Asian American Federation

@aafederation.bsky.social

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Empowering NYC’s Asian American Community Since 1989 http://aafederation.org

Press Statement July 2, 2026 AAF Statement on FY2027 New York City Budget Funding allocated for AAPI Legal Services Falls Short of Growing Community Needs 1/2
Press Statement June 30, 2026 Without Wong and many other Asian plaintiffs like Takao Ozawa and Bhagat Singh Thind who appealed before the Supreme Court, millions of Americans in the generation since would have been denied the right to be and become citizens and fully participate in American life. As the nation's fastest growing population, Asian Americans would have faced a disproportionate impact from any attempt to undermine birthright citizenship. Future generations could have lost not only citizenship but fundamental rights, the ability to vote, and the opportunity to build lives in America. The Asian American Federation is grateful to the multiracial coalitions of Asian, Latino, and Black civil rights organizations that fought to protect birthright citizenship and the democratic principles our country was founded on. 3/3
AAF Statement June 30, 2026 Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship as a Constitutional Right Virtually all children born in the United States are citizens at birth. 1/3
A group photograph with Commissioner Faiza Ali of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and attendees at the Asian American Federation’s annual member convening.
A preview of the Asian American Federation's family preparedness guide in Vietnamese
A preview of the Asian American Federation's emergency preparedness guide in Hindi.
She cross-dressed, drove sports cars, and had romantic relationships with famous women such as the poet Elsa Gidlow, and actress Sophie Tucker. But she wasn’t only bold in her private life.
This gay woman became the first American-born Chinese woman doctor in the U.S. Who was she? AAF Celebrates Pride and Immigrant Heritage Month
AAF HONORS JUNETEENTH Today, we commemorate Juneteenth, a celebration of Black emancipation and the end of slavery in the United States. AAF stands unwaveringly in solidarity with our Black siblings, organizations, and New Yorkers against anti-Blackness and systemic racism. We know the work towards genuine equality is far from over, and that the fight against anti-Blackness starts in our own communities. This Juneteenth, AAF reaffirms our commitment to racial justice for everyone.
A photo of an Asian American Federation staff member presenting slides at the Rockefeller Institute of Government's Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy's 2026 conference.
A group photo of participants at the Asian American Federation's Community Companion appreciation dinner.
A photo of the 2026 Leaders in Training cohort with their certificates.
Welcome to AAF's Board of Directors! Jumee Song Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Siegel Family Endowment
Happy Pride Month! From the AAF Team
A photograph of Asian American Federation staff and United in Speech NY co-op members.
A family stops by the Asian American Federation table at Malikah's Eid festival.
Chinese immigrants were the first group banned by U.S. federal immigration law based on race and nationality. On the West Coast, Angel Island became the main site where those exclusion laws were enforced through detention and interrogation. Thousands of Chinese immigrants were detained on the island in inhumane conditions for weeks or months, often without due process.
This woman was the first ever Chinese American woman to exercise the right to vote. Who was she? AAF Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
A group photograph of Rapid Immigration Support & Empowerment Network members
Press Statement May 27, 2026 AAPI Equity Budget Coalition Secures $30M in New York State Budget Win Funding will help expand programs and services for AAPI communities across the State 1/3
Dalip Singh Saund Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian, Indian, Punjabi, and Sikh American elected to Congress. Born in India when it was still occupied by the British in 1899, Saund immigrated to the US at age 21. Here, he continued to advocate for Indian independence. He was also the first president of the Indian Association of America, an organization that fought for the right for Indians to be naturalized citizens.
This Indian American paved the way for both Indians and Filipinos to gain United States citizenship. Who was he? AAF celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
A photograph of Asian American Federation Advocacy Coordinator Nat Moghe and Councilmember Harvey Epstein.
A group photo. From left to right: Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, Asian American Federation Director of Programs Ahyoung Kim, Asian American Federation Director of Communications and Marketing Meera Venugopoal, Asian American Federation Director of Research Prakhar Sharma, Councilmember Susan Zhuang, and Councilmember Linda Lee.
Wong Kim Ark Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco, the son of Chinese citizens. In August 1895, Wong returned from a trip to China and was denied re-entry into the United States. Officials claimed he wasn't a US citizen—and with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, couldn't be a citizen. Detained for 5 months on a ship in the San Francisco Bay and eventually freed on $250 bail, Wong Kim Ark refused to accept this treatment.
This Chinese American fought for the right for all of us to belong. Who was he? AAF Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
A cartoon-style graphic of Cartoon portraits asking "Are you okay? How can I help?" in Chinese, Korean, and English Relief is just one conversation away! Asian Mental Health Directory mhd.aafederation.org
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
A photograph of Asian American Federation CEO Catherine Chen with New York State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Honorees Jennifer H. Wu, Judge Marilyn Go, Justin Go, and Lawrence G. Wee along with Asian American Federation board member Chris Kwok at the 2026 Impact Awards.
Asian American Federation SOLD OUT 2026 Impact Awards Wednesday, April 22nd 6:30 PM
Asian American Federation 2026 Impact Awards Wednesday, April 22nd Emcee Nina Pineda Award-winning journalist who has covered some of the defining stories of her generation and lead Eyewitness News' "7 On Your Side" team
A photograph of Deputy Mayor Julie Su speaking before a room of Asian community-based organizations.
Asian American Federation 2026 Impact Awards Wednesday, April 22nd Leadership Awardee Hae-Lin Choi Co-Founder of Hands Off NYC
Asian American Federation 2026 Impact Awards Wednesday, April 22nd Courage Awardee Justin Go Father of Michelle Go and Advocate
Eid Mubarak from Team AAF
Asian American Federation 2026 Impact Awards Wednesday, April 22nd 6:30PM For more information please contact Maddie Legg at gala@aafederation.org
Asian American Federation 2026 Impact Awards Wednesday, April 22nd Honoring Hae-Lin Choi Co-Founder of Hands Off NYC Justin Go Father of Michelle Go and Advocate and his Pro Bono Legal Team Marilyn Go, Larry G. Wee, and Jennifer H. Wu
A group photo of community leaders, elected officials, and co-op members that created the United in Speech Co-op NY.
Press Statement March 16, 2026 Five years ago, Asian Americans were being told that we didn’t belong here in the places we call home and we were to blame for the problems our country faced. None of this was new. This bigotry was part of a long history of racial injustice stretching back from the Yellow Peril of the 1800s to Japanese internment in World War II to Islamophobia in the wake of 9/11. In this history we find not just discrimination against Asian Americans but a common thread of racism and violence against all communities of color and marginalized groups. Today, racist rhetoric is again being deployed by government officials to attack immigrant communities. In this assault on immigrants and their loved ones, we see the same forces that led to the murder of six Asian women and we see the same injustices that we must collectively fight back against. aafederation.org 3/4
Press Statement March 16, 2026 AAF Remembers Five Years Since Murders of Atlanta Spa Workers On March 16, 2021, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun González, and Paul Andre Michels were killed in a tragedy that marked a tipping point in anti-Asian hate. aafederation.org 1/4
A photograph of Asian American Federation staff speaking at a rally with Councilmember Alexa Aviles.
A photo of Asian American Federation and Arab-American Family Support Center staff at the New York City Council.
Press Statement February 27, 2026 His family did not post bail out of fear ICE could detain him upon release. They reached a plea deal earlier this month to ensure that would not happen. When Shah Alam was released, no one told his family or attorney. They spent days looking for him over the weekend in freezing temperatures, only for his body to be found five days later. He was four miles from where Border Patrol left him. Shah Alam’s death is not an accident. This was negligence and failure at every level of government. Shah Alam should still be alive today. aafederation.org 3/4
Press Statement February 27, 2026 Nearly blind Burmese refugee abandoned by US Border Patrol found dead in Buffalo Nurul Amin Shah Alam had been missing since February 19 after Department of Homeland Security agents dropped him off miles away from home. aafederation.org 1/4
Relief is just one conversation away! First-Ever Asian Mental Health Directory that Speaks Your Language Mental Health Directory mhd.aafederation.org
A photo of Asian American Federation CEO Catherine Chen receiving a citation from Governor Kathy Hochul at the 2026 Lunar New Year Reception.
Happy lunar new year from team AAF 2026
New York State Asian American Pacific Islander Equity Budget Coalition members and legislative champions rally at the Million Dollar Staircase in Albany.
Press Statement January 30, 2026 We welcome this legislation as a step towards rebuilding trust that has been shattered by ICE’s overreach and violence. Too many of our neighbors can’t get to work or send their children to school or seek care at hospitals. Our communities must be able to live without the fear that law enforcement will terrorize us and tear us away from our families. Because immigrants are New York. We have built this state, we make up its rich cultural heritage, we have come from all over the world to forge better lives here. This is our home, and New Yorkers want ICE out. Now is the time for Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, led by Speaker Carl Heastie and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to swiftly pass the comprehensive New York for All Act. We call on our leaders to act and defend our communities now. aafederation.org 3/3
Press Statement January 30, 2026 In the past year, we have witnessed the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, the deaths of at least 36 immigrants like Chaofeng Ge and Parady La in ICE custody, and the kidnappings, separation, and deportation of children like 6-year-old Yuanxin Zheng here in Queens. In New York, raids have disrupted the lives of millions and arrests of Chinese and Bangladeshi immigrants increased 1000% in 2025. These targeted, racist attacks on immigrants and their loved ones must end. Today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a bill that will ban partnerships between ICE and local law enforcement, prevent ICE from using local detention facilities for their raids, and stop ICE from entering homes, schools, daycare centers, hospitals, and places of worship without a warrant. aafederation.org 2/3
Press Statement January 30, 2026 Asian American Federation Applauds Legislation to Protect New Yorkers from ICE, Calls for Passage of New York for All Legislation introduced today will eliminate agreements between ICE and local law enforcement to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement. aafederation.org 1/3
Asian American Exit Poll for the 2025 NYC General Election Chinese voters were split along generational lines. 78.6% of voters under 49 voted for Mamdani. 77.7% of voters over 50 voted for Cuomo. A chart showing mayoral vote by age group (Chinese) Source: Asian American Exit Poll for the 2025 General Election conducted by AALDEF and AAF
Asian American Exit Poll for the 2025 NYC General Election The majority of most Asian ethnic groups voted for Zohran Mamdani A bar chart showing Asian Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Filipino, Other AAPI, Pakistani, Vietnamese, and total Asian results for the November 2025 NYC mayoral election. The percentages of votes for Zohran Mamdani by group are 76% for Asian Indian (n= 91), 94% for Bangladeshi (n=92), 42% for Chinese (n=723), 63% for Filipino (n=41), 52% for Korean (n=103), 67% for Other AAPI (n=52), 100% for Pakistani (n=35), 65% of Vietnamese (n=20), and 54% of total respondents (n=1157). Note: Small sample sizes are not necessarily representative Source: Asian American Exit Poll for the 2025 General Election conducted by AALDEF and AAF