ICE raids Asian supermarkets in NY
A 40-year-old scientist and legal permanent resident has been detained by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at San Francisco International Airport since July 21.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #103
Former President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff hikes are reshaping U.S. relations with Asia, hitting countries like India, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines with levies up to 25%. Meanwhile, immigration enforcement intensifies at home, with ICE raids targeting Asian supermarkets in New York and a Korean American scientist detained at SFO over a decade-old conviction. A trailblazing Vietnamese American pilot dies attempting a solo circumnavigation. And in Chicago’s Chinatown, residents push back against a proposed $7 billion stadium they say threatens their future.
Trump’s tariff blitz reshapes Asian trade landscape
President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries Friday, sending U.S. stocks tumbling and establishing rates on nearly every trading partner while talks with China continue.
By the numbers: Trump’s tariff framework raises the effective import tax rate — the average rate American importers must pay for foreign goods — to 17%. This marks a sharp jump from the previous year’s 1.2%, reaching levels not seen since 1933 during the Great Depression. Syria received the highest tariff at 41%, while Laos and Myanmar each got 40%.
Among major economies, India bore the heaviest burden with a 25% levy after trade talks collapsed. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s crucial semiconductor sector faces a 20% tariff, down from an initially threatened 32%. Vietnam received 20% on standard imports, though goods routed through the country to circumvent Chinese tariffs face steeper 40% penalties. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan and South Korea successfully negotiated lower 15% rates through broader trade agreements, while Indonesia and the Philippines both received 19%. Thailand and Cambodia called their 19% rates favorable outcomes after initially facing threats of much higher levies.
Unsurprisingly, the tariff announcements sent shockwaves through global financial markets. U.S. stocks suffered notable losses Friday as the Dow Jones declined 542 points and the S&P 500 experienced its steepest single-day drop since May. European markets also posted sharp declines.
What’s next: The most critical question remains China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized last week’s Stockholm meetings as “very constructive,” but the Aug. 12 deadline for extending their tariff moratorium is approaching rapidly. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told “Face the Nation” Sunday that the recent China talks were “very positive” and focused on the supply of rare earth magnets.
Trump, for his part, has hinted at a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the end of the year. The stakes are considerable, given both nations previously escalated retaliatory tariffs to 145% on select products before establishing the current moratorium.
Korean American researcher held at airport for weeks over decade-old weed conviction
A 40-year-old scientist and legal permanent resident has been detained by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at San Francisco International Airport since July 21. Tae Heung “Will” Kim, who has lived in the U.S. since age 5, was returning from his brother’s wedding in South Korea when agents cited a 2011 misdemeanor marijuana conviction as grounds for his detention.
Devastated family
Kim is a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University developing a vaccine for Lyme disease. According to his legal team, he has previously traveled internationally for academic work without incident. Relatives describe Kim as a devoted son and brother who has spent 35 years in the U.S. and built a career focused on public health research.
Sharon Lee, Kim’s mother, described her anguish: “When my other child called and told me they arrested Will, my heart felt like the sky and earth fell. It feels like the world has ended. I’ve been so worried. We haven’t been able to talk with him. I can’t sleep or eat. As a mother, I want my son to be safe and free.”
Conditions of detention
Attorney Karl Krooth, an immigration lawyer in San Francisco, said Kim’s detention has far exceeded CBP’s internal 72-hour holding limit for airports. “I’ve never seen anyone held that long. A prolonged detention indicates to me that there is a degree of coercion or inducement afoot.”
Krooth reported that Kim was “moved within secondary inspection at least twice per day,” kept in windowless rooms with lights on 24 hours a day, denied exercise or fresh air, forced to sleep in a chair, and given only concession food and water. Kim, who has asthma, reportedly struggled to access medication. Since his detention began, he has had almost no communication with family or counsel, and his legal team believes he may now be held at a facility in Arizona.
Alarming trend
Kim’s detention comes amid a rise in cases where legal permanent residents are held over minor or decades-old offenses under stricter immigration enforcement. Civil rights groups and immigration attorneys report that green card holders are increasingly stopped or removed at airports for low-level convictions, including individuals who have spent most of their lives in the U.S.
Becky Belcore, co-director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, called Kim’s treatment alarming for “every person who values their freedom and rights.” Belcore criticized both major political parties for failing to represent all residents and called for swift action to protect the rights and freedoms the U.S. claims to uphold. “Immigrants have been used as a scapegoat for the Trump administration to test the will of the People, and to build the infrastructure to enact an authoritarian regime,” she added.
ICE raids Asian supermarkets in New York
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a pair of Asia Food Market locations in western New York last Wednesday, making multiple arrests and seizing business records.
How it went down: The operations, which had court-authorized search warrants, began at around 9:30 a.m. at the store in Henrietta near Rochester and around 10 a.m. in Amherst near Buffalo. At the Rochester location, one bystander was prevented from entering as the agents moved through the building. “I just couldn’t help but think about those older Asian people that I saw who weren’t getting arrested,” Rochester location bystander Sebastian Nimeh told the Rochester Beacon. “This might be their children, their cousin, their nephew. And their life had just been turned upside down in a matter of 20 minutes.” In Buffalo, around 17 government vehicles reportedly surrounded the store to arrest about six individuals. Agents confiscated cellphones, computers and business documents from both facilities. The Rochester store reopened by afternoon while the Buffalo location remained closed until Thursday.
What authorities are saying: Officials acknowledged the raids but released very little information about them, citing ongoing investigation. ICE said the July 30 operations involved Customs and Border Protection (CBP), IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI at “multiple locations” in western New York. The FBI separately stated that it is “supporting our partners at the Department of Homeland Security with immigration operations all over the country.”
The big picture: The raids occurred amid the Trump administration’s expanded workplace immigration enforcement nationwide. Alejandro Gutierrez, one of the lawyers representing the chain, said the agents were looking for evidence of human trafficking and characterized their operations as a “fishing expedition.” “I believe that it's probably profiling to see what they can catch,” he told WKBW. In a separate statement to WGRZ, he described the raids as disruptive, excessive and unfair. “They’re thriving businesses, providing jobs and services to the community, and it’s sad that they proceed this way,” Gutierrez said.
Harris raises alarm about “broken” U.S. democracy
Former Vice President Kamala Harris expressed concerns about the state of the country’s political system, calling it “broken” in her first interview since leaving office on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Thursday evening.
What she’s saying: After decades as a “devout public servant,” Harris, the first woman, first Asian and first Black person to serve as vice president, told Colbert her decision not to run for California governor in 2026 was because she “doesn’t want to go back in the system. I think it’s broken.” She added, “I always believed, that as fragile as our democracy is, our systems would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles. And I think right now that they’re not as strong as they need to be.”
She also criticized Congress for “sitting on their hands” regarding President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and denounced the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision.
Political plans: Harris told Colbert that she instead hopes to travel the country and engage with voters. “I don’t want it to be transactional where I’m asking for their vote,” she noted. Harris said she also wants to remind those who feel “deflated and despondent and afraid” of their power and importance in making a difference.
At present, Harris continues to work on her upcoming memoir “107 Days,” which will chronicle her abbreviated presidential campaign after former President Joe Biden, who warned of “dark days” for democracy in a speech on Thursday, stepped down as the Democratic nominee last summer. The book will include behind-the-scenes details, including when she received Biden’s withdrawal call and her team “turned it into a war room,” making more than a hundred calls that day.
Kash Patel’s girlfriend denies spy allegations
Country singer Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, one of the Trump administration’s top Asian American officials, has firmly denied allegations that she is a foreign spy or “honeypot” targeting Patel.
In a recent interview on “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Wilkins said she was “shocked” by the accusations, which have led to harassment directed at her and family members. Claims that she is an Israeli spy appear to be fueled by her association with PragerU, whose CEO Marissa Streit had served in Israeli military intelligence. The allegations emerged after the Justice Department closed the Jeffrey Epstein case, leading some conspiracy theorists to allege Wilkins was planted to influence Patel. “The fact that it’s accusing me of manipulating the person I’m with, that I love, that’s a horrible accusation,” Wilkins told Kelly.
Wilkins, 26, who began dating Patel, 44, in early 2023, highlighted her background as an Arkansas-born country singer and stressed shared values of patriotism and honesty with Patel. She alleged that vigilante research has targeted her amid political tensions surrounding Patel’s government work, noting that such attacks stem from controversies Patel is handling but which she has no insider knowledge of. “He’s fine with people coming after him … but I think when it came to me, he was very frustrated that something that was limited to the governmental side, something that he’s obviously dealing with, something that, transparently, I don’t know anything about … he was very unhappy to say the least,” she said.
Wilkins has been embroiled in controversy since Patel ascended to become FBI director in February. Critics have scrutinized Patel’s use of government aircraft for trips that included visits to her in Nashville, raising questions about the proper use of taxpayer-funded flights for personal purposes.
Chicago’s Chinatown residents speak out against proposed new stadium
Chicago’s Chinatown residents are pushing back against plans for a new Chicago Fire soccer stadium, voicing concerns at a July 30 town hall that the nearby $7 billion development could lead to gentrification and displacement of their community.
About the plan: The proposed $650 million soccer stadium would seat 22,000 fans and serve as the anchor tenant for The 78, a development along the south branch of the Chicago River. Fire owner Joe Mansueto would privately fund the soccer-only stadium, slated to open ahead of the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, with construction potentially beginning in fall 2025 or early 2026. Critics say there have been no discussions between developer Related Midwest and Chinatown community members about their concerns.
What they’re saying: At the town hall, residents voiced fears about rapid property value increases and long-term community impacts. “This is going to affect all of us. Not just in the next couple of years but, really, for generations to come,” Yu Jing Chen, founder of the Teen Coalition for Chinatown, told the Chicago Tribune. Grace Chan McKibben, executive director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, emphasized the stakes. “We want to keep Chinatown as a legacy — businesses as well as long-term residents. We’d like to keep folks as much as possible,” she told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Residents also expressed practical concerns, with one telling NBC Chicago, “We’re struggling with housing, and the next thing is parking. We don’t have enough parking spots.” Community members also worry about environmental impacts to Ping Tom Memorial Park, which organizers say has served as a cultural foundation for multiple generations of families.
Why this matters: The opposition reflects broader concerns about Asian American communities facing displacement from sports developments. Most recently, Philadelphia’s Chinatown successfully fought off the 76ers’ $1.3 billion arena plan after the No Arena Coalition mobilized protests and challenged the project in public hearings, with the team ultimately abandoning the project in January.
What’s next: The Ping Tom Park Advisory Council has invited Related Midwest to its Aug. 6 community meeting, while Aldermen Nicole Lee and Pat Dowell are coordinating a separate meeting to hear more Chinatown resident concerns. Related Midwest said it has received “overwhelming support” for the project and looks forward to continuing dialogue with community members.
Decline in Americans who support DEI, perceive discrimination against Asian Americans
A new AP-NORC poll finds that skepticism toward diversity, equity and inclusion programs is rising sharply as fewer Americans, especially white adults, believe significant discrimination exists against Black and Asian people. The nationwide poll of 1,437 adults conducted in July shows that the most pronounced drops in concern about racial bias and support for DEI are among white respondents, even as Black and Asian adults remain far more likely to perceive discrimination in their own communities.
Perceptions fall unevenly by race
The poll found 45% of adults now believe Black people face “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of discrimination, down from 60% in 2021. For Asian Americans, the share dropped to 32% from 45% three years ago. Black respondents remain the most likely to see systemic bias, with 74% saying their community faces significant discrimination.
Only 39% of white respondents and about 30% of Asian respondents perceive high levels of discrimination against their own groups. The sharpest decline in concern came from white adults, with many saying that too much attention is paid to racial issues.
Declining support for DEI programs
Just four in 10 Americans now say DEI programs help reduce discrimination against Black people, and only about one-third believe DEI is helpful for Asian, Hispanic or women communities. Nearly 30% say DEI may actually increase discrimination. Among white respondents, 39% say DEI increases discrimination against white people. Only about a third of Asian respondents believe DEI benefits their own group, and many (39%) remain doubtful about its impact.
The drop in support comes as real-world DEI programs face heightened scrutiny. In March, the University of Florida eliminated its DEI office and reassigned or laid off over a dozen staff after the state enacted new restrictions. Several large companies including CVS Health and Meta have scaled back DEI-focused recruitment and training efforts in recent months.
Policy changes
In recent months, the Trump administration has issued directives dismantling DEI policies in federal workplaces and schools. Republican-led states including Florida, Ohio and Virginia have passed laws banning DEI offices and training in public institutions.
Civil rights groups have responded with legal challenges. In February, a coalition led by Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) filed a federal lawsuit arguing President Trump’s executive orders against DEI are unconstitutional and threaten years of progress. Other organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have filed lawsuits challenging similar changes, arguing they violate federal law and threaten equal opportunity.
Broadway’s “Maybe Happy Ending” casting of white actor sparks calls for accountability
The Broadway musical “Maybe Happy Ending” became the focus of industry scrutiny after producers announced in July that white actor Andrew Barth Feldman would assume the lead role of Oliver in a show set in Seoul. Feldman will begin his nine-week run at the Belasco Theatre on September 2, replacing Darren Criss, who is of Filipino and European descent and originated the lead male role for the Broadway run. Artists, advocates and community leaders say the new Broadway casting undermines years of progress toward authentic representation on stage.
From Korea to Broadway
“Maybe Happy Ending,” a musical about two robots searching for love in Seoul, premiered in Seoul in 2016 and earned multiple Korean Musical Awards for its all-Asian cast and storytelling rooted in Korean culture. Its U.S. premiere at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre in 2020 continued that legacy of casting Asian American actors, including Kenny Tran as Oliver. When the show opened on Broadway last year, Darren Criss took on the role of Oliver and won a Tony Award for his performance, starring alongside Helen J. Shen as the female lead Claire.
The shift to Feldman was seen by critics as a break from the show’s original vision and sparked concerns about erasing Asian identities from a narrative deeply connected to Korea. The Asian American Performers Action Coalition described the casting as a “setback for progress.”
Community response and industry voices
BD Wong, Tony Award winner and longtime advocate for Asian American representation, criticized the decision. In an op-ed he posted on social media, he wrote, “Some say robots know no race but ‘Maybe Happy Ending’s’ world actually supports the use of actors who’ll deliver us to that Korean place. If he’s not, though, he will clash with the Korea-verse.”
Michael K. Lee, a leading Asian American Broadway actor and advocate, spoke to the sense of loss in a heartfelt video: “For the first time in a very long time on the grandest of all stages on Broadway, it was being shown through an Asian lens with Asian faces, and they were rewarded for it with the top prize in theater, the Tony Award for Best Musical. We thought this was ours. We thought that this was our moment to share our culture, our faces with the world ... And now, whether it be intentional or not, that's being taken away from us.”
Shen, who continues in the role of Claire and is Feldman’s real-life partner, publicly addressed the disappointment felt by many in the Asian American community. “I know the hurt that people feel. A part of me is mourning that along with the community,” she said. Shen also urged, “I hope the conversation can center on building opportunities for us, not just policing who gets to participate.”
“Ethnically ambiguous” robots
Writers Hue Park and Will Aronson issued a joint statement defending their vision: “We understand that for many in the AAPI community, the makeup of our opening night cast became a meaningful and rare point of visibility. We’ve heard how strongly people connected to that representation, even if it wasn’t our original intent, and how this casting decision has re-opened old wounds. We’re extremely saddened that the show, a decade-long labor of love for us, could ever become a source of confusion, anger or pain.” The creators stressed that their goal was always to tell a universal story set in Korea, and said they remain grateful for audiences who have embraced the show’s journey.
Producers have scheduled a post-show panel with Asian American theater leaders to address questions of casting and representation. While advocacy groups continue to call for dialogue with the show’s creative team, the Broadway run, featuring Feldman and Shen, is expected to proceed as planned.
Eddie Huang claims his “Vice” documentary shelved over Israeli defense ties protest
Eddie Huang, the filmmaker and author known for “Fresh Off the Boat,” took to Instagram on July 30 to allege that film distributor and streaming platform Mubi has shelved his new documentary “Vice Is Broke” after he refused to promote the film due to Mubi’s reported ties to Israeli military-tech investors.
Film’s message
“Vice Is Broke” is a documentary examining the financial collapse of Vice Media, the impact of private equity on digital journalism and the personal and professional challenges faced by staff. The documentary, which took more than two years to make, includes original interviews with former Vice journalists and executives, behind-the-scenes footage and Huang’s reflections on his time at the company.
In February, Mubi acquired the film for distribution with an initial release planned for August 29, but now remains in limbo as negotiations continue. In a July interview, Huang described the film as "a cautionary tale" about the perils of profit-driven media consolidation and questioned the irony of a platform distributing a film critical of private equity while appearing tied to similar investment sources.
Distributor retaliation allegation
In a video posted to Instagram, Huang said Mubi president Jason Ropell told him the film would not be released unless he and the producers bought it back. “He said ‘You and the producers can buy it back from us if you want, but otherwise nobody’s gonna see the film,’” Huang said. The filmmaker explained that he would not support a distributor with financial links to Sequoia Capital, which invests in Kela, an Israeli defense technology company. “I did not make ‘Vice Is Broke’ to help fund genocide,” Huang wrote. He added, “I’d rather be financially destitute than morally broke.”
Mubi responded in a public statement that the company has not shelved the documentary and that the release originally set for August 29 remains under discussion. “We’re in constructive discussions with the filmmaker and producers and will share further updates as those conversations progress,” Mubi said. The company noted that investment partners’ beliefs do not represent the company’s own position.
Trailblazing Vietnamese American pilot dies in attempt to fly around the world solo
Anh‑Thu Nguyen, founder of Asian Women in Aerospace & Aviation, died in a crash resulting from an attempt to become the first woman of Vietnamese descent to complete a solo circumnavigation Wednesday, July 31 near Greenwood, Indiana. Nguyen’s Lancair IV‑P crashed shortly after takeoff from Indy South Greenwood Airport during her second solo attempt to fly around the world.
From humble beginnings
Nguyen grew up in a remote Vietnamese village without electricity or running water before immigrating to the U.S. at age 12. She became valedictorian of her high school and later worked multiple jobs to earn degrees in aerospace engineering from Purdue University and Georgia Tech. She logged more than 4,000 flight hours, including experience as a certified Boeing 757 and 767 first officer.
“Mission to inspire”
Her latest journey, which began July 27 at the EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, included scheduled stops in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Before her fatal flight, Nguyen posted a video declaring, “This is more than just a flight. It’s a mission to inspire the next generation of Asian female pilots, aerospace engineers and STEM professionals.” Nguyen’s aircraft went down at approximately 1:30 p.m., tumbling into a field behind a gas station on County Road 800 North.
“A beacon of hope”
Nguyen founded AWAA in 2018 and built it into a nonprofit that has inspired people worldwide. In its tribute, AWAA wrote, “Her life stories are inspirational and have taught many women around her to dare to dream the impossible even when things are difficult.” AWAA will establish a scholarship in her name to support girls pursuing aviation and STEM careers. Nguyen’s memorial service will be held at O’Riley Branson Funeral Home in Indianapolis, with visitation on August 12 and 13 and a funeral service on August 13 followed by burial.