This historic bill would limit deportations of Southeast Asian refugees and provide further relief for those with final orders of removal.
Key resources:
Featured story
Southeast Asian American Organizations, Leaders, and Community Celebrate Deportation Relief Legislation
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Southeast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN), and Southeast Asian organizations from across the country gathered in front of the Capitol Building in strong support and celebration of the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act, introduced by US Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-CA, 47.
Learn more
“Today I am fighting for a real, authentic, and inclusive Land of the Free. With my entire heart and soul, I believe this country needs to provide true justice and support to all marginalized communities. Our laws and policies must reflect our values as a country.”
a mother and wife, as well as a daughter of Cambodian immigrants who escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide
“For the past 50 years, the Southeast Asian community has suffered through not only war, genocide, and refugee resettlement, but also a deportation crisis that has further ripped our community apart”
Southeast Asian Freedom Network
“It’s unjust to further punish people with detention and deportation solely based on where they are born, and it is unjust to punish them for the same mistakes that they had already paid their debts for.”
featured in our anti-deportation PSAs
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on the SEARAC community, and to learn more about how you can get involved.
Latest related posts
In February, both the House and Senate passed their versions of a budget resolution. This is the first step in a legislative process called budget reconciliation, which allows the Senate to approve changes to laws with only 50 votes, rather than the usual 60 votes. Swipe through to learn more about budget reconciliation process, the timeline, and its impact on California.
Read the full newsletter at the link in our bio.
Stay tuned for the next edition by signing up for our newsletter at bit.ly/SEARACnews.
Apr 19
In February, both the House and Senate passed their versions of a budget resolution. This is the first step in a legislative process called budget reconciliation, which allows the Senate to approve changes to laws with only 50 votes, rather than the usual 60 votes. Swipe through to learn more about budget reconciliation process, the timeline, and its impact on California.
Read the full newsletter at the link in our bio.
Stay tuned for the next edition by signing up for our newsletter at bit.ly/SEARACnews.
Thank you to @hmong.national.development for the opportunity to speak about the current political climate and how it is all too familiar for Southeast Asian refugee communities. Quyen Dinh, SEARAC Executive Director, spoke on the plenary – United for Progress: AAPI Strategies for Resilience and Growth. “This political climate, the actions of this administration – Southeast Asians have lived it before, and we know where this story ends. Millions never made it on the oceans or across the Mekong. There is no reason to repeat it.”
Apr 18
Thank you to @hmong.national.development for the opportunity to speak about the current political climate and how it is all too familiar for Southeast Asian refugee communities. Quyen Dinh, SEARAC Executive Director, spoke on the plenary – United for Progress: AAPI Strategies for Resilience and Growth. “This political climate, the actions of this administration – Southeast Asians have lived it before, and we know where this story ends. Millions never made it on the oceans or across the Mekong. There is no reason to repeat it.”
SEARAC is excited to collaborate with @ncapagrams on April 24, 4PM ET / 1 PM PT in convening different Southeast Asian American coalition members to host a panel commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Wars in Southeast Asia. SEARAC will be participating alongside @nationalcapacd and @hmong.national.development. We will share about our advocacy work and reflect on what successes and what challenges we’re still facing after 50 years.
Share this event with your networks and register here: bit.ly/50YearsSEADiaspora or at the link in our bio.
Apr 18
SEARAC is excited to collaborate with @ncapagrams on April 24, 4PM ET / 1 PM PT in convening different Southeast Asian American coalition members to host a panel commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Wars in Southeast Asia. SEARAC will be participating alongside @nationalcapacd and @hmong.national.development. We will share about our advocacy work and reflect on what successes and what challenges we’re still facing after 50 years.
Share this event with your networks and register here: bit.ly/50YearsSEADiaspora or at the link in our bio.
URGENT: Sithy Bin has been ordered by ICE to self-deport by June 16, 2025 — unless Governor @GavinNewsom steps in with a pardon.
Sithy Bin is a Cambodian refugee, faith leader, community organizer, and reentry counselor who has spent the last several years transforming lives across California. After receiving a harsh sentence as a young man, Sithy turned his life around while incarcerated—becoming an ordained minister, trauma-informed counselor, and mentor to countless others.
He was found suitable for parole, discharged from parole in 2021, and has since co-founded a nonprofit, supported his family, and served his community.
Now, despite all he has done to rebuild, Sithy faces permanent separation from his wife, children, and grandchildren—a cruel, double punishment that far outlives his past mistakes.
🚫 We cannot let this happen. We must act before time runs out.
Today you can:
✅ Submit a letter to Gov @GavinNewsom bit.ly/Letter-KeepSithyHome
✅ Help us spread the word! bit.ly/sithytoolkit
#SupportDontDeport #KeepSithyHome #NewsomPardonSithy
Apr 17
URGENT: Sithy Bin has been ordered by ICE to self-deport by June 16, 2025 — unless Governor @GavinNewsom steps in with a pardon.
Sithy Bin is a Cambodian refugee, faith leader, community organizer, and reentry counselor who has spent the last several years transforming lives across California. After receiving a harsh sentence as a young man, Sithy turned his life around while incarcerated—becoming an ordained minister, trauma-informed counselor, and mentor to countless others.
He was found suitable for parole, discharged from parole in 2021, and has since co-founded a nonprofit, supported his family, and served his community.
Now, despite all he has done to rebuild, Sithy faces permanent separation from his wife, children, and grandchildren—a cruel, double punishment that far outlives his past mistakes.
🚫 We cannot let this happen. We must act before time runs out.
Today you can:
✅ Submit a letter to Gov @GavinNewsom bit.ly/Letter-KeepSithyHome
✅ Help us spread the word! bit.ly/sithytoolkit
#SupportDontDeport #KeepSithyHome #NewsomPardonSithy
Last week, SEARAC convened executive leaders of Southeast Asian American-serving organizations from all across the United States. Over two days, we discussed key issues impacting our local communities and identified opportunities to build our collective power during this 50th year of resettlement — and the next 50 years to come. Thank you to these incredible changemakers for sharing space with us in DC, and special gratitude to @aarp, @rwjfoundation, and Surdna Foundation for participating in our programming.
Apr 16
Last week, SEARAC convened executive leaders of Southeast Asian American-serving organizations from all across the United States. Over two days, we discussed key issues impacting our local communities and identified opportunities to build our collective power during this 50th year of resettlement — and the next 50 years to come. Thank you to these incredible changemakers for sharing space with us in DC, and special gratitude to @aarp, @rwjfoundation, and Surdna Foundation for participating in our programming.