Purdue student released by ICE
Yeonsoo Go, a 20-year-old South Korean student at Purdue University, has been released from federal immigration custody and reunited with her family in New York after being detained for four days...
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #104
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has filed an emergency petition to remove Democratic Rep. Gene Wu from office over his role in a walkout aimed at blocking redistricting legislation. A South Korean student’s detention by ICE draws protest and national attention, while Asian students dominate New York City’s elite school admissions amid renewed calls for reform. Overseas, marine heatwaves raise concerns of a global climate tipping point, and Son Heung-min completes a record-breaking move to Major League Soccer. Also in this issue: Dallas opens a museum honoring Asian Texan history, banh mi’s cross-cultural evolution, and the Flying Tigers’ enduring legacy in U.S.–China ties.
Defiant Gene Wu torches Greg Abbott’s attempt to remove him from Texas House seat
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition Tuesday with the state Supreme Court to remove Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston), chair of the Texas Democratic Caucus, after he and dozens of other Democrats defiantly left the state to block a Republican redistricting vote.
Driving the news: The Democrats traveled to Boston, Chicago and New York City over the weekend to prevent Republicans from securing the quorum needed to pass congressional maps that would add five GOP-friendly seats before the 2026 midterms. Abbott’s suit names Wu as the “ringleader” of the walkout, alleging his actions amount to abandoning his position. The governor further claims Wu and the other Democrats “appear to have solicited and received certain benefits in exchange for skipping a vote, further supporting their removal from office and allegations of bribery.”
Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office asked the Texas Supreme Court to delay its decision, arguing that “only his office or the offices of a district or county attorney could bring the type of case that Abbott filed.” But he also announced he would petition to remove absent Democrats, warning, “If you don't show up to work, you get fired.”
What Wu is saying: Wu dismissed Abbott’s threats in a CNN interview Monday, saying, “Frankly, Democrats say, ‘Come and take it’” and calling the governor’s efforts “all bluster.” In a statement, he characterized his absence as fulfilling his constitutional oath rather than abandoning his duties. “This office does not belong to Greg Abbott, and it does not belong to me. It belongs to the people of House District 137, who elected me. I took an oath to the Constitution, not a politician's agenda, and I will not be the one to break that oath,” Wu said.
Wu, the chamber’s lone Chinese American member, previously opposed legislation restricting Chinese property ownership, saying it sent “a loud and clear message that Asians don’t belong in this country.” Abbott eventually signed the bill into law. Now, Wu frames his resistance in moral terms. “When a governor conspires with a disgraced president to ram through a racist gerrymandered map, my constitutional duty is to not be a willing participant,” he said. “When that governor holds disaster relief for 137 dead Texans and their families hostage, my moral duty is to sound the alarm — by any means necessary.”
What’s next: Legal experts question Abbott’s authority to remove elected lawmakers. Ross Miller, president of the Democratic Lawyers Association of Texas, told CNN there is no legal precedent for such action, while Rice University professor Mark Jones told CBS Texas that lawmakers can only be removed through a two-thirds legislative vote.
Should the removal efforts succeed, special elections would be required to fill the vacant seats. Appeals could also stretch well beyond the special session’s Aug. 19 deadline.
Purdue student reunites with family after release from days-long ICE detention
Yeonsoo Go, a 20-year-old South Korean student at Purdue University, has been released from federal immigration custody and reunited with her family in New York after being detained for four days in a case that sparked widespread community outcry.
What happened: Go, the daughter of an Episcopal priest, had just completed a routine immigration hearing in Lower Manhattan on July 31 and was set to return later this month when ICE agents took her into custody. She was transferred to Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, where she remained for the next three nights. Amid her detainment, loved ones, community members and local officials called for her release in protests across the city. Without any explanation, she was returned to New York and freed shortly before 8 p.m. Monday. “I always had faith that [I’d] be out soon,” she told reporters as she walked out of 26 Federal Plaza.
About Go: Go first arrived in the U.S. in March 2021 on an R-2 visa with her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, who became the first female Anglican priest ordained in Seoul’s diocese. After completing high school in Scarsdale High as an honors student, she went on to Purdue’s College of Pharmacy while remaining active in the Episcopal church. “We used to do midnight runs together and make sandwiches and meals for the homeless,” a friend named Caitlin told CBS New York. “She’s a college student, a daughter, a friend. She belongs here, not in a detention center.” While authorities claim Go is an “illegal alien” who had “overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago,” her legal team says it remains valid through December 2025.
What her family is saying: Rev. Kim, who welcomed her daughter back, expressed relief in their tearful reunion. “I’m just happy that she’s with me,” Kim said while acknowledging others in similar circumstances. The religious leader previously called the situation “incomprehensible,” telling Yonhap News Agency she never expected her family to become targeted despite her work advocating for Korean immigrants. New York State Assemblymember Amy Paulin, who spoke with Go by phone, reportedly described her as “happy, relieved and finally free.”
The big picture: Go’s arrest as someone with no criminal record reflects a documented shift in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. After White House officials set a daily arrest target of 3,000 in May, data shows more than half of those detained by ICE lack criminal convictions, far from the previous focus on targeting serious criminals. Go’s case also follows that of Tae Heung “Will” Kim, a South Korean-born researcher and legal permanent resident detained at San Francisco International Airport in July, contributing to concerns within the Korean American community.
Asian students dominate NYC’s specialized high school admissions while Black and Hispanic shares drop
Nearly 80% of offers to New York City’s specialized high schools this fall went to Asian and white students, while Black and Hispanic students saw their already minimal representation decline further, the latest Education Department data shows.
By the numbers: Asian students received 53.5% of the roughly 4,000 acceptance letters despite representing just over 32% of the approximately 26,000 test-takers, while white students received 25.9% of spots from only 17.3% of those who took the exam. Meanwhile, Black and Hispanic students represented nearly 45% of test-takers but received just 9.9% of available seats. Black student acceptances dropped to 3% from last year’s 4.5%, while Hispanic students fell to 6.9% from 7.6%. At Stuyvesant High School, Black students received eight acceptances out of 781 total offers, while Asian students received 509 and white students received 142.
Dig deeper: These ongoing disparities intensify debates over the single-exam system while legal battles mount. Last September, a federal appeals court revived a lawsuit alleging discrimination against Asian applicants through the Discovery Program, which requires schools to reserve 20% of their seats for students from economically disadvantaged middle schools. Asian families have positioned themselves as staunch advocates for maintaining the current testing approach, viewing these schools as essential stepping stones to higher education, while critics demand change.
The big picture: Officials withheld the admissions data until late July, sparking transparency concerns during an election year. “They should've had this data out at least a month ago,” former Education Department spokesperson Nathaniel Styer wrote on Bluesky. Mayor Eric Adams, who once denounced the system as “a Jim Crow school system,” has avoided pursuing reforms since taking office, choosing instead to establish three new accelerated schools serving predominantly Black and Latino students. The Discovery Program itself reflects these disparities, with Asian students comprising 63.3% of participants compared to just 26.8% for Black and Hispanic students combined.
With the November election approaching, Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, has shifted from supporting test elimination to backing only an independent bias analysis.
Record marine heatwaves signal potential climate tipping point, study finds
The year 2023 experienced unprecedented marine heatwaves (MHWs) that scientists warn could indicate Earth’s climate system is nearing a critical threshold.
Key findings: A new study published in the journal Science reveals that MHWs in the said year reached a total activity level of 53.6 billion degrees Celsius per square kilometer — more than three standard deviations above the historical average since 1982.
Researchers from the Eastern Institute of Technology and Southern University of Science and Technology in China analyzed high-resolution data from the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean-Phase II (ECCO2) project to examine warming patterns across four key regions. They found that some events had less than a 0.4% chance of occurring naturally, with the North Atlantic event representing a once-in-276-year occurrence. The coverage was vast: 96% of the world’s marine areas experienced extreme temperatures, versus the usual 73.7% coverage. Events lasted an average of 120 days, more than three times the typical 35.72 days.
Why this matters: These record temperatures severely disrupted marine ecosystems worldwide. For starters, the heatwaves caused widespread coral bleaching and drove fish populations toward cooler waters, disrupting fisheries across multiple regions. Ocean warming accounts for roughly half of global sea level rise through thermal expansion, and this creates severe flooding risks for coastal communities and low-lying island nations. With 89% of Earth’s long-term energy imbalance stored in the oceans, marine systems are essentially absorbing the brunt of climate change but are reaching their limits.
The Southwest Pacific heatwave also likely intensified Cyclone Gabrielle, demonstrating how ocean warming directly fuels more powerful storms. The cyclone, which claimed 11 lives, has been described as the worst weather event of the century.
Moving forward: The researchers are calling for enhanced ocean monitoring systems and improved predictive models.
Unfortunately, the research team suggests the 2023 events “may represent a major shift in oceanic and atmospheric conditions” that could signal a climate tipping point. Such tipping points could destabilize polar ice sheets and weaken crucial circulation patterns, fundamentally altering global weather patterns and making extreme events even more severe.
South Korean superstar Son Heung-min to join Los Angeles FC in blockbuster move
South Korea captain Son Heung-min has finalized a $26 million move from Tottenham Hotspur to Los Angeles FC, which will break Major League Soccer’s all-time incoming transfer record. The deal, which is expected to be announced this week, surpasses the $22 million fee paid by Atlanta United for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath in 2023.
Tottenham farewell
Son joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 for a then-club record fee of $30 million. Over his 10-year career in North London, he made 454 appearances and scored 173 goals across all competitions. In the Premier League, he recorded 113 goals and 65 assists in 317 matches. He made history by winning the Golden Boot in 2022 and captained the squad to its first major trophy in 17 years with a Europa League title in 2025.
Son confirmed his departure during a press conference in Seoul on Aug. 2, calling it “one of the most difficult decisions” of his career. “Tottenham will always be my home,” he said. “But I am excited for a new challenge and to help LAFC achieve even greater things in MLS.” He added, “I came to North London as a kid, 23 years old … I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man.” A farewell match at Seoul World Cup Stadium drew a sellout crowd, with tributes from fans and teammates in both South Korea and the United Kingdom.
What’s next for Son
Son is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles later this week to complete a medical and sign a Designated Player contract through the 2026 MLS season. While his salary has not been publicly disclosed, the agreement includes image rights and commercial incentives, which could potentially place him among the league’s highest-paid players.
Son’s arrival is expected to resonate strongly in L.A., home to one of the largest Korean American communities in the U.S. He will reportedly make his MLS debut on Aug. 9 against the Chicago Fire, with a likely home debut at BMO Stadium on Sept. 1 against San Diego FC.
Indian teen chess champions break records in back-to-back victories
At 10 years and 3 months old, Bodhana Sivanandan of England became the youngest player to earn a Woman Grandmaster norm after a landmark tournament performance in France on July 27. Just one day later, India’s 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup, earning the Grandmaster title and national honors.
Sivanandan sets age record
Competing at the Trophee Dole – Pasino Grand Aix in Aix-en-Provence, Sivanandan scored a 2401 performance rating by drawing a game against a Grandmaster and defeating multiple International Masters. The result secured her first Woman Grandmaster norm and a second norm toward the Woman International Master title. Sivanandan had previously dominated the World Under-8 Girls Championship in 2022 and made headlines in 2024 as the youngest player selected to represent England at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Deshmukh makes history
In Batumi, Georgia, Deshmukh clinched victory over fellow Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup after two classical games ended in draws. Her victory automatically granted her the Grandmaster title and a place in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament. Deshmukh, now India’s 88th Grandmaster and the fourth Indian woman to hold the title, was honored with a cash prize of 30 million Indian rupees ($360,000).
India’s rising generation
Sivanandan and Deshmukh are part of a broader wave of Indian talent reshaping the global chess scene. Grandmasters such as Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh Dommaraju and Nihal Sarin have all emerged as serious contenders on the world stage before age 20. Dommaraju, in particular, recently became the youngest player to compete for the World Chess Championship, while Praggnanandhaa has earned wins over multiple world champions.
“Players like superstars”
India’s chess federation has played a central role in nurturing its young talents through organized training, national competitions and financial support. American Grandmaster Hans Niemann, responding to Deshmukh’s win, praised India’s approach and criticized the lack of support in the United States. He said India “treats their players like superstars” with visible backing from both the federation and government, while American players often face institutional neglect. Niemann warned that India’s deep investment in player development could shift the global balance of power in chess within a decade.
Henry Golding says “Crazy Rich Asians” TV show may begin production in early 2026
Henry Golding confirmed during an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” on June 26 that the highly anticipated “Crazy Rich Asians” television series is moving closer to production, with filming potentially starting in the first quarter of 2026. “Something’s being made,” the 38-year-old actor said. “I think we’re actually going to do a series. That’s what they’re trying to give us. Aiming for, like, first quarter even next year. There are scripts hanging around but they haven’t been passed on yet. I haven’t read anything, but I hear it’s promising.”
Golding previously said he reconnected with co-stars Awkwafina and Gemma Chan to discuss the project, adding that “everyone is excited.” The series is being developed at Max with original screenwriter Adele Lim as showrunner and Jon M. Chu as director. Chu has noted that the shift to television allows for deeper exploration of characters and stories across Kwan’s trilogy, which includes “Crazy Rich Asians,” “China Rich Girlfriend” and “Rich People Problems.”
Dallas museum highlights long-overlooked history of Asian Texans
The Dallas Asian American Historical Society has opened a new museum in Old East Dallas, marking the first physical space dedicated to preserving the stories of Asian Texans. The museum, launched July 25, presents over 140 years of local history, tracing the journey from early Chinese immigrants in the 1870s to today’s diverse Asian communities.
The former community space was transformed to showcase archival photos, oral histories and family artifacts. Rotating exhibits explore themes of immigration, identity, and entrepreneurship, with interactive elements for younger visitors. “We’re trying to build a community archive to put Asian Americans in Dallas back in the narrative,” said Stephanie Drenka, the society’s co-founder and executive director.
The museum’s opening includes new partnerships with local schools, oral history workshops, and rotating exhibits planned on South Asian, Filipino and Southeast Asian Texan heritage. The Dallas Asian American Historical Society’s physical collection features archival materials, community artifacts and a digital library to expand access to Asian Texan history.
Japanese American shaping of SoCal’s car culture examined in new exhibit
A new exhibition, Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community, opened July 31 at the Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, presented in collaboration with the Japanese American National Museum. Running through Nov. 12, the show features more than 100 objects and five vehicles that document how Japanese Americans used cars for labor, mobility and cultural expression from the early 1900s through postwar resettlement and the rise of street racing and import tuning.
Curated by Cal State Long Beach professor Oliver Wang, the exhibition includes a 1940s Mercury hot rod built by George Nakamura, a 1956 Ford F-100 used in gardening work and a modified 1973 Datsun 510 tied to early import scenes. Oral histories from over 100 Japanese American mechanics, designers and racers are featured, including drag racer Chickie Hirashima, karting champion Jim Yamane and GM designer Larry Shinoda. Public programming includes Cars and Coffee meetups and a car convoy during the Nisei Week Grand Parade. A companion book by Wang will be released August 5.
How a Vietnamese sandwich became a cultural bridge
This final installment of a three-part series explores how banh mi became a symbol of identity, memory and connection across the Vietnamese diaspora.
For many across the world, banh mi has become a vessel for cultural memory, a bridge across generations and a passport for Vietnamese identity in the diaspora. Whether it’s served in a Marikina neighborhood cafe or a pop-up in Tokyo, each banh mi tells a deeply personal story.
From war and migration to new beginnings
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, millions of Vietnamese families resettled in the U.S., France, Australia and the Philippines. With them came heirloom recipes, survival instincts — and the craft of banh mi.
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