Protecting Southeast Asian Communities

A Funder Briefing on Deportations and Community Resilience

Across the country, Southeast Asian refugee and immigrant communities face devastating deportation impacts. Decades after families resettled in the United States as refugees, thousands remain vulnerable to removal because of old criminal convictions, many tied to the challenges of poverty, trauma, and lack of support.

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of U.S. wars in Southeast Asia, making current deportation policies particularly heartbreaking. ICE deports some Southeast Asian refugees without due process to third countries in Africa and Latin America, places they have never lived and have no connection to. Those sent to Southeast Asia often don’t have support starting a new life in a country and culture that is foreign to them, or they barely remember it.

Community-based Southeast Asian organizations have been on the frontlines providing legal support, organizing for policy change, and helping families heal. Yet these organizations remain severely underfunded, limiting their ability to meet urgent needs and build long-term power.

This briefing brings together community leaders, advocates, and funders to discuss the current landscape of Southeast Asian deportations and the human toll on families. Together, we will explore how philanthropy can step up to resource Southeast Asian organizations, strengthen community resilience, and advance a more just and inclusive future.

Speakers:

• Connie Chung Joe, President and CEO, AAPIP
• Chhaya Chhoum, Executive Director, Southeast Asian Freedom Network
• Cat Bao Le, The Ba Lô Project
• Dr. Thao Ha, Collective Freedom
• Eddy Zheng, President & Founder, New Breath Foundation
• Rajasvini (Vini) Bhansali, Executive Director, Solidaire Network
• Sophy Yem, Program Officer, Surdna Foundation (Moderator)

You will:

• Hear real-time accounts of deportations and their impact on Southeast Asian families and communities
• Learn where philanthropic investments can have immediate and long-term impact
• Understand why AANHPI immigrant communities have been historically overlooked in immigration funding portfolios
• Build authentic and trust-based partnerships with community organizations on the frontlines

This briefing is for:

• Foundation program officers and executives with immigration, racial justice, or AANHPI portfolios
• Philanthropic leaders seeking to deepen understanding of Southeast Asian refugee issues
• Funders committed to supporting grassroots organizations and community power-building
• Anyone in philanthropy ready to mobilize resources for communities facing deportation

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This webinar is a collaboration of AAPIP, New Breath Foundation, and Freedom for Immigrants. It is part of AAPIP’s Rooted in Resilience learning series, which uplifts the often-overlooked impact of immigration enforcement efforts on AANHPI families and communities.

AAPIP is committed to hosting accessible and inclusive virtual events. Live automatic captions will be enabled via Zoom. If you require additional accommodations to fully participate such as access to materials in alternative formats, please indicate your needs in the registration form or contact us at membership@aapip.org at least 5 business days before the event. We will make every reasonable effort to support your participation.