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.
On May 7-8, Jack Hsia, Vice Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee, attended the New York State Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Conference, including the New York State AAPI Commission’s Community Dialogue and the NYS Legislature’s AAPI Summit in Albany. Over two days, the two events brought together advocates, community leaders, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations to discuss issues impacting New York’s AAPI communities.
On the afternoon of May 7, at the New York State AAPI Commission’s Community Dialogue, speakers and attendees explored challenges and opportunities facing AAPI communities across the state. The discussions emphasized the importance of language access, sustained investment in community organizations, youth engagement, and coalition building. These panels underscored the importance of ensuring that diverse AAPI voices are represented in policymaking and community leadership.
Drawing from their work at CPC, Jack discussed the increasing number of community members relying on AI for immigration information and document translation. While AI can improve access to information, they emphasized that inaccurate legal guidance and unreliable translations can have serious consequences. Jack highlighted the continued need for trusted legal professionals, culturally competent services, and community-based organizations to provide accurate guidance. The discussion also addressed digital privacy, language access, and practical strategies for protecting sensitive information in an increasingly data-driven environment, and how the immigration landscape has rapidly changed over the past few years.
The conference reinforced the importance of collaboration among legal advocates, community organizations, and government partners to address the evolving challenges facing AAPI communities. Jack was honored to represent both AABANY and CPC and appreciated the opportunity to contribute to these important conversations while learning from likeminded advocates committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and justice across New York.
To learn more about AABANY’s Issues Committee, click here.
Written by Jack Hsia, Vice Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee, Senior Attorney for Community Legal Services at the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC).
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, AABANY members attended the 2025 Immigration Justice Conference, a full-day convening dedicated to strengthening legal and community responses to immigration enforcement. The conference was held at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center in Washington Heights and organized by a coalition of immigrant justice organizations alongside the Dominican Bar Association.
This year’s conference offered two parallel tracks:
(1) an Attorney Training Track focused on federal habeas corpus litigation, and
(2) a Community & Advocacy Track designed for nonprofits, CBOs, unions, and service providers preparing for rapid-response coordination.
AABANY members participated in the attorney track, which provided in-depth instruction on filing and litigating federal habeas petitions on behalf of non-citizens in immigration custody. Trainers included former Department of Justice officials, offering practitioners firsthand insight into federal court practice, litigation strategy, and recent developments in habeas jurisprudence.
From left to right: Conference organizers Yesenia Mata (Executive Director, La Colmena) and David Satnarine with Vishal Chander (AABANY Board Member and Issues Committee Co-Chair).From left to right: AABANY members Jack Hsia (Staff Attorney, Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.) and Vishal Chander (The Chander Law Firm, PC).
Strengthening Immigrant Defense Through Collaboration
The Immigration Justice Conference emphasized collaborative preparedness across legal and community sectors during a time of evolving federal immigration enforcement. AABANY extends its thanks to the organizers—including La Colmena, Afrikana, Mixteca, and partner organizations—for hosting this vital training and for their continued leadership in expanding access to justice for immigrant communities.
For more information about future trainings, the organizing committee can be reached at [email protected].
—Written by Vishal Chander, AABANY Board Member and Issues Committee Co-Chair
