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
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“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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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.
May 18
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!
May 14
America is turning 250. Southeast Asian Americans are commemorating over 50 years of refugee resettlement. That means Southeast Asian Americans have been part of this country’s past, present, and we will continue to shape this country. Southeast Asian Americans have been contributing, building, advocating, and shaping communities from coast to coast.
The story of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement is inseparable from the American story. It reflects this nation`s promise of refuge, opportunity, and inclusion.
Let`s make sure Congress recognizes all of who we are. Urge your rep to pass the Southeast Asian American 50th Anniversary Resolution. Join us: bit.ly/SEAA50to250 or at the link in our bio!
#SEAA50 #SEAAResolution
May 13
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.
May 13
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!
May 12