Vicha Ratanapakdee’s killer acquitted of murder, convicted of manslaughter
A San Francisco jury found Antoine Watson guilty of lesser charges in the 2021 death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, but cleared him of murder and elder abuse in a case that helped fuel the...
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #169
The U.S. recorded its first net population decline in at least five decades after the State Department canceled more than 100,000 visas in 2025 and tightened screening for students and workers. In San Francisco, a jury found the man who killed 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee guilty of manslaughter and assault, but not guilty of murder or elder abuse. New studies also show that grouping Asian Americans into a single category continues to hide higher risks of heart disease, pregnancy complications and early death for some ethnic groups. Elsewhere, a former U.S. Navy sailor was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for passing U.S. military information to Chinese intelligence, while new films from Asia and the diaspora drew attention at major international awards shows.
Trump’s America just hit a migration milestone no one wanted. For Asian Americans, the implications are profound
Over 100,000 visas were canceled by the State Department throughout 2025, setting an unprecedented record with more than double the 40,000 revocations from the previous year. This week, we learned that the sweeping enforcement contributed to the nation’s first instance of negative net migration in at least five decades, and with significant implications for Asian American communities who make up substantial portions of student and skilled worker visa populations.
At a glance
Announced last Sunday, the historic numbers follow implementation of Trump’s executive orders on foreign vetting issued upon his inauguration, alongside an August 2025 initiative examining all 55 million foreigners holding valid U.S. visas. While the majority involved business and tourist visa holders who overstayed, enforcement swept considerably wider:
Cancellations affected 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized worker visas, with authorities indicating most cases involved criminal encounters with law enforcement.
Specialized worker revocations broke down as: 50% for drunk driving arrests, 30% for assault, battery or confinement charges, 20% for theft, child abuse, substance abuse and distribution, fraud and embezzlement.
Close to 500 students forfeited visas for drug possession and distribution; hundreds of workers for suspected child abuse.
Six individuals from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa had visas revoked following social media posts regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September.
To sustain this effort, a Continuous Vetting Center was established to monitor foreign nationals’ compliance with U.S. laws and enable swift revocations for those deemed threats.
What this means for Asian Americans
If you’ve followed us throughout 2025, you’d know that the administration’s policy shift carries outsized consequences for Asian communities. For one, Chinese students comprise roughly 25% of international university enrollment, creating disproportionate vulnerability as enforcement increasingly treats mere accusations as sufficient grounds for action. Revocation criteria have also expanded well beyond traditional violations to encompass political speech monitoring on social media and targeting of individuals who support pro-Palestinian activism, which officials characterize as threats to foreign policy.
Last November, the administration also implemented public charge provisions that reject visa applicants deemed likely to need public benefits based on health conditions, age, weight or English language abilities. For families who have built lives and careers in the country, this represents a fundamental shift from predictable immigration rules to discretionary enforcement where visa status can be revoked based on subjective criteria or political speech rather than clear legal violations.
On the matter of student visas, State Secretary Marco Rubio made the administration’s discretionary approach clear in August, saying they are “something we decide to give you.” Arguably more concerning, however, are reports of citizen detentions, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defending agents who demand citizenship proof from Americans even after two Minnesota Target employees, both confirmed U.S. citizens by state lawmakers, were violently detained earlier this week. These incidents suggest enforcement may increasingly rely on appearance-based assumptions, raising urgent questions about how Asian Americans, regardless of citizenship status, will navigate encounters with immigration authorities.
The big picture
The ripple effects reach far beyond immigration policy into economic and educational foundations. Higher education institutions faced NAFSA projections of up to 40% enrollment declines among new international students, a drop that would eliminate over 60,000 jobs and $7 billion in local spending. At the national level, Brookings Institution research estimates that 2025 net migration ranged from negative 10,000 to negative 295,000 people, with consumer spending projected to fall between $60 billion and $110 billion through 2026 as affected sectors experience weakened employment and GDP growth.
These aren’t abstract statistics. They represent real communities where Asian-owned businesses, ethnic grocers and service providers depend on immigrant customer bases that are now shrinking.
State Department instructions now direct diplomats abroad to carefully scrutinize applicants who have political activism backgrounds. Despite the administration’s claims of over 600,000 removals, the Brookings analysis places actual 2025 removals at 310,000 to 315,000, only modestly higher than 2024’s 285,000. This suggests the negative migration stems more from reduced entries than increased deportations. In other words, people aren’t just being forced out; they’re choosing not to come, a brain drain that could reshape American innovation and research for years.
Looking ahead
Funding from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will expand enforcement infrastructure and staffing, hinting at intensified measures ahead. Yet Asian American communities have repeatedly demonstrated resilience navigating policy upheaval, and support networks exist to help through these challenges. For instance, the Consular Accountability Project, led by immigration attorney Eric Lee, offers free legal representation to individuals confronting visa actions based on political speech.
Now more than ever, it’s important to stay vigilant, know your protections and keep thorough records. As we’ve learned in recent years, the community’s strength emerges through unified advocacy and mutual aid during uncertain times.
Vicha Ratanapakdee’s killer acquitted of murder, convicted of manslaughter
A San Francisco jury found Antoine Watson guilty of lesser charges in the 2021 death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, but cleared him of murder and elder abuse in a case that helped fuel the Stop Asian Hate movement.
