Trump targets naturalized US citizens
The Trump administration moves to expand efforts to strip naturalized Americans of their citizenship, raising fears in immigrant communities.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #91
The Trump administration moves to expand efforts to strip naturalized Americans of their citizenship, raising fears in immigrant communities. Also inside: Asian immigrants held at Guantanamo Bay, Southern California cities cancel July 4 celebrations after ICE raids, and New York City’s next potential mayor doubles down on pledges to tax billionaires.
Trump admin expands efforts to strip naturalized Americans of citizenship
The Justice Department has issued new guidelines directing attorneys to aggressively pursue stripping citizenship from naturalized Americans who concealed crimes or posed national security threats during their naturalization process, a policy that could affect nearly 25 million people.
What you need to know: A June 11 memo from Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate establishes multiple priority categories for citizenship revocation and instructs the Civil Division to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.” The policy focuses on individuals who “pose a potential danger to national security, including those with a nexus to terrorism” and those who “committed felonies that were not disclosed during the naturalization process.” The memo permits attorneys to target those facing “pending criminal charges” that have not yet secured a conviction. Shumate outlined that the benefits include “the government’s ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings or other serious human rights abuses.”
Pros and cons: Hans von Spakovsky of conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation defended the initiative, telling NPR, “I do not understand how anyone could possibly be opposed to the Justice Department taking such action to protect the nation from obvious predators, criminals and terrorists.” Others, however, have expressed alarm over constitutional issues. Law professor and former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance cautioned that “the provision is so vague that it would permit the Division to denaturalize for just about anything,” potentially targeting “troublesome journalists who are naturalized citizens” or “students.” The administration’s approach has drawn political attention, with President Donald Trump recently saying he will “take a look” at potentially deporting Elon Musk — who has been critical of his recent “One Big Beautiful Bill” — remarking that “we might have to put DOGE on Elon.”
Broader implications: The policy marks a substantial escalation from earlier initiatives, including Operation Janus launched under the Obama administration, which identified hundreds of immigrants who had been ordered deported but became U.S. citizens under another identity. The administration has already succeeded in one case against Elliott Duke, a British-born Army veteran convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material, who now lacks citizenship in any country.
Asian immigrants among Guantanamo Bay’s newest detainees
The Trump administration has reportedly broadened the range of nationalities among immigration detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, now including citizens from China, Jamaica, Liberia and the U.K. alongside previous Latin American detainees.
State of play: Earlier this week, 54 immigration detainees were housed at Guantanamo Bay’s facilities, with 41 held at Camp VI and 13 at the Migrant Operations Center, according to CBS News. While the detainees are held separately from terrorism suspects, most are classified as “high-risk” individuals with violent criminal records, patterns of disruptive conduct or suspected gang connections. Still, the administration has also sent “low-risk” detainees without serious criminal backgrounds. The Department of Defense reportedly spent $21 million flying immigration detainees to Guantanamo Bay as of April, costing more than $26,000 per flight hour.
The big picture: The move to detain immigrants at the controversial naval base follows the administration’s draconian immigration policy, which has seen others deported to third countries. Guantanamo Bay’s complex history with Asian detainees traces back to the post-9/11 era, when 22 Uyghur men were held there as “enemy combatants” for over a decade. These Chinese Muslims, who fled economic hardship and ended up in Afghanistan seeking passage to Turkey, were captured after the 2001 U.S. invasion and sold to Pakistani forces for $5,000 bounties each. All were eventually declared “non-combatants” and gradually released, with the last detainees leaving in 2013, but none were permitted to settle in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the military tribunal system at Guantanamo continues operating separately, with ongoing 9/11 cases where “no date has been set for a trial to begin” due to staff changes and ongoing plea discussion.
Southern California cities cancel July 4 events after ICE raids
Following recent ICE raids targeting immigrant communities, several Southern California cities have canceled July 4 events due to safety concerns and heightened anxiety among residents. Los Angeles, Bell Gardens and Cudahy announced they will not sponsor Independence Day celebrations this year, with officials pointing to fears within the community after federal enforcement actions. Local leaders and advocacy groups say the cancellations reflect a climate of uncertainty and demonstrate the impact of immigration enforcement on public life in the region.
Zohran Mamdani’s pledge against billionaires, wealth inequality
Fresh from clinching the Democratic nomination to become New York City’s next mayor, Zohran Mamdani continues to ignite discussions with his progressive agenda — including a conviction that billionaires should not exist.
Catch up
The 33-year-old assemblyman from Queens defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 56% of the ranked-choice vote after final tabulations were released Tuesday. However, his path to victory revealed significant demographic challenges that could complicate his general election prospects.
Despite campaigning as a champion of Black residents and the poor, Mamdani lost many of the city’s most solidly Black neighborhoods by substantial margins. Analysis by The New York Times shows Cuomo won in precincts where at least 70% of residents are Black, leading Mamdani 59% to 26%. Mamdani also struggled among lower-income voters — who backed Cuomo by 13 points — but drew middle- and higher-income residents with double-digit advantages.
Controversial policies
Mamdani’s housing policy proposals have drawn particular scrutiny, including his pledge to “shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighborhoods.” His campaign contends that the current property tax system unfairly burdens “family homes in Black and Latino neighborhoods like Jamaica, Brownsville and Tremont” while undertaxing wealthy areas.
On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” the self-described democratic socialist doubled down on his anti-billionaire stance, saying, “I don’t think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country.”
Beyond wealth redistribution, Mamdani has proposed sweeping changes that critics dismiss as unrealistic. His platform includes creating city-owned grocery stores “focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit,” offering free childcare to all New Yorkers with children aged six weeks to five years and making public transit completely free.
Mamdani plans to fund these initiatives through a 2% tax on residents earning more than $1 million annually, though Gov. Kathy Hochul has called such tax increases “a non-starter.” When pressed about feasibility, Mamdani, however, remained optimistic. “Any mayor that has an ambition that meets the scale of the crisis of the people that they're seeking to represent will have to work with Albany,” he told NPR on Monday.
Mamdani will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, in the general election on Nov. 4.
Top New York establishment Dems still withhold Mamdani endorsements
Prominent New York Democrats have declined to endorse NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani even as they now defend him after President Donald Trump threatened to arrest the 33-year-old candidate over his immigration status.
Uncertainties: Over a week after the Democratic primary, most party establishment figures remain reluctant to formally back Mamdani. Sources told the New York Post that Gov. Kathy Hochul “can’t endorse him” because “that’ll be the election” and “she’ll lose Long Island.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has represented Brooklyn since 2013, also declined an endorsement on Sunday, asking Mamdani to clarify his position on the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which many believe is antisemitic. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has represented New York for more than 25 years, has similarly held back his endorsement, though he praised Mamdani for running an “impressive campaign.”
A unified response: Interestingly, the lack of support shifted when Trump began attacking Mamdani the day after the June 24 primary, calling him a “100% Communist Lunatic” and questioning his citizenship status. Mamdani — who was born to Indian parents in Uganda — was naturalized as an U.S. citizen in 2018. Hochul fired back on Tuesday, writing on X, “I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States, if you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me.” Jeffries also defended Mamdani on Wednesday, writing, “Stop lying about Assemblyman Mamdani. He is neither a communist nor a lunatic,” and criticizing the president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Possible benefit? Democratic Rep. George Latimer, whose District 16 includes parts of the Bronx, told CNN that Mamdani’s candidacy will be “tough for front-liners because they’re in districts that have a lot of Republicans” who will try to tie Democrats to his progressive image. However, Democratic strategist Joel Payne told The Hill that establishment resistance might actually benefit Mamdani. “It probably helps that members of the establishment of the Democratic Party are not completely, wholly signed on to what he’s all about because I think it just emphasizes his broader critique of the establishment,” Payne said.
Texas lawmaker’s Indian American wife defends his racist remarks against Mamdani
Danielle D’Souza Gill publicly defended her husband, Texas Congressman Brandon Gill, after he was criticized for reposting a video on Sunday of New York City Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani eating rice with his hands.
Driving the news: The video of Mamdani, recorded in 2023, shows him eating rice while discussing his upbringing in Uganda and South Africa. Gill wrote, “Civilized people in America don’t eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.”
Mamdani has not responded publicly to the controversy as of this writing.
Online reaction: Gill’s comment was quickly condemned as racist and culturally ignorant by users and public figures. Users posted images of Americans eating pizza, hot dogs and tacos with their hands. Karthik Soora, co-founder of the Houston Progressive Caucus, wrote, “No one in Texas cares. You’re wasting time debating how New Yorkers should eat rice with their hands while your legislature cuts funding for food banks and Medicaid.”
Soora also addressed D’Souza Gill directly, writing, “Your wife is South Indian. She grew up eating rice with her hands. You’re literally marrying into it.”
Eating with a fork: In response to Soora, D’Souza Gill wrote, “I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork. I was born in America. I’m a Christian MAGA patriot. My father’s extended family lives in India and they are also Christian and they use forks too. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
During the backlash, some social media users resurfaced old photos of Dinesh D’Souza, D’Souza Gill’s father, eating with his hands. D’Souza is a conservative commentator and filmmaker who has drawn attention for his polarizing views and a 2014 felony conviction for campaign finance violations. In April, he also drew criticism after mocking Rep. Shri Thanedar’s accent and English
Trump warns “Mr Japan” of steep tariffs ahead of July 9 deadline
President Donald Trump said he plans to send a letter to “Mr Japan” warning of renewed U.S. tariffs if no trade agreement is reached by July 9. Speaking to Fox News on July 1, Trump said: “I could send one to Japan: ‘Dear Mr Japan, here’s the story, you’re going to pay a 25 percent tariff on your cars.”
Stalled negotiations
Negotiations between the two countries have stalled since April 2, when Trump imposed a 10% baseline tariff on Japanese goods along with higher reciprocal duties of 25% on autos and 24% on other products.
The administration paused these tariffs for 90 days to allow talks to continue. U.S. officials have since pressed Japan to open its rice market and accept continued auto tariffs. Japanese leaders have resisted, citing political sensitivities in agriculture and manufacturing ahead of national elections on July 20.
No extension planned
Ruling out any extension of the tariff pause, Trump said: “I’m not sure we’re going to make a deal. I doubt it,” he said. He warned that duties could climb to 30% or 35% depending on the outcome of negotiations. Trump also criticized Japan on Truth Social for refusing to accept American rice despite a domestic shortage
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that unless agreements are finalized by July 9, tariffs will revert to rates between 11% and 50%.
Japan’s response
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Trump’s comments “could be based on misunderstanding or misinformation. We hear President Trump say no U.S. cars are running in Japan and that we are not importing [U.S.] rice.” He pointed out that Japan has imported record volumes of American rice under tariff‑free quotas.
Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa, who also leads tariff talks, affirmed that Japan would not sacrifice farmers in trade negotiations, emphasizing that a 25% auto tariff “is not something we can accept.”
Chinese social media rallies behind Elon Musk amid Trump feud
Chinese social media users are casting Elon Musk as a heroic figure amid his escalating feud with President Donald Trump over the administration’s flagship spending bill.
State of play: The latest dispute intensified when Musk announced his plans to create a new political party — the America Party — following the Senate passage of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” this week. The legislation, which Musk called “insane,” is projected to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt. Trump responded by telling reporters his administration would “have to take a look” at deporting Musk and suggested “We might have to put DOGE on Elon,” referencing the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk formerly headed. Trump argued that Musk was angry about provisions removing electric vehicle incentives, saying “Elon would have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
What they’re saying: Hours after the Senate approved the controversial bill on Wednesday, the hashtag #MuskWantsToBuildAnAmericaParty became a trending topic on Weibo, drawing over 37 million views. Users posted messages backing Musk, with one writing, “If Elon Musk were to found a political party, his tech-driven mindset could inject fresh energy into politics. The potential for change is significant — and worth watching.” Another user wrote, “Brother Musk, you’ve got over a billion people on our side backing you.” Interestingly, the pro-Musk discussions have continued on the heavily regulated social media platforms, indicating that officials may see potential benefits in Washington’s political turmoil.
The big picture: Musk’s support in China stems from his extensive business operations there, where Tesla operates its highest-volume manufacturing facility in Shanghai and earned $21.75 billion in 2023, accounting for 22.5% of global revenue. He has cultivated ties with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, while his mother, Maye Musk, enjoys celebrity status on Chinese social media. Still, Tesla faces growing competition from local brands like Xiaomi, whose YU7 electric SUV attracted 240,000 orders within 18 hours of launch, priced nearly 4% below the Model Y. Tesla’s Chinese market share has also dropped from a 2020 peak of 15% to 7.6% through May 2025.
The public spat comes as Trump considers cutting government contracts with Musk’s companies, which analysts warn could set U.S. space exploration back by decades.
Taiwanese President Lai: “Of course Taiwan is a country”
President Lai Ching-te is traveling across Taiwan to urge unity against growing Chinese pressure, declaring the island an independent country as Beijing increases military activity and Taiwan prepares for a crucial recall vote.
Asserting Taiwan’s sovereignty
Speaking in New Taipei City on June 22 at the start of his national tour, Lai declared, “Of course Taiwan is a country.” He argued that Beijing lacks “historical and legal proof” to support its sovereignty claims, highlighting Taiwan’s unique identity shaped by Austronesian indigenous heritage, colonial history and democratic governance. Lai emphasized that the right to decide Taiwan’s future belongs only to its people, not to the government in Beijing.
Lai reiterated his position in a follow-up speech a week later by stating, “Beijing does not own Taiwan,” and again affirmed, “Taiwan is of course an independent country.” He responded to China’s frequent reference to the 1971 United Nations resolution, explaining that the measure addressed diplomatic recognition and did not resolve the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty. Lai called on Taiwanese residents to stay vigilant and resist what he described as efforts by China to erode the island’s autonomy.
Lai’s tour is timed to build unity ahead of the July 26 recall vote targeting 24 Kuomintang lawmakers — a campaign backed by the Democratic Progressive Party and civic groups accusing the opposition of undermining national security through budget cuts and legislative obstruction.
Escalating cross-strait tensions
The Chinese government has reacted strongly to Lai’s statements, with its Taiwan Affairs Office denouncing Lai’s remarks as “heresy,” “hostile” and separatist. State media outlets, including the People’s Daily, criticized Lai for what they called “Taiwan independence” rhetoric and accused him of provoking conflict.
Since Lai’s inauguration in May 2024, cross-strait tensions have intensified, with China conducting frequent air and naval maneuvers near the island and staging large-scale military exercises. Taipei analysts and security officials expect Beijing to respond to Lai’s tour with additional military drills and renewed diplomatic pressure.
Chinese ex-NBA star warns incoming rookie Yang Hansen to expect anti-Asian bias
On June 25, Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 center from Qingdao, China, was selected 16th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, becoming just the third Chinese player ever taken in the first round after Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. As he prepares for his NBA debut, former Houston Rockets player Zhou Qi has offered a candid warning about the challenges Chinese players can face in the league.
In a recent episode of “China Role Models,” Zhou discussed the need for mental strength as Yang transitions to the NBA. Zhou said in Chinese, “If I were to give any suggestion, I think the most important thing is to maintain a balanced mentality. The U.S. and Australia are quite different. In the U.S. there are a lot of Black players. Their playing style, physicality and ways of expressing themselves are very different from ours. Once you get to the NBA, to be honest, they don’t really think highly of us. But once you are in that environment, though they might not say it explicitly, they will ‘express’ it in other ways.”
When host Yang Yi suggested that players in Yang’s position are likely to be bullied in the NBA environment, Zhou agreed and elaborated, “Exactly. That’s why mindset is especially important at that point. How you perceive your own role or position will shape your mentality over there.”
Yang is expected to make his NBA debut during the upcoming Summer League in Las Vegas, which runs from July 10 to 20. Portland’s first Summer League game is scheduled for July 11 at 8 p.m. PDT versus the Golden State Warriors.
Beloved halftime performer Red Panda suffers wrist fracture
Rong "Red Panda" Niu, the beloved 54-year-old acrobat known for her unicycle bowl-flipping act, fractured her left wrist after falling during her halftime performance at the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx on July 1. The fall occurred when the left paddle on her unicycle, damaged during transit, malfunctioned and caused her to lose balance, resulting in her landing on the same wrist she had previously broken. Niu was taken to a Minneapolis hospital, where she spent 11 hours receiving treatment before being discharged.
Following her release, Niu’s team shared an update expressing her gratitude for the support she received from fans, the NBA and WNBA, and the broader community. “Thank you very much to all NBA, WNBA, universities, media individuals and her ever-supporting fans for your kindness and concern,” the statement said. “She is very grateful. Doctors in Minneapolis have recommended that as soon as she gets home she meet with an orthopedic surgeon for the second part of repair. Red Panda wants me to thank all of you for the kind wishes and support, it means the world to her.”
Lea Salonga set to become 1st Filipina to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Acclaimed Tony and Olivier Award-winning singer and actress Lea Salonga has been selected to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Live Theatre/Performance category, making her the first Filipina and fourth person of Filipino descent to receive the honor. She joins comedian and actor Rob Schneider, who was honored in Motion Pictures, as well as Bruno Mars and Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, who both received stars in the Recording category.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced the selection on July 3, though the ceremony date has not yet been announced. Salonga, known for her roles in “Miss Saigon,” and as the singing voices of Disney’s Jasmine and Mulan, expressed her gratitude on social media, dedicating the honor to her supporters and aspiring artists from the Philippines and Asia.
Oasis’ Liam Gallagher posts anti-Asian slur on X ahead of tour dates in Asia
Liam Gallagher, a member of the British band Oasis, faced criticism after posting the word “Chingchon” on his X account on July 1 without explanation. The word is widely recognized as a slur that mocks Chinese and Asian speech and has been used to demean Asian communities around the world.
The incident happened days before Oasis’s reunion tour with shows scheduled in Seoul and Tokyo, prompting criticism from Asian fans and calls for accountability. Following backlash, Gallagher briefly responded to users who questioned his post and then deleted it. He later posted an apology, writing, “Sorry if I offended anyone with my tweet before it wasn’t intentional you know I love you all and I do not discriminate. Peace and love LG x.”
BTS announces full group reunion, world tour
BTS officially confirmed their long-awaited return as a complete seven-member group during a surprise live broadcast on Weverse earlier this week. The announcement marks their first full-group album and concert tour in nearly four years since their 2022 “Yet to Come in Busan” concert. Leader RM revealed that all members will begin working together starting in July, with plans to head to the U.S. for music production and concert preparations for a spring 2026 comeback. “Our new group album will be released next spring. It won’t take until July or August,” RM said.
The reunion comes after all BTS members completed their mandatory military service. Adding to the excitement, BigHit Music announced the release of the group’s first-ever live album, “Permission to Dance on Stage — Live,” featuring 22 tracks from their 2021-2022 tour, set to drop July 18. Meanwhile, their agency HYBE faces ongoing legal scrutiny, with police raiding the Korea Exchange on Monday as part of an investigation into allegations that Chairman Bang Si-hyuk misled investors during the company’s 2020 stock market debut.