Our beloved family APSC 4: Borey “Peejay” Ai, Nghiep “Ke” Lam, Chanthon Bun, and Maria Legarda are at risk of deportation. Tell Governor Newsom to pardon them NOW so they can remain home with their families and community.

The APSC 4 are childhood survivors of violence and trauma. As youth, they were subjected to bullying, poverty, war, and domestic violence. As a result, they were funneled into the criminal legal system. During their incarceration, they became positive leaders inside, completed several self-help programs, and even got educational certificates. They all earned their release from the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (CDCR). After the Board of Parole Hearings and the Governor affirmed that all members were suitable for release, CDCR contacted Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) to attempt to deport them instead of allowing them to come home to their communities. Immigrants and refugees are subjected to this double punishment simply because of where they were born.  

Formerly incarcerated leadership is at the core of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC) principles. Over half of APSC’s staff members are formerly incarcerated. Peejay, Ke, Bun, and Maria are critical to APSC’s leadership. They serve hundreds of community members in their reentry, transformation, and healing. They are dedicated advocates for criminal justice reform and anti-deportation support for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The APSC 4 provides reentry support to formerly incarcerated people returning home, mentor at-risk youth, and facilitate educational workshops about the school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline. As formerly incarcerated immigrants and refugees, their lived experiences make them champions of change, healing, and transformation.

Despite their service, commitment to community, and successful reentry, they all live in immigration limbo. They face the threat of deportation within a immigration system, punitively designed to target immigrants and refugees.

We call on Governor Newsom to stop ICE from deporting APSC4 by granting Peejay, Ke, Bun, and Maria pardons. They deserve to remain with their family, community, loved ones, and continue their valuable work in serving our community. Join us in the fight to #keepAPSC4home.

Get more information and learn about other ways to support APSC 4 at bit.ly/apsc