What is the SAVE Act?
House Republicans have signaled they are prioritizing H.R. 22, the‘‘Safeguard American 3 Voter Eligibility Act, (“SAVE Act”), a dangerous voter suppression bill. This measure could be debated on the House floor as early as the week of February 24th. The SAVE Act would force voters to provide proof of citizenship just to register to vote, as well as threaten election officials with prosecution if they mistakenly register someone without the right paperwork. Noncitizen voting is already illegal, and lawmakers pushing this bill know it. But instead of addressing real election issues, some Members of Congress are fueling a false narrative that noncitizens are voting in large numbers to justify new barriers that disproportionately impact eligible voters — especially in communities like the AAPI community. The SAVE Act does not prevent illegal voting it manufactures fear and restricts access to the ballot.
Updates on Birthright Citizenship
Three federal judges have now blocked President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship, which seeks to disregard the constitution and narrow who gets to be considered a US citizen. If upheld, the order would create widespread chaos, forcing hospitals and government agencies at all levels into bureaucratic gridlock and uncertainty. It could also leave some newborns stateless and deter parents from seeking medical care out of fear of deportation. Even for babies who qualify as citizens, delays in confirming their status could prevent them from accessing essential services like Medicaid.
For those in the AAPI community, this is particularly alarming and draws historical comparisons going back to the 1800s, when Chinese immigrants faced exclusion laws under the Chinese Exclusion Act, as well as being denied citizenship and legal protections for those in the country. Wong Kim Ark was a young poor cook when the U.S. government challenged his citizenship under the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. This law had not only barred Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States but also rendered Chinese immigrants already in the country ineligible for citizenship. It was the landmark United States v. Wong Kim Ark of 1898 that finally gave rights of citizenship for children born in the United States to Chinese immigrant parents under the 14th Amendment.
If this executive order is upheld, it would be a blatant violation of the constitution and put lives at-risk, including tens of thousands Asians and Pacific Islanders.
Halting Funding
At the the end of January, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) created havoc when its acting Director issued a memo directing federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.” Even though the administration tried to pull back the memo, the attempt to withhold funds that have been legally obligated received swift push back in the courts. Last week, the Senate confirmed Russ Vought as the new Director of the OMB, which we have already witnessed is a key White House office that helps shape federal spending, policies, and regulations. Vought, who has described himself as a Christian nationalist, was also a key architect of Project 2025 — a policy initiative to expand executive power and overhaul the federal government. His appointment comes as nearly two-thirds of Trump’s executive orders align with Project 2025’s proposals, despite having previously distanced himself from the plan. Already, ideas from Project 2025 are becoming reality, such as mass layoffs of government employees, shutting down agencies like USAID, and challenges to civil rights protections. Furthermore, jeopardizing election security, many essential employees at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been placed on administrative leave. Now, with Vought leading the OMB, he is in a powerful and influential position to push this agenda even further.
Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision to freeze the disbursement of federal financial assistance for hardworking Americans: “President Trump’s attempt to suspend federal financial assistance is appalling. At a time when many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, the Trump Administration is raising costs and undermining vital programs that all Americans, including Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), depend on. Programs that provide nutrition for pregnant mothers and newborns, economic development for small businesses, money to ensure safe drinking water, and funding to pay teachers and first responders are just a few examples of what would be impacted by this unlawful freeze."
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Happy Black History Month!
