Network Director

Over the weekend of January 4th, over 60 Iranians and Iranian Americans were detained at Washington State’s border with Canada and subjected to questions about their political views and allegiances, for up to 10 hours. Some were eventually refused entry. As an organization, APAMSA stands with our Iranian siblings and reaffirms our commitment to immigrant rights. The rights of all Americans and immigrants should be respected regardless of Iranian origin or descent.

From Japanese American internment during World War II to hundreds of hate crimes against South Asians/SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) folks after 9/11, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are all too familiar with the othering, scapegoating, and violence that befalls our communities in times of international conflict. No matter who we are or how long our families have been in this country, we have been accused of being foreign, spies, or terrorists. Such accusations are ironic in that 1) they have never been effective for protecting national security – and indeed, are predicated more on racism than safety; 2) from farms to railroads, America was built with the support of our ancestors; and 3) although many of our families migrated here to seek better lives, many were also forced to do so by American interference in our countries of origin.

This is not the first time that immigration officials under the Trump administration have violated due process rights, and these recent actions further reinforce our understanding that despite the 14th Amendment, our citizenship does not protect us and any one of us could be targeted next. In this time of crisis, we encourage chapter leaders to support members who are personally impacted by the current environment, and all APAMSA members to familiarize themselves with the rights of themselves and their patients.

From the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) community advisory:

If you are visited by federal law enforcement agents, remember:

• You have the legal right to have a lawyer present when speaking with federal law enforcement agencies. This is true even if you are not a citizen or have been arrested or detained… Refusing to answer questions cannot be held against you and does not imply that you have something to hide. Answering a question incorrectly can hurt you more than not answering at all. An attorney is best able to protect your rights.

• You do not have to permit any law enforcement officer to enter your home or office if they do not have a warrant… If they say they have a warrant, politely ask to see it before allowing them to enter. If they have a warrant, be courteous and polite, but remember that you are under no obligation to answer questions without a lawyer present. You should tell the agents that you do not consent to the search so that they cannot go beyond what the warrant authorizes.

• You should never lie or provide false information to any law enforcement agency. Lying to law enforcement agents under any circumstance is a federal crime.

While traveling, remember:

• TSA/CBP cannot target you for additional screening or questions based on religious, racial, or ethnic profiling.

• US citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing to answer questions. Green card holders cannot be refused entry, unless their travel was not brief and innocent per USC 1101(a)(14). However, invoking your rights may result in delays.

• Non-citizen visa holders can be denied entry into the country for refusing to cooperate. If you have concerns, please speak to an attorney.

More legal resources can be found in CAIR’s “Know Your Rights” Guides (available in Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Farsi, Somali, and Urdu) and the Iranian American Bar Association’s Community Advisory.

APAMSA condemns the illegal detention of United States citizens, the ongoing threats against immigrant families, and the escalating xenophobia and racism that impacts the health and wellbeing of our communities.

In solidarity,

Your APAMSA National Board

APAMSA opposes recent political efforts in several states to undermine women’s ability to access necessary health care.

On Wednesday May 16th, Alabama’s governor signed into law a near-total ban on abortions from the time of conception, without exceptions for rape or incest. The law also allows doctors to be charged with up to a 99-year sentence for performing abortions in the state, if the mother’s life is not endangered.

A number of “heartbeat” bills have also passed in Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Georgia, and there are efforts underway to pass such bills in Missouri, Louisiana, South Carolina, and West Virginia. These bills ban abortions after a fetal “heartbeat” can be detected, as early as six weeks into woman’s pregnancy. This is before many women are aware they are pregnant.

These laws pose a direct challenge to the standards established by the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade regarding pregnant women’s liberty to choose to have an abortion, and threaten to severely limit access to what the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recognizes as “an essential component of women’s health care” that should be discussed between patients and their health care providers “without undue interference by outside parties.” This recent wave of legislative actions by these states are clearly not just an infringement on a doctor’s ability to practice medicine but more importantly an encroachment on women’s Constitutionally protected reproductive rights.

For those who will be affected, please keep in mind that these bans have not taken effect yet. Specifically, the law in Alabama will not take effect for another six months. Additionally, the bill will likely be contested through the judicial system, so please get involved and make your voices heard through appropriate channels. Continue to stay informed on your local state laws and ensure that you have accurate information to help your patients navigate their healthcare. Our Advocacy Branch will post updates as more developments emerge and will list organizations working to combat the changes and/or to support patients.

We at APAMSA stand with healthcare providers in ensuring the best care for patients, and we stand with women in ensuring they have full access to medically indicated care.

In Solidarity,

Your APAMSA Leadership

The Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA) is a national organization of medical and pre-medical students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities.

On Tuesday April 9, 2019, Texas Tech University Health Center Sciences Center came to an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to cease using race or national origin as one of the many factors involved in their admission process. As organizations who support, encourage, and uplift students who are underrepresented minorities, we are concerned with the outcome of future admissions cycles for underrepresented minority applicants going forward and fear this decision could have damaging effects on the health of communities of color. Previous literature has estimated that programs that banned race-conscious admissions led to a 17% decline of underrepresented students of color enrolling in medical school at public institutions in those states, underlining the consequences that the Texas Tech decision and similar policies will have on the diversity of future in-coming medical school classes and the health of their surrounding communities.

View the full Joint Statement on SNMA’s website!