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.
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The New Way Forward’s Impact on Southeast Asian Americans
There are 15,000 Southeast Asian Americans with a final order of removal. About 80% of removable Southeast Asian Americans have a criminal conviction. Many of these individuals were refugees who have never lived in their countries of origin and no longer have any family ties to Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam.
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“It felt like I was being double punished. A terrible crime that I committed when I was a youth would eventually lead to my deportation to a country that I had no ties to. I felt like I was unworthy, not valued, that all that I’d done to change my life, to build community while I was inside, doesn’t matter.”
featured in our anti-deportation PSAs
“If I can change back the hands of time, education and knowledge would be the best for any young person trying to figure themself out. Please be aware that I am still human even though I made a mistake in the past. I do have family that loves me, and I love them, too.
featured in our anti-deportation PSAs
“If we were deported, our family wouldn’t be as happy as they are now. We draw them together and the positive mindset we bring—that heals them and heals our community. I believe deportation is really double punishment for our family, for us, and for our community.”
featured together with impacted community member Tith Ton in our anti-deportation PSAs
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Latest related posts
SEARAC continues to urge our elected officials to protect the Department of Education and preserve the many programs that Congress created to guarantee equal access to educational opportunities for every student.
Read our full statement at the link in our bio.
Nov 20
“For me, gold has come to symbolize memory: the resilience, stories, and traditions my mother’s generation carried across oceans.“
For the descendants of Southeast Asian refugees, this year’s 50th commemoration of our community’s story is a time for pause. For her recent blog post, Polly Woodbury, an LAT 2025 participant and the founder of jewelry brand Angkorian Collection, shares how the process of healing can take many forms. For Polly, it has been a combination of pursuing higher education to focus on Cambodian mental health, reconnecting to her Cambodian roots, and honoring the strength and artistry of her ancestors through jewelry. Polly reminds us that healing is a generational effort, with each new generation reclaiming what was lost and carrying forth the courage of their ancestors. Read Polly’s full blog here: https://shorturl.at/SMpcI
Nov 20
This month, SEARAC joined our friends at @firmunity and @stonesoup.fresno for a vibrant, community-wide screening of @seaajourneys_doc. The evening featured cultural performances, a community discussion, and a special screening of the series.
It was a joyful community celebration of the enduring legacy of Southeast Asian Americans in Fresno and beyond. Read the full press release here: shorturl.at/dCyWU or at the link in our bio!
Nov 19
SEARAC`s online merch store is live! Shop brand new items – including water bottles, baseball hats, and yard flags in our Bonfire storefront – that feature our “Our Roots, Our Power” logos. Alongside these new items, you’ll also have a chance to shop unique designs from SEAA artists created in honor of our community’s 50th anniversary and built around the “Made by Refugees” tagline. These designs will be leaving the SEARAC store at the end of this year, so don’t miss your chance to get them now!
Shop today at searac.org/shop-searac-merch or at the link in our bio.
Nov 18
SEARAC is proud to launch our new Rooted in Power Giving Circle! We invite you to join us in fueling and sustaining SEARAC’s work. This is an opportunity for SEARAC to expand our network of supporters for our vital work and offer exclusive benefits for our most dedicated donors.
This season of giving, join our new Rooted in Power Giving Circle today and become an essential contributor to a healthy, thriving Southeast Asian American community.
Learn more here: searac.org/donate-to-searac
Nov 17
