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 โ A memo that discusses the current backlog for immigration visas and the ramifications of ending family-based sponsorship.
Featured story
Keep Our Families Whole โ SEARAC Applauds Reintroduction of the Reuniting Families Act
The RFA would streamline the United Statesโ family immigration system โ which has not been updated in over 20 years โ 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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โSheโs 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 itโs taken on both of us โ itโs all really hard to manage.โ
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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"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.โ
SEARAC strongly denounces President Trumpโs travel ban and unequivocally condemns his Administrationโs 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 โข @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 โข @ocapica97 ๐๏ธ 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 โ a vital step toward health equity for our communities. ๐๐ฝ
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.
Weโre proud to advocate for change and uplift the diverse voices that make up the AANHPI community. Letโs keep the momentum going โ equity begins with access. ๐ช๐ฝ๐๐ฌ
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. SEARACโs 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 โ most of all โ the heroes of these episodes for this opportunity.
May 29
