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 Forwardโs 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 Iโd done to change my life, to build community while I was inside, doesnโt 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 wouldnโt be as happy as they are now. We draw them together and the positive mindset we bringโthat 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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"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
