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 and our partners at @asianhealthservices celebrated AB 1242 (Nguyen), passing out of the Senate Health Committee and now moving to the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. AB 1242 creates a Language Access Director in the CA Health & Human Services Agency and reforms the Dymally Alatorre Bilingual Services Act.

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Nearly 1 in 5 Southeast Asian Americans live at or near poverty—and for many, federally funded education programs are the difference between falling behind or moving forward.

Many SEAA students rely on school support systems built for low-income families.

Cutting these funds means SEAA students will lose the resources they need to thrive.Our children deserve equal chances—not underresourced classrooms. Tell your Representative to vote NO at  bit.ly/seaatakeaction and/or call (202) 224-3121 #OurRootsOurPower

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June is a month of exemplifying intersectionality: SEAA communities are celebrating Pride Month, Immigrant Heritage Month, and World Refugee Day! It's a time to embrace all aspects of our identities and take pride in who we are and where we come from. Thank you to @nataliepbui, SEARAC's first-ever artist-in-residence, for beautifully capturing the joy and vibrancy of our communities through her art. 

This year, Southeast Asian American communities across the country are honoring the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement to the United States. June reminds us that there is space for the fullness of who we are to exist. We celebrate the refugee legacy of our Southeast Asian American community and honor those who paved the way for us to celebrate Pride.

#pride #pridemonth #RefugeePride #ImmigrantPride #WorldRefugeeDay #ImmigrantHeritageMonth

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