We’re closing out our APAHM series with the incredible immigrant and refugee rights advocate,
We’re closing out our APAHM series with the incredible immigrant and refugee rights advocate, Somdeng “Danny” Thongsy! Danny uses his own experience with incarceration to resist ICE’s attacks on Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants. Danny was born in a Thai refugee camp to Lao refugees who fled the Vietnam-era Secret War. Like many refugees in the US, Danny survived poverty and violence in an under-resourced community.At only 17 years old, Danny was given a life sentence for a crime. In prison, he found peace in his faith and transformed his life. After serving 20 years, Danny was granted parole. But instead of celebrating freedom, he was immediately taken by ICE. The organization Asian Law Caucus advocated for Danny and he was released from ICE detention. He became ALC’s 2017 Yuri Kochiyama Fellow, a leadership and advocacy program for formerly incarcerated AAPI immigrants.But ICE still wants to deport Danny to Laos - a country he’s never set foot in. Community members launched the #Stand4Danny campaign to win a pardon from CA’s governor and advocate for other SEA refugees facing deportations.Watch a short video about Danny here: https://vimeo.com/225326702 -- source link
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