Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance

10/29/2026

Starting October 30, Chinese nationals will no longer be able to use the Northern Mariana Islands’ visa-free travel program, EVS-TAP. It allowed approved visitors to stay for up to 14 days without a traditional visa.

DHS says it is suspending the program over national security and immigration concerns, including unauthorized travel to Guam and birth tourism. The suspension also applies to people who already have an approved travel authorization. Travelers already in the Northern Mariana Islands may complete their authorized stay.

This is a suspension of one specific program. It does not mean Chinese nationals are generally barred from visiting the United States. Security concerns should be addressed with clear rules and evidence, and people should be judged by their actions, not their nationality.

Read more:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-27/html/2026-21880.htm

https://www.aila.org/library/carrier-liaison-program-bulletin-suspension-of-the-cnmi-economic-vitality-and-security-travel-authorization-program

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372309/us-ends-pacific-visa-waiver-over-birth-tourism-people-smuggling-allegations

Programme designed to prop up the Northern Mariana Islands’ economy axed as Republicans campaign on immigration enforcement.

10/28/2026

On October 24, the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles held a remembrance ceremony marking 155 years since the 1871 massacre of Chinese residents in Los Angeles.

That night, a mob of about 500 people attacked a Chinese neighborhood. Eighteen people were killed, including a young boy. Homes and businesses were looted. Eight people were convicted, but their convictions were later overturned. No one was held accountable.

Many people still know little about this painful chapter of Chinese American history. Remembering it helps us understand the harm racism and anti-immigrant hostility can cause.

The 1871 massacre and today’s experiences are not the same. But Chinese Americans still face harassment and suspicion because of their ancestry or perceived ties to China. No one should be judged or targeted for either.

The victims deserve to be remembered. Chinese Americans today deserve dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law.

Read more:
https://civicmemory.la/report/1871/
https://1871memorial.org/

the 1871 memorial project is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization seeking funds to build and launch a permanent, world-class landmark to commemorate the massacre of 18 Chinese on October 24, 1871.

10/27/2026

The Pentagon has designated Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes at U.S. universities as national security threats. On October 23, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the department had dismantled 80 organizations operating under different names at 30 universities.

This follows Pentagon audits of university partnerships. The department says the audits led to more than 80 actions. But a Washington Post review found that some affected partnerships involved student exchanges or study-abroad programs. Some universities said they found no security risk.

Protecting sensitive research matters. So does looking at each partnership on its own facts. A connection to China alone does not show that a university, researcher, or student has done anything wrong.

Read more:
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/pentagon-designates-confucius-institutes-national-security-threat-2026-10-23/

https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4628392/department-of-war-announces-research-security-mitigation-results-from-academic/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/10/21/pentagon-pushed-colleges-cut-ties-with-china-some-pushed-back/

The US Defense Department has designated ​Chinese-funded cultural centers on university campuses known ‌as Confucius Institutes as a threat to US national security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said ​on Friday.

10/26/2026

The Justice Department says Ohio State University’s College of Medicine discriminated against Asian and white applicants in admissions for its 2023, 2024, and 2025 classes.

DOJ reported that Black applicants who completed screening and interviews were about 2.8 times as likely to be admitted as Asian applicants with comparable credentials. It also cited an admissions pathway that allowed some applicants to bypass the usual screening and interview process.

Ohio State disputes the findings and says it does not consider race in admissions. DOJ is seeking a voluntary agreement. These are the department’s findings, not a court ruling.

For applicants, clear and consistently applied admissions standards matter.

Read more:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-ohio-state-medical-school-discriminates-based-race-admissions
https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1467356/dl
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/ohio-state-university-disputes-doj-finding-that-medical-school-discriminates-2026-10-21/

Ohio State University said on Wednesday it disagreed with the US Department of Justice's findings that alleged its ​medical school favored Black and Hispanic applicants in admissions ‌and discriminated against white and Asian applicants.

10/22/2026

Today, CALDA submitted a public comment urging the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period for employment-based visa holders. CALDA also asks DHS to exclude H-1B workers or narrow the proposal.

The grace period gives eligible workers time to look for a new job, change status, or prepare to leave the country after losing their job. Without it, workers and their families could have to make major decisions with little time to plan. Employers could also lose skilled workers while trying to find replacements.

CALDA argues that the proposal is not required by immigration law and conflicts with the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, which allows eligible H-1B workers to change employers. CALDA also questions DHS’s claim that ending the grace period would reduce costs, saying the agency has not shown that the expected savings would justify the harm.

The proposal has not taken effect. People who lose a job through no fault of their own should have a fair chance to understand their options and plan their next steps.

Read CALDA’s comment:
https://caldausa.org/

10/19/2026

A new report from Stop AAPI Hate found that anti-immigrant hostility is showing up more often in reported incidents of anti-Asian hate.

The report reviewed 1,825 incidents reported between January 2023 and June 2026. Among those reports, the share involving anti-immigrant hostility rose from 42% in 2023 to 62% in the first half of 2026. Reports involving threats or physical harm also increased.
Some people described being asked to prove they were in the U.S. legally or threatened with a call to ICE. One Chinese woman in California said a stranger demanded to see her green card and accused her of being undocumented.

The report is based on incidents people chose to report, so it does not represent every experience nationwide. Still, it documents a troubling pattern: Asian Americans can be treated as outsiders regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

Immigration laws should be enforced, but a person’s appearance, language, or background is not evidence of their immigration status. Everyone deserves to live and take part in their community without being targeted because of who they are.

Read More:
https://stopaapihate.org/2026/10/14/license-to-hate/
https://stopaapihate.org/2026/10/14/im-going-to-call-ice-new-report-reveals-a-majority-of-anti-asian-hate-acts-include-anti-immigrant-hostility/

October 14, 202662% of anti-Asian hate acts reported to Stop AAPI Hate include anti-immigrant language mirroring Trump administration’s continued attacks on immigrants of color NATIONWIDE — The proportion of anti-Asian hate acts that include anti-immigrant hostility has increased dramatically in...

10/16/2026

Earlier this month, four higher education organizations sued the federal government over new guidance on Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT allows eligible F-1 students to take part in internships and other practical training connected to their studies.

The guidance says CPT should generally be required for all students in a degree program. The groups say this sharply changes a policy campuses have relied on for more than 35 years. Some universities have paused CPT approvals, and students have already lost planned internships.

The lawsuit asks the court to block the guidance while the case proceeds. The guidance remains in effect, and the court has not yet ruled. International students and universities need clear, stable rules and a fair chance to adjust when policies change.

More information:
https://www.aau.edu/resource-library/aau-files-lawsuit-challenging-changes-to-the-curricular-practical-training-cpt-program-for-international-students
https://www.nafsa.org/CPT-lawsuit-filed-press-statement
https://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/news/filing-lawsuit-challenging-ice-policy-changes-curricular-practical-training-cpt

Students seeking advising services can see our Student Services page, which includes virtual and in-person options. For J scholar and Employment-based services, please see our Contact Us page

10/13/2026

The Department of Labor has paused new and pending Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) applications from eight companies: Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Capgemini.
PERM is an important step in many employer-sponsored green card cases. For many foreign professionals, it is a path toward permanent residency and a more secure future in the United States.
The companies are being investigated over alleged program abuse. The allegations have not been proven. The pause does not automatically cancel employees’ existing visas or work authorization, but it could delay their green card cases and leave them uncertain about their future.
More information:
https://apnews.com/article/e7b3a407f822702b269ee277d21343ea
https://www.reuters.com/world/skilled-foreign-tech-workers-green-card-program-under-attack-trump-2026-10-08/

The US government said on Thursday it is suspending some major global tech and IT firms including Microsoft and Cognizant from a key green card program that allows skilled foreign workers to gain permanent residency through their employment.

10/12/2026

Federal officials are investigating the J-1 visa programs at nine universities: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, MIT, Caltech, UC Davis, Arizona State University, and the University of Pittsburgh. The Labor Department’s inspector general says subpoenas have been issued.
Officials are looking into possible visa fraud, improper financial ties, and whether universities used J-1 researchers to pay lower wages. These are allegations. The investigation is ongoing, and no findings of wrongdoing have been announced.
The universities say they follow visa laws. Stanford says it will cooperate with the investigation, and MIT says its J-1 researchers are vetted and authorized by the U.S. government.
The government should investigate credible evidence of fraud. But being Chinese or having another foreign background is not evidence of wrongdoing. International scholars contribute to research and teaching at U.S. universities, and they should not face suspicion based on their nationality.
Further reading:
https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/08/trump-administration-investigates-universities-j1-visa-fraud/
https://stanforddaily.com/2026/10/08/stanford-among-nine-universities-named-in-federal-j-1-visa-investigation/

The University said it complies with all applicable visa laws and will cooperate with the Department of Labor investigation.

10/09/2026

Since 1947, federal rules have allowed international students to gain practical training related to their studies. Now, DHS is proposing a $70,000 fee for each student’s initial OPT authorization and $30,000 for each later authorization, including a STEM OPT extension.
The fees would be charged to colleges, but students could still bear the cost through higher expenses or fewer OPT opportunities. Schools may be less willing to offer OPT opportunities, and employers could find it harder to hire international graduates.
DHS says the fees would help prevent fraud and protect U.S. workers. Colleges and business groups warn the costs could make it much harder for international students to begin their careers in the United States.
The proposal has not taken effect. Public comments are due by November 9, 2026.

Further reading:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/08/2026-20660/optional-practical-training-fees
https://apnews.com/article/opt-dhs-fee-international-students-enrollment-schools-0919dcbc5a61a589e01ec29041a2087e

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students who are seeking to work in the United States.