All of these individuals entered the US legally as refugees (most as children) in the early 1980s. Over the years they became involved in various kinds of illegal activity (ranging from rather minor domestic disputes to gang violence to drug offenses to assault and armed robbery). All were convicted and completed prison sentences. All are now ineligible for US citizenship and under present US law must be deported. The same law applies to citizens of other countries (though several governments have not yet agreed to accept the returns).

Most of those being deported have little connection to contemporary Cambodia, their only memories being of cruelty and starvation under the Khmer Rouge. Some do not speak Khmer (and many do not read or write the language). Some were born in refugee camps and have literally never stepped foot in Cambodia.

Many argue that contemporary Cambodia is ill-equipped to absorb such a  large and complex group and the forcible return of these individuals will inevitably harm Khmer society.

Others argue that Cambodian-Americans should not be deported because they were accepted into the US as refugees or because most have resided in the US since they were small children.

Still others argue for case-by-case humanitarian review. At present, neither the nature of the crime nor the age at which it occurred can be considered in deportation proceedings - a teenage shoplifter is treated exactly the same as an adult convicted of armed robbery or sexual
assault. The fact that the individual completed a prison sentence, may clearly be rehabilitated and may be employed and married with children cannot be taken into consideration. For an article presenting some of the issues involved in detail, click here.

Arguments for changes in the law may be compelling but they are not the law. Cambodian-Americans are being deported to the land their families fled in terror two decades ago and the Returnee Integration Support Program is here to help them.