AABANY Attends CPC’s Brooklyn Harvest Moon Benefit

On October 15, 2026, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) attended the Chinese-American Planning Council’s (CPC) Harvest Moon Benefit in Brooklyn. The event brought together community leaders, advocates, and local organizations to celebrate CPC’s ongoing commitment to supporting Asian American, immigrant, and low-income communities across New York City.

Representing AABANY at the benefit were regular Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic volunteers Kwok Kei Ng, May Wong, Francis Chin, Victoria Cheng, and Jameson Xu. We were also joined by CPC attorney Jack Hsia, who also volunteers at our clinics, and Sam Chen.

In addition to celebrating CPC’s achievements, AABANY connected with local leaders and raised awareness about legal support services available to underserved residents.

AABANY values its strong relationship with CPC and remains dedicated to collaborating on initiatives that empower community members, protect immigrant rights, and expand access to justice throughout the city.

To learn more about CPC’s programs and services, visit https://www.cpc-nyc.org/.
For information on upcoming clinics, visit PBCS’ website at probono.aabany.org.

The next Brooklyn clinic will be held on November 14, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. To volunteer, click here to register!

– Written by Kwok Ng, Co-Chair of Pro Bono & Community Service Committee

AABANY Partners with Committee of 100 at Immigrant Rights Fair at Glow Cultural Center in Downtown Flushing

On Saturday, August 24th, the Committee of 100, Documented, and Glow Cultural Center hosted an Immigrant Rights Fair at the Glow Cultural Center in Flushing, Queens. AABANY joined the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Community Legal Aid Center Inc., the Asian American Attorneys Association, and the Chinese-American Planning Council in providing valuable resources to attendees. Representing AABANY were Lina Lee, Pro Bono & Community Service Committee Co-Chair, Jessie Liu, Co-Chair of the Immigration Law Committee, Daphne Mei, Program Manager, Anti-Asian Violence Task Force, and Yang Chen, Executive Director.

AABANY offered free legal resources, including information about pro bono legal services, the “Getting Help for Anti-Asian Attacks and Incidents through HEART” brochure, information about our Pro Bono Clinics, including the one held bimonthly in Queens at Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) offices in Flushing, and details about our Legal Referral and Information Services (LRIS).

The event featured a “Report for Support” session, introducing the AAPI Hate Tracker to help attendees report incidents and connect with support organizations. It concluded with an “Immigrant Rights Tea & Talk” discussion on the “public charge” policy and its impact on immigration status when applying for government benefits.

We thank Cindy Tsai, Interim President of the Committee of 100, and Faye Qiu, Community Outreach Coordinator, for organizing this impactful event, which provided vital resources to the primarily elderly Chinese community in Queens. We also extend our gratitude to Councilwoman Sandra Ung for her participation and insightful speech, further advocating for immigrant rights.

Asian American Law Journal – Call for Submissions

The Asian American Law Journal at Berkeley Law is now accepting submissions for its 2023-2024 volume!

The Asian American Law Journal at Berkeley Law invites AABANY members to submit an article, essay, book review, transcript of a previous lecture, or other contribution on civil rights, immigrant rights, or any other area of their interest relating to Asian Americans and the law.

What is the Asian American Law Journal (AALJ)? AALJ is one of only two law journals in the United States focused on Asian American communities. Since 1993, we have provided a scholarly forum for the exploration of unique legal concerns of Asian Americans, including but not limited to the East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Each annual volume typically contains articles, book reviews, essays, and other contributions from scholars, practitioners, and students.

What topics and issues does AALJ feature? We welcome commentary, analysis, and research on the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, particularly at the intersections of gender, class, sexual orientation, religion, and race. For example, our recent publications have explored the effects of racial stereotypes on Asian American women, reparations for Asian Americans in California, and the impact of Supreme Court decisions on citizenship. We especially welcome scholarship on timely issues such as critical race theory, recent judicial opinions impacting Asian American communities, and Asian Americans’ roles in advocating for racial justice and BIPOC solidarity.

Is there a specific format or word limit? We recognize that the format of traditional law review articles may limit the ability to capture the ways in which the law intersects with lived experience beyond legal doctrine and formal analysis. Therefore, in addition to academic articles, we also welcome essays and other written formats that explore the unique legal concerns of Asian American communities. Consider our archives for references. (Recently, we have enjoyed Professor Carlos Hiraldo’s Arroz Frito with Salsa: Asian Latinos and the Future of the United States, Professor Mari Matsuda’s Planet Asian America, and Professor Robert Chang’s article, AALJ’s inaugural piece, Toward an Asian American Legal Scholarship.)

Is there a deadline? Yes, all submissions are due on Monday, August 21th, 2023, though we make publication offers on a rolling basis. Please send your submissions via email to [email protected] or through Scholastica.

What does the publication process look like? Over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year, our journal team will work with you to provide substantive feedback, in addition to cite-checking and formatting your article.

What if I have more questions? Please send us an email! We would love to connect.

I don’t have anything to submit, but I know someone who might. What can I do? For those in the position to do so, we would appreciate you forwarding this note to your departments, teams, and friends or colleagues who may be interested in publishing with AALJ.

Thank you for your time, and we look forward to working with you!

Natasha Suterwala and Eva Gu
Submissions Editors
Asian American Law Journal
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

The Courtroom: Performance of an Immigration Proceeding, Dec. 9

The Waterwell Theater Company is presenting “The Courtroom” at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union, on Monday, December 9, 2019, at 7:00pm.

The play/performance is about the deportation proceeding of an immigrant from the Philippines who was married to a U.S. Citizen and came to this country on a K3 Visa. After inadvertently registering to vote at the DMV in Bloomington, IL, receiving a voter registration card in the mail, and voting, her removal proceedings were set in motion. It began in Immigration Court and her case was eventually heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. The Courtroom is performed entirely verbatim from court transcripts.

Waterwell is presenting monthly performances of The Courtroom at civic venues around New York City, as part of an ongoing exploration of belonging, immigration, and what it means to be a U.S. Citizen today.

See the flyer below for more details.

The Courtroom: A Re-enactment of Deportation Proceedings

We are sharing this announcement from Bridgette Ahn, former President of KALAGNY and the Network of Bar Leaders:

You are invited to a play/performance re-created from court transcripts of a deportation proceedings.

In 2004, an immigrant from the Philippines who was married to a U.S. Citizen came to this country on a K3 Visa. After inadvertently registering to vote at the DMV in Bloomington, IL, receiving a voter registration card in the mail, and voting, her removal proceedings were set in motion. It began in Immigration Court and her case was eventually heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. The Courtroom is performed entirely verbatim from court transcripts.

Waterwell is presenting monthly performances of The Courtroom at civic venues around New York City, as part of an ongoing exploration of belonging, immigration, and what it means to be a U.S. Citizen today.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
** Use code WWFAM for $20 Tickets **

Thursday, October 24 at 7:00pm at Judson Memorial Church (55 Washington Square South)Tickets here.

Thursday, November 21 at 7:00pm at West Park Presbyterian Church (86th + Amsterdam)Tickets here.

Congratulations to Glenn Magpantay on Receiving the Brooklyn Law School Faculty Award for Excellence in Public Service

Glenn Magpantay received the Brooklyn Law School Faculty Award for Excellence in Public Service

On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, Glenn Magpantay, the Executive Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), was honored at Brooklyn Law School’s Public Service Awards Ceremony.

Glenn Manpantay (left) and AABANY GSPI Committee Co-Chair Kevin Hsi (right) at the Public Service Awards Ceremony

Glenn Manpantay, a former AABANY Board member and a current co-chair of the LGBT Committee, was presented with Brooklyn Law School’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Public Service, in recognition of his incredible devotion to educating and fighting for LGBT equality, racial justice and immigrant rights.

Please join AABANY in congratulating Glenn Manpantay for this well-deserved award and honor.

We thank Kevin Hsi for providing the photos for this blog post.

From MinKwon: Immigrants’ Day of Action

Immigrants’ Day of Action

Join MinKwon and New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform to raise the voice of immigrants in New York City!

Date & Time: April 10, 12 p.m.
Place: Foley Square

On April 10th, we will stand united to call on lawmakers to enact policies that advance immigrant rights and services! We will start off the day with the New York Immigration Coalition and participate in legislative meetings with City Council Members to push City legislative and budget priorities. Then we will join New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform for a rally at Foley Square to demand Congress pass federal legislation to fix our broken immigration system. Join us to call for a just and fair America for all!
 
Mark your calendars!  RSVP with Jorim Rhee at [email protected] or 718-460-5600.

From NYIC: IMMIGRANTS’ DAY OF ACTION

                                   

*SAVE THE DATE*

IMMIGRANTS’ DAY OF ACTION 

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

April 10th is an historic day for our movement.  This year, we will be joining groups around the country for a nationwide mobilization demonstrating the power of our movement and calling on lawmakers at the city, state and federal level to enact policies that promote immigrant rights.  Please join the New York Immigration Coalition and New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform together with our allies across New York City for a rally to demand fairness and equality for immigrants in New York and across the country.

We hope you can also join the New York Immigration Coalition in the morning for legislative meetings with our City Council and our new Mayoral Administration to push the NYIC’s City Policy & Budget Priorities, which, if enacted, would strengthen New York City as a national leader on immigrant rights. 

Join us and help raise the voice of immigrants in New York City!

To RSVP click here

A New Film & Theater Performance By Undocumented Asian Youth

May 20, 7:30-9 | The Culture Project, 45 Bleecker Street

#UndocuAsians brings the lived experiences of people most intimately affected by immigration laws to The Culture Project’s stage. This rare theater performance features undocumented Asian American youth sharing their personal stories of growing up in the United States in a culture of silence. 

The performance opens with a short film following the lives of three undocumented Asian American youth and features an onstage performance by more than a dozen other undocumented youth (members of AALDEF’s undocumented youth group RAISE) whose stories bring a different face to the immigration debate and highlight the diverse and difficult realities that undocumented Asian communities face beyond the conventional “DREAMer” narrative. Poet/activist Kelly Tsai will be a special presenter.

Purchase tickets: undocuasian.eventbrite.com
(student discount available)

#UndocuAsians is presented by RAISE (Revolutionizing Asian American Immigrant Stories on the East Coast). RAISE is a pan-Asian undocumented youth-led group on the East Coast supported by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). RAISE aims to create safe spaces in our communities while advocating for humane immigration policies. Our visibility increases through political activism, leadership development, community education, and coalition building. Through youth organizing, we will reimagine and realize justice for immigrants in America.

Can’t make it? You can still support RAISE by clicking here to make a donation!