The Hmong community is an integral part of the Southeast Asian American refugee legacy but has recently been misclassified as ‘East Asian’ rather than ‘Southeast Asian’ by the US Census Bureau. This mistake erases our Hmong community’s identity and conceals the inequities we experience as refugees from Southeast Asia. Hmong voices and stories matter and the US Census Bureau must honor the Hmong community’s self-identification as Southeast Asian Americans.
We’re mobilizing our communities to tell the US Census Bureau that it must correct its mistake.
Take Action
Demand Congress to Align with the Census Bureau’s Commitment to Inclusivity and Fairness
In 2025, we celebrated the Southeast Asian American community’s power by commemorating the introduction of a national resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement.
This national resolution led by SEARAC recognizes not just our past, but the powerful future we are building together, and we need your help to ensure it passes. Take action by visiting bit.ly/seaa50resolution and urge your Congressional representatives to move the resolution forward.
Dec 23
SEARAC`s team will be taking time off to rest and reset. Thank you for a powerful year of commemorating 50 years of Southeast Asian American power with us.
Dec 22
Congress has refused to extend the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits and is abandoning its responsibility to the public it serves. Read SEARAC`s full response.
Dec 20
On Tuesday, SEARAC proudly commemorated a historic 50th year of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement during a virtual event that convened community leaders nationwide in celebration of the recently introduced Southeast Asian American 50th year anniversary resolution. Thank you to @pivotorg, @seafnofficial , @thecambodianfamily, @legaciesofwar for joining us!
The gathering marked both a celebration and a call to action
SEARAC extends gratitude to Rep. Tran and Sen. Hirono for championing this resolution and urges all members of Congress to stand with Southeast Asian American communities as we continue to advance equity, belonging, and opportunity for all.
You can support this historic moment by urging Congressional leadership to adopt this resolution at bit.ly/seaa50resolution
Dec 19
On Tuesday night, President Trump issued a new proclamation expanding the travel ban from 19 countries to 39 countries. Laos is now included in the fully banned country list and was previously listed as a partially banned country, preventing all immigration and select non-immigrant travel from Laos.
Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC, responded: “This expanded travel ban continues this Administration’s racist and xenophobic policies and attacks on our communities. These policies do not make our country safer. They deepen trauma, fuel fear, and uphold this Administration’s clear racial and white nationalist ideologies. The expanded travel ban will be devastating for Hmong, Lao, Mien, and other communities from Laos, who have already endured decades of displacement, war, and separation. By shutting the door on family reunification, this Administration is tearing and keeping families apart and denying Southeast Asian Americans the basic dignity of safety, stability, and belonging.”
Get @reshare_app • @asianlawcaucus In December 2025, the Trump administration announced that it has placed a hold on all asylum applications filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and is pausing applications for permanent residence (green card) and other immigration applications filed by individuals from 19 ‘Travel Ban’ Get @reshare_app • @asianlawcaucus In December 2025, the Trump administration announced that it has placed a hold on all asylum applications filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and is pausing applications for permanent residence (green card) and other immigration applications filed by individuals from 19 ‘Travel Ban’ #civilrightscountries.
Our new resource page provides general information explaining the new USCIS policy.
UPDATE: on 12/16 the list of travel ban countries was expanded. Please continue to check our FAQ and resource page for updated guidance on policies regarding asylum application and benefit requests for immigrants from ‘Travel Ban’ countries.
Resource page: bit.ly/uscis-memo-faq
#TravelBan #EntryBan #ImmigrantRights #ImmigrationPolicy #CivilRights
Dec 18
“While the Census Bureau has made tremendous progress in making Southeast Asian refugee communities visible in the 2020 Census, misclassifying the Hmong community is a significant step back with major policy, identity, and cultural ramifications.”
SEARAC Executive Director
If she’s not napping, you can often find Phun at a cafe, on a trailhead, or at an airport gate.
Communications Associate
