In the aftermath of war and genocide in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, many SEAAs were separated in their escape to safety. Our immigration system must ensure the timely and humane reunification of families.
Key resource:
How family-based immigration benefits Southeast Asian Americans: Standing up for our families and our rights — A memo that discusses the current backlog for immigration visas and the ramifications of ending family-based sponsorship.
Featured story
Keep Our Families Whole – SEARAC Applauds Reintroduction of the Reuniting Families Act
The RFA would streamline the United States’ family immigration system – which has not been updated in over 20 years – to ensure the timely and humane reunification of immigrant and refugee families. The bill would eliminate bureaucratic red tape: clearing visa backlogs in the family and employment immigration systems, as well as providing an opportunity for relief for immigrants in deportation proceedings to remain with their families.
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“She’s all I think about. I just want my companion to be with me here, not just to help as a caregiver to my elderly father, but so we can also finally save some money and start a family, which is all I ever wanted. The emotional stress, the financial hardship, the physical toll it’s taken on both of us — it’s all really hard to manage.”
Solar installer, Minnesota
“The Reuniting Families Act would make our family reunification system more humane by ensuring that our families do not have to wait decades to be together and by providing greater opportunities for relief for those currently in deportation proceedings.”
Executive Director, SEARAC
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Latest related posts
For our final Workplace Wellness blog series, SEARAC California Deputy Director Mandy Diêc, penned a blog about countering ideas of "productivity" and "urgency" in social justice work. Mandy writes, "I believed that burnout and emotional taxation was just part of the commitment to social justice. SEARAC taught me that this was directly opposed to values of equity, justice, and community care."
Read her blog post at the link in our bio.
Mar 26
SEARAC`s newest report, Rising Up, shows us that the evidence is clear that Southeast Asian American students thrive in educational environments that make them visible and valued. Effective strategies include culturally responsive curricula, such as ethnic studies, Southeast Asian American studies, and heritage language learning; culturally competent educators; culturally appropriate mental health supports; and intentional efforts to foster belonging through student organizations and
community spaces.
Read the full report and our newly released executive summary at bit.ly/RisingUpSEARAC
Mar 23
Our second finding from our new education report, Rising Up, is that lack of data prevents clear picture.
Most data groups Southeast Asian American, South Asian, and East Asian students into a single “Asian” category. This masks inequities and reinforces the harmful “model minority” myth. We need data to be broken down and disaggregated to reveal the unique experiences of Southeast Asian American communities. This will provide educators, researchers, and policymakers with information on how to better support them.
Read the full report and our newly released executive summary at bit.ly/RisingUpSEARAC
Mar 19
Get @reshare_app • @asmmiabonta As Trump ramps up his mass deportation machine, thousands of Californians are facing immigration court, one of the most complex legal systems in the country, without a lawyer and without a fair shot. These are our neighbors, our friends, our community members. Research shows that having a lawyer makes you five times more likely to win your case. AB 2600 is our chance to stand up for our neighbors and protect due process for every Californian.
Mar 18
We are breaking down the key findings from Rising Up, a new report on the state of education for Southeast Asian American students. Our first key finding is that outcomes are improving, but remain uneven across ethnicity and gender.
Community advocacy has resulted in increased supports for Southeast Asian American students and we`re seeing Southeast American students graduating from high school and enrolling in college at higher rates than previous generations. However, that progress has been uneven and includes ethnic and gender disparities. Read the full report and our newly released executive summary at bit.ly/RisingUpSEARAC
Mar 18
