Asian American Federation

@aafederation

Empowering NYC’s Asian American Community Since 1989

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Asian American Federation@aafederation· 3d

NYC is home to the largest Nepali community in the US, and our hearts go out to our Nepali neighbors, friends, and family. Please consider supporting local Nepali community organizations like Adhikaar or donating to Nepal's disaster relief fund at pmdrf.nchl.com.np

Asian American Federation
On August 26, 2026, a series of massive flash floods struck along the Trishuli River in Nepal, causing enormous damage and sweeping away buildings, infrastructure, and entire villages. Hundreds have been killed, nearly 2,000 more people are still missing, and many thousands more have been displaced from their homes.

New York is home to the largest Nepali population in the United States, with over 20,000 Nepali New Yorkers living in neighborhoods like Jackson Heights. For months, the Nepali community has been grappling with the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepal, which gave immigrants protections from deportation and the ability to live and work in the US while conditions in Nepal made it unsafe to return.

Now, Nepali New Yorkers are reeling from this tragedy, worried about their families and friends in Nepal and trying to get information about their loved ones. Grief knows no borders, but the thousands of Nepalis who recently lost their TPS are facing additional challenges and uncertainties as they navigate their immigration status in the midst of multiple crises. As Asian New Yorkers, AAF extends our solidarity, care, and support to our Nepali communities and everyone impacted by this disaster.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 4d

We just wrapped up a summer with another great group of interns across our different departments at AAF! Here's what our policy intern Mina Kim from had to say about her experience with us!

AAF Intern Spotlight
Name: Mina Kim
AAF Team: Policy
Why AAF?
What drew me to AAF was that it doesn’t separate research, advocacy, and community. AAF fills a gap that almost no other organization tries to fill by collecting data on a community too often treated as a monolith and translating it into something accessible to make sure everyday Asian Americans actually understand what their government is doing and how to participate in it!
School: Williams College
Major(s): Psychology+sociology
Year: Rising junior
Program: Alumni Sponsored Internship Program (ASIP)

AAF Intern Spotlight
Name: Mina Kim
What did you learn or enjoy most?
I loved watching the Egypt-Argentina game with everyone during lunch break, junior staff's boba trips, walking with Prakhar to the train, and the random table pairings during core values trainings. Being a part of a group that works together well both in and outside of the office has been really fun and the environment is what made the work even more meaningful and fun.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 5d

🍊Our Data Center has been updated with the latest info from the Census Bureau! AAF is your source for the most up to date demographic information on Asian New Yorkers—everything from citizenship rates to employment levels for over 12 Asian ethnicities. Check it out at datacenter.aafederation.org!

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 5d

Don't risk your SNAP benefits! Some SNAP recipients now need to meet additional work requirements to keep receiving benefits. Do those changes apply to you? Resources from NYC HRA, translated into Burmese, Hindi, Japanese, Karen, Khmer, Nepali, and Vietnamese: www.aafederation.org/immigration-...

A palm card translated into Vietnamese, informing people of new work requirements to continue receiving SNAP benefits.

An info sheet translated into Burmese, informing informing people of new work requirements to continue receiving SNAP benefits.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 6d

For free, confidential legal support, contact the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs' hotline (800) 354-0365, call 311 and say "Immigration Legal", or call the New York State Office of New Americans' hotline at (800) 566-7636.

My child is a U.S. citizen. Can their benefits be considered?
YES. The new policy allows officers to consider information about an applicant’s household and dependents when considering a case. This can include benefits received by the person’s U.S. citizen child.

What we don’t know yet:
•The new policy allows immigration officers to consider an applicant’s circumstances case by case.
•Important details about how different benefits and personal situations will be evaluated are still unclear.
•The lack of clear guidelines and anxiety about the future may cause families to avoid using benefits they are eligible for, even if these benefits are not part of the public charge rule.
DHS says additional guidance will be issued closer to September 18, 2026.

What should you do?
•DON’T make decisions about public benefits or travel based on rumors or unverified information
•DO talk to a qualified legal service provider about your specific situation
•Call (800) 354-0365 for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs’ Immigration Legal Support Hotline
•Call 311 and say “Immigration Legal”
•Call (800) 566-7636 for the NYS Office for New Americans Hotline
Need help in your own language?
Contact a local community-based organization for immigration information and legal support in your preferred language.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 6d

The public charge rule is changing soon on September 18, 2026, impacting immigrants applying for green cards or legal permanent status. What is public charge? How might it impact you or your family members? Learn more below ⬇️

The public charge rule is changing on September 18, 2026.
Here’s what Asian New Yorkers need to know.

So, what is public charge?
Public charge is a rule that immigration officers use to decide whether certain people applying for a green card (legal permanent residence) or a visa to come to the US are likely to depend on the government in the future.
Not everyone is subject to the public charge rule.

Does public charge apply to me?
You don’t have to worry about public charge if you are:
•A US citizen
•Renewing your green card
•An immigrant who has a green card and is not planning to leave the US for six months.
•An asylee or a refugee
•A survivor of domestic violence, trafficking, or serious crimes (VAWA, T visa holder, or U visa holder)
•A child or young adult who is a designated Special Immigrant Juvenile
•Not eligible to apply for a green card

What is changing?
Starting September 18, 2026, immigration officers will be able to consider whether an applicant has received certain “means tested” (eligibility depending on income) public benefits, including but not limited to:
•SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
•Medicaid
•CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program)
•TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
•Section 8 housing assistance
They may also consider factors such as age, health, family status, assets, resources, and financial status, education and skills, and affidavit of support.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 6d

We're proud to announce that Asian American Federation Chief Executive Officer Catherine Chen has been named a 2026 Best in Government Affairs - New York honoree by US Lege and Capitol Confidential! Congratulations, Catherine!

Congratulations to Catherine Chen
Association Advocate of the Year
Best in Government Affairs New York 2026
US Lege
Capitol Confidential

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 7d

Last week we held our first FY26-27 RISE Network meeting, sharing important policy updates and learning about filing habae corpus petitions to support Asian immigrant New Yorkers in detention. Special thanks to Jack from Chinese-American Planning Council for guiding us through the training!

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 13d

Immigration raids are increasing across New York City. Do you have a plan if you're separated from your family? AAF has a simple 5-step guide in eight different Asian languages to help families prepare for immigration emergencies. Make a plan today: www.aafederation.org/immigration-...

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 25d

⛅ Our emotions are like the weather, and checking in with yourself is just as important as checking the forecast. When you're feeling downcast, know that you're not alone. With over 600 providers speaking 19+ languages, check out AAF's mental health directory: mhd.aafederation.org

Asian American Federation@aafederation· 27d

How can you support your child if they're being bullied? Our multilingual guide helps parents learn how to make sure their children feel seen, heard, and loved and where to go for in-language parenting guidance or mental health services.🫂 Check it out at mentalhealth.aafederation.org/post/how-to-...

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jul 30

Thank you Time Television for having us on the show last night to talk about changes to the public charge rule and the impact on immigrant New Yorkers. Before making any decisions about receiving public benefits, we strongly urge everyone to consult a legal service provider.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jul 23

What might ADHD look like in children? How can Asian parents identify those signs & advocate for their kids? Our new multilingual guide on the early signs of ADHD in toddlers to teens is now available in English, Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Korean, and Urdu! 🧡Check it out: mentalhealth.aafederation.org

6 Signs of ADHD in Preschool Children
High activity levels, always "on the go"
Trouble staying seated or playing quietly
Short attention span for age appropriate tasks
Difficulty following simple instructions
Frequent tantrums or emotional outbursts
Impulsive behaviors (running into danger, grabbing toys)
mentalhealthaafederation.org

Visit our Mental Health Hub to download this resource for various age groups in 5 different Asian languages!
mentalhealth.aafederation.org

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jul 2

While AAF applauds critical investments in the FY27 City Budget, we and the RISE Network remain concerned that current investments do not match the scale of need and continue to urge sustained funding for immigrant services for AAPI New Yorkers. Full statement: www.aafederation.org/aaf-statemen...

Press Statement July 2, 2026
AAF Statement on FY2027 New York City Budget Funding allocated for AAPI Legal Services Falls Short of Growing Community Needs
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Press Statement July 2, 2026
“AAF is grateful to Mayor Mamdani, Speaker Menin, and NY City Council members who recognized the importance of investing in immigrant communities and supported this effort. At the same time, we must be honest about what is at stake. Without adequate investment, community members would have to wait longer for help, struggle to connect with trusted providers and encounter even greater barriers to accessing the support they need. This is not only about funding a program, it is about sustaining the infrastructure that allows immigrant New Yorkers across the city to get timely, culturally responsive services. For many families those services can make the difference between staying together and being separated.”
-Catherine Chen, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian American Federation
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Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 30

Asian Americans have been at the forefront of this fight since the beginning and we are grateful to the many organizations that have fought tirelessly to protect birthright citizenship and the democratic principles our country was founded on.

Press Statement June 30, 2026
Without Wong and many other Asian plaintiffs like Takao Ozawa and Bhagat Singh Thind who appealed before the Supreme Court, millions of Americans in the generation since would have been denied the right to be and become citizens and fully participate in American life.
As the nation's fastest growing population, Asian Americans would have faced a disproportionate impact from any attempt to undermine birthright citizenship. Future generations could have lost not only citizenship but fundamental rights, the ability to vote, and the opportunity to build lives in America. The Asian American Federation is grateful to the multiracial coalitions of Asian, Latino, and Black civil rights organizations that fought to protect birthright citizenship and the democratic principles our country was founded on.
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Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 30

Today’s Supreme Court ruling affirms what we at AAF have always known to be true: birthright citizenship is enshrined in the Constitution and attacks on it are attacks on the right of every American to belong.

AAF Statement June 30, 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship as a Constitutional Right
Virtually all children born in the United States are citizens at birth.
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Press Statement June 30, 2026
This morning, the Supreme Court ruled on birthright citizenship, upholding a principle that has been a cornerstone of American constitutional law for over 150 years. This ruling affirms what we at the Asian American Federation have always known to be true: birthright citizenship is enshrined in the Constitution and attacks on it are attacks on the right of every American to belong.
Asian Americans have been at the forefront of this fight since the very beginning. In 1898, Wong Kim Ark, the son of Chinese immigrants, challenged the US government’s refusal to recognize his citizenship and brought his case all the way to the Supreme Court. His case became the landmark precedent that established birthright citizenship in the Fourteenth Amendment as we know it today.
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Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 30

Thank you so much to all of our members who joined us for AAF’s annual member convening last Wednesday! We were so grateful for your presence, feedback, and insight as we build out better systems to serve our members and ultimately to serve Asian New Yorkers.

A group photograph with Commissioner Faiza Ali of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and attendees at the Asian American Federation’s annual member convening.

A photograph of attendees at the Asian American Federation’s 2026 member convening.

A group photograph with Deputy Commissioner Dabash Negash of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice and attendees at the Asian American Federation’s annual member convening.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 29

View the guide and additional forms on our website in English, Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Urdu, Vietnamese. Make a plan today, so if the unthinkable happens tomorrow, you're ready: www.aafederation.org/immigration-...

A preview of the Asian American Federation's family preparedness guide in Vietnamese

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 29

Who can care for your kids, what medications your spouse needs, how to find a loved one in detention—every immigrant family needs a plan for if they're separated. Our family preparedness guide is now available in EIGHT Asian languages: www.aafederation.org/immigration-...

A preview of the Asian American Federation's emergency preparedness guide in Hindi.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 23

This Pride and Immigrant Heritage Month, we celebrate the legacy of changemakers like Dr. Chung, who show us that LGBTQ+ Asian Americans have always existed and have always fought for dignity, justice, and equal rights.

She cross-dressed, drove sports cars, and had romantic relationships with famous women such as the poet Elsa Gidlow, and actress Sophie Tucker.
But she wasn’t only bold in her private life.

Dr. Chung helped establish the San Francisco Chinese Hospital in 1925, the only one of its kind in the United States, becoming one of its four department heads.
And, when World War II broke out, she became more than a doctor - she became a source of support to thousands of young servicemen.

During the war, she hosted meals in her home, “adopting” a chosen family of 1500 servicemen, pilots, and political leaders who affectionately called her "Mom Chung."
She leaned on this support network to advocate for women’s right to join the army and helped create the Women’s Naval Reserves (WAVES).
But despite her patriotism, the system rejected her.

She was denied entry to WAVES—likely because of her race, age, and sexual preferences, and never received credit for her patriotic work during the war.
This Pride and Immigrant Heritage Month, we honor Asian Americans like Margaret Chung.
Dr. Chung refused to stay inside the narrow lines the world drew for her. As she said, “I used to be ladylike and deferential, but found it didn’t pay.”
We continue to fight to hold the door she opened so more of us can come through and build a better world.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 23

Who was Margaret Jessie Chung? How did she choose her own path and live authentically to herself in a time of discrimination against women, Chinese immigrants, and gay people?

This gay woman became the first American-born Chinese woman doctor in the U.S.
Who was she?
AAF Celebrates Pride and Immigrant Heritage Month

Margaret Jessie Chung
Margaret was born in Santa Barbara in 1889 to Chinese immigrant parents. Her mother had tuberculosis and Margaret “would stand at the foot of her bed all night long, agonized with terror, watching her die a little at a time.'’
That early experience with illness made her want to become a doctor —despite facing barriers like poverty and discrimination.

Margaret put herself through medical school at USC, at a time when Chinese immigrants were being told they were “alien” and unwanted.
She was the only woman, and the only student of color.
In school, she dressed as
a man and went by “Mike.”
She graduated in 1916, but the doors of the medical world were closed to her.

She was rejected from internships and medical missions.
So she started her own practice, first in LA, then in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
But many Chinatown residents shunned her as an outsider.
There were rumors about her being gay.
Still, Dr. Chung kept pushing against the suffocating social rules of her time.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 19

Today, AAF honors Juneteenth—the day in 1865 when all slaves finally gained their hard-fought freedom. As the struggle for true racial justice continues, we stand firm with Black New Yorkers against anti-Blackness and systemic racism and towards equality for all.

AAF HONORS JUNETEENTH

Today, we commemorate Juneteenth, a celebration of Black emancipation and the end of slavery in the United States. AAF stands unwaveringly in solidarity with our Black siblings, organizations, and New Yorkers against anti-Blackness and systemic racism.

We know the work towards genuine equality is far from over, and that the fight against anti-Blackness starts in our own communities. This Juneteenth, AAF reaffirms our commitment to racial justice for everyone.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 18

Do you know what to do to help a loved one during a mental health crisis? Would you know what to say in another language? We hope this resource, available in 9 different Asian languages, can offer guidance and support in otherwise stressful situations. mentalhealth.aafederation.org/post/how-to-...

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 18

This morning we presented at @rockefellerinst.bsky.social's IIIrp conference on our insights from incubating United in Speech NY Co-op, the nation's first co-op for pan-Asian language interpreters! This co-op is building not just language justice but also economic opportunity for its members.

A photo of an Asian American Federation staff member presenting slides at the Rockefeller Institute of Government's Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy's 2026 conference.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 17

Last night we held an appreciation dinner for our PATH partners and their incredible Community Companion volunteers! These community members have been helping make their neighborhoods safer and more connected, and we were honored to celebrate their time and dedication. Thank you!

A group photo of participants at the Asian American Federation's Community Companion appreciation dinner.

A photo of participants seated at tables and talking to each other at the Asian American Federation's Community Companion appreciation dinner.

A photo of participants helping themselves to the buffet at the Asian American Federation's Community Companion appreciation dinner.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 16

What does depression look like? Could you talk to a loved one about depression in their language? Our "Identifying Depression" resource is now available in 9 Asian languages, helping start more conversations about mental health with the people we love. mentalhealth.aafederation.org/post/identif...

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 12

Just in time for early voting tomorrow, Ballot Builder is now in Spanish and Vietnamese! Learn who's on your NYC ballot and get informed on local issues in 11 different languages at aaf.branch.vote! Early voting runs from June 13-21, and Election Day is Tuesday, June 23 🗳️

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 12

When immigrant families are forced to wait months for legal help, the impacts can devastate families. 30% of NYC's non-citizens are Asian, yet community-based legal providers lack the resources to meet demand. @council.nyc.gov must fully fund the #RISENetwork at $3.5 million.

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 12

We rallied yesterday with our RISE partners to urge @council.nyc.gov to fully fund the #RISENetwork. Thank you to all the council members who took the time to hear how RISE funding has helped 2220+ Asian New Yorkers and why it's so essential to support this initiative!

Asian American Federation@aafederation· Jun 10

We recently wrapped up the 9th year of our Leaders in Training (LIT) program with another excellent cohort! Thank you to all the nonprofit professionals who joined us, our Community Resource Exchange facilitator Lan To, and @council.nyc.gov for supporting this program!