Amistad joins VietLead in demanding the immediate release of Sereyrath “One” Van from ICE detention

August 27, 2024
One Van speaks at a rally

Amistad Law Project stands in full solidarity with Sereyrath "One" Van, a beloved member of the Southeast Asian refugee community in Pennsylvania, and we join the #AllForONE Campaign led by our partners at VietLead and Free Migration Project to demand his immediate release from ICE detention and to stop his imminent deportation to Cambodia.

On August 15, 2024, during a check-in, ICE unjustly detained Mr. Van and transferred him to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center—a privately-operated facility notorious for its violent conditions. This action not only violates ICE's own policies regarding the detention of individuals with pending U-Visa applications but also perpetuates a cycle of trauma and injustice that Mr. Van and countless Southeast Asian refugee families have endured for decades.

Mr. Van has no ties to Cambodia—a country where he was neither born nor has ever lived. His deportation to Cambodia would not only be unlawful but also inhumane, subjecting him to life-threatening conditions in a foreign land with no support system. This case exemplifies the ongoing failures of the U.S. immigration system, which continues to target and harm refugee communities who have already suffered greatly due to war, displacement, and systemic racism.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania's recent federal complaint highlights the dangers Mr. Van faces at Moshannon Valley, underscoring the urgent need for his release. Mr. Van has already served his time for a 2018 drug conviction and deserves the chance to heal and rebuild his life in the community he calls home—not to be re-incarcerated and exiled to a country where he has no ties.

We urge our elected officials—President Biden, Vice President Harris, Senator Bob Casey, and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon—to take immediate and decisive action to stop Mr. Van's deportation. We call on them to:

  • Meet directly with Mr. Van’s family to understand the full impact of this unjust action.
  • Elevate Mr. Van’s case to the Biden-Harris administration and demand that ICE adhere to its own policies.
  • Reconsider Mr. Van’s stay of removal application and release him immediately.
  • Consider introducing a stand-alone bill to protect Mr. Van from deportation, following the precedent set by former Representative Bob Brady in 2018.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the end of the Wars in Southeast Asia and the Khmer Rouge genocide, it is more important than ever that we honor the resilience and rights of Southeast Asian refugee communities. Deporting Mr. Van would be a grave injustice that would resonate across these communities, further deepening the wounds of war, displacement, and systemic oppression.

Amistad Law Project stands with Mr. Van, his family, and the Southeast Asian refugee community in demanding justice, healing, and dignity. We call on our fellow organizations, community members, and allies to join us in this urgent fight to stop Mr. Van's deportation and ensure that he is given the chance to live freely and safely in the community he belongs to.

#AllForONE #FreeOne #NotONEMore

For more information or to get involved, please contact our movement partners at Vietlead: van.sam@vietlead.org