The legacy of Fred Korematsu lives on in today's protests

Most of the thousands of Americans protesting the ICE actions and the threat to civil rights and democracy may not know it but they are walking in the steps of Fred Korematsu. 

Korematsu would have been proud to see the thousands of students walking out of their high schools today protesting against the actions of federal agents ignoring the Constitution.

“Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Fred Korematsu, the civil rights hero who bravely fought against the forced removal and incarceration of over 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of them US citizens, during World War II.," said a statement from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. 

"Mr. Korematsu knew that standing up to the government would cost him his freedom and safety. He did so anyway—taking his case to the Supreme Court and devoting his life to seeking justice—because he believed future generations deserved a country that learned from its mistakes.

“That promise to future generations is now being tested. We are witnessing our nation’s leaders employ the same unjust laws and fearmongering tactics once used against Japanese Americans to target and terrorize immigrant communities today," the statement continues.

Japanese Americans was among the first Asian American communities to protest the Trump regime's mass deportation policies and the denial of due process, and the detention of thousands of people, most of them people of color.

“Federal agents are disappearing people from their homes based solely on their accent or appearance. The largest immigration detention center in US history is operating on the grounds of a former Japanese American incarceration camp. The President is invoking the same racist law once used to brand Japanese Americans as ‘alien enemies’ to deny due process and justify his inhumane deportation agenda."

Civil rights activist

Korematsu was born in Oakland, California to parents who had immigrated to the United States from Japan. During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced removal of Japanese Americans to incarceration camps, yet Korematsu defied the orders. He was arrested and detained. Korematsu challenged his conviction and imprisonment, eventually bringing his case before the US Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s 1944 ruling in Korematsu v. United States upheld Korematsu’s conviction and the removal orders. 

        FYI: Read more about the life of Fred Korematsu.

Nevertheless, Korematsu continued fighting and successfully overturned his conviction in 1983. He pushed Congress to pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which included a public apology and compensation to Japanese Americans who were incarcerated. In 1998, Korematsu was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

He remained a civil rights activist for the remainder of his life especially for the rights of Muslim Americans after 9/11. His legacy continues to inspire new generations in the continued fight for justice.

View from the edge

In 2010, the state of California passed the Fred Korematsu Day bill, making January 30 the first day in the US named after an Asian American.

Fred Korematsu Day inspires modern anti-immigration protests by serving as a warning against using national security to justify racial profiling, fear-mongering, and the violation of civil liberties, as seen with policies targeting Muslims and Latin American immigrants. His story encourages legal and grassroots resistance against similar government-sanctioned discrimination.

“Our communities know all too well the cost of silence in the face of injustice. When Japanese Americans were being targeted, few chose to speak out. We must not make that same mistake again," states CAPAC leaders, including chair Rep. Grace Meng, D-NY. 

"This moment demands that we stand up for our neighbors, for due process, and for the fundamental rights that define who we are as Americans. This is how we honor Fred Korematsu’s legacy and ensure one of the darkest chapters in America’s history does not repeat itself.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

If you think ICE is bad now, brace yourself, its going to get worse as standards are lowered

NBC

Asian Americans joined in demonstrations against ICE including these Sacramento protestors.

The fatal shootings in Minnesota, the unwarranted home invasions in Maine, the children detained without their parents, US citizens dragged from their cars and workplaces, the harassment and beatings of onlookers and ignorance of the Constitution and the feeling of impunity by federeal agents looks like something from a dystopian movie.

Except, its not a movie. It is the United States in 2026.

Already the largest law enforcement arm of the federal government, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wants to become even bigger. The agency's problem is hiring enough people to join what has essentially become Donald Trump's private army.

However, the shooting in Minneapolis Wednesday (Jan. 7) where an a Border Patrol  agent quickly fatally shot a mother of three, three times and the unwarranted shooting of an ICU nurse again raises the question about the adequacy of the training of federal agents.  

We already saw the fallout from this earlier this month with the tragic shootings of Renee Nicole Good  and Alex Pritti in Minneapolis. When you trade quality for speed, people get hurt. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is out there saying the training of her ICE troops is "streamlined," but the boots on the ground are telling a very different story.

 

Critics say the violent confrontations were inevitable as federal agents aggressively carry out the Trump regime's political strategy of stirring up Americans against the "others."

Congressional Democrats and immigrant rights groups have criticized ICE, arguing that agents have regularly violated migrants’ due process protections and characterizing recent raids as intimidation tactics.

Criticisms of ICE's relaxed age requirements center on concerns that lowered standards and insufficient training lead to the hiring of unqualified, immature, and potentially corrupt agents who may violate civil and constitutional rights; criticisms already leveled at current agents. 

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently said on Fox News that there’s “no longer a cap on how old you can be” and that 18-year-olds could sign up.

Previously, an applicant had to be 21-years old or under 40 to get hired.
To sweeten the pot for potential recruits, the $29 billion courtesy of the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" allows the agency to offer a generous package of  incentives, including: 

A maximum $50,000 signing bonus

Student loan repayment and forgiveness options

25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents

Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers

Enhanced retirement benefits

In this time of high unemployment, those are attractive inducements. The US  unemployment rate was 4.4% in December 2025, marked by slow hiring and massive layoffs.

DHS reports that more than 80,000 individuals had applied to join ICE since the start of the campaign. The Trump regime reports that as of this month, ICE has surpassed its goal of 10,000 new immigration officers. Currently, ICE has more than 20,000 law enforcement and support personnel. 

The annual budget for ICE alone now exceeds the combined budgets of all other non-immigration federal law enforcement agencies. 

This isn't just a policy shift; it's a total overhaul of how federal law enforcement operates. We’re going to keep a close eye on the DHS Inspector General’s investigation into these new "accelerated" standards.

The "47-Day" fast track

Get this: DHS officially gutted training for ICE agents. We went from a five-month professional academy down to just eight weeks. That is 47 days of training, down from 5 months. And yeah, you guessed it—the duration was reportedly picked specifically to honor the 47th President. In comparison, police officers in California undergo six-months of formal training.

Earlier this month (January 2026), it was revealed that an artificial intelligence tool used for hiring mistakenly categorized thousands of applicants as "experienced law enforcement," allowing them to bypass full academy training and instead take a four-week online course. For the mathematically challenged, that's only 28 days!

Under the new shortened course, ICE trainers are basically churning thes rest of the recruits through a 24/7 meat grinder. We’re talking six-day work weeks just to cram everything in. But you can't compress five months of law, tactics, and ethics into 47 days without cutting corners.

Unfortunately, with the shorter training period, DHS had to cut out some training. For example: 

No More Spanish: They cut the entire five-week language program. New agents are literally being told to just "use a translation app" in the field. Imagine trying to navigate a high-tension raid with Google Translate.

Tactical Training Halved: Reports are surfacing that firearms and de-escalation training have been slashed in half just to get boots on the ground faster.

Hmong Americans and thousands of Minnesotans enddure freezing weather to protest ICE.

Vetting Failures: Because they’re trying to hire 12,000 new people in a single year, the background checks are failing. The "breakneck speed" of the current hiring blitz has reportedly allowed some recruits to reach training without complete fingerprinting, drug tests, or background checks. This may be the most dangerous aspect of ICE's reduced training.

And ... if you've been watching the videos -- from the slayings of Renee Good and Alex Pritti to the mistaken detention of Hmong elder ChongLy Thao --- taken by ordinary citizens of how ICE is abusing and ignoring the basic civil rights of people, including US citizens, it appears that the class on what's legal and what's not legal under the Constitution, needs to be extended and hammered into some of the yahoos abusing their authority instead of the cursing and name calling of the already dead victims.

Veteran law enforcement leaders, like Sheriff Kevin Joyce of Cumberland County, Maine, haven’t minced words, labeling recent operations as "bush-league policing." This sentiment stems from incidents where ICE agents have bypassed local coordination, in one case even detaining an authorized local corrections officer on a roadside. The consensus among old-school sheriffs is that while the mission is to remove serious criminals, the agency has "moved the goalposts" to prioritize optics over professional procedure.

One of the loudest complaints from local police is the lack of "professional courtesy" shown to fellow officers. In Brooklyn Park, local police reported ICE agents boxing in and holding off-duty officers of color at gunpoint. These veterans argue that such "reckless" behavior forces local cops to treat federal agents as a potential threat rather than partners.

This isn't just a policy shift; it's a total overhaul of how federal law enforcement operates. We’re going to keep a close eye on the DHS Inspector General’s investigation into these new "accelerated" standards.

ICE will take anybody

There is no evidence to suggest that the ICE screening process for white supremacists is effective; on the contrary, reports from civil rights organizations, media outlets and government sources indicate that extremism is an ongoing concern within law enforcement agencies, including ICE.

As a matter of fact, the ICE recruitment propaganda appears to be aimed at individuals who admire the racist teachings of Hitler.

Key findings and concerns:

Infiltration of Law Enforcement: The FBI has long acknowledged the threat of white supremacists infiltrating law enforcement agencies, a concern echoed by the Brennan Center for Justice and other watchdog groups. Reports have identified "active links" between domestic terrorism investigations and law enforcement officials.

Specific Incidents and Propaganda: Recent news articles from 2025 have highlighted instances of explicit white supremacist references in official ICE recruitment materials and social media posts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An ICE prosecutor in Dallas was also found to be running a white supremacist account on social media.

Lack of Oversight: Critics, including the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC, have raised alarms about the failure of ICE and DHS to adequately address and remove white supremacist content and extremism in their ranks.

Insufficient Screening: There are concerns that current hiring practices and background checks, particularly during periods of rapid expansion, have been inadequate, with one Government Accountability Office report identifying flaws in US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) processes.

Calls for Action: Lawmakers and civil rights organizations have urged the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, and DHS to improve screening processes for all candidates and current staff for promoting white supremacy and other forms of bias.

Overall, the available information suggests a significant problem with white supremacist ideology within ICE and related agencies, and a lack of effective screening measures to prevent the racists out of ICE and other law enforcement agencies.

The annual budget for ICE alone now exceeds the combined budgets of all other non-immigration federal law enforcement agencies. The total funding for immigration and border enforcement agencies (including ICE and CBP) in FY 2025 accounts for approximately two-thirds of all federal law enforcement spending.

$75 billion for ICE

The recent budget bill provided a total of $170.7 billion to be allocated to immigration enforcement over several years, with $75 billion directed specifically to ICE. And if that wasn't enough, the House passed and the Senate is considering an additional $10 billion to fund ICE the rest of this year.

And what do we get? Masked men and women who are reluctant to presesnt an ID and who might have gone to the local military surplus supply store to get camo garb with a bullet-proof vest imprinted with "ICE" or "Border Patrol." Sometimes, if they didn't have time to fully outfit themselves, the "so-called" agents are wearing blue jeans or khaki pants.

Some local law enforcement members have been heard describing their unidentified federal counterparts as "wannabe cops" with the ability to chase suspects, push, abuse them, and in some cases, employ torture; all in the name of Trump.

In the case of Minneapolis, local police are handicapped. With only 600 cops on the police force, already busy with local crime and traffic, they are no match for the 2,000 ro 3,000 federal agents who feel free to harass and detain anyone hampering their ability to go after anybody they suspect of being an undocumented immigrant.

The mayor and Minnesota Gov. Walz are urging local residents and local law enforcement to not resort to violence against ICE despite the rising anger against the agency. Violent confrontations could give the Trump regime to declare martial law under the Insurection Act and allow the regime to send in the military. But that han't prevented the Trump regime from  giving them sopoenas.

As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC),Grace Meng, D-NY, has repeatedly demanded answers from DHS regarding the treatment of Asian immigrants and lawful permanent residents. Earlier this month she announced her opposition to funding bills that fail to hold ICE accountable for what she described as "trampling on" the rights of law-abiding immigrants.

Thousands of Minnesotans are tallying in support of immigrants.

The View from the Edge

In 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations will continue to have a profound impact on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and other communities of color, characterized by a sharp rise in arrests, mental health crises, and economic disruption. 

Any lingering belief among AAPI voters that the Trump regime's immigration enforcement doesn't affect Asian Americans , even those with the proper documentation and are in the US legally, should have dissipated by now as federal agents have shown they have no knowledge of  or respect for the Constitution.

A recent poll by the Associated Press and the University of Chicago (AP-NORC) found that the economy is the top concern for Asian Americans. 

Asian communities in the US, particularly in the Twin Cities and California, are actively protesting increased ICE operations in 2026, which have tripled arrests of Asian immigrants

A coalition of Asian groups and vendors from Saint Paul spoke about the impact ICE operations are having on their communities.

"This is the most active and united I have ever seen in the Asian community in Saint Paul. Because we've seen our elders be terrorized, we have seen foot traffic decrease in our shops, and we have seen ICE agents lurk out of our stores and community spaces trying to target us," said Cam Yang who joined the Twin Cities' protests. 

In Minnesota, federal agents are reportedly "hunting" for Asians. Residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul are afraid to leave their house or send their kids to school, the elderly won't go to their medical appointments.

The actions of the federal agents, ICE and the Border Patrol, suggests that the rule of law, the Constitution, our civil rights, are on the line.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

2026 Oscars: What happened to inclusion?

The animated feature Kpop Demon Hunters represents AANHPI actors at the Academy Awards.

Its "good news, bad news" for the AANHPI communities after the 98th Academy Award nominations dropped on January 22. While Asian Americans are dominating the technical and animated fields, the prestigious acting and directing categories are looking surprisingly sparse.

While the Academy Award nominations brought some historic firsts, the "View from the Edge" is that the 2026 Oscar race feels like a massive step backward for on-screen visibility. Despite the Academy's much-hyped "Inclusion Standards" finally being in full effect, the nominations revealed a glaring disconnect between industry rules and actual representation.

With her nomination for Best Director for Hamnet, Chloé Zhao made history as the first woman of color ever nominated twice in that category, and the second woman overall to do so. Zhao is also tied as the most-nominated Asian woman in Oscars history, with seven career total noms, and second most-nominated Asian ever behind cinematographer James Wong Howe (who won twice for “The Rose Tattoo” and “Hud”).

Nevertheless, the nominations have AANHPI creatives asking, "what inclusion?" and "what representation?" Here is the breakdown of the controversies surrounding the 2026 Oscars:

The most stinging critique this year is the near-total absence of Asian performers in the major acting races. 

After the cultural shift of Everything Everywhere All At Once just a few years ago, the 2026 acting categories—particularly Best Actress—are looking incredibly "white-out." Despite strong performances in films like KPop Demon Hunters and international standouts like Kokuho, Asian actors were largely relegated to the sidelines, sparking fresh accusations that Hollywood still views AAPI talent as "supporting" rather than "leading."

The debate around representation standards

The Academy's Representation and Inclusion Standards have sparked debate. Some argue that these rules ensure broader participation and reflect a more inclusive industry, while others express concern about how they might impact creative choices. This ongoing discussion highlights the complexities of implementing diversity initiatives in a creative field.

While the 2026 Oscar nominations brought some breakthroughs for Asian talent in technical fields, the acting and directing categories left many fans—and AAPI advocates—feeling like they’d been ghosted by the Academy. From "theater kids" reeling over a Wicked shutout to the continued cold shoulder given to Asian cinema giants, here are the snubs that have the "View from the Edge" community talking.

The most vocal disappointment online has come from fans of Wicked: For Good. After Wicked:Part One snagged 10 nominations in 2025, the sequel was completely shut out this year—not even a nod for costumes or production design.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo: Despite nominations at the Golden Globes and the Actor Awards, both stars were left out of the Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress races, respectively. Fans are calling it "disrespectful" given the massive vocal and emotional heavy lifting both did for the franchise.

Once again, despite all that critical praise and box office success, Academy voters continue to overlook the work of director Jon M. Chu, the person in the middle of the production who makes the film work.

Dwayne Johnson did not receive a nomination for Best Actor for his role in The Smashing Machine. Despite early buzz and critical praise for his dramatic performance as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, the Samoan American's work, a departure from his usual action roles, was considered one of the biggest acting snubs of the 2026 awards season. 

Academy voters appear to be more open to recognize AANHPI leads ... if ... they are cartoon characters.

The biggest splash this year comes from the world of animation. Directors Maggie Kang and Michelle L.M. Wong secured a Best Animated Feature nod for KPop Demon Hunters. 

Even more historic, the film’s track "Golden" by EJAE is the first K-pop song ever nominated for Best Original Song. 

Pixar veteran Domee Shi also finds herself back in the race for Elio.

Shining "Below-the-Line"

The good news is that AANHPI talent is getting more recognition in the crafts "below-the-line" or "behind-the-camera." While the spotlight often misses them, Asian American craftspeople are rewriting history this year:

• Autumn Durald Arkapaw, a Filipino American, made history as the first woman of color nominated for Best Cinematography for her work on Sinners.

• Miyako Bellizzi earned a Best Costume Design nod for the stylish Marty Supreme.

• Charmaine Chan is representing for Asian women in tech with a Best Visual Effects nomination for Jurassic World: Rebirth.

• Kazu Hiro continues his streak in Makeup and Hairstyling for The Smashing Machine.

After the sucess of Crazy Rich Asians in 2018, Parasite in 2020, Chloe Zhao's Nomadland in 2021, Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2023, it looked like that studio doors were finally opening for  AANHPI talent. However, AANHPI were blanked out in 2024 and 2025. 

Except for Zhao, 2026 is the third straight year no AANHPI actors received  nominations, a step back for on-screen visibility. 

Critics argue that while the Academy’s inclusion standards are helping films get made, the industry is still struggling to greenlight the "prestige" leading roles that put Asian faces at the center of the frame.

The message from the AAPI community and general film fans is clear: while "Inclusion Standards" look good on paper, they aren’t yet translating to the podium for the performers and directors.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Looking at 2026: The price of living tops Asian American worries

PEW

The economy is the chief concert of the AANHPI communities, copping immigration.

ANALYSIS

One year of Donald Trump is making Asian Americans exceedingly anxious and pessimistic about the future of America.

The latest 2026 data from AP-NORC (via Amplify AAPI) paints a stark picture of the Asian American mood as we settle into the new year: we are bracing for an economic storm and losing faith that Washington has the umbrella to cover us.

If you’re feeling the pinch at the checkout counter, you aren’t alone. A massive 72% of AANHPI adults say the economy is their number one concern for 2026. Specifically, 49% are laser-focused on inflation, a rate far higher than the general US population. With 85% of us expecting new tariffs to drive up the cost of everyday goods, the anxiety over "sticker shock" is becoming a defining part of the AANHPI experience this year.

A deepening "Trust Deficit"

The persistent drumbeat of deriding government agencies coming from Donald Trump and his syncophants has weakened confidence in the institutions -- Congress, the courts, a free press -- that are supposed to provide a path to the American Dream and the very concept of democracy itself.

The most jarring takeaway is how little we expect from the federal government. Only 10% of AAPI respondents feel confident that the government will actually fix anything in 2026. This isn't just "politics as usual"—it’s a growing "trust deficit" that has jumped 10 points since 2024. Whether it’s the 44% worried about health care costs or the 41% eyeing immigration policy, there is a sense that the people in power aren't listening.

The latest 2026 data from AP-NORC (via Amplify AAPI) paints a stark picture of the Asian American mood as we settle into the new year: we are bracing for an economic storm and losing faith that Washington has the umbrella to cover us.

Top policy priorities for 2026

Economic Issues: 72% of AAPI adults identified at least one economic issue as a top government priority for 2026.

Inflation & Cost of Living: Approximately 49% cited inflation as a key priority—significantly higher than the 33% of the general U.S. population who said the same.

Health Care: 44% want the government to prioritize health care. Roughly 60% are "extremely" or "very" concerned about rising health care costs in 2026.

Immigration: 41% listed immigration as a priority, though views vary by party (57% of Republicans vs. 32% of Democrats).

Economic sentiment and outlook

Pessimism: 58% of AAPI adults believe the national economy will get worse in 2026, while 60% expect the overall state of the country to decline.

Personal Finances: While generally more positive about their own situations than the country's, about one-third expect their personal finances to worsen in 2026. This is particularly true for lower-income households (earning under $50,000), 46% of whom expect a decline.

Tariffs: 85% of respondents expect new tariff policies to increase the price of consumer goods, contributing to widespread economic anxiety.

Views on government and identity

Low Confidence: Only 10% are confident the federal government will make progress on important issues in 2026. Seventy percent have little to no confidence in government progress, an increase from 60% in late 2024.

Democracy and Freedoms: 80% view a democratically elected government as vital to U.S. identity. However, 57% consider the current U.S. democracy to be "poorly functioning."

Threats to Liberty: A majority see significant threats to freedom of speech (58%) and freedom of the press (57%).

FYI:The nationwide study was conducted by The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and AAPI Data from September 2-9, 2025, using the Amplify AAPI Monthly survey drawing from NORC’s Amplify AAPI® Panel designed to be representative of the U.S. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander household population. Online and telephone interviews were offered in English, the Chinese dialects of Mandarin and Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean with 1,027 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders aged 18 and older living in the United States. The margin of sampling error is +/- 5.0 percentage points.

Emerging threats and specific group concerns

Campus Free Speech: Among younger AAPI adults (under age 30), 70% are extremely or very concerned about restrictions on free speech on college campuses and potential federal cuts to university research.

Religious Freedom and Profiling: Roughly 34% of AAPI adults see major threats to freedom of religion. In 2026, particular concern has been raised by Muslim American communities regarding Project Esther, a surveillance initiative they fear promotes religious profiling and erodes civil liberties.

Freedom of Assembly: Nearly 7 in 10 AAPI adults believe the right to peacefully assemble is currently at risk.

Individual Liberty over "Christian Culture": AAPI adults are significantly more likely than the general population to prioritize individual liberty and a democratically elected government as essential to U.S. identity, rather than "Christian culture."

WIKI COMMONS

AANHPI are joining protests against harsh Trumpian policies.

View from the Edge

As bad as 2025 has been with the Trump regime's normalization of racism, the coming year could get even worse as the America Dream fades for people of color. 

If Minnesota and the year's first month so far is any indication, the Trump regime is feeling its oats and empowered to double down on using cruelty, harshness and unfairness to tamp down any opposing viewpoints.

On the flip side, there hope is bubbling among folks as ordinary people including that great "undecided" group hiding between the MAGAists and Democrats are starting to wake up to the Trump regime's ultimate goal: a movement to an authoritarian regime quietly controlled by the corporate class.

The November Midterm elections will be a turning point for the United States as ordinary people get a chance to choose the direction of the United States by saying: "Enough!" to the harsh and unconstitutional policies pushed by the Trump regime; "Enough" to the white supremacists and Christian Nationalists who want to preserve the status quo power structure; "Enough" to the billionaires who continue to grow their fortunes at the expense of the middle class; "Enough" to ignoring the Constution and the rights meant to apply to all of us; "Enough" to the divisive rhetoric and policies that have us fighting each other and return to the pursuit of the common good, community and compassion.

Enough!

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Film in the works marks a milestone for Filipino representation in Hollywood

DREAMWORKS

'Forgotten Island' aims for a September 25 premiere.

Get ready to mark your calendars because September 25, 2026, is shaping up to be a historic day for Pinoy representation on the big screen! DreamWorks Animation is officially bringing Forgotten Island to theaters.

The animated feature is not just another animated flick—it’s a deep dive into the rich, mystical tapestry of Philippine mythology.

Directed by the talented Filipino American filmmaker Januel Mercado (who recently wowed us with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), the film is a "party comedy adventure" that transports us to the magical, long-lost island of Nakali.

A Star-Studded Pinoy voice cast

The lineup for this project is absolutely stacked with some of our favorite voices: H.E.R. (aka Gabriela Sarmiento Wilson), who voices Jo and Liza Soberano, who  voices Raissa, — two lifelong best friends whose bond is tested when they become stranded on Nakali.

The legendary Lea Salonga joins the cast alongside Manny Jacinto, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate.

Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado (the creative powerhouses who gave us Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), the vision for Forgotten Island is a bold step forward for Filipino visibility in global animation. For Mercado, a Filipino American filmmaker making his feature directorial debut, this is a chance to put our ancestral stories front and center.

A new mythological frontier

The directors are crafting a world that isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing tribute to Philippine folklore. Their vision for the island of Nakali is rooted in the "lost" magic of Filipino legends, designed to bring mystical creatures to a global stage for the first time.

They describe it as a "broad party comedy adventure."

Think of the chaotic energy of a classic road trip movie, but set in a magical realm where every turn could lead to an encounter with spirits from our own history.

It’s not all laughs. The directors are focusing on the deep emotional toll of their protagonists' journey. Jo and Raissa must face a heartbreaking trade-off: their way home might cost them their most precious shared memories and emotions.

This emotional core will be set against a backdrop of mystical creatures and deities that define the Filipino imagination—think of the potential for seeing Diwatas (forest spirits), Anitos (ancestral spirits), or even the majestic Bathala represented on a global stage.

Mercado explicitly highlighted Filipino family dynamics and trust as primary influences on the film's character relationships. The central bond between lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa reflects the "found family" concept often seen in Filipino culture, where friends are treated as siblings (kapatid).

The film’s central conflict—having to potentially sacrifice a lifetime of memories to get home—hits especially hard for the Filipino diaspora wherein millions of Filipinos leave family at home and travel to foreign lands to support the family. It explores the value of relational history and the idea that losing your shared past with someone is like losing a piece of your soul.

This is a huge milestone for cultural representation in Hollywood. For the first time, a major studio is putting Filipino stories front and center, giving our ancient legends the "DreamWorks treatment." 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

ICE hunting for Asians in the Twin Cities

SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC

Dressed only in his underwear, ChongLy Thao was brought outside by ICE agents.

Federal immigration agents bashed open a door and detained a Hmong American US citizen in his Minnesota home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him out onto the streets in his underwear in subfreezing conditions, according to his family and videos reviewed by The Associated Press.

ChongLy “Scott” Thao told the AP that his daughter-in-law alerted him on Sunday afternoon that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were banging at the door of his residence in St. Paul, across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, the other half of the Twin Cities.

He told his daughter-iin-law not to open it. Masked agents then forced their way in and pointed guns at the Thao's daughter-iin-law and 4-year old grandson, yelling at them, Thao recalled.

“I was shaking,” said the 57-year oldThao, who at the time was dressed only in in his underwear and a pair of Crocs. “They didn’t show any warrant; they just broke down the door.”

He told his daughter-in-law to get his ID in the bedroom but the agents said they didn't need an ID. Then the agents handcuffed him and led Thao, wearing only his underwwear and Crocs into the sub-freezing weather to their vehicle. Someone was able to throw his crying grandson's blanket over him.

Neighbors were blowing whistles and yelling at the dozen-or-so armed masked agents. One of the onlookers recorded the incident. The video went viral.

According to various sources, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, herself a Hmong refugee, ICE agents are asking for the location of Asians in the Twin Cities, home to the countriy's largest community of Hmong and with large communities of Vietnamese refugees and Chinese Americans.

Asians are not safe from ICE

Recent data shows a significant increase in the detention and deportation of Asian immigrants over the last year. According to reports from the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and TRAC Immigration, the number of Asians arrested by ICE more than tripled in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

While Asians represent about 16% of the undocumented population in the US, they have historically made up a small fraction of ICE arrests. However, that share has grown as enforcement efforts expanded:

Thousands of Asians rounded up by ICE

Between February and July 2025, Asian arrests rose to 3,705, up from 1,054 in 2024.

Five countries account for roughly 82% of Asian detainees:

• China (PRC): 30%

• India: 28%

• Vietnam: 15%

• Laos: 6%

• Nepal: 3%

Most of the Asian detainees were came from states with high Asian populations. Approximately 25% of Asian detainees in 2025 were from California, followed by Texas (14%) and New York (10%).

Despite the Trump regime's claim that they are targeting hardened criminals for deportation, a majority of Asian detainees in 2025 did not have a criminal record. The share of detainees with criminal convictions dropped significantly as ICE shifted focus toward broader "interior enforcement." in order to meet the regime's quota of 3,000 per daiy.

After being detained, for whatever reason, data shows Asian detainees are being moved between facilities more frequently, averaging 2.8 transfers per person in 2025, which can complicate access to legal counsel by removing the detainee from the family, but more importantly, from local legal support systems.

Most of the Hmong and Vietnamese in the Twin Cities area are, or are descended from, refugees  from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. They were granted refugee status by past administrations because they aided and fought for the US during the Vietnam War.

St. Paul Mayor Her, said that Asian residents, in the area, including her own parents, are living in fear, afraid to venture out for groceries, school or doctors' appointments. Earlier this month Her was installed as the city's first Asian American mayor, but nevertheless, she was advised to carry proof of citizenship with her.

“ICE drove him around for nearly an hour, questioned him, and fingerprinted him,” said his sister-in-law, Louansee Moua, in a Facebook post. “Only after all of that did they realize he had no criminal history and no reason to be detained. They then dropped him back off at his apartment like nothing happened.”

DHS claims the agents believed that two convicted sex offenders lived at the address. Thao and his family dispute this saying they don't know the suspects and that only Thao, his son, daughter-in-law and grandson live at the rental home.

Mayor Her visited the family after the incident. ICE "ddn't ask for ID," said Her. "They didn't verify if it was the right person." She criticized ICE's actions as "irresponsible and reckless."

“ICE is not doing what they say they’re doing,” said Mayor Her. “They’re not going after hardened criminals. They’re going after anyone and everyone in their path. It is unacceptable and un-American.”

The family told the AP they are particularly upset by Thao’s treatment at the hands of the Trump regime because his mother had to flee to the US from Laos when communists took over in the 1970s since she had supported American covert operations in the country and her life was in danger.

While ChongLy was not physically injured, the emotional and psychological harm has been profound. His daughter-in-law, who feared for her child’s safety, is deeply traumatized and now needs professional therapy. ChongLy also lives with severe psoriasis, a chronic condition that is significantly worsened by extreme stress. Since the incident, his health and emotional well-being have declined.

Thao's door was broken and a gofund me account has been established for legal fees and to help pay for the repairs. What can't be repaired is Thao's faith in the US government doing the right thing.

“I don’t feel safe at all,” Thao told AP. “What did I do wrong? I didn’t do anything.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Lessons from MLK and Gandhi are lessons learned in 2026

Martin Luther King was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent revolution in India.

Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi -- two men from opposite sides of the world who reshaped the world through shared principles that inspire the activists of 2026.

To understand the connection between Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi is to see how two distinct cultures fused to create a global blueprint for liberation. For Dr. King, Gandhi wasn't just a historical figure; he was the man who provided the "operational technique" for the social gospel of Jesus Christ.

While they never met in person—Dr. King was only 19 when Gandhi was assassinated in 1948—Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha (truth-force) became the operational backbone of the American Civil Rights Movement.

King first encountered Gandhi’s teachings while studying at Crozer Theological Seminary. He viewed Gandhi as "the greatest Christian of the modern world," despite Gandhi not being a Christian himself, because Gandhi practiced the "love ethic" of Jesus on a massive, political scale.

King often said, "Christ furnished the spirit and motivation, while Gandhi furnished the method."

King visits India

Seeking to deepen his understanding of Satyagraha (truth-force), King traveled to India for five weeks in 1959. He was moved by how the Indian people had defeated the British Empire through nonviolence. He stayed with Gahndi's family.

King adopted Gandhi’s core principle that nonviolence is not passive but a "powerful and just weapon" -- "a sword that heals" -- that ennobles those who use it. He followed Gandhi’s lead in seeking to win the friendship of the opponent rather than humiliating them, aiming for "Beloved Community" as the ultimate aftermath of protest.

From Gandhi’s Salt March, King learned the redemptive power of "unearned suffering". He applied this during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, teaching activists that by willingly accepting blows without striking back, they would eventually "touch the heart" of the oppressor and the conscience of the nation.

King’s bond with Gandhi’s legacy turned the Civil Rights Movement into a global mission. He believed that if nonviolence could work against the British Empire in Asia, it was the only "logical and moral approach" to solving the race problem in America.

Communities of color are realizing that an attack on one is an attack on all of them.

King-Ganhdi guides AANHPI today

Transformative Solidarity vs. Political Silos:In 2026, the "Beloved Community" is a policy goal. Organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta have launched a 2026 agenda centered on "transformative solidarity," explicitly bridging AANHPI, Arab, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities to defend civil liberties against systemic threats and Trump attempts to eliminate social and health programs.

Nonviolent Advocacy: Dr. King’s method of relentless pressure on unjust structures remains the blueprint. AANHPI groups recently secured a major win by successfully removing "China Initiative" language from federal funding bills, proving that persistent, organized nonviolence can dismantle racial profiling at the highest levels of government.

The "Spirit of Aloha" as a Modern Shield: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander leaders are leaning into the legacy of the Reverend Abraham Akaka. In 2026, "Aloha" isn't a greeting; it’s a radical framework for demanding political autonomy and land restoration—viewing these as essential to the "justice" King envisioned for all inhabitants of the Pacific.

Standing in the Breach for Immigrants:With federal policies in 2026 creating "lonely islands of poverty" for our neighbors, AANHPI activists are using King’s focus on "unearned suffering" to defend DACA recipients and immigrant families. They are framing the fight for permanent legal status as a moral imperative, not just a legal one.

Modern "Ahimsa" (Non-Harm) in the Streets:In response to rising harassment, groups are transforming Gandhi’s ahimsa into bystander intervention training. They are teaching community members to de-escalate hate without resorting to violence, effectively turning peace into a proactive defense mechanism.

Language Access as the New Voting Frontier:Building on the foundation of the 1975 Voting Rights Act expansion, the 2026 movement identifies language access as a non-negotiable civil right. They argue that a democracy that doesn't speak your language is one that doesn't intend to hear your voice.

In 2026, the AANHPI movement isn’t just looking back at history—it’s actively weaponizing the Gandhian-Kingian toolkit to navigate a political landscape that feels more fraught than ever by policies from the Trump regime that threaten civil rights, voting rights, true history and healthcare. 

As we mark the 40th anniversary of the federal MLK holiday, the "Edge" sees a community moving from the sidelines to the frontlines of transformative solidarity.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.