Cambodian American Repatriation
Encyclopedia
Deportation of Cambodian Americans typically refers to the forced repatriation
to Cambodia
of convicted Cambodian American
criminals who lack United States citizenship.
, but could not be effected due to the lack of an agreement between the United States and Cambodian governments; however, in March 2001, the two governments signed a treaty regulating deportation between the two countries. Cambodian Americans who did not apply for United States citizenship suddenly found themselves liable to being deported even for the commission of misdemeanor
s, regardless of their green cards or marriage to US citizens.
As such, they received most or all of their education in the US, and often speak Khmer
poorly and lack socialization to Cambodian culture. Much of them dropped out of school when they were young and took the streets, because they had a lack of parental supervision and role models. Many once were members of Khmer youth gangs such as the Tiny Rascal Gang, Asian Boyz Oriental Boy Soldiers Oriental Blood Brothers and GrandVille Boys. Some were forced to leave behind wives and children in the United States.
, to assist deportees in transitioning to life in Cambodia. However, deportees receive no official support, and Cambodian government officials have expressed their consternation that the United States is dumping "American gang members" on the streets of Cambodia.
The integration of these deportees has been mixed. Some have completely integrated into Cambodian society, whilst most tend to live near each other and socialize with each other. Currently, several deportees set up and work for a local harm reducation organization, Korsang, providing help for drug addicts.
Korsang has received a lot of attention from the local media as well as international support from leading organizations for its ground breaking work. They hire Cambodian American deportees who go through the neighborhoods and streets in order to talk to drug users. They give out condoms and tell drug addicts about the danger of spreading HIV through sharing needles for heroin use and offer them help in cutting down or quiting their addiction.
Another success story has been the establishment of Tiny Toones, a breakdancing troop for poor urban children, set up by Tuy Sobil who goes by the name "KK." He grew up in Long Beach, California, where he was exposed to b-boying
and danced for 4 years after seeing it at the parks. He became involved in gang activitiy which caused him to be deported to Cambodia in 2004. The organization was founded after nine young kids learned that he used to b-boy when he was younger and asked him to teach them. He rejected their request the first couple of times, because he didn't think he could start dancing again after quitting so long ago. He gave in the third time that they asked him, and began dance classes from his small flat. He also started hosting bboy battles in the park on Sundays, where crowds of hundreds passers-by and children would gather to see kid dance crews from different neighborhoods compete just for respect. The popularity of b-boying and Tiny Toones grew tremendously from there, and people have recognized their talent and hired them for performances. KK's home serves as the local teen community center where the staff encourages the kids to stay in school and away from drugs and gangs.
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
to Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
of convicted Cambodian American
Cambodian American
A Cambodian American is an American who is born, raised, or from Cambodia usually of Khmer descent but also including Chinese Cambodians, Vietnamese Cambodians, Cham people and other ethnicities of Cambodia...
criminals who lack United States citizenship.
Legal background
Until 2001, such deportations were legally permitted under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, Division C of vastly changed the immigration laws of the United States.This act states that if an immigrant has been unlawfully present in the United States for 180 days but less than 365 days...
, but could not be effected due to the lack of an agreement between the United States and Cambodian governments; however, in March 2001, the two governments signed a treaty regulating deportation between the two countries. Cambodian Americans who did not apply for United States citizenship suddenly found themselves liable to being deported even for the commission of misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
s, regardless of their green cards or marriage to US citizens.
Characteristics of deportees
Deportees are typically young men in their twenties and thirties who were born in Cambodia or the Thai refugee camps and arrived in the United States as small children, members of the so-called 1.5 generation. A survey by one immigrant advocacy organization showed that deportees had spent an average of twenty years in the United States.As such, they received most or all of their education in the US, and often speak Khmer
Khmer language
Khmer , or Cambodian, is the language of the Khmer people and the official language of Cambodia. It is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language , with speakers in the tens of millions. Khmer has been considerably influenced by Sanskrit and Pali, especially in the royal and religious...
poorly and lack socialization to Cambodian culture. Much of them dropped out of school when they were young and took the streets, because they had a lack of parental supervision and role models. Many once were members of Khmer youth gangs such as the Tiny Rascal Gang, Asian Boyz Oriental Boy Soldiers Oriental Blood Brothers and GrandVille Boys. Some were forced to leave behind wives and children in the United States.
Cambodian reaction
The incidence of deportation has been projected to increase significantly; , out of 1200 to 1500 potential deportees, 127 had been returned to Cambodia, up from 40 three years previously. Bill Herod, a long-time resident of Cambodia, established the Returnee Assistance Program, a non-governmental organizationNon-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, to assist deportees in transitioning to life in Cambodia. However, deportees receive no official support, and Cambodian government officials have expressed their consternation that the United States is dumping "American gang members" on the streets of Cambodia.
The integration of these deportees has been mixed. Some have completely integrated into Cambodian society, whilst most tend to live near each other and socialize with each other. Currently, several deportees set up and work for a local harm reducation organization, Korsang, providing help for drug addicts.
Korsang has received a lot of attention from the local media as well as international support from leading organizations for its ground breaking work. They hire Cambodian American deportees who go through the neighborhoods and streets in order to talk to drug users. They give out condoms and tell drug addicts about the danger of spreading HIV through sharing needles for heroin use and offer them help in cutting down or quiting their addiction.
Another success story has been the establishment of Tiny Toones, a breakdancing troop for poor urban children, set up by Tuy Sobil who goes by the name "KK." He grew up in Long Beach, California, where he was exposed to b-boying
B-boying
B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...
and danced for 4 years after seeing it at the parks. He became involved in gang activitiy which caused him to be deported to Cambodia in 2004. The organization was founded after nine young kids learned that he used to b-boy when he was younger and asked him to teach them. He rejected their request the first couple of times, because he didn't think he could start dancing again after quitting so long ago. He gave in the third time that they asked him, and began dance classes from his small flat. He also started hosting bboy battles in the park on Sundays, where crowds of hundreds passers-by and children would gather to see kid dance crews from different neighborhoods compete just for respect. The popularity of b-boying and Tiny Toones grew tremendously from there, and people have recognized their talent and hired them for performances. KK's home serves as the local teen community center where the staff encourages the kids to stay in school and away from drugs and gangs.