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Southeast Asian Communities

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People from the Southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam constitute the largest group of refugees ever to build new lives in the United States. Nearly all Southeast Asian Americans — whose main ethnic groups are Cambodian, Hmong (from the northern mountains of Laos), Lao, and Vietnamese — entered the U.S. as refugees or as relatives of refugees at various times after the end of the Vietnam War. They began to relocate to this country in 1975, when the American-supported South Vietnamese government succumbed to the military pressures of their Communist neighbors to the north. In that same year, the Communist Pathet Lao defeated the US-supported government in Laos, and in 1976 the US-supported Cambodian government was toppled by the infamous Khmer Rouge. Southeast Asian arrivals to this country increased dramatically in the late 1970s and 1980s, with the influx of Vietnamese "boat people," the flight across the Mekong River of hundreds of thousands of Hmong and Lao refugees from Laos, and the escape of hundreds of thousands of Cambodians from the Khmer Rouge government in Cambodia. Current estimates are that 1,342,532 Southeast Asian refugees entered the United States between 1975 and 1998.

Picture of woman and child.

Credit: UNHCR

 

SEARAC has conducted a statistical analyisis of the 2000 Census in relation to Southeast Asian American Communities. The results of this analysis, Southeast Asian American Statistical Profile, published in May 2004, is available in PDF format. The analysis challenges many myths about Southeast Asian Americans, as detailed in the press release that accompanied publication of the analysis.

As the 2000 Census population table shows, current estimates place the total number of Southeast Asian Americans at over 1.8 million, including 1,223,736 Vietnamese, 186,310 Hmong, 206,052 Cambodians, and 198,203 Laotians (not including Hmong). California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and the State of Washington have the highest Cambodian populations; California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have the highest Hmong populations; Lao populations are highest in California, Wisconsin, and Texas; and Vietnamese populations are highest in California and Texas.

To give these figures context, immigration, refugee arrival, and naturalization of Southeast Asians to the U.S. are also available.

For U.S. Census statistics on education and other factors which influence Southeast Asian American economic success, go to the statistics table.

For U.S. Census statistics on the sorts of jobs Southeast Asian Americans tend to have, go to the jobs table.

Note: Some of the above data on population, immigration, refugee admissions, and naturalization is also available in PDF format.


Southeast Asian Communities Events

SEARAC 30th Anniversary Evening Celebration: BEYOND THE MEKONG
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Saturday, September 26, 2009—San Francisco, CA. Join SEARAC to celebrate our 30th Anniversary! The celebration will be held at San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Cente. For sponsorship or advertising information…

2009 Southeast Asian American Leadership & Advocacy Training

This year's leadership and advocacy training! Training locations are:

Sacramento, CA: July 11 – 13, 2009 (application deadline: April 24, 2009)
St. Paul, MN: August 1 – 3, 2009 (application deadline: May 29, 2009)
Lowell, MA: August 22 – 24, 2009 (application deadline: June 19, 2009)
Note that the application deadline for all 3 locations has passed.


Southeast Asian Communities Publications

Domestic Violence in Southeast Asian American Communities
Issue brief.

Online MAA Directory
Searchable online database of organizations who provide services to Southeast Asian American communities.

CEASE Domestic Violence Directory
Searchable online directory of organizations providing further assistance and resources on domestic violence.

2008 Platform for Asian Pacific Americans National Policy Priorities
NCAPA Call to Action! Presents information and policy recommendations of vital national importance in order to enrich discussion leading up to elections in the fall of 2008. SEARAC is an endorsing organization.

Project VOTE Report 2006
Main page of program report with links to the publication and appendices.

SAVE Papers
A compilation of research papers that address educational disparities in Southeast Asian American communities and shed light on the educational experiences of Southeast Asian American students.

Aging Among Southeast Asian Americans in California
Report on the October 17, 2003 conference on assessing the needs and addressing the gaps in aging services for elderly Southeast Asian Californians.

Southeast Asian American Elders in California
Demographics and Service Priorities Revealed by the 2000 Census and a Survey of MAAs and FBOs.

Nhà Magazine Article; SEARAC at 25
Original text and translations.

2004 MAA Directory
PDF of published directory listing 180 groups.

2004 Statistical Profile
SEARAC's findings and analysis on Southeast Asian American communities based on data from the 2000 Census.

A Dream Denied: Educational Experiences of Southeast Asian American Youth, Issues and Recommendations
An issue paper based on findings from the first national Southeast Asian Youth Summit, University of California-Berkeley, December 9, 2000.


Additional information

Funding for the AANAPISI Program through House and Senate Committees on Appropriations [PDF]
Community announcement.

Funding for the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions Program (AANAPISI) [PDF]
Community announcement.

U.S. Signs Repatriation Agreement with Vietnam [PDF]
Community announcement.

Arkansas Community Sees Changing Face of Immigration [URL]
NPR Interview on Tell Me More, with Michel Martin.

Cambodian Refugees [HTML]
Background information on this refugee group and their relation to the U.S.

Community Update: Health Care Reform Passes House [HTML]
Community announcement.

Laotian & Hmong Refugees [HTML]
Background information on this refugee group and their relation to the U.S.

Online MAA Directory [HTML]
Searchable online database of organizations who provide services to Southeast Asian American communities.

Press Release: SEARAC Applauds Introduction of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (CIR A.S.A.P) [HTML]
Press Release.

Southeast Asian American Elders [HTML]
Section devoted to issues affecting this segment of the Southeast Asian American population.

Statistical Data [HTML]
Various statistical information on Southeast Asian Americans.

Vietnamese Refugees [HTML]
Background information on this refugee group and their relation to the U.S.

Related Information
Other programs and items of interest to this section.

SEARAC Joins Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities in Calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform through Week of Action Activities [PDF]
Press release.

Governor Announces 2010-2011 California Budget Proposal, Includes Elimination of Vital Safety-Net Programs [PDF]
Press release.

Funding for the AANAPISI Program through House and Senate Committees on Appropriations [PDF]
Community announcement.

Community Update: Health Care Reform Passes House [HTML]
Community announcement.

Support SEARAC through the Combined Federal Campaign [HTML]
Community announcement.

2010 U.S. Census [HTML]
April 1, 2010 is Census Day. Information on the upcoming Census and how communities, organizations, and individuals can become involved. Informational articles and fact sheets, as well as sample forms in multiple languages are available.

Digital TV Transition Outreach [HTML]
On June 12, 2009, TV in the United States goes digital. Find out about the upcoming digital television (DTV) transition and how it will affect you and/or your community. More information about the DTV transition is provided, including a list of steps to take to make sure you can continue to receive TV broadcasts after the transition. Check the last update!

National and Local Southeast Asian American Organizations Mourn Tragedy in Binghamton, NY [PDF]
Joint statement by southeast asian american organizations regarding the events at the American Civic Association.

A Guide to the New and Temporary SSI Extension Law for Humanitarian Immigrants [PDF]
A FAQ addressing some of the most common questions about the new law.

    Six Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions Receive $10 Million in Grants [PDF]
    Press release from The National Council on Asian Pacific Americans.

    Legal Resources Survey [URL]
    Not listed in our legal directory? Fill out this survey!

    Southeast Asian Deportation Stories Survey [URL]
    Take the Survey! Help SEARAC to advocate on behalf of Southeast Asian American communities.

    Security Income (SSI) Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act Signed by President [PDF]
    Community announcement.

    Magnet Schools Mirror Myths [URL]
    Op-ed on the model minority myth published in AsianWeek.

    Arkansas Community Sees Changing Face of Immigration [URL]
    NPR Interview on Tell Me More, with Michel Martin.

    SEARAC Speakers Bureau [HTML]
    SEARAC speakers are knowledgeable about Southeast Asian issues. List of which speakers are available, their specialty topics, and how to book them for events, groups, etc.

     

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