Coronavirus causes shift in outreach for 2020 Census

The stay-at-home mandates imposed by the threat of the coronavirus has forced the way the 2020  Census is reaching out to US residents.

Local agencies reaching out to the AAPI communities have turned their efforts to a more digital strategy, using PSAs, viral videos, and social media to encourage individuals to fill out the 2020 Census.

"For a community that includes undocumented immigrants and individuals in mixed-status households, we know some are still hesitant about completing the census so we are doing all we can to give them reassurance that we are here to support them through our census hotline, census pledge, and numerous resources on the website," says Terry Ao Minnis, senior director of census and voting programs for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice launched the CountUsIn2020.org website one year ago as the central hub for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander individuals, and organizations in communities across the nation. 

The website has resources in 23 different languages from factsheets and PSAs to webinars and toolkits to help people understand the importance of the census and locally help our communities be counted fairly and accurately.

"The census is our opportunity as a community to be counted and seen, gain representative power, and get our fair share of resources," says Aarti Kohli, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus. "

"The Asian and Pacific Islander community is poised to be the largest immigrant group, but we are so much more than a political label," Kohli continued. "We are diverse in cultures, languages, histories, with unique challenges and needs. Participating in the census is one of the most important tools of democracy available to us to announce our growth, and diversity in this country."

The best time to fill out the census is now when COVID-19 has forced people indoors for their safety. It only takes several minutes to fill out the census. As we all share concern for the health and safety of our family, friends, and neighbors and worry about the economic impact of this pandemic, we can do something now to contribute to our long-term economic and community prosperity by filling out the census.

"We understand the concern on everyone's mind to remain healthy, and for that reason, it's best to respond online, over the phone or by mail as soon as invitations are received," says June Lim, demographic research project director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA. 

"Simply follow the instructions in your preferred language to answer the nine questions. Amongst other languages, you are able to complete the census online or by phone in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The Census Bureau has printed visual language guides available in 59 language options and video guides to completing the Census online in 63 languages."

The 2020 Census will determine many aspects of our lives, children, and neighbors for the next 10 years, including voting representation. In some parts of the country, the outcome of the census data is the difference between a gain or loss of seats in Congress. 

Through the data collected, the Census could determine the allocation of more than $1.5 trillion in annual federal funding determines where new schools are built, financial aid for college students, and where new roads and businesses are located.

"Each of us has a role to play when it comes to the census. Every household matters. We need census data to advocate for the resources and representation our communities deserve. If we don't respond now, we risk limiting this powerful advocacy tool and we could feel the impact over the next decade," says Stephanie Cho, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta.

California governor pardons two Cambodian refugees

SEARAC

A demonstration in Sacramento preceded Gov. Gavin Newsom's pardons of two Cambodian Americans.

After weeks of lobbying by Asian American advocacy groups, California Gov. Gavin Newsom pardoned two Cambodian refugees facing deportation.

Kang Hen and Hay Hov received pardons from Newsom  Monday (May 13) preventing their immediate deportation by U.S. immigration authorities. 

“We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom for recognizing the plight of refugees who are being targeted by the Trump administration and for acting with compassion and leadership to stop their deportations,” said Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus.

Kang and Hay came to the United States as refugees with their families when they were children fleeing genocide under the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. 

Growing up in impoverished and hyper-criminalized neighborhoods, they made mistakes as youth and were swept into the criminal system. Under the Trump administration, becuse of their criminal records, they were eligible for deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested them to deport them for decades-old crimes. 

Thousands of other Southeast Asian refugees who came to the United States as children also face deportation like Hay and Kang.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who preceded Newsom, pardoned five Cambodian refugees last year as the Trump administration ramped up its deportations of Asian immigrants, according to the governor’s office.

“The Cambodian refugee community is terrified,” said Kevin Lo, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus.

Kang Hen fled genocide in Cambodia as a small child. Kang’s family was resettled as refugees in a violent neighborhood in San Jose. As a 12-year-old, Kang was pressured into joining a gang.

In 1994, shortly after his 18th birthday, Kang agreed to drive two friends away from a robbery they had just committed. He pleaded guilty to robbery and served time in prison. Since then, Kang has lived a law abiding life in San Francisco working at a seafood business for the past 13 years. Kang and his partner of 17 years, Ruth, have a 3-year-old child together. Recently, Ruth learned that she suffered from heart and kidney failure and may not survive. ICE arrested Kang on April 1 and planned to deport him next month.

Similarly, Hay also fled genocide in Cambodia as a small child and was resettled as a refugee in a violent neighborhood in East Oakland. As a child, Hay was beaten up, stabbed, and hit with a stray bullet. 

At the age of 19, Hay got into a verbal argument with an older man in his neighborhood. The feud between the two escalated as they exchanged verbal threats. The older man was shot in an unrelated argument and recovered. Hay was accused of escalating the feud and convicted of solicitation of murder. 

In the two decades since getting out of prison, Hay has stayed out of trouble and focused on caring for his family and working. On March 13, ICE agents arrested Hay and sought his deportation due to the conviction.

The governor's office says Newsom chose the two men because they have rehabilitated their lives since their convictions He also took into account that both their families would be harmed if Hen and Hov are deported, 

Hen is still in custody, but his lawyers hope Newsom’s pardon will mean he is spared from deportation, Lo said.

The campaign to #PardonRefugees was co-led by civil rights and community-based organizations, including Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, Asian Prisoners Support Committee, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants, and Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity.

“California recognizes that it has made mistakes in the past leading to mass incarceration. For many immigrant youth, a criminal conviction carries consequences for the rest of their lives including deportation. We encourage Governor Newsom’s continued leadership in granting clemency to address mass incarceration and show that California will not be bullied by the Trump administration," said Anoop Prasad, Senior Staff Attorney with Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus."We hope to continue working with Governor Newsom on setting an example for the rest of the country,” said Prasad.

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