AIISF Newsletter / February 2026
Room 115 of the Detention Barracks Museum (The Women's Quarters).
A Message From AIISF’s Executive Director
Dear AIISF Friends and Family,
As we recognize Black History Month and the upcoming Lunar New Year, it’s hard to ignore that 2026 is unfortunately already off to a somber start. As we all watch the news of what is happening in the US, it is clear that history is repeating itself.
The unjust killings by ICE in Minneapolis are just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Over the past year, at least 30 people have died while in ICE detention.
The Administration’s purchasing of vacant warehouses to construct additional facilities is reminiscent of how immigrants were detained along San Francisco’s waterfront in drafty, uncomfortable buildings meant to hold objects, not people.
The recent suspension of processing immigrant visas from 75 countries echoes the Immigration Act of 1917, which created the Asiatic Barred Zone.
The continuing attempts to silence and intimidate journalists, artists, museums, and others exercising their First Amendment rights mirrors human rights atrocities previously practiced in Germany, Chile, Poland, and other countries.
I recently had the opportunity to attend a one-day symposium entitled Echoes of History: Inspiring Civic Action and Building Democracy that was hosted by the Japanese American National Museum. A few key takeaways from that meeting include:
The realities that we are currently living are indeed challenging and significant.
While the window is small, there is still opportunity to change the current course of history through collective action.
The consequences of complacency will be dangerous.
So, what does it look like to not be complacent and to instead be intentionally engaged? The reality is that it will look different for each person and each organization. But here are a few suggestions:
Be conscious of the companies you are buying from.
If you want to support communities in Minnesota, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy recently created the AAPIP Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund for the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Donations to the fund will support local AANHPI organizations providing culturally informed care for their communities in the region.
Reach out to and check in on your immigrant friends and family.
For AIISF, being intentionally engaged means continuing the important work of preserving the Angel Island Immigration Station; educating communities about the histories of racist exclusion and detention enacted on the site; calling attention to current-day parallels; and uplifting the strengths, resiliencies, and contributions of immigrants across history.
We will not stop envisioning and working towards a future in which all persons across the US understand the history of immigration through Angel Island; treat immigrants with increased respect and empathy; and are committed to advancing equity, justice, and belonging for all communities.
Wishing you all rest, resiliency, and intentional engagement,
Edward Tepporn
Executive Director
Accessibility
Out-of-Order Elevators at Immigration Site: The elevators in the Detention Barracks Museum and the Angel Island Immigration Museum (AIIM) are temporarily out-of-order.
The first floor of the barracks is still ADA-accessible, but the second floor is only accessible by stairs. Most of the AIIM exhibits are on the second floor which is currently only accessible by stairs.
Save the date for AIISF’s
2026 Immigrant Heritage Awards Reception!
Saturday, April 25, 2026
5 - 7 PM
Thirty-second Floor of the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
Pathways to Immigration Special Campaign
Through our Pathways to Immigration Special Campaign, you can commemorate your own immigration journey, honor your family’s immigrant heritage, or show your allyship with immigrant communities.
Whether you or your family came through Angel Island or elsewhere and whether you arrived in the US decades ago or days ago, we welcome your name and your support.
Upcoming Events
Summer Resource Fair
February 21 | 11 am - 2 pm
1199 9th Ave, San Francisco
Click here to learn more
Preview our upcoming programming at the San Francisco County Fair Building on the 21!
We'll be tabling at the Summer Resource Fair, a free event hosted by the SF Department of Youth and their Families.
Come learn about opportunities for youth (grades K-8) to make the most of their summer!
"Facing the Moon”: Del Sol Quartet and SF Poet Laureate Genny Lim
March 14 | 12 - 1 pm
Detention Barracks Museum
Click here to learn more
Our line-up of second-Saturday activities begins with a live performance by Del Sol Quartet and poet Genny Lim, amplifying the experience of the Chinese diaspora on Angel Island through excerpts from “Facing the Moon.”
Shuttle rides to the Immigration Station will be available. The performance will be included in your $5 admission to the museum. RSVP on our website if you plan to come!
Hands on History
March 14 | 12 - 3:30 pm
Angel Island Immigration Station
Click here to learn more
Hands on History returns March 14! Make art while learning about Angel Island.
If you're attending "Facing the Moon," join us after the show!
Watch our social media for more details, coming soon!
Community Events
Carved in Silence Film Screening and Q&A with Felicia Lowe
February 4 | 6:30 - 8 pm
Mill Valley Public Library (375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley)
Click here to register
This Wednesday, come to the Mill Valley Public Library to watch Carved in Silence. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film's award-winning director Felicia Lowe.
Carved in Silence delves into the genesis, reality, and consequences of the Exclusion Era, focusing on the detention of Chinese immigrants at the Angel Island Immigration Station.
Registration is required. All seats are now filled, but a waiting list is available.
Angel Island State Park: Lunar New Year PORTS Webinar
February 10 | 10 am
Online on Zoom
Click here to register
Welcome 2026 by celebrating and learning with our friends at Angel Island State Park!
During this virtual program designed for students, audiences will learn about the Chinese immigrant experience in the 1900s and how that relates to modern lunar new year traditions. While PORTS (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students) programs are geared towards K-5th graders, the general public is welcome to join, too!
Bay Area Day of Remembrance
February 15 | 2 - 4 pm
1840 Sutter St., San Francisco
Click here to learn more
San Jose Day of Remembrance
February 15 | 5:30 - 7:30 pm
632 N. Fifth St., San Jose
Click here to learn more
On February 15, the Bay Area's Japanese American community observes the annual Day of Remembrance. commemorating the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of about 125,000 people of Japanese descent during World War II.
This year, events in both San Francisco Japantown and San Jose Japantown uphold the theme: "Neighbors Not Enemies" and highlight the parallels between detention during World War II and currently. Their programming will include candlelight ceremonies; performances by local artists; featured speakers (San Jose); a roundtable discussion (San Francisco); and more.
Both events are free, but donations are welcome.
Journeys to Albany: Paths to Belonging Exhibition
February 1 - April 23 | Wednesdays - Saturdays, 1-6 pm
Albany Community Center Foyer (1249 Marin Ave., Albany, CA)
Click here to learn more
View Journeys to Albany: Paths to Belonging, an exhibition featuring stories of where we are from and how we got here. Come see large-scale collages of the migration stories of neighbors–stories that connect us all. The exhibition also features Portrait of Albany, a collective portrait of Albany people.
Journeys to Albany is the culmination of Path to Belonging, a year-long community art project that aims to build a sense of inclusion for all people in Albany. Sponsored by the City of Albany’s Creative Justice art program and partnering with the Albany Library, the project helps neighbors get to know each other through sharing family stories.
Community Resources
Re-Imagining Migration: Supporting Immigrant Students in Crisis
Anti-immigrant rhetoric and heightened enforcement actions have created what researchers describe as a crisis of belonging that directly impacts learning. Students are concerned for their friends and neighbors, worried for their families, struggling to concentrate, or acting out in ways that look like behavioral problems but are actually survival responses to toxic stress.
Re-Imagining Migration (RIM) interviewed Dr. Maryam Kia Keating, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and resilience for immigrant communities, to understand how educators can support students navigating these traumatic experiences.
From their conversation, RIM compiled a guide: Trauma-Informed, Relationship-Centered Strategies for Teachers.
We are sharing links to both the interview and the guide below!
AIISF is a small (but mighty) nonprofit that has worked tirelessly for the past 42 years to preserve the buildings at Angel Island and to elevate the stories of immigrants. Our ability to continue these preservation efforts and to continue to offer free or low-cost programs is dependent on the support of community members like you. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to AIISF.