Philadelphia officials and activists are calling for the release of Sereyrath “One” Van, a Cambodian refugee held by ICE for seven months. Facing deportation, Van remains in Moshannon Valley Detention Center despite never having lived in Cambodia. The City Council passed a resolution urging his release, as reported by KYW Newsradio.
Van was born in a Thai refugee camp after his parents fled the Khmer Rouge genocide. He came to Philadelphia at age four and has lived there ever since. A 2018 drug conviction triggered ICE’s deportation proceedings. Under the 1996 immigration law, even permanent residents can be deported for certain crimes. WHYY reported that Van could face torture if sent to Cambodia.
Local leaders argue that Van has served his sentence and deserves a second chance. “He belongs in the city that shaped him, not in a detention center,” said Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke, according to KYW Newsradio. Fellow Councilmember Rue Landau stated, “Van should not be sent to Cambodia, a place where he has never lived.”
Activists stress that his case reflects a broader issue. “Tens of thousands of our neighbors live under the constant threat of detention and deportation,” said Van Sam of VietLead, as cited by WHYY. Many Southeast Asian refugees resettled in disadvantaged communities without adequate support.
Beyond Van’s case, activists criticize conditions at Moshannon Valley Detention Center. Juntos leader Daisy Romero Chavarría called it “inhumane, punitive, and dangerous.” Reports highlight medical neglect, racial harassment, and prolonged detention. The facility, managed by private contractor GEO Group, reopened as an ICE detention center in 2021.
The fight for Van’s release continues. Officials and activists plan a visit to meet with him and other detainees. Meanwhile, ICE has not responded to inquiries about his case, WHYY reported.
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