Protect family immigration

Person holds a banner and stands at the front of a march

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:

Policy brief

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.

Quyen speaking on a podium.

Featured story

Moua and Dokmai smiling into the camera with mountains behind them.

“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
Quyen holds a mic

“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
People hold signs while near a sidewalk, one person holds a SEARAC sign

People Power in Action

People hold up anti-deportation signs

Support the New Way Forward Act

SEAAs and other immigrant and refugee communities want a fair chance to thrive, but we cannot do so while we are subject to a dehumanizing, unjust immigration system.

People hold signs against deportation

Support the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act

This historic bill would limit deportations of Southeast Asian refugees and provide further relief for those with final orders of removal.

Last week, SEARAC hosted the third installment of our Rising Up webinar series, examining gender disparities in Southeast Asian American students' educational attainment. Kham Moua, SEARAC National Deputy Director, shared how immigration policies in the 1990s criminalized Southeast Asian boys and men. This created not just a school-to-prison pipeline, but a school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline. 

You can join SEARAC tomorrow, May 19, for the next installment of our webinar series at bit.ly/RisingUpPt4.

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Education is a right, not a privilege. Join SEARAC on May 19 for our Rising Up webinar series as we explore how community colleges are increasing access and affordability for Southeast Asian American students. Featuring Dr. Tchay Her of Fresno City College's United Southeast Asian American Program (@fcc_useaa). RSVP today: bit.ly/RisingUpPt4 or at the link in our bio!

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Dr. Mike Nguyen, professor at UCLA and a board member of @searac and @apahenational, shares how the research has shown that AANAPISIs provide wonderful outcomes and benefits for AANHPI students to succeed in college. Tune in today for the third installment of SEARAC’s “Rising Up” webinar, a series highlighting the urgent needs of Southeast Asian American students. Join today’s conversation on supporting men and boys in education. RSVP at bit.ly/RisingUpPt3.

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In SEARAC’s kickoff of our “Rising Up” webinar series, we talked about how essential AANAPISIs have been for creating more educational opportunities for Southeast Asian American students and the recent threats to the program. Our series continues tomorrow with a webinar on supporting Southeast Asian American men and boys in education. RSVP at bit.ly/RisingUpPt3 to join!

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