Nghiep “Ke” Lam is a formerly incarcerated refugee from Vietnam and currently works as a staff member at Asian Prisoner Support Committee. In a collaboration between 18 Million Rising’s Brenda Chi and APSC’s Ke for Lunar New Year, Ke’s story about learning how to show affection to his dad and breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma is in this comic.
Lunar New Year often means a time of gathering together with family and community to celebrate each other.
But for Ke, who is at risk of deportation, each Lunar New Year could be his last.
In fact, he is one of four APSC staff members who are at risk for deportation. Maria, Peejay, Ke, and Bun – the #APSC4 members – have escaped violence and poverty in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. They dealt with trauma in the US by falling into a cycle of more violence – resulting in their incarceration.
APSC4 members transformed their lives while inside. They earned their release. But their lives are in limbo. At any day, any moment, ICE and California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (CDCR) can choose to deport them – separating them from their families, loved ones, and their communities. It could even mean death.
We must urge Governor Newsom to pardon #APSC4!
Sign the petition, use the toolkit, and send postcards to the Governor!
