Museum of Chinese in America

Zhong Yue Zhong shared his educational background, including his undergraduate and graduate studies at Fudan University, and his reason for coming to the U.S. in 1999 to attend an academic seminar. Due to financial constraints and the help of friends, he settled in Chinatown, where he made a living, connected with fellow townspeople from Shanghai, and gained insights into the economic activities of Chinese Americans. Switching back to student life, he attended CUNY for a semester of a PhD in economics but had to work due to financial issues. He eventually partnered with a friend to run a restaurant. He completed law school in Maine, did an exchange at Brooklyn Law School, and transitioned from corporate to immigration law due to family ties. The changes in immigration law in the 90s, particularly President Clinton executive order, significantly impacted his profession, providing many opportunities for immigration petitions. He noted that immigration laws have since reduced illegal immigration, and post-9/11, the volume of immigration cases decreased. He observed that the Chinese community in New York has grown, with a larger Cantonese-speaking population and increased political participation and advocacy.