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
"We must reimagine our immigration system to center healing, justice, and dignity and fight for a world where families are no longer forced to live in fear and where communities can thrive, whole and free.”
SEARAC strongly denounces President Trump’s travel ban and unequivocally condemns his Administration’s use of military force against peaceful protesters in Los Angeles demanding dignity, safety, and justice for immigrants.
Read SEARAC`s full statement at the link in our bio.
Jun 11
An increasing number of Southeast Asian Americans are being detained and deported, separated from their families without a second chance. Instead of transforming our immigration system to center humanity and dignity for all, this administration is focused on a building a mass deportation machine that will tear families apart, weaken and traumatize communities, and leave intergenerational wounds. We cannot continue this cycle of trauma.
Posted @withregram • @seacvillage We are heartbroken by the deportation of 158 Vietnamese and Laotian folks last week. We wanted to share and circulate this statement created by Vo Danh.
Jun 5
SEARAC is thrilled to see AB 1242 move forward! AB 1242 will strengthen language access for our communities by updating the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act and make sure translations done by AI have humans overseeing them. Thank you to @asmstephanienguyen for her leadership and to all our partners in the CA AA & NHPI Health Equity Coalition!
Posted @withregram • @ocapica97 🏛️ OCAPICA and our incredible AANHPI partner organizations @asianhealthservices @socalpicrt @causeusa @searac @pihp_oc @asianresourcesinc @advancingjusticesocal @pacificislandertf came together at the Capitol to provide testimony in support of AB 1242 by @asmstephanienguyen — a vital step toward health equity for our communities. 🙌🏽
AB 1242 addresses the need for language access for not only Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations, but for all communities in California.
We’re proud to advocate for change and uplift the diverse voices that make up the AANHPI community. Let’s keep the momentum going — equity begins with access. 💪🏽📊💬
Thank you to these amazing organizations for voicing your support @childrennow @chirla_org @pivotorg @cpcainsights @western_center @nourishcalifornia @endchildpovca
Jun 2
This AANHPI Heritage Month, the SEARAC team attended conferences, movie premieres, and gatherings to uplift SEAA strength, histories, and resilience. SEARAC’s California team joined our partners at the Hmong History and Cultural Studies, honored Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day, and celebrated Hmong American Day at the State Capitol. We also celebrated the launch of our docuseries "Southeast Asian American Journeys" at CAAMFest and joined the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies for their Legislative Leadership Summit.
Thank you to @caamedia @apaics_org @hipcalifornia @taaforg @ocdehistory for the opportunities to come together this AANHPI Heritage Month and to celebrate Southeast Asian American experiences, voices, and power.
Today is the last day of Give in May and we invite you to commemorate 50 years of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement a gift to SEARAC. Give today at the link in our bio.
May 31
Earlier this month, the SEARAC team joined our friends at @caamedia for the premiere of our docuseries, Southeast Asian American Journeys. This landmark series, part of the Our Roots, Our Power campaign, commemorates the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American (SEAA) refugee resettlement and uplifts unique stories of community strength, survival, and self-determination.
We are grateful to our partners, storytellers, producers, filmmakers @smellydurianface @joualeelens @oanhnhi.nguyen, and — most of all — the heroes of these episodes for this opportunity.
May 29
“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
