and young professionals will be supporting our mission to advance civil and human rights for Asian Americans and build a fairer, more just society. Throughout their time with us, they’ll gain hands-on experience in advocacy, communications, policy, and community engagement while bringing fresh perspectives and energy to our work.

We’re thrilled to have them on board stay tuned to see the impact they’ll make!


** In Case You Missed It…
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* Perspective: The effort to end birthright citizenship is an attempt to redefine who is American; OpEd authored by John C. Yang for Khabar Magazine ([link removed]) (Khabar Magazine)
* Letter to the Editor: Attacks on Birthright Citizenship Part of an Effort To Redefine Who Gets To Be American, from John C. Yang for The Hill ([link removed]) (The Hill)
* Fair Elections — and Perhaps Control of Congress — at Stake as SCOTUS Hears Challenge to VRA - Democracy Docket ([link removed]) (Democracy Docket)
* Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Voting Protections for Communities of Color - Impulso News ([link removed]) (Impulso News)
* Protesters Rally Outside Supreme Court as Justices Hear Louisiana Redistricting Case ([link removed]) (Yahoo News)

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