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`s newest report, Rising Up, shows us that the evidence is clear that Southeast Asian American students thrive in educational environments that make them visible and valued. Effective strategies include culturally responsive curricula, such as ethnic studies, Southeast Asian American studies, and heritage language learning; culturally competent educators; culturally appropriate mental health supports; and intentional efforts to foster belonging through student organizations and
community spaces.
Read the full report and our newly released executive summary at bit.ly/RisingUpSEARAC
Mar 23
Our second finding from our new education report, Rising Up, is that lack of data prevents clear picture.
Most data groups Southeast Asian American, South Asian, and East Asian students into a single “Asian” category. This masks inequities and reinforces the harmful “model minority” myth. We need data to be broken down and disaggregated to reveal the unique experiences of Southeast Asian American communities. This will provide educators, researchers, and policymakers with information on how to better support them.
Read the full report and our newly released executive summary at bit.ly/RisingUpSEARAC
Mar 19
Get @reshare_app • @asmmiabonta As Trump ramps up his mass deportation machine, thousands of Californians are facing immigration court, one of the most complex legal systems in the country, without a lawyer and without a fair shot. These are our neighbors, our friends, our community members. Research shows that having a lawyer makes you five times more likely to win your case. AB 2600 is our chance to stand up for our neighbors and protect due process for every Californian.
Mar 18
We are breaking down the key findings from Rising Up, a new report on the state of education for Southeast Asian American students. Our first key finding is that outcomes are improving, but remain uneven across ethnicity and gender.
Community advocacy has resulted in increased supports for Southeast Asian American students and we`re seeing Southeast American students graduating from high school and enrolling in college at higher rates than previous generations. However, that progress has been uneven and includes ethnic and gender disparities. Read the full report and our newly released executive summary at bit.ly/RisingUpSEARAC
Mar 18
For our latest Workplace Wellness blog series, SEARAC Chief Operating Officer Katrina Dizon Mariategue writes about the ways SEARAC has prioritized the wellbeing of staff through sustainable workplace policies. In "Care in Practice," Katrina writes, " For any nonprofit leader looking for the solution to staff retention, it is simple: value people for their labor, and institute it in policy." Read her blog post at the link in our bio.
Mar 17
