For Immediate Release:
December 14, 2017
Contact:
Katrina Dizon Mariategue, Immigration Policy Manager
katrina@searac.org, 202-601-2968
Washington, DC – Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a letter to the Department of Homeland Security today condemning the detentions and deportations of Southeast Asian refugees to Cambodia and Vietnam. Among those who signed the letters are Reps. Judy Chu (CA-27), Lou Correa (CA-46), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Al Green (TX-09), Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rho Khanna (CA-17), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Mark Takano (CA-41), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).
The letter explains that constituents have been traumatized from one of the “biggest roundups of Southeast Asian refugees in recent memory.” The CAPAC leaders expressed concern that the U.S. may be using the escalation to put pressure on foreign governments to receive more deportees. CAPAC leaders demanded that DHS release information on those detained, and called for a meeting between DHS and CAPAC leadership to address their concerns. This follows similar statements issued by several California local, state, and national public officials released in recent weeks, signaling the growing mass support of lawmakers to protect Southeast Asian refugees from deportation.
“We thank CAPAC for their leadership in denouncing Southeast Asian deportations and supporting refugee families reeling from this trauma, particularly during the holiday season,” said Quyen Dinh, executive director of SEARAC. “With deportations confirmed to escalate even more next year, it is crucial for our congressional allies to speak publicly around the injustice of these removals. More importantly, we will count on these leaders to champion legislation that will change laws that give immigration judges no option but to separate our families and harm our loved ones.”
Push DHS and Congress to do the right thing
1. Sign this organizational support letter denouncing the deportation of Southeast Asian refugees.
We have almost 150 signatures on this SEARAC-led letter to DHS. Will you help us reach our goal of 200 signatures by adding your organization on by 6pm EST today, Thursday, December 14?
2. Call your member of Congress
Identify your Congressional leaders
Here is what you can say:
“My name is ____ from (City, State). I am calling Representative/Senator (Name) to ask that he/she take a public stand against the detention and deportation of Southeast Asian refugees to Cambodia and Vietnam. The round up of community members began in October and impacts refugees that came to the US after the Vietnam War. They grew up as lawful permanent residents, and have transformed their lives by putting past mistakes behind them, contributing to their communities, and supporting U.S. citizen family members (consider inserting a personal story if you have one). They do not deserve to be torn apart from their loved ones. Will your office issue a statement denouncing these deportations?”
If they ask for more information, notify katrina@searac.org to follow up with them.
