NAPABA Files Amicus Brief Supporting the First Legal Challenge to President’s Revised Muslim and Refugee Ban

For Immediate Release

March 13, 2017

For More Information, Contact: 

Brett Schuster, Communications Manager

[email protected], 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) filed an amicus brief in State of Hawaii v. Trump to support Hawaii’s challenge to President Trump’s March 6, 2017, revised executive order barring individuals from six Muslim-majority countries and refugees from entering the United States.

Filing just before midnight on March 7, Hawaii became the first state to challenge the revised order and the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii agreed to hear the case on an expedited schedule. Judge Derrick K. Watson will hear oral argument on the State’s motion for a temporary restraining order on March 15, the day before the revised order is to take effect.

“I look no further than NAPABA’s mission to underscore the imperative for NAPABA to file its own amicus brief on this very issue. The new executive order is no less invidious than its predecessor,” said NAPABA President Cyndie M. Chang. “Asian Pacific American communities historically have been excluded and restricted in immigration and naturalization policies and have experienced the tragedy of forced incarceration during WWII. We understand first-hand the harms that this kind of discrimination will inflict upon Muslim and refugee communities. We will not forget this particular anti-immigrant history, and we are compelled to share our historically-based legal perspectives with the Court.”

NAPABA’s amicus brief describes decades of statutory exclusion of citizens of Asian and Pacific Island countries under early U.S. immigration law, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 — the first federal law to ban a group of people on the basis of their race. The Civil Rights Era marked a dramatic turning point that saw Congress dismantle nationality-based discrimination with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The brief explains that presidential discretion in the area of immigration and refugee admission, while broad, is limited by statute. NAPABA argues that President Trump’s revised order, motivated by anti-Muslim purpose, violates the unambiguous prohibition on discrimination established by Congress.

“I thank the many members of the NAPABA legal community who supported NAPABA’s drafting and filing of this expedited brief,” continued Chang. “Particular thanks goes to our pro bono counsel at McDermott Will & Emery LLP and pro bono local counsel at Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing for their leadership on this important brief.“

NAPABA recognizes lead counsel, James W. Kim, a NAPABA member and partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP, in Washington, D.C., Mr. Kim’s team (Mark Calaguas, David Gacioch, Andrew Genz, Matthew Girgenti, Emre Ilter, Neha Khandhadia, Philip Levine, Riley Orloff, Sara Raaii, Joshua Rogaczewski, Amandeep Sidhu, and Michael Stanek), and NAPABA Amicus Committee chair, Professor Radha Pathak of Whittier Law School, for their leadership drafting the brief, which also involved the efforts of NAPABA staffers. NAPABA is represented by local counsel Pamela W. Bunn and John Rhee, with the support of William Kaneko, of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Read the amicus brief here.

Read the March 6, 2017, statement of NAPABA and the South Asian Bar Association – North America, joined by 14 affiliates, against the revised executive order.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at202-775-9555 or [email protected].

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of almost 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

AFFILIATE GRANT PROGRAM

The NAPABA Affiliate Grant Program provides support to affiliates and national associates for projects related to membership development and pro bono activities.

Deadline | March 31, 2017

For more information about the application schedule and to apply visit the program page here.

Pro Bono General Counsel Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Pro Bono General Counsel Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Pro Bono General Counsel Program – APPLY TODAY!

This program seeks to
provide organizations serving the Asian Pacific American (APA) community
with access to high ­quality, pro bono legal advice and counsel that
they cannot afford. The program is intended to help APA­-serving
organizations promote good governance practices and comply with relevant
laws and regulations. Attorneys will have the opportunity to work with
organizations engaged in a broad range of activities to better the lives
of the APA community through policy advocacy, leadership development,
capacity building, and research.

Interested organizations and volunteer attorneys should complete the designated application forms. Applications will be submitted to the database, and organizations will be provided an opportunity to interview and hire a volunteer attorney.

Questions? Contact AuriaJoy Asaria at [email protected].

Learn more about the program and apply here.

Manhattan Family Justice Center Core Training

Please see below a bulletin from Sarah Flatto, Director, Programs & Outreach, NYC Family Justice Center, Manhattan
80 Centre St. 5th Floor New York, NY 10013
Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence
o. 212 602-2857 | c. 646 280 8015
[email protected] |
www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence

The Manhattan Family Justice Center is happy to announce our next round of
core trainings. Our training program provides professional
development for service providers, community leaders, and city agencies
on relevant topics regarding intimate partner violence, sex trafficking,
and elder abuse.

Please feel free to share widely.  All trainings are free and located at the MFJC: 80 Centre Street, 5th Floor Training Room.

REGISTER NOW!

Domestic Violence Dialogue
Facilitated by FJC Admin Staff, Monday, 1/11 10am-1pm

Risk Assessment & Safety Planning
Facilitated by Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence Staff, Tuesday, 1/12 10am-1pm

Cultural Conversations
Facilitated by FJC Admin Staff, Wednesday, 1/13 1pm-4pm

Criminal Justice Responses to DV
Facilitated by Manhattan DA’s Office & NYPD, Thursday, 1/14 10am-1 pm

Economic Empowerment
Facilitated by FJC Admin Staff, Friday, 1/15 10am-1pm

Immigrant Eligibility for Public Benefits
Facilitated by FJC Admin Staff, Friday, 1/15 1pm–4pm

Elder Abuse
Facilitated by JASA,Tuesday, 1/19 11am-1pm

Commercial Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking
Facilitated by GEMS, Tuesday, 1/19 2pm-5pm

Immigration Law
Facilitated by NY Legal Assistance Group & Sanctuary for Families, Wednesday, 10/20 10am-1pm

Family & Matrimonial Law
Facilitated by Urban Justice Center, Thursday, 1/21 11am-2pm

Housing & Shelter Options for Survivors
Facilitated by New Destiny Housing, Friday, 1/22 10am-1pm

Upcoming Pro Bono Opportunities with AABANY

AABANY SCRIE/DRIE CLINIC: Dec. 2

Assist elderly and disabled tenants complete applications for Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE).  These programs offer a lifeline to vulnerable populations who risk losing housing.  Volunteers will receive training before assisting applicants.  Bar admission and language skills are not required.  To participate, please click here to register.

When: December 2 at 2:00PM
Where: Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (62 Mott St. 2nd Floor, NY, NY 10013)


AABANY Housing Part Petition Clinic: Dec. 16

Assist tenants suffering from lack of heat or other emergency conditions draft pro se petitions against landlords for housing repairs.  Volunteers will receive a brief training before assisting tenants.  Bar admission and language skills not required.  To participate, please click here to register.

When: December 16, 2015 at 6:00PM
Where: Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, 2nd Fl. (62 Mott St. 2nd Floor, NY, NY 10013)


Queens Legal Services (QLS) Housing Part Petition Clinic

Assist tenants suffering from lack of heat or other emergency conditions draft pro se petitions against landlords for housing repairs.  Clinics will take place on the 4th Wednesday of every other month from 6:00PM – 8:30PM.  Bar admission not required.  Language skills not required, however the ability to speak Spanish or other languages may be useful.  To participate, contact Heejung Kook ([email protected]).

2015 Dates: October 28; December (TBD)

2016 Dates: February 24; April 27; June 29; August 24

Where: Central Astoria (2569 38th St., Ground Fl., Astoria, NY 11103)

Press Release: NAPABA Selects Five Affiliates as Recipients of Its New Affiliate Grant Program

For Immediate Release
Nov. 2, 2015                    

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) will present five affiliates with grants as part of its new Affiliate Grant Program (AGP). NAPABA recognizes the importance of its state and local affiliates and its national associates as a support network for Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, APA communities, and those interested in APA legal issues. The NAPABA AGP was established to support affiliates and associates to carry out activities to further their missions and goals. The program offers the opportunity for organizations to receive funding – up to $3,000 annually – for projects related to member development and pro bono activities.

Eligible projects include: educational workshops; community outreach; legal service projects; professional educational seminars; and activities that involve advocating for the interests of APA lawyers, the legal profession, and APA communities. Grants are distributed based upon the capacity of the projects to benefit the state or local affiliate, the national associate, or the community.

“The Affiliate Grant Program was conceived as a way to enable affiliates to directly impact their local APA communities on a micro-level,” said NAPABA President George C. Chen. “NAPABA is proud to support our state and local affiliates and our national associates in their efforts to make their communities a better place. Our affiliates and associates have supported NAPABA for many years, and we are pleased to be able to return the support through this new Affiliate Grant Program.”

The five affiliates receiving AGP grants are:

  • Free Legal ClinicsSouth Asian Bar Association of Washington (SABA-WA)
    The program will offer free legal clinics to the South Asian community within the Pacific Northwest on a quarterly basis at a local recreation center.
  • Citizenship WorkshopAsian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida (APABA-SFLA)
    APABA-SFLA will hold a free legal clinic to assist individuals in the APA community with their U.S. citizenship applications and fee waivers, with APABA-SFLA members and volunteer attorneys assisting individuals at any stage of the application process.
  • Judicial Pipeline ProjectAsian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles (APABA-LA)
    APABA-LA will identify potential APA judicial candidates for the state and federal bench, assist and advise these candidates in the application and vetting process (including establishing a formal mentorship program between current APA judges and interested judicial candidates), and cultivate relationships with the Governor’s office and others to help facilitate the appointment of APAs to the bench. This formal pipeline project is the first of its kind organized by APABA-LA.
  • Legal SeminarKorean American Bar Association of Washington (KABA-WA)
    The legal seminar will provide Korean foreign nationals and Korean Americans with foundational information about the American legal system. This seminar will raise the collective legal awareness of Washington’s large Korean American community while also helping to prevent common mistakes and avoidable legal problems.
  • Solo Practice Incubator Program Orange County Korean American Bar Association (OC-KABA)
    The OC-KABA Incubator Program’s goal is to mentor and aid attorneys looking to build their own solo practice by giving them hands-on experience through OC-KABA’s pro bono clinics and training sessions. The program will focus on providing resources specifically targeted to the Korean American community with free legal aid and lower-cost legal advice.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at202-775-9555 or [email protected].


The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).