Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship
The Trump administration has released plans to implement its executive order restricting birthright citizenship even as federal courts blocked the policy for the third time in less than a month.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #101
The Trump administration is moving to restrict birthright citizenship, with a new plan from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services limiting automatic citizenship to children with at least one parent who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident. Federal courts have blocked the policy for a third time, calling it unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. Also in this issue: a Manhattan mass shooting linked to possible CTE, a viral restaurant scandal forces a James Beard-nominated chef to step down, and concerns rise over the value of college degrees as Gen Z graduates face rising unemployment.
Trump admin unveils plan to end birthright citizenship
The Trump administration has released plans to implement its executive order restricting birthright citizenship even as federal courts blocked the policy for the third time in less than a month.
How they’ll do it: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which processes immigration applications and visa petitions, released an implementation plan on July 25 limiting automatic birthright citizenship to children with at least one parent who is either a citizen or lawful permanent resident. Children whose parents are in the country unlawfully or hold temporary legal status — including parolees, Temporary Protected Status holders and deferred action recipients — would be excluded, while asylees, conditional permanent residents and refugees would remain eligible.
Other agencies have also developed new procedures requiring parents to prove their immigration status when applying for their children’s Social Security numbers or passports. For one, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has indicated that birth certificates alone would no longer establish citizenship for affected children, requiring additional documentation of parental status. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the USCIS, said it would develop measures to prevent immigration consequences for children born to parents with lawful temporary status.
The latest block: U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin in Massachusetts issued the latest nationwide block on Friday, criticizing the administration for failing to explain how implementation would work as its approach defies legal principles. The ruling followed a 2-1 decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on July 23 declaring the executive order unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante in New Hampshire granted class-action status to block the policy.
These court victories occurred despite a June Supreme Court ruling that limited judges’ authority to issue broad injunctions, though the justices allowed class-action lawsuits as an alternative mechanism for nationwide relief. The administration has indicated plans to appeal.
Why this matters: The administration’s plans would significantly impact Asian American families, particularly those on temporary work or student visas. “The question of a child’s citizenship in the United States ought not to be dependent on the stature or circumstances of their parents,” said Priya Purandare, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). Trump’s order directly challenges the 1898 Wong Kim Ark Supreme Court decision, which granted citizenship to a Chinese American born to non-citizen parents during the era of Chinese exclusion laws and established a precedent that has protected immigrant families for over a century.
Implementation would deny citizenship to more than 150,000 newborns annually, creating a generation without access to fundamental rights and services. “Since the Supreme Court’s decision, parents have lived in fear and uncertainty, wondering whether they should give birth in a different state, whether their newborns would be subject to deportation, and what kind of future awaits their children,” said Aarti Kohli, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus.
The case will likely return to the Supreme Court for final determination on both procedural and constitutional questions.
Manhattan shooter claims brain disease in suicide note
A former high school football player who opened fire in a Manhattan building Monday — killing four people before fatally shooting himself — left a note seemingly blaming the NFL for giving him a brain disease, investigation reveals.
What happened: The mass shooting began at around 6:30 p.m. at 345 Park Avenue, a 44-story office building that houses the NFL’s headquarters and other major corporations. Shane Devon Tamura, who was wearing body armor and carrying an assault rifle, parked his BMW outside and entered the lobby, where he allegedly opened fire.
Three people were killed on the ground floor, including off-duty NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, building security guard Aland Etienne and Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner. Before taking an elevator, surveillance footage captured Tamura allowing a woman to exit. Seeking to reach NFL offices on the fifth floor, Tamura then mistakenly took the wrong elevator to the 33rd floor Rudin Management offices, where he killed one more person before shooting himself in the chest. A fifth person, an NFL employee, was critically wounded but hospitalized in stable condition.
About the shooter: Tamura, 27, lived in Las Vegas, where he worked in surveillance at the Horseshoe hotel and casino and held a concealed firearms permit. He previously obtained private investigator licenses in California and Nevada in 2019, which both expired.
Ten years ago, he was a standout high school football player. “The sky is the limit with Shane,” Dan Kelley, his Golden Valley High School coach, told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal in 2014. Tamura transferred to Granada Hills Charter for his senior year in 2015 but withdrew after one semester. He also had a documented mental health history, including psychiatric holds in 2022 and 2024, and was arrested for trespassing at a Las Vegas casino in 2023 after refusing to leave when attempting to cash out $5,000. The charges were later dropped.
About CTE: In his suicide note, Tamura appeared to blame the NFL for his alleged chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease caused by repeated head injuries that leads to nerve cell death and worsens over time. The condition, however, can only be confirmed after death through brain autopsy and has been identified in football players, boxers and military veterans who experienced head trauma. Symptoms can include cognitive problems, behavioral changes such as aggression and impulsive actions, mood disorders including depression and suicidal thoughts, and movement difficulties.
“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” Tamura wrote in his note, referring to former NFL player Terry Long who died by suicide after drinking antifreeze in 2005 following his CTE diagnosis. “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you,” he added. The note also asked for his brain to be studied for the disease.
What authorities are saying: Mayor Eric Adams told CBS Tamura “appeared to have blamed the NFL for his injury” despite never playing professionally. He expressed frustration that Tamura obtained a concealed carry permit despite his mental health history, noting that while New York has strong gun laws, “many of our neighboring states have lax gun laws.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the rifle was assembled by Tamura “using a lower receiver purchased by an associate” and that authorities have located that person and others. Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told employees to work from home Tuesday while the building remained a crime scene, adding that the league was “deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers who responded to this threat quickly and decisively.”
The NYPD is reportedly sending two investigative teams to Las Vegas to execute search warrants and examine evidence recovered from Tamura’s background.
SF chef breaks silence amid severe fallout from viral belittling of TikTok influencer
A San Francisco chef has issued a public apology after a viral confrontation with a “micro influencer” at his restaurant, which led to his exit and the permanent closure of the business.
What happened: The controversy began earlier this month when Karla Marcotte, who had 15,000 TikTok followers at the time, was invited to collaborate with Kis Cafe in Hayes Valley for promotions. Marcotte said she expected to receive a complimentary meal for her and her husband in exchange for posting content, but after arriving alone early and starting to record while waiting for her husband, she overheard “this other guy behind the counter” questioning the host why she had been invited and criticizing her follower count.
The then-unidentified staff soon confronted Marcotte, telling her that her audience is “not the kind of people he wants at his restaurant,” which she interpreted as meaning her fans could not afford to eat there. He then allegedly bragged about his own accolades and mentioned his daughter’s higher follower count, saying Marcotte was not “at that level.” Marcotte’s husband eventually arrived and the couple left without eating. She later posted a TikTok video describing the encounter, saying she was left “crying” and “shaking” over it.
Internet justice: Marcotte’s video, which initially avoided naming the restaurant, has since received more than 22.7 million views and over 30,000 comments. But sleuths eventually identified the business as Kis Cafe and the man behind the counter as two-time James Beard Award-nominated chef Luke Sung, leading to a wave of negative reviews on Google and Yelp. Celebrities also backed Marcotte, with actor Jameela Jamil writing, “Love how badly this has gone for them.”
Sung’s daughter, Isa, whom his other restaurant was named after, also apologized under Marcotte’s video. “I’m genuinely so sorry you experienced this, the way you were treated is completely unacceptable, and no one should ever feel disrespected or uncomfortable in that way … Please know I’m genuinely on your side, and I’ll be having a serious conversation with my dad, and the co-owner involved to make sure something like this never happens again to anyone.”
Sung and Kis Cafe respond: Kis Cafe, which was named after Sung’s other child, Sunkis, distanced itself from the chef, confirming in an Instagram post Friday that he was “no longer part of the team as a co-owner, a chef or in any other way” and calling his behavior “unacceptable.” The restaurant, which announced its “permanent closure,” is reportedly “restructuring after these events” and has also requested the public not use the incident “as an opportunity to foment racism and hate speech.”
Sung, who “left on his own accord,” issued his apology Sunday through the restaurant’s Instagram. “Karla — I am truly sorry for my actions towards you. I was condescending, hurtful and intimidating,” he noted. “You did not deserve to be made to feel less than or unimportant.” He also apologized to his staff and daughter, writing, “I am sorry I put you in this position. I’ve failed you in the worst way.”
In an ironic twist, Marcotte’s follower count has now jumped from 15,000 to 406,000 and counting.
Value of college education tested as Gen Z graduates face rising unemployment
The traditional advantage of higher education is being put into question as unemployment continues to rise among recent college graduates, challenging the value of degrees Asian American families have long prioritized.
By the numbers: The unemployment rate among recent graduates has risen to 5.8%, while that of the broader group of workers aged 22 to 27 has risen to 6.9%, according to the latest Federal Reserve figures. The situation is equally challenging for those with advanced credentials: Gen Z graduates with master’s degrees or higher reportedly faced a 5.8% unemployment rate in the first half of 2025, up from 3% in the same period last year. Meanwhile, 41.2% of recent graduates are underemployed, working jobs that typically do not require bachelor’s degrees, up from 38.9% last December.
Why this matters: These employment difficulties especially affect Asian Americans given their educational priorities. Among those aged 18 to 24, Asian Americans have the highest college enrollment at 61%, followed by white students at 41%, those with two or more races at 36%, Black students at 36%, Hispanic students at 33%, Pacific Islander students at 27% and American Indian/Alaska Native students at 26%, according to most recent figures from the National Center for Education Statistics. For those 25 and older, 56% of Asian Americans hold bachelor’s degrees or higher, well above the 36% rate for all U.S.-born people, as per the Pew Research Center.
As it appears, degrees no longer guarantee job security. At Harvard’s MBA program, for example, 23% of job-seeking graduates from spring 2024 were still unemployed three months later, the Wall Street Journal reported in January. Financial pressures also increase as 43% of workers have turned down job offers because pay was too low to handle educational debt.
What’s behind this: Various factors have transformed the employment landscape. Federal hiring freezes reduced government positions, while employers increasingly prioritize skills over degrees. Even internships are tough; listings on college job platform Handshake, for one, reportedly dropped more than 15% from early 2023 to early 2025.
For now, some students are pursuing alternative routes. Male college enrollment declined by about 1 million between 2011 and 2022, while vocational school enrollment has increased 20% since 2020. Economic recovery may hinge on healthcare and other service sectors as the population ages, plus entirely new careers that integrate artificial intelligence technology.
Growing number of American expats weigh renouncing U.S. citizenship: survey
Nearly half of American expatriates are now considering giving up their U.S. citizenship, a recent survey of 1,100 Americans found. Greenback’s 2025 Expat Trends Survey revealed that 49% of Americans living abroad are planning to or seriously considering renunciation, up from 30% in 2024. According to 63% of respondents, the outcome of the 2024 U.S. election reinforced their decision to stay overseas.
Driving the trend
A concern affecting a majority of the respondents is the political direction of the U.S. government, with 60% saying they do not feel fairly represented by the U.S. government. The same number also believe America’s global reputation declined following the 2024 election, while 54% feel U.S. foreign policy toward their host country has worsened. The sentiment echoes broader concerns at home, as a recent Talker Research poll found that 17% of Americans are considering moving abroad in the next five years, with most worried about the nation’s direction.
The most likely to renounce
Interest in renouncing citizenship is strongest among Millennial and Gen X expats, at 60% and 54% respectively, compared with just 29% among Gen Z and baby boomers. Expat parents with children under 18 are especially likely to consider renunciation, with 71% having weighed the idea. Location also reveals sharp differences: 93% of U.S. expats in India, 53% in the U.K., 48% in France, 47% in Australia, 30% in Canada and 27% in Germany report serious consideration of renouncing their citizenship.
12-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy makes big splash in global debut
Twelve-year-old Yu Zidi captured global attention on July 28 by reaching the women’s 200-meter individual medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. She recorded a personal best of 2:09.21 in the final, finishing fourth and missing a medal by just six hundredths of a second. Yu became the youngest finalist in the history of the event.
Yu’s rapid ascent
The aquatic prodigy first hit headlines last year after missing out on an Olympic qualifying time for Paris 2024 by just two seconds. Born in October 2012 in Baoding, Hebei province, Yu began swimming at age six and trains with the Hebei Taihua Jinye club under Olympic medalist Li Bingjie. In May 2025 she set a world age-group record in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:10.63. She also posted world-class times of 2:06.83 in the 200-meter butterfly and 4:35.53 in the 400-meter individual medley at China’s national championships, results that would have placed her in the finals at recent Olympic Games.
While World Aquatics typically requires competitors to be at least 14, Yu received an age exemption after surpassing the A-standard qualifying times. In Singapore she swam 2:11.90 in the heats and improved to 2:10.22 in the semifinals to qualify for the final.
The future is bright
In the championship race, Yu delivered a lifetime best of 2:09.21, joining a select group of women who have finished the 200-meter individual medley in under 2:10. She placed just behind Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey, who took bronze. After the race Yu said, “I will try to get on the podium but I feel that’s probably impossible. I was one step short today so I will keep working hard.”
Yu credits her coaches, team and family for her rapid development and support balancing swimming with her education. She is scheduled to compete in the 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley later in the competition, events in which her qualifying times rank among the world’s best for her age.
Leylah Fernandez’s WTA 500 title win sets new benchmark for Canadian tennis
Tennis star Leylah Fernandez stormed to a historic victory at the Washington Open on Sunday, overwhelming Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 to become the first Canadian woman to claim the tournament’s singles crown. The 22-year-old Filipino Canadian’s commanding performance delivered her first WTA 500 title and marked the most significant milestone yet in her rising career.
Fernandez, whose mother is Filipino Canadian and father is Ecuadorian, entered the event ranked No. 36. She had not advanced past the quarterfinals in 2025 before arriving in Washington. Her title run included a straight-sets win over top seed Jessica Pegula and a three-hour semifinal against world No. 4 Elena Rybakina, in which she saved a match point before closing out one of the longest matches of her career. In the final, Fernandez broke Kalinskaya’s serve in the opening game, maintained control throughout and allowed only three games in total.
The win marks Fernandez’s fourth career WTA singles title and her first above the 250 level. The victory raised her to a career-high world ranking of No. 24, the highest for a Canadian woman on tour this year. She is also the first Canadian woman to win the Washington Open since the tournament’s inception.
After her win, Fernandez said, “Everything just clicked in that week,” crediting her coaches for preparing her mentally and physically after a difficult start to the season. She noted the pride she feels representing both Canadian and Filipino communities on the international stage and said her family’s support was crucial to her result.
The WTA 500 tier is considered a significant level on the women’s professional circuit, with more ranking points and a stronger field than the WTA 250 tournaments. Previous Canadian women’s singles champions have not reached this tier, making Fernandez’s win a first for the country. Her victories over two top-10 opponents, Pegula and Rybakina, also set her run apart from previous Canadian performances.
Ichiro Suzuki’s sense of humor was on display in his HOF induction speech
Ichiro Suzuki used humor to call out the single dissenter among the 394 Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters during his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. The first Japanese-born player elected to the Hall spoke with wit and heart in a nearly 18-minute speech delivered in English at Cooperstown.
Expired invitation: Suzuki acknowledged receiving 393 votes, just one shy of unanimous selection, and spoke directly to the crowd about his philosophy and the Hall of Fame process. He said, “Fans deserve to be entertained whenever they choose to come. Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today. Not because my skills are better than others. Three thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one of you. And by the way, the offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired.” The remarks drew laughter and applause from the audience.
Dissenting voter: The lone dissenting vote prevented Suzuki from joining Mariano Rivera as the only unanimous first-ballot inductee in Hall history. The voter, whose identity has not been disclosed, drew strong criticism from sports media and fans when voting results were released in January. ESPN analyst Damien Woody asked, “Who was the numbskull that did not vote for Ichiro?” and Fox Sports’ Ben Verlander called for the writer to explain the omission.
Reflections and gratitude: Reflecting on his career, Suzuki spoke about his early days in Nippon Professional Baseball and his move to Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners. He recalled visiting Cooperstown before he knew what the Hall of Fame was and joked about his time with the Miami Marlins, admitting “when you guys called to offer me a contract for 2015, I had never heard of your team.” Suzuki also offered advice about discipline and told the crowd “If you consistently do the little things there is no limit to what you can achieve.” He paid tribute to his wife Yumiko and called her the most consistent teammate he ever had.
Honors continue: After the ceremony the Seattle Mariners announced plans to retire Suzuki’s No. 51 jersey on August 9 during Ichiro Hall of Fame Weekend at T-Mobile Park. The celebration will include career highlights, special giveaways and appearances from former teammates.
Marvel’s first female Iron Fist finds her voice
Voice actress Jona Xiao will portray the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first female Iron Fist in the animated prequel series “Eyes of Wakanda,” which premieres August 1 on Disney+. Xiao confirmed her groundbreaking role during San Diego Comic-Con, marking the first time a woman will hold the Iron Fist mantle in Marvel’s official timeline. The series, set across various historical periods, follows Wakanda’s Hatut Zeraze on secret missions around the world and introduces a new take on the Iron Fist legacy far removed from modern MCU continuity.
Not Finn Jones
The casting of a female Iron Fist follows past criticism of the previous live-action “Iron Fist” series, which starred Finn Jones as Danny Rand. Jones’s portrayal drew controversy over allegations of cultural appropriation and the perpetuation of the “white savior” trope, with many critics questioning Marvel’s decision to cast a white actor in a role rooted in Asian martial arts tradition. The backlash prompted calls for more inclusive casting and led Jones to temporarily step away from social media during the height of the debate.
“Stoked” for the role
Reflecting on the announcement, Xiao said she was “so stoked to reveal I’m playing the MCU’s 1st ever female Iron Fist.” Initial reactions to Xiao’s casting have been largely positive, with fans and commentators viewing the move as a significant step toward more authentic and diverse representation in the MCU. While Marvel has yet to reveal the character’s official name, speculation points to Wu Ao-Shi, a 16th-century Iron Fist from the comics known as the “Pirate Queen of Pinghai Bay.” The introduction of a female Iron Fist signals Marvel’s intent to broaden its storytelling and bring new perspectives to long-standing superhero roles.
Conrad Ricamora starts scholarship for Asian American male actors
Tony-nominated actor Conrad Ricamora, announced a new scholarship program on Tuesday to support Asian American men pursuing BFA or MFA acting degrees. The scholarship aims to address longstanding underrepresentation of Asian American men in the performing arts. The Filipino American actor, known for his work in “Here Lies Love” and “How to Get Away with Murder,” said his own experiences inspired him to help create more opportunities for emerging talent facing similar challenges in the industry.
Ricamora pledged an initial donation of $8,000 “because 8 is a lucky Chinese number” and then matched the first $10,000 raised in his online fundraising campaign for the scholarship, which as of press time has reached over $45,000 toward a goal of $55,000. “Let's not wait for gatekeepers to change the rules. Let's change the soil,” he wrote. “I'm calling this fund The Right to Be There — because no young actor should grow up feeling like their presence is conditional. Not in their training, and not on the stage.”
The scholarship will offer financial support, mentorship and networking opportunities for selected recipients, with applications opening later this year. Ricamora highlighted the need for more inclusive casting and greater visibility of Asian American stories both on stage and screen. “I want to make sure the next generation of Asian American actors feels seen and supported,” Ricamora said.