AN FRANCISCO – The Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.), the nation’s longest serving Chinese American civil rights organization, has formally called on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to halt the proposed closures of its regional facilities in San Bruno, California, and Chicago, Illinois, warning that the loss of local access to these collections would have lasting consequences for historians, genealogists, educators, and immigrant communities.
In a letter sent to Acting Archivist Edward Forest, C.A.C.A. urged NARA to suspend any closure plans until a comprehensive strategy is in place to ensure complete digitization, continued public access, preservation of archival expertise, and meaningful consultation with affected communities.
“The records housed at the San Bruno National Archives are not simply historical documents—they are the documentary foundation of countless American families and communities,” said Kin Hui, C.A.C.A. National President. “They tell the story of immigration, exclusion, citizenship, and perseverance. Once local access and institutional expertise are lost, they cannot easily be restored.”
The San Bruno facility contains more than 750,000 unique immigration and naturalization records representing more than 80 countries, including Chinese Exclusion Act case files,
Angel Island immigration records, World War II records, and materials related to United States v. Wong Kim Ark, the landmark Supreme Court decision establishing birthright citizenship. These collections are essential to preserving the history of Chinese Americans and many other immigrant communities while supporting scholarship, genealogy, and public education.
In addition to the letter to the Acting Archivist, C.A.C.A. has provided copies to NARA’s Congressional Affairs Office and Office of Government and Public Affairs and is sharing its concerns with Members of Congress, urging federal leaders to work with NARA to preserve public access to these irreplaceable records and to provide sufficient funding for their long-term stewardship.
For more than 130 years, C.A.C.A. has worked to protect the civil rights and history of Chinese Americans. The organization believes that preserving the nation’s archival record is essential to safeguarding America’s democratic ideals and ensuring that future
generations can understand the struggles and contributions of those who helped build the United States.
C.A.C.A. calls upon historians, genealogists, cultural organizations, educators, and community leaders to join in advocating for the preservation of these nationally significant collections and for policies that keep them accessible to the public.
Information about C.A.C.A. can be found at: https://www.cacanational.org/.