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
May is #AANHPIHeritageMonth and this year also marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. SEARAC is proud to uplift Southeast Asian American community, culture, and heritage in celebration of our refugee legacy.
Today, we`re sharing content from @chamrefugeescommunity in Seattle and Lacey, WA. Learn about the Cham who call Washington State home, and discover a recipe for ai pai pageng in the images here 😋
For SEARAC, the term "Southeast Asian American" is a political identity encompassing the unique and diverse ethnicities and cultures from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam — all of whom were impacted by war and genocide in those countries in the 1970s. We look forward to sharing more from our communities throughout May.
Thank you to Kylie, SEARAC`s previous communications intern, for building this series for APAHM.
May 23
May is #AANHPIHeritageMonth and this year also marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. SEARAC is proud to uplift Southeast Asian American community, culture, and heritage in celebration of our refugee legacy.
Today, we`re sharing content from @chamrefugeescommunity in Seattle and Lacey, WA. Learn about the Cham who call Washington State home, and discover a recipe for ai pai pageng in the images here 😋
For SEARAC, the term "Southeast Asian American" is a political identity encompassing the unique and diverse ethnicities and cultures from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam — all of whom were impacted by war and genocide in those countries in the 1970s. We look forward to sharing more from our communities throughout May.
Thank you to Kylie, SEARAC`s previous communications intern, for building this series for APAHM.
Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill package. Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC responds:
"This budget bill, passed through in the dead of night, is an unconscionable attack on the safety of Southeast Asian Americans and all families and communities. The House`s decision to massively increase funding for anti-immigrant policies will cause even more chaos, fear, and disruption to our communities. The Trump Administration is tearing apart countless families and unlawfully deporting community members without their due process rights. This bill will supercharge such state violence — and all at the direct expense of programs that millions of people rely on to access to food and health care. SEARAC denounces this budget reconciliation bill, and we urge the Senate to reject this harmful legislation."
May 22
Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill package. Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC responds:
"This budget bill, passed through in the dead of night, is an unconscionable attack on the safety of Southeast Asian Americans and all families and communities. The House`s decision to massively increase funding for anti-immigrant policies will cause even more chaos, fear, and disruption to our communities. The Trump Administration is tearing apart countless families and unlawfully deporting community members without their due process rights. This bill will supercharge such state violence — and all at the direct expense of programs that millions of people rely on to access to food and health care. SEARAC denounces this budget reconciliation bill, and we urge the Senate to reject this harmful legislation."
Yesterday, eight individuals, including a Laotian and Vietnamese American, were deported to South Sudan. The Trump Administration broke the law by deporting these individuals, ignoring a federal court order that required DHS to fulfill their legal rights. Take action by emailing your Representative at bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill (case-sensitive, link in our bio) and sharing the word.
SEARAC condemns these recent deportations and is calling on our community to mobilize. We must demand Congress to return everyone illegally deported to South Sudan, as well as to El Salvador, Panama, Libya, and other countries. Congress must stop funding these unlawful deportations by rejecting the budget reconciliation package. Go to bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill to email your Representative today.
"Southeast Asians are in the United States because we allied with this country and were forced to flee violence, political persecution, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. It is unconscionable that this administration is deporting people who have already served their sentences, are important members of their communities, and whose families have once escaped these very conditions.” – Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC
May 21
Yesterday, eight individuals, including a Laotian and Vietnamese American, were deported to South Sudan. The Trump Administration broke the law by deporting these individuals, ignoring a federal court order that required DHS to fulfill their legal rights. Take action by emailing your Representative at bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill (case-sensitive, link in our bio) and sharing the word.
SEARAC condemns these recent deportations and is calling on our community to mobilize. We must demand Congress to return everyone illegally deported to South Sudan, as well as to El Salvador, Panama, Libya, and other countries. Congress must stop funding these unlawful deportations by rejecting the budget reconciliation package. Go to bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill to email your Representative today.
"Southeast Asians are in the United States because we allied with this country and were forced to flee violence, political persecution, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. It is unconscionable that this administration is deporting people who have already served their sentences, are important members of their communities, and whose families have once escaped these very conditions.” – Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC
"The Vietnam War resulted in what is considered the largest resettlement of refugees in American history, with almost 590,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos coming to the U.S. from 1980 to 1990, according to Pew Research. These refugee communities still struggle."
Against all odds, communities from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos have survived the trauma of war; and five decades later continue to fight for a vision of abundance, not just survival. In order to heal, Southeast Asian Americans must be free from the threat of unjust detention and deportation. Inhumane immigration policies have re-traumatized Southeast Asian American communities. We will keep fighting for a future where all of us can live with dignity, justice, and freedom. Read the full report from @nbcasianamerica at the link in our bio.
May 21
"The Vietnam War resulted in what is considered the largest resettlement of refugees in American history, with almost 590,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos coming to the U.S. from 1980 to 1990, according to Pew Research. These refugee communities still struggle."
Against all odds, communities from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos have survived the trauma of war; and five decades later continue to fight for a vision of abundance, not just survival. In order to heal, Southeast Asian Americans must be free from the threat of unjust detention and deportation. Inhumane immigration policies have re-traumatized Southeast Asian American communities. We will keep fighting for a future where all of us can live with dignity, justice, and freedom. Read the full report from @nbcasianamerica at the link in our bio.
Instead of funding social safety net programs that ensure families, elders, and children can access lifesaving care, Congress is racing to pass a budget bill that will fund tax cuts for billionaires and supercharge deportations. Join SEARAC in urging Congress to protect Medicaid and SNAP by contacting your Representative at bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill (case-sensitive) or at the link in our bio!
May 20
Instead of funding social safety net programs that ensure families, elders, and children can access lifesaving care, Congress is racing to pass a budget bill that will fund tax cuts for billionaires and supercharge deportations. Join SEARAC in urging Congress to protect Medicaid and SNAP by contacting your Representative at bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill (case-sensitive) or at the link in our bio!