Minnesota Investigates Possible Criminal Charges Against ICE

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Minnesota investigates the arrest by ICE of a Hmong American man as a possible kidnapping

In Minnesota, local authorities are investigating the arrest of a Hmong American man by federal officers as a potential case of kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment. In January, ICE officers bashed open the front door of ChongLy "Scott" Thao's home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him outside in just his underwear and a blanket in freezing conditions. He was returned to his home a few hours later when these ICE geniuses realized they had made a mistake -- a mistake that might mean criminal charges.

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Trump nominates former lawmaker Michelle Steel as US ambassador to South Korea

The White House announced that former California congresswoman Michelle Steel has been nominated to ‌be the U.S. ambassador to South Korea. Steel, who is Korean American and ⁠a conservative Republican, lost her bid for re-election to her Orange County congressional seat in 2024. The nomination will require congressional approval. This administration continues to elevate the worst damn people.

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How Laufey's Star-Studded "Madwoman" Music Video Came to Life With Hudson Williams, Lola Tung

Laufey has assembled an all-star cast for a sixties pool party in the new video for "Madwoman," off the deluxe edition of the Icelandic-Chinese singer's Grammy-winning album A Matter of Time. Directed by Warren Fu, the video features some of the most celebrated stars of the moment: Heated Rivalry breakout Hudson Williams, Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, KATSEYE's Megan Skiendiel and The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung -- or, as one commenter put it, "the wasian avengers."

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Isa Briones Speaks Out on Audience Member Shouting to Her Mid-Performance

According to Isa Briones, "some people need to brush up on theater etiquette" -- specifically, the audience member who shouted out her The Pitt character's name mid-performance at Just in Time. While starring on Broadway as 'Connie Francis' in the hit musical, Briones shared that an audience member inapropriately yelled out "Dr. Santos!" during the show. "I'm not Dr. Santos. I'm not even Connie Francis. I am Isa Briones, one of the actors in the show you have paid to enjoy," Briones wrote in an Instagram story. "You are not a kid at Disneyland. You are an adult man at a Broadway show. Act like it."

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Seeking Paid Extras for Feature Film "Gold Mountain"

Hey, wanna be in a movie? Ang Lee is casting extras to be in his latest movie Gold Mountain, a historical drama set during the 1850s California Gold Rush, shooting in and around the Sacramento this July. According to the casting call, they're looking for faces of a variety of ethnicities to play townspeople, kids, railroad workers, male horseback riders, blacksmiths, butchers, wagon drivers and coal miners. If you're interested, refer to the flyer above. Good luck!

Vietnamese Immigrant Dies in ICE Custody

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Death of Vietnamese immigrant in Indiana facility is latest ICE detainee fatality

A Vietnamese immigrant died in government custody last week, marking the latest detainee death -- the 46th person to die in federal custody -- during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. 55-year-old Tuan Van Bui died at the Miami Correctional Center in Indiana. According to ICE, "onsite staff discovered Bui unresponsive." The cause of death is under investigation.

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US War Machine Is Built on Decades of Lies. The Assault on Iran Is No Exception.

"Calling truth a casualty of war may imply, however, that truth survives between wars. But the reality is that militarism and the warfare state are sustained by lies which stretch over decades. The ideology of American exceptionalism is driven by the myth that U.S. intervention plays a unique role in spreading freedom and democracy around the globe. Keeping the public uninformed and miseducated has been a key tactic to tamp down dissent."

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In Conversation: Mia Wenjen and Jolene Gutiérrez

Mia Wenjen and Jolene Gutiérrez both grapple with the cruelty of internment and family separation in their new picture books Barbed Wire Between Us and Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp, respectively. The two authors spoke about depicting difficult subject matter for young readers, carrying on the legacy of late author and collaborator Minoru Tonai, and the importance of remembering painful pieces of history.

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'X-Men' Reboot Director Hires 'Beef' Creator, 'The Bear' Writer

Emmy-winning Beef creator Lee Sung Jin is part of the team taking the latest crack at the reboot of X-Men for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The project, which re-introduces the mutant superhero team into the MCU, reunites Lee with Jake Schreier and Joanna Calo, who worked on the screenplay for last year's Thunderbolts.

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The Grandmaster: Tony Leung
From Hard Boiled to Happy Together to Infernal Affairs to, of course, In the Mood for Love, Film at Lincoln Center presents The Grandmaster: Tony Leung, a career-spanning retrospective that gives audiences the chance to rediscover, on the big screen, why the world continues to fall for Tony Leung time and time again.

Mayor Mamdani Tells New Yorkers to Stop Catcalling

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Mamdani tells New Yorkers to stop catcalling people in new anti-street harassment campaign

Keep your thoughts to yourself! Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants construction workers and others around the Big Apple to stop catcalling and making unwanted verbal advances to passersby on NYC streets, announcing his demand through a new ad campaign launching Wednesday.

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'Where Would I Go If I Am Denaturalized?'

"This executive order, if it should come to pass, it has no backward barrier. It could also look at anybody who is the child of people who are undocumented. And all of those people, no matter when or how old they are or when they were born in America, could have their citizenship removed. Where would I go? Would I be deported to an El Salvadoran prison?"

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Detained by ICE, he missed multiple cancer treatments. Now he’s in hospice.

Some immigrants with chronic health problems were swept up by ICE, leading to untreated injuries, denial of life-sustaining medications and, for one man, missed chemotherapy sessions. Critics say the Department of Homeland Security is shirking federal standards that require detainees to have access to basic medicine.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender: Season 2 | Date Announcement

Season two of Netflix's live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender will drop on June 25th. Here's a behind-the-scenes featurette catching up with Gordon Cormier (Aang), Kiawentiio (Katara), Ian Ousley (Sokka), Dallas Liu (Zuko), Elizabeth Yu (Azula) and Miyako (Toph), and a preview of what’s in store for fans.

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In Jesa, Jeena Yi Wrote the Asian American Family Drama She Always Wanted to Be In

"As an actor, the one lament I had was there was never a show that I could be in. If it's about a family, you have to kind of look like the family. Often the families are white, so I could never be a member of the family unless it was specifically written in a certain way or somebody was doing a very specific take." So Jeena Yi wrote her own Korean American family drama.

Stinky Tofu Too Stinky For San Gabriel?

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Neighbor complaints get a classic 'stinky' dish booted from local restaurant

Haters! Stinky tofu is no longer on the menu at Golden Leaf restaurant in San Gabriel, California after the city received complaints about the dish's aroma. But the family behind the restaurant is fighting to bring back the popular Taiwanese street food, prized for its distinct, potent stench.

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AAPI adults mostly think Trump has done more harm than good on immigration

Most Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders believe the Trump administration has done more harm than good on the issue of immigration and border security in his second term so far, according to a new survey from AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

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Johnny Itliong breaks silence on sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez

Johnny Itliong, son of the late labor leader Larry Itliong, says he has spent decades trying to speak out about Cesar Chavez's alleged misconduct -- long before revelations that Chavez was allegedly sexually assaulting women and minors came to light. But Johnny Itliong says he was told to keep quiet.

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When your culture becomes a meme: the 'jarring' effect of Chinamaxxing

"China is not a new concept. So what does it feel like for your culture to become a trend? From North America to Australia, those from the Chinese diaspora who I spoke to all used the same word to describe Chinamaxxing: jarring – though with varying levels of indignation.

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Riz Ahmed is his own worst critic. His new show 'Bait' explores that

In his new comedy series Bait, Riz Ahmed stars as a struggling British Pakistani actor named Shah who lands an audition to be the next James Bond. Ahmed talks to Fresh Air about what James Bond represents in Bait, playing with a multiplicity of genres in the series, and working with the one and only Patrick Stewart, who has the weirdest voice role ever.

Pre-Order: Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. But they need a guide. Kristina Wong has stepped up with a book that connects the youth to Asian American history, community and beyond: Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism, a fun and inspiring book that shows young readers "how to love their bodies, fight for social justice, and be proud of the history that's made them who they are."

"Grounded in diverse lived experiences of featured Auntie Heroes and inspiring Young Rebels, this guide discusses the Asian American community, past and present; explores allyship with other communities of color; finds a place in national and global movements; and turns inward so young readers can practice love and self-care. Each chapter includes activism strategies for all kids--from those who love math and statistics to those who can't wait for their next art project."

Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism hits shelves on April 14. Pre-order now.

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Vietnamese man living in US since childhood detained by ICE over expunged marijuana charge

A man who has lived in the U.S. since he was a child and has worked in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years is now being held in detention, facing possible deportation over a decades-old marijuana charge that was previously erased from his record. Hai Nguyen, who went in for a routine check-in with immigration officials last week, found himself detained by ICE and sent to a detention facility. Now he's look at deportation, and leaving behind the life, career and family he's built in the United States over the last thirty years. This shit is cruel and broken.

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In 'Bad Asians,' a friend group threatens its reputation with a viral video

Lillian Li's Bad Asians was recently highlighted as NPR's Book of the Day. In the novel, four 20-somethings from a hyper-competitive Chinese American community confront the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis and begin to let loose. Their former classmate documents their frustrations in what becomes one of the first viral YouTube videos. Li talks about the initial privacy of the early internet, exploding Asian American stereotypes, and why she wanted to write about friendship.

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'The Pitt's Isa Briones Joins 'Just In Time' on Broadway

If you heard her sing that lullabye this season on The Pitt, you are aware she had the goods. Isa Briones, who plays Dr. Trinity Santos on the hit medical drama, will be taking over the role of famed ballad singer Connie Francis next month in the Broadway musical Just in Time. The role marks a return to Broadway for Briones, who made her debut in Hadestown in March 2024.

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Newly Created Godfather Prize Will Recognize Asian American Playwrights

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) has created a new national, annual award for playwrights: The Godfather Prize for Playwriting. Each year, the award will honor one Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI), South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), or mixed-race playwright, as well as six to eight finalists. For more information, visit here.

Stabbing in San Francisco Chinatown Caught on Video

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Shocking daylight stabbing in SF’s Chinatown caught on video

A man was arrested after stabbing another man in the back on a busy street in San Francisco's Chinatown Thursday afternoon. The unprovoked attack was caught on surveillance video, which shows a man in a hoodie walking down Stockton Street, and then violently lunging at a man who was waiting at the corner to cross the street. The victim was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and is expected to survive. The suspect, described as an Asian man in his 30s, was held on charges of attempted murder.

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U.S. citizen stopped at O'Hare, detained by immigration officials for nearly 30 hours

A U.S. citizen from the Chicago area spent nearly 30 hours in custody by federal immigration officials after she was detained at O’Hare Airport following a work trip Thursday. Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi and five colleagues, including two other U.S. citizens and three individuals with green cards, were all detained at the airport by federal immigration agents for their "recent travel history" after returning from Istanbul.

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Didn't Die

Here's a very different take on the zombie movie... In Didn't Die, directed by Meera Menon, a podcast host struggles to maintain her dwindling audience during the zombie apocalypse, but when her ex shows up with an orphaned baby, priorities shift in order to battle the ever-mutating threat. Starring Kiran Deol, Didn't Die premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and is currently in limited theatrical release.

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LAAPFF Festival Pass

Film fans, if you're in Los Angeles, and you want to support Asian American cinema, mark your calendars for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Visual Communications, happening April 29 to May 3. Better yet, go one step further and purchase a Festival Pass. It's the best way to fest. And a great deal. And an awesome way to support Visual Communications. Purchasing a Festival Pass helps offset rising venue, staffing, and accessibility costs — allowing Visual Communications to keep individual ticket prices lower and sustain artist support. Get yours here.

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JVKE x JEON SOMI - moonboy (official live video)

I cannot resist the charm of this dreamy new song collaboration from Jeon Somi and JVKE: "moonboy," a catchy pop-love duet that captures the thrill of falling head over heels.

Gold. That's What Alysa Liu is Fucking Talking About.

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu said she didn't care if she medaled. She won gold

With a fearless, show-stopping performance, Alysa Liu won Olympic gold in the women’s single figure skating event, becoming the first American woman to medal in over two decades. What makes Liu’s win extra rewarding is not simply that she finished on the top of the podium, but that she did it on her own terms after having taken control of her career when she returned to the sport two years ago. The medal was almost an afterthought. And as she skated off the ice, the cameras caught her own triumphant assessment of her performance: "That's what I'm fucking talking about!" Because that's what she was indeed fucking talking about.

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Cambodian national dies in ICE custody in Indiana

A detainee died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Indiana on Monday, with the cause of death under investigation, marking at least the seventh death in 2026 in federal immigration custody. Lorth Sim, a 59-year-old Cambodian national, was being held at the Miami Correctional Facility. According to ICE, staff found him unresponsive in his cell.

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Why the History of Japanese American Incarceration Matters Today

"On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which authorized what became the mass incarceration of my ancestors and over 100,000 Japanese Americans. With the current administrations shredding the constitution and rule of law to detain citizens and non-citizens based on racial profiling, the lessons from that shameful moment in U.S. history could not be more vital or timely."

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The Conflicting Joy of 'Here Lies Love'

"While sitting there watching this boldly and aggressively talented group of performers pour their heart and soul into a story rooted in their culture, there was a cloud of skepticism looming over me that I couldn’t avoid. It’s been there since the inception of this musical. This musical wasn’t made for the Filipino community."

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Netflix Orders 'Dang!' Adult Animated Series

Netflix has given a series order to Dang!, an adult animated comedy starring Stephanie Hsu, Poppy Liu and Andrew Law. The series follows a brother (Law) and sister (Liu) whose fun, messy lives in New York City are interrupted when their worst nightmare comes true: Their high-achieving older sister (Hsu) shows up and wants to hang out with them.

Olympians Speak Out Against Trump's "Loser" Remarks

And Other Items of Note from Angry Asian America.

Chloe Kim, Eileen Gu speak out after President Trump calls Olympian 'a loser'

A day after President Donald Trump called the Olympian Hunter Hess "a real loser" over the freestyle skier's comments about representing the United States, two of the biggest stars at these Winter Olympics, snowboarder Chloe Kim and freestyle skier Eileen Gu, have spoken out in a Games that is becoming ever more politically charged. As a general rule, whenever Trump goes out of his way to call someone a "loser," they are usually, in fact, quite the opposite.

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Councilmember Nithya Raman to run for L.A. mayor, challenging onetime ally Karen Bass

Nithya Raman has entered the Los Angeles mayoral race in an eleventh-hour bid, challenging former ally Karen Bass in the June primary. The progressive councilmember announced mayoral run on Saturday, just three hours before the filing deadline for the June election and less than two weeks after endorsing Bass' reelection.

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A Hmong child bride who killed her husband years ago dreads her next ICE check-in

Nou served nearly seven years in prison for killing her husband in self-defense, after suffering years of abuse. She pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, her green card was taken away, and she has to regularly check in with ICE. Now 50 and disabled, she lives in fear that she'll be deported under the current surge in immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

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How Yerin Ha Became the Belle of Bridgerton's Ball

Yerin Ha never thought she’d get top billing when she sent her audition tape. "When my agent told me it was for Bridgerton, I thought it was a supporting role. Then I realized, oh no, this is for the lead. They’re going to cast an East Asian woman for the lead."

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The Rose: Come Back To Me

Hitting theaters this week: The Rose: Come Back to Me. Directed by Eugene Yi, the award-winning documentary feature follows the inspiring journey of The Rose -- the Korean alt-pop indie band who have quickly risen as one of Korea's most in-demand groups, captivating audiences worldwide with their soul-stirring, genre-blending sound.

Justice Department Attorney Tells Judge "This Job Sucks"

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Government attorney who told judge in ICE case, 'This job sucks,' removed from detail

Julie Le, a government attorney who was representing the Justice Department in court is no longer detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota after she told a judge her job "sucks" and asked to be held in contempt so she "could get 24 hours of sleep."

Le was called to testify Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, about why the government has been nonresponsive to judicial orders regarding people in ICE detention.

"What do you want me to do? The system sucks," Le told Judge Jerry Blackwell, according to a court transcript. "This job sucks. And I am trying [with] every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need."

When the judge questioned Le regarding why the Trump administration should not be held in contempt for violating court orders, she admited, "I wish you would just hold me in contempt, Your Honor, so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep. I work day and night just because people are still in there."



Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen Aliya Rahman describes being detained by ICE

Aliya Rahman, a Minneapolis resident who was detained by immigration agents in January, described her experience to lawmakers at a congressional forum Tuesday, saying she was dragged from her car and denied medical care despite having a disability.

Rahman said that after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents broke her car window, shattering glass over her body, they used a knife to cut her seatbelt off and forcibly removed her from her car. She said she was taken to a detention facility, where she was denied the use of her cane. Despite asking for medical treatment and access to a lawyer, she was held in an interrogation room until she blacked out.

ICE and Mass Deportation: The View From History

Where did ICE raids and mass deportation come from? If you are free next Monday, join eminent historian of immigration Mae Ngai, Lung Family Professor of Asian American Studies and History at Columbia University, for an online talk that will bring critical historical context to the current moment. Open to all. Monday, February 9 at 4pm ET. Register here.

Arden Cho thought she was done — then 'KPop Demon Hunters' changed everything

"At some point, I think I had lost sight of the mission that made me start this work in the first place. But working on this film, I felt a renewed sense of hope and found myself wanting to take on new challenges once again." Fresh off Netflix's biggest movie ever, actress Arden Cho opens up about burnout in Hollywood, her path to Kpop Demon Hunters, and her upcoming Substance-like K-pop horror project.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch x KPop Demon Hunters Box Set

If you wanted to get your hands on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch / Kpop Demon Hunters collaboration -- a limited edition set of two surprise flavor boxes (one for HUNTR/X and one for Saja Boys) -- you're too late! That shit sold out immediately. Dammit.

Donate to AAPIP's Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

AAPIP Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund

As ICE's surge in Minnesota continues, AANHPI-serving organizations are responding, providing legal defense, food assistance, know-your-rights education, and emergency wrap-around support. In times of crisis, community members turn to these trusted organizations for information and support, but they're critically underfunded.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy has developed a Rapid Response Fund, created in direct response to requests from Twin Cities community leaders who needed a fast, trusted way to move resources to AANHPI-serving organizations. The AAPIP Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund will distribute grants to AANHPI-serving nonprofits to help meet their urgent needs during this critical time. Learn more and donate here.

After ICE release St. Paul woman, she says agents keep returning to her home

Thi Dua Vang legally came to the United States two years ago as an asylum seeker and is awaiting final approval for her green card. So when ICE showed up, she thought it must have been a mistake. But she was detained and sent away to a processing center in Texas for nearly two weeks. And then released. Since then, ICE has shown up at her home three times. Why won't they leave her alone?

BTS Returns with Their First Performance in 3 Years — Streaming Live on Netflix

Attention, Army: BTS is back. And they will be celebrating the release of their highly anticipated new album, ARIRANG, next month with a comeback concert on Netflix, streamed live from the historic Gwanghwamun in Seoul. The comeback festivities will also include a feature-length documentary, BTS: The Return, chronicling the making of ARIRANG and the group's return to global icon status.

LANA LIN with Porochista Khakpour

Filmmaker, artist and scholar Lana Lin talks to Porochista Khakpour about art, Asian Americans, "autobiomythography," and her book The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam

F*CK ICE T-Shirt by Sailor Moon Wisdom

ICE has no place in our communities. Tell them how you feel with this t-shirt.

They Call Us Minnesota Nice... But Not For ICE

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.

What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome poet/author/activist Bao Phi and Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Laura Yuen to discuss the ongoing and escalating crackdown by federal immigration operations in Minnesota. They talk about Laura's recent piece about her family and their citizenship; the temperature on the street, particularly in the wake of recent killings by ICE agents; the widespread fear and uncertainty among community members just trying to move through their lives; and the kindness of everyday Minnesotans who are helping each other survive the siege. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being in Minnesota right now. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.

Meet the Restaurant Owner Who Gave Shelter to Protestors

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Minneapolis Restaurant Owner Opened Her Doors for Protesters Seeking Refuge: 'Come In, Come In'

When hell broke loose on the streets of south Minneapolis, where protestors clashed with federal officers -- less than a block from where Alex Pretti had been killed about an hour earlier -- Tracy Wong opened the doors of her restaurant, My Huong Kitchen, for people to take safe refuge from the tear gas and flash bangs, offering water, comfort and a place to recover. Video of Wong in this extraordinary moment has since been shared thousands of times, and the community has come back to her restaurant with thanks and support

Being Hmong in Minnesota's ICE Age

"For over five years, my family and I have been living, working, and commuting across the Twin Cities suburbs. We are Hmong -- the biggest Asian ethnic group in Minnesota. We are scared. We are cautious. We feel like our identity will make us a target. We still go about our everyday lives, but with uncertainty. And we are paying attention, checking for daily updates—observing who is speaking out against what's happening, and those who aren't."

Couple Was Found Dead in Gruesome Scene. Then Cops Allegedly Found Chilling Wishlist

Disturbing, gruesome news out of New Jersey... A 37-year-old man accused of killing his parents in their home has now been charged in connection with their deaths. Patrick Lin was arrested and charged on several accounts, including first-degree murder. When authorities searched his bedroom, they found a notebook with a wishlist that included "to kill someone and get away with it."

It's Now Ronny Chieng's Turn to Be the Voice of NYC Subway PSAs

Comedian Ronny Chieng is the latest entertainer to lend his voice to public service announcements for the MTA's subway service in New York City. If you ride the subway, you might hear him utter some helpful encouragements like, “Can you please move into the train so other people can get on?" Or "Unless it’s old school hip-hop, nobody wants to hear your music or your phone call. Put your headphones on."

LEGO Lucky Cat

This LEGO® Lucky Cat building set creates an eye-catching display piece and is said to bring good luck and prosperity to the owner. Best of all, the paw has a pendulum action to replicate the beckoning or waving of traditional Lucky Cat figurines.