Trump invokes WWII-era law used to lock up Japanese Americans
President Donald Trump recently invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law last used during World War II to incarcerate Japanese Americans in concentration camps.
The Rebel Yellow Issue #45
Trump just invoked a WWII-era law used to incarcerate Japanese Americans—this time targeting Venezuelan nationals. Meanwhile, House Republicans push to replace "Chinese Taipei" with "Taiwan," and Forever 21 blames Shein and Temu for its collapse as it shuts down all U.S. stores.
Plus: CAPAC calls out the use of Asian Americans as political pawns, Atlanta spa shooting victims are remembered, and the U.S. Army backtracks after quietly erasing a historic Japanese American combat unit.
Trump invokes WWII-era law used to lock up Japanese Americans
President Donald Trump recently invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law last used during World War II to incarcerate Japanese Americans in concentration camps.
Driving the news
Trump invoked the law in an executive order Saturday to target alleged members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan gang designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department on Feb. 20. The directive described TdA as “perpetrating, attempting and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States” and claimed the gang is aligned with the Maduro regime in Venezuela.
The order directed the apprehension, detention and removal of Venezuelan nationals 14 years or older who are alleged TdA members, as well as seizure and forfeiture of property belonging to alleged gang members.
Judicial intervention
Ahead of Trump’s proclamation, the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan men in immigration custody at risk of deportation. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg initially blocked deportation of these five men and later expanded his ruling to cover “all noncitizens in U.S. custody” subject to Trump’s proclamation.
The judge late Saturday verbally ordered any planes carrying deportees to turn around: “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States.”
Defying the court order
Despite the judge’s order, the Trump administration proceeded with deportations, sending 261 people to El Salvador on three flights. Flight tracking data revealed that at least one plane took off from Harlingen, Texas, after the judge’s written order was posted online at 7:26 p.m. Eastern time.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele publicly celebrated receiving the deportees, posting “Oopsie... Too late” on social media. The Trump administration reportedly agreed to pay El Salvador $6 million to imprison 300 alleged gang members for a year.
Historical context
The Alien Enemies Act has been used only three times in U.S. history: during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II, with President Truman last invoking it in 1948 against a German citizen.
In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the law to authorize the arrest and detention of civilians of primarily Japanese descent. Some 120,000 people, including U.S. citizens, were forced into concentration camps with inadequate food, poor sanitation and harsh living conditions until 1946. The government later apologized and provided reparations.
What’s next
Judge Boasberg has scheduled another hearing for March 21 and ordered the administration to provide detailed information about the deportation flights by noon on March 18.
Senior officials reportedly expect the case to reach the Supreme Court, where they believe they will win. Plaintiffs have filed motions seeking details about the deportation flights’ timing and the transfer of deportees.
CAPAC members speak out against using Asian Americans as “pawns”
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) members tackled issues currently affecting Asian Americans — including education, healthcare and the China Initiative, among others — in a March 13 conference as part of the House Democrats’ annual policy retreat.
“Used as a pawn”
CAPAC Chair Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) denounced how Asian Americans have been manipulated in legal challenges to affirmative action, particularly in higher education. “Asian Americans, our community, has sort of been used as a pawn in these lawsuits,” Meng said. “We do not want to be used, put one community against another. It is unfair. It is cruel.”
Meng highlighted that the end of affirmative action did not necessarily increase the number of Asian American acceptance and enrollment in these schools, challenging the narrative that dismantling these policies benefits the community. She added that equity in admissions should also address “donor preferences, relationships and legacy.”
Broader civil rights and scapegoating concerns
Early on in the conference, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) warned about the administration’s gutting of civil rights enforcement. He criticized its approach to diversity initiatives as “Orwellian,” stating that equal protection under the law is being “assaulted, twisted and perverted.” He also emphasized that without proper civil rights enforcement, victims of anti-Asian hate incidents would have no recourse for justice.
Meanwhile, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) addressed the scapegoating of Chinese Americans amid rising anti-China tensions. She criticized the Trump-era China Initiative that targeted and arrested Chinese American researchers as spies for China, saying it was “not based on evidence of wrongdoing, but because of their ethnicity and national origin.” She also condemned discriminatory alien land laws targeting Chinese immigrants in multiple states, comparing them to racist policies from the 19th century.
Messaging to Asian American voters
When asked about Republican inroads with Asian voters, Meng cited Rep. Tom Suozzi’s (D-N.Y.) race, where he “reversed the assumption that Asian American voters would trend right” by meeting “voters where they are.” She stressed the importance of providing adequate access to information and ensuring materials are “provided in language” when necessary. Meng also highlighted that voter response is becoming “organic,” sharing that Republican doctors in her district recently approached her with concerns about Medicaid cuts.
Emphasizing the importance of connecting policy to impact, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) told reporters: “I’ve talked to AAPI voters who voted for Trump that did not realize he was gonna be cutting federal services...they regret their vote already.”
Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) emphasized the need for targeted local outreach, noting that many voters remain unaware of how federal programs impact them. “A lot of folks have Medicaid, but they don’t actually know it’s Medicaid because…it’s called something else. They’re going to have a rude awakening if they [administration] take that away.”
U.S. Army restores 442nd combat team webpage after backlash over DEI purge
Following public outcry, the U.S. Army has restored a webpage honoring the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a World War II unit composed mostly of second-generation Japanese Americans.
Aligning with the “current guidance”
The page, which documents the most decorated combat unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service, was quietly removed on March 15 amid a sweeping Pentagon directive to strip DEI-related materials from military platforms. In a statement, Defense Department officials claimed the deletion was done “in accordance with a Presidential Executive Order and guidance from the Secretary of Defense.”
“The 442nd Regimental Combat team holds an honored place in Army History and we are pleased to republish an article that highlights the brave Soldiers who served in the “Go-for-Broke” brigade,” the statement read. “The Army is tirelessly working through content on that site and articles related to the 442nd Infantry Regiment and Nisei Soldiers will be republished to better align with current guidance.”
“Go for broke”
Formed during World War II, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team embodied extraordinary bravery in the face of discrimination. Despite their families being incarcerated in internment camps following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, thousands of Nisei (Japanese immigrants' children who were born with American citizenship) soldiers volunteered to serve.
The unit's motto, “Go For Broke,” captured their determination to prove their loyalty. Over the course of the war, approximately 14,000 men served in the 442nd, earning 9,486 Purple Hearts, 21 Medals of Honor and eight Presidential Unit Citations. Their sacrifices were so extensive that the entire unit had to be replenished nearly three and a half times.
Politics of historical erasure
Critics saw the deletion as a targeted effort to diminish the visibility of minority service members. In a letter to the Army, Hawaii Representative Ed Case condemned the removal, stating, “We know darn well that this is an attempt to censor our history, to remove any mention of race or ethnicity from our nation’s story. We know that. And if we didn’t believe it before this, we know it’s happening now.”
The Japanese American Citizens League also criticized the action, calling it “an attempt to erase the legacy of thousands of soldiers who gave everything for a country that doubted them.” While the Army has since restored the page, community leaders like Mark Matsunaga, whose father and uncles served in World War II, warn that the broader effort to “whitewash history” remains a troubling concern.
House GOP push to replace “Chinese Taipei” with “Taiwan”
U.S. House Republicans have introduced a direct challenge to Beijing’s territorial claims with a legislation to replace all U.S. government references to “Chinese Taipei” with “Taiwan.”
Bold move to recognize Taiwan: Spearheaded by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), the America Supports Taiwan Act mandates that U.S. agencies update official communication within 14 days to reflect the name “Taiwan.” According to the bill’s text, it “decries the United States Government’s use of ‘Chinese Taipei’ nomenclature” and advocates for peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues “free from coercion.”
Legislative push for clarity: The bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.) and Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), aims to reinforce Taiwan’s status as an autonomous entity while rejecting language perceived as aligning with China’s sovereignty narrative. “Taiwan is a key U.S. strategic partner despite Chinese claims over their sovereignty,” Donalds said in a statement to The Hill. “It’s important that we shoot straight with the American people, the world and call things what they are.”
Push back against China: While the legislation does not address the name of Taiwan’s diplomatic office in Washington — the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office — it underscores a broader effort to push back against what Donalds describes as “a tool of Beijing’s strategy of diplomatic coercion.” Despite the symbolic nature of the name change, the bill stops short of formally recognizing Taiwan’s independence, a long-standing policy position the U.S. has maintained to avoid escalating tensions with China.
Broader implications: Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, has consistently opposed international recognition of the island’s autonomy. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also previously warned of using force to reclaim Taiwan. “As China attempts to increase their influence on the world’s stage, it has become clear their sights are set on Taiwan,” Moore said. “It is time for the United States to show the people of Taiwan that we recognize their right to self-governance.”
Atlanta spa shooting victims remembered
Community activists and members gathered Sunday at the Norcross Community Center to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Atlanta-area spa shootings that claimed eight lives in 2021. The Georgia State Capitol also hosted a remembrance ceremony earlier in the week.
Honoring the victims
“It’s important for us to continue to commemorate this day to honor these victims and make sure that they didn’t lose their lives in vain,” said State Rep. Long Tran, chair of the Georgia Legislative AAPI Caucus.
The victims, which included six Asian American women, were:
Daoyou Feng, 44 (Cherokee County)
Hyun Jung Grant, 51 (Fulton County)
Sun Cha Kim, 69 (Fulton County)
Paul Andre Michels, 54 (Cherokee County)
Soon Chung Park, 74 (Fulton County)
Xiaojie Tan, 49 (Cherokee County)
Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33 (Cherokee County)
Yong Ae Yue, 63 (Fulton County)
One person, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, survived after being shot in the face.
Case developments
Mass shooter Robert Aaron Long, 25, is already serving life sentences for the Cherokee County killings. He still faces a death penalty trial in Fulton County on charges including murder and domestic terrorism with hate crime enhancements.
A key legal decision came on March 10 when Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville permitted prosecutors to use Long’s post-arrest statements in the upcoming trial. Long told investigators that a personal addiction, not racial bias, motivated his actions — a claim that sparked outrage among Asian Americans.
Community response
Sunday’s event featured roundtable discussions on preventing gun violence and hate crimes. At the Capitol ceremony, Republican state Rep. Charlice Byrd emphasized that “violence must be met with justice, accountability and change.”
Bonnie Youn, former president of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association, warned on Sunday about the persistent threat faced by Asian Americans: “The reporting of violence against AAPI communities continues to be just as alarming as it has in the past. And unfortunately, with the current political climate, that may worsen yet again.”
Parents of missing Pittsburgh student accept she drowned in Dominican Republic
The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a missing University of Pittsburgh student, have come to terms with the devastating belief that their daughter drowned while on spring break in the Dominican Republic earlier this month.
Parents come to terms
Sudiksha’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, expressed the family’s heartbreak in an interview with the New York Post: “It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact our daughter has drowned,” he said.
The family’s acknowledgment comes 12 days after Sudiksha, 20, vanished from a beach in Punta Cana. Once pressing for a broader investigation into her disappearance, are now asking Dominican authorities to officially declare her deceased to begin the grieving process.
The final hours
Sudiksha arrived in Punta Cana on March 3 with five female friends. Surveillance footage from the early hours of March 6 shows her drinking at the Riu República Hotel bar before heading to the beach with a group that included Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old student from Iowa.
According to Riibe’s testimony, he and Sudiksha were swept out to sea by a powerful wave. “I was trying to get her to breathe the whole time… I swallowed a lot of water,” he told Dominican prosecutors. After struggling to bring her back to shore, he last saw her walking in knee-deep water before he collapsed in exhaustion. When he awoke later, Sudiksha was gone. Despite extensive searches, no trace of her has been found.
Seeking closure
Riibe, the last known person to see Sudiksha, was held under police watch in a hotel room for over a week as part of the investigation. While authorities have not named him a suspect, his legal team argued his detention was improper. “I understand I’m here to help, but it’s been 10 days,” Riibe pleading to be allowed to return home during a habeas corpus hearing.
On Tuesday, a judge granted Riibe’s release, allowing him to return to the U.S. The decision was welcomed by both his family and Sudiksha’s parents, who no longer objected to his departure. In a letter to Dominican authorities, Sudiksha’s parents requested their daughter be declared legally dead to “begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence.” The local Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office supports the family’s request, affirming that no evidence of foul play has been found.
Missing California woman’s case now investigated as homicide
Shasta County authorities have reclassified the disappearance of Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain as a homicide investigation, the Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday.
What happened: The 39-year-old mother of four vanished after texting relatives at 12:35 a.m. on May 18, 2024, according to the family’s GoFundMe page. Her final message indicated she was heading to her mother-in-law’s residence near Win-River Casino to return a borrowed vehicle. That night, Saelee-McCain had visited Mercy Hospital regarding an emergency involving her brother-in-law, then drove her mother-in-law back in a white SUV before stopping briefly at her Anderson residence.
What authorities are saying: Investigators executed another search warrant at Saelee-McCain’s Olinda Road property last Friday. The operation brought together local detectives and federal agents from both Homeland Security and the FBI. Officials reportedly worked “tirelessly” to locate Nikki, with multiple search warrants being served throughout the investigation, including previous examinations of her residence.
What family members are saying: Saelee-McCain’s husband Tyler broke his silence at a March 10 press conference, telling reporters, “We miss you.” When his wife vanished, McCain faced prosecution on four felony counts related to alleged domestic abuse from December 2023. Prosecutors dropped these charges last July, with District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett explaining they could reinstate the case upon locating Saelee-McCain or gathering sufficient alternative evidence.
What’s next: Detectives have identified several persons of interest but have not released names due to the ongoing probe. Authorities are now seeking witnesses who observed a red pickup that picked up a man along Highway 36 in western Tehama County between May 18-25, 2024.
A $30,000 reward is being offered for tips leading to Saelee-McCain’s location. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or MCU@shastacounty.gov.
Forever 21 to close all US stores forever, blames Shein and Temu for collapse
Forever 21, the once-iconic fast-fashion retailer, has filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in six years, citing aggressive competition from online giants Shein and Temu. With liquidation sales already underway across its 354 U.S. stores, the company’s future remains uncertain unless a last-minute buyer emerges.
A fast-fashion giant falls
Founded in Los Angeles in 1984 by South Korean immigrants Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Chang, Forever 21 became a cultural and retail powerhouse by offering trendy, affordable clothing to young shoppers. At its peak, the brand operated 800 stores worldwide, employed 43,000 people and generated over $4 billion in annual sales. However, as e-commerce transformed consumer habits and mall foot traffic declined, the retailer struggled to adapt.
After emerging from its first bankruptcy in 2019, Forever 21’s new owners — including Authentic Brands Group, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners — attempted to revive the business. Despite generating $2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021, mounting losses and rising operational costs proved too steep to overcome. “We have been unable to find a sustainable path forward,” said Brad Sell, Forever 21’s Chief Financial Officer. In the past three fiscal years alone, the company has lost over $400 million, including $150 million in 2024.
Shein, Temu and the “de minimis” dilemma
Forever 21’s leadership squarely blames Chinese-founded e-commerce giants Shein and Temu for undercutting its business. Both companies exploit a U.S. trade loophole known as the “de minimis exemption,” which allows packages under $800 to enter the country duty-free. “Certain non-U.S. online retailers…have been able to pass significant savings onto consumers,” explained Stephen Coulombe, Forever 21’s co-chief restructuring officer, in a court filing.
While the U.S. government has faced pressure to close the loophole, no effective policy changes have been made. Efforts to combat these online rivals, including a 2023 partnership with Shein, failed to reverse Forever 21’s financial decline. “The ability for non-U.S. retailers to sell their products at drastically lower prices has significantly impacted the company’s ability to retain its traditional core customer base,” Coulombe added.
Despite its U.S. downfall, Forever 21’s international stores and intellectual property will remain unaffected as Authentic Brands Group continues to entertain offers from potential buyers. However, with debts totaling $1.58 billion and no clear path forward, the curtain may be closing on the company’s American chapter.