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
⚠️ Action alert: There are just 5 DAYS LEFT to defend our communities against the US Census Bureau`s harmful proposal. Southeast Asian Americans rely on detailed census data to reveal existing disparities. Getting rid of this data does not get rid of inequity.
The deadline to submit a comment is this Monday, Nov. 2nd. We are so close to our goal of 500 comments. 🙌 With so much at stake, add your voice today at bit.ly/SEARACcensusalert or the link in our bio.
Oct 28
Nationally, 9% of households in the United States have three generations living under one roof. Across all Southeast Asian American communities, that rate is more than double.
Thank you to the 420 people who have submitted comments via our online form letting the Census Bureau know that it needs to keep race and ethnicity questions in the next census. 👏👏 We need 80 more to reach our goal of 500. Submit your comment by Nov. 2 at the link in our bio and please continue to share bit.ly/SEARACcensusalert widely!
Oct 22
Public health insurance is a lifeline for Southeast Asian American communities. Detailed census data show just how many families rely on it—and why policymakers must pay attention.
With just under 2 weeks until the deadline, we are still 100 short of our goal of 500 people telling the Census Bureau why we must continue to collect race and ethnicity data during the next census. Submit your comment by Nov. 2 at bit.ly/SEARACcensusalert or the link in bio.
Oct 20
Thank you to the @internationalexaminer for uplifting data from our recent fact sheet, which shows that 42% of deportations to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam recorded since 1998 occurred in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 alone.
Read how organizers are helping families prepare and keeping elders connected and why lasting legislative solutions are urgently needed. Link in bio.
Oct 16
Detailed data reveal the truth behind the model minority myth. Removing race and ethnicity questions would hide very real educational disparities and leave our families out of the decisions that shape our futures. We will not stand by and let our government erase our communities.
🎉 Comment campaign update: We need just over 100 comments to reach our goal of 500. Submit your comment by Nov. 2 and send a strong message to the Census Bureau from the SEAA community. Link in bio
Oct 15
“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
