Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026

Summary

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to halt the removal of certain nationals of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam living in the United States.

Key Provisions:

• Halts deportation of approximately 15,000 long-term residents of Southeast Asian descent, many of whom arrived as child refugees
• Acknowledges the significant trauma and hardship faced by Southeast Asian refugee communities due to U.S. military intervention and destabilization of their home countries
• Notes the disproportionate impact of policies like the "War on Drugs" and expansion of the criminal justice system on Southeast Asian American communities
• Seeks to prevent the deportation of individuals who may face targeting or human rights abuses in their countries of origin due to their historic support for U.S. anti-communist policies

Impact:

• Provides deportation relief for thousands of Southeast Asian Americans, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for decades and have limited ties to their countries of origin
• Recognizes the unique circumstances and challenges faced by Southeast Asian refugee communities resettled in the U.S.
• Aims to address the unintended consequences of past immigration and criminal justice policies that have disproportionately impacted Southeast Asian Americans

Overall, the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act seeks to halt the deportation of vulnerable Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants who have deep roots in the United States, in recognition of the U.S. government's historical role in the conflicts that led to their displacement.