Press Release: 150+ Attend Vigil Against ICE Terror in Sacramento, Lead by AAPI Organizations
“We are here together, and because of that there is definitely hope for change. We are not alone.” - Kao Ye Thao, Hmong Innovating Politics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 21, 2025
SACRAMENTO, CA — On Tuesday, August 19, Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang; Assemblymembers Robert Garcia, Alex Lee, Al Murtasuchi, and Darshana Patel; and over 150 Asian American and Pacific Islander immigration advocates from across California gathered in front of the Sacramento USCIS field office to bring attention to ICE terror against Asian American immigrant and refugee communities. They held a candlelight vigil to honor the struggle of communities targeted by ICE violence under the Trump regime.
According to a new report, ICE arrests of Asians tripled from 2024 to 2025. This month, 28 Filipino cruise ship workers were detained and deported despite having valid visas. Asian American immigrants and refugees are being targeted with raids at workplaces across California. They also face arrests at airports, courthouses, and during routine check-ins with immigration authorities.
“We are living in a dangerous moment in history,” said Councilmember Vang. “Fascism is already here. We have students being detained because they are speaking truth to power; we have loved ones who are being kidnapped by this administration; we have critical safety net programs that are being cut. As local elected officials, we have to hold the line and make sure we provide resources to the community-based organizations on the ground who are doing the important work to protect and defend our community.”
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, who is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 49 which protects immigrant children from being targeted by ICE in schools said, “Schools should be safe havens where all kids feel safe and supported. This campaign of fear of intimidation is keeping our students away from the education that is their constitutional right. I proudly join all of you to fight back against this campaign of fear—against this fascism taking place in our country.”
Assemblymember Alex Lee emphasized the danger of Right-wing disinformation and urged communities to educate each other about the impacts that the Trump administration’s fascist policies have on all immigrant communities. He said, “We need to be loud, proud and we need to fight back because we are a state of immigrants.”
In addition to these elected officials, leaders from California community based organizations spoke about how the Trump regime’s fascist policies will impact Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in California:
Timmy Lu, Executive Director of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment Education Fund said, “We are gathered as allies, leaders, and community members to say that these attacks on our communities must end. Our task here is to stay vigilant to the hurts and divisions inflicted on our communities, to affirm our commitment to be in solidarity with each other, and to celebrate the efforts by regular people to protect each other from harm.”
Uriah Blackwell, Advocacy Coordinator of Central Valley Pacific Islander Alliance said, “Injustice towards immigrant families is an issue that is also affecting the Pacific Islander community not just in California, but across the country. This isn’t a time to separate ourselves, it’s a time for all of us to stand unified, to support all immigrant communities in the fight against cuts to Medi-Care, injustices to immigrants, and preventing the implementation of deep-sea mining. CVPIA demands that Executive Order 14285 be voided and implementation of deep-sea mining off the coasts of the inhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean be stopped at once.”
Oranit Limmaneeprasert, President of APALA-Sacramento said, “The mental wellbeing and financial and living conditions of the immigrants and refugees in our community are severely impacted. Some people have been sent to a detention center thousands of miles from their families and haven’t seen their families in months. We need our government to treat our community justly, humanely, and respectfully. For that to happen, we need everyone in our community to take action and communicate the message to our elected officials: An injury to one is an injury to all.”
Kao Ye Thao, Director of Politics & Partnerships of Hmong Innovating Politics said, “This year marks 50 years since the United States’s failed war in Southeast Asia that led to the mass resettlement of many ethnic groups like the Hmong and the Mien—fleeing violence, genocide, and political persecution. When our Southeast Asian families arrived here as refugees, they continued to endure harsh conditions like under-resourced schools and neighborhoods. As a result, many youth turned to gangs and were funneled into the criminal justice system. These young people have since taken accountability, served time, and turned their lives around for the better. They are mothers, fathers, community leaders, mentors—all are essential to so many people’s lives. Despite how they rebuilt their lives for the better, the US government is still disappearing them and deporting them."
After a prayer led by Tamer Ahmed, President of Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations, attendees contributed to a community altar to share messages of hope and resistance, and to honor the lives of twelve individuals who died in ICE custody.
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Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment Education Fund (AAPI FORCE-EF) is a statewide network that builds progressive Asian American and Pacific Islander governing power in California through integrated voter engagement, policy advocacy, and narrative change. Learn more at aapiforce-ef.org.
Co-sponsoring organizations: Asian American Liberation Network, APALA-Sacramento, Asian Law Caucus, California Coalition for Worker Power, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Chinese Progressive Association, Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations, Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, Hmong Innovating Politics, LEAD Filipino, New Light Wellness, NorCal Resist, Pilipino Workers Center, Power California, Tsuru For Solidarity, Sacramento ACT, South Bay Youth Changemakers, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA), VietRise, and VietVoices.