In Memory of Tuyet Le

Dear Community Members, We are deeply saddened to share that Tuyet M. Le, Advancing Justice | Chicago’s former executive director, passed away on Saturday, February 8th, 2025. Tuyet was a remarkable leader who transformed our organization over her 18-year tenure. When Tuyet first became executive director in 1999, Advancing Justice | Chicago was a fledgling organization with just two staff. By the time she passed the torch in 2018, she had established Advancing Justice | Chicago as a powerful advocacy organization and outspoken voice for racial equity. Tuyet exponentially increased our organization’s staff and capacity (we had a staff of 15 by the time she left!), built lasting infrastructure within the Asian American community, and crafted a vision for our future that still resonates today. Her many accomplishments included spearheading the Asian American community’s first joint Census outreach effort in 2000 and co-founding the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition in 2001. At a time when there were no Asian Americans in the Illinois state legislature, Tuyet convened an “Asian American Caucus” of legislators whose districts were at least 10% Asian American. The PAVE Coalition educated these elected officials about issues impacting the Asian American community, organized what is now an annual Asian American Action Day in Springfield, and hosted Chicago’s first multilingual Asian American mayoral forum in 2011. Tuyet played a pivotal role in countless advocacy efforts, including affirmative action in city contracting, redistricting, and the Illinois TRUST Act, to name a few. Tuyet’s fearless leadership, clear vision, and unwavering commitment made Advancing Justice | Chicago into what it is today. She challenged us to live out our organizational values of Love, Interdependence, Tenacity, Audacity, and Impact – reminding us to “ask for forgiveness, not for permission,” to be “fire starters and truth tellers,” and to think outside the box by “brain-kiting” (her alternative phrase for brainstorming). She never attended a meeting that didn’t have a “POP” (a clear Purpose, Outcomes, and Process). She had a great sense of humor and the humility of a community organizer. We invite you to share your memories of Tuyet, along with stories of her impact, with us. Please email info@advancingjustice-chicago.org with the subject line “Tuyet.” We will compile these stories to share with her loved ones and broader community at the celebration of her life this summer. We will remember and honor Tuyet in all of the work we do. May her legacy continue to inspire all whose lives she touched. Sincerely, Grace and the Advancing Justice | Chicago team Learn more about Tuyet’s life: Obituary Tribute video from 2018 to celebrate Tuyet’s 18 years of dedication to Advancing Justice | Chicago Our former development director Shannon Downey’s reflections on Tuyet

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PRESS STATEMENT: Saturday, January 18th, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: Arjumand Khan-Akhan@advancingjustice-chicago.org

Community Alert: Know Your Rights

Dear Community Members,

We are taking a moment to advise all of our members and supporters to be vigilant this week, especially those who are immigrants or non-citizens.

Tomorrow, a new presidential administration will take office. We expect heightened immigration enforcement activity throughout the next four years, possibly beginning this week. Some members of the Trump administration have claimed they will target Chicago with immigration raids and patrols. While it is impossible to know whether these plans will materialize, we urge community members to be alert, prepare, and know their rights.

If you are stopped by an immigration officer (from ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement):

• You have the right to remain silent.
• Remain calm and keep your hands where officers can see them.
• Do not discuss your immigrant or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or any other officials.
• Do not sign anything you do not understand. Ask to speak with an attorney.
• If an officer knocks on your door at home, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. Teach your children or other household members not to open the door.
• ICE officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter your home. Many ICE “warrants” are not signed by judges; they are ICE forms signed by ICE officers and they do NOT grant authority to enter your home without your consent. Ask the officer to slide the “warrant” under the door for you to review.

Additional resources on how immigrants can prepare can be found here.

If you believe you are witnessing ICE activity, please call ICIRR’s 24-hour Family Support Hotline at 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693) to report it and write down any relevant information about what you witness.

Advancing Justice | Chicago is disseminating Know Your Rights cards in Asian languages so that this information is readily available when needed. As part of ICIRR’s statewide network, we are also launching a Rapid Response Team tomorrow that will document ICE activity and support impacted individuals and families. If you are interested in joining the Rapid Response Team, please contact Ellen at ezhou@advancingjustice-chicago.org. For any other questions or requests, please reply to this email.

In solidarity,

Grace and the Advancing Justice | Chicago team

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago builds power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity. Learn more at www.advancingjustice-chicago.org.  

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PRESS STATEMENT: Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: Arjumand Khan-Akhan@advancingjustice-chicago.org

Illinois Fights Back on Pres. Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Executive Order 

{Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025}-In response to breaking news, Illinois has joined 21 other states in challenging President Trump’s newly signed executive order that seeks to block birthright citizenship. This executive order is being criticized as unconstitutional, as it contradicts the 14th Amendment, which guarantees that anyone born in the U.S. is an American citizen.  

The 14th Amendment holds particular significance in Asian American history because of United States v. Wong Kim Ark, a landmark Supreme Court case that upheld birthright citizenship for the children of noncitizen immigrants.  

Wong’s story mirrors that of many Asian Americans today. He was born in San Francisco in 1873 to Chinese immigrant parents. After traveling to China, he was denied re-entry into the United States based on his citizenship status. The U.S. government argued that he was not a citizen because his parents were not U.S. citizens. 

Citing the 14th Amendment, Wong Kim Ark fought the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won in 1898. The decision was a landmark victory that protected the constitutional right to citizenship for all children of immigrants. The legacy of this decision continues to impact Asian American communities today, as more than half of Asian Americans are immigrants (according to Pew). 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago applauds Governor Pritzker and Attorney General Raoul for defending birthright citizenship and the rights of immigrant communities in the face of racist and xenophobic attacks. 

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Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago builds power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity. Learn more at www.advancingjustice-chicago.org.  

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PRESS STATEMENT: Sunday, January 19th, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: Arjumand Khan-Akhan@advancingjustice-chicago.org

Statement on Gaza Ceasefire

January 19, 2025 – Today, Israel and Hamas implemented a ceasefire and an agreement to release hostages and prisoners on both sides. This momentous development paves the way for an end to the war in Gaza, which has had lasting effects on Chicagoland communities.  

Advancing Justice | Chicago is hopeful that the ceasefire brings a sense of relief to the many Illinoisans who have been impacted by the war. Although the recent rise in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism will have lasting effects, we remain steadfast in combatting bigotry, discrimination, and hateful rhetoric wherever they arise.  

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago builds power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity. Learn more at www.advancingjustice-chicago.org.  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 6th, 2024
CONTACT: Arjumand Khan – akhan@advancingjustice-chicago.org

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Responds to the 2024 Election Outcome 

The nation’s largest network of AAPI civil rights organizations, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, jointly issued this statement today.

Last night, Donald J. Trump was re-elected as the President of the United States. As an affiliation of civil rights organizations, we recognize that this result may evoke strong feelings, in the communities we serve and the partners we work with. Considering the harmful rhetoric expressed by his campaign, and the lasting impact of his previous administration, we remain steadfast in our work with and for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. We will continue to protect immigrant communities, fight voter suppression, and stand up against hate and discrimination.

In the face of suppression, intimidation, and language barriers, our communities mobilized to ensure that AANHPI voices were heard at each level of the elections. And we will continue to be vocal about the rights and dignity of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

With this new administration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice will:

Fight for the rights of immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and all communities of color.

Demand lawmakers practice humane immigration policies, expand Asian language access, eliminate hate and bigotry.

Advance human rights by defending the civil liberties of AANHPIs, women, LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and all communities of color.

Fight for a society that is respectful and equitable for all Americans.

Election Day may be behind us, but our work is more urgent than ever. Together, we will swiftly respond to this rapidly changing environment.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliated organizations are Advancing Justice – AAJC, AJSOCAL, Advancing Justice – Chicago, and Advancing Justice – Atlanta.

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