In last week’s election, voters sent a clear message against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement abuses and demanded a government focused on the well-being of our country. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters helped shape that outcome, building on the gains in voter participation seen since 2018. The election also marks a milestone for representation, with at least 22 AAPI members expected to serve in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the largest number in its history.
SEARAC Executive Director Quyen Dinh issued the following statement:
“This election gives us renewed hope and reflects years of organizing by people who refused to let fear decide our country’s future. We celebrate the organizers who knocked on doors, helped neighbors navigate voting barriers, and made sure our communities understood the power of their votes.
Even as this election gives us hope, our communities continue to face urgent threats. ICE is still terrorizing families, and we mourn every person who has died in its custody, including members of our Southeast Asian American communities. Families are making impossible choices, forced to choose between feeding their children, heating their homes, and getting medical care. The promise of this election must become real relief for people who cannot afford to wait.
Addressing these hardships must be a priority for the new Congress. SEARAC will work with lawmakers, including CAPAC’s historic membership, to advance deportation relief and protect the health care and support our families rely on. Alongside our community partners, we will press Congress to act on the concerns that brought people to the polls and hold this administration accountable for the harm it continues to cause.”