Cambodian-Americans protest deportation
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Cambodian-American's in Philadelphia are upset with the scheduled deportation of Hov Ly Kol.
When Hov Ly Kol was 19, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in two armed robberies. One ended in murder.
Now, more than two years after being released, Kol is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and is scheduled to be deported to Cambodia.
ICE spokesman Harold Ort says it's not uncommon for there to be a long lag-time between a prisoner's release and deportation.
Mia-lia Kiernan is a long-time member of the city's Cambodian-American community. She says Kol, and several others, are facing deportation now because ICE is enforcing an old policy change that made deportation for certain crimes mandatory instead of discretionary.
Kiernan says it's wrong to deport people back to a country they have little connection to.
"All they remember of Cambodia is fleeing the country when they were child refugees. In fact, most of them were born in Thai refugee camps and never even set foot in Cambodian soil."
Kiernan says there are 50 Cambodian-Americans across the country that are facing deportation in similar circumstances.
none of you would ever understand unless its is you to be in my shoe. all is talk until action speaks…if you wanna know how it is to be the first wave of refugee from 1978 till now waiting to be deported let me know..none of you pro deportation could ever guess,,,,not crying about the facts just about the experience i went through in life to be alive…and no i dont need anything from you maybe just to listen…..i own a home,but i dont value it, i have an education that no one can steal,and i built a family with love, i nevered converted to any other religion for my creator was my parents…..ease up share the world for you nor me is special than the next…..think of the next for peace,,,,,thx you
I'm pretty sure none of you know Ly. I do. I'm an American citizen and I met him in Cambodia. He's surviving, so for those of you who, for reasons unfathomable to me, are so happy that he was sent to a backwards, developing country that isn't his home, I'm sorry to break it to you, but God's taking care of him.
He is a wonderful, good-hearted person who was a dumb teenager. For the record, the shooting was not part of the plan, so while he was an accomplice to the burglary of the drug dealer they were robbing, he was not actually an accessory to murder. He was encouraged to plead guilty to the charge for a lesser sentence and without the knowledge that it made him deportable for life, so he does carry the burden of that sentence, but a murderer he is NOT.
Most of you probably have no idea what it's like to live in Cambodia as a Cambodian citizen. You can make $100 a month if you're lucky. He can't teach English and make a decent wage like a foreigner because he doesn't have a foreign passport.
There's a psychology that goes behind people's decisions to participate in gangs. Cambodians are poor and they put their children to work on the streets, begging and selling. It's very, very common, as it was during the Pol Pot regime. Ly was a working child, selling bread to people in the Thai Refugee Camp. Being a "hustler" was something he learned early on. Compound that with moving to a country that does NOT open its arms wide to Asians, causing them to band together…put them in a place like Philly (no offense), and it's a recipe for this kind of crime (burglary).
Part of me doesn't want to respond to these comments because they're clearly written out of ignorance (and I don't mean that you're dumb, I mean that you don't have the facts or know the reality of this situation). But Ly Hov is a GREAT person; someone you would be lucky to know.
And despite all of the problems he's faced, he still loves America and believes it's the best country in the world. He's an inspiration. I wish you guys could truly know what a strong, sweet, upstanding, godly man he is.
Yes I'm waiting to be deported but what can I do?! Nothing at all but once I'm in cambodia I'm going to wreak havoc make them think twice about accepting us product of america back and put a stop to all of this bullshit.
Hey stop think that I same boat like u I know that we are not free in Khmer so when that day come took off I came to usa with no mom or dad now I go back Khmer fuck my parents are ms13 they take care me I in prison for 7year good luck my people
Wow, I just can't believe some of the stuff I am reading. I love how folks turn the other cheek when it doesn't apply to them directly. If people would start thinking instead of attacking one another we could see that sometimes its our job to take care of brethren. I know everyone who has posted is not an angel, I know for a fact everyone who has posted is not perfect. so how one can sit here and say you committed the crime and now deal with the consequences. I believe a prison/jail sentence is your punishment, now why on top of that are you being deported. how is that right? So if you get a speeding ticket, you broke the law, you paid the fine, you went traffic school, now would it be fair for them to revoke all of your driving privileges? and see thats what they are doing by deporting people who broke the law, not only have they paid the crime by being incarcerated but they are having their lives revoked as well…life is not based on whether you are breathing and have a pluse, life is being around those whom you love and who love you. Life is living within all that you know around you. There are people on ventilators with a pulse and are they alive? I believe that we all make mistakes and god gives a second chance to redeem ourselves by better ourselves. We as humans are quick to judge one another but don't think you are better than the next man because eventually you we see how it feels to be on the other side where its not so bright and you'll be begging for someone to speak out for you as well…
There no need for pity here! We are not asking for your pity! Most of you that talking smack are under 27yrs old. Some of these dudes might commit a crime but they also made the street safer for you to walk. These gangster dudes made it kool for you banana to be khmer… try starting out in the day when you were gook, chink and dog eater!!!
These are your people regardless of deportation!
Wow, this is why i cant stand the khmer community. NO sense of pride for each other, quick to judge and last but not the least is NO UNITY. My ppl wake the hell up…. some of you act as your law abiding citizen but knowing you ppl…i seriously doubt it. After all we are a cut throat community… Im willing to bet those that are pro-deportation would be singing to a whole differnt tune if they we're going through what has been going on for lord knows how long. So too sum it all up, i cant stand you hippocrits, you swear that your always the rightous one and your never at fault…all i have to say to that is wait until it happens to you, let's see if your so called GOD can help you. And some of you are right…KHARMA IS A BITCH!!!!!
Everyone is talking about how he was born in Cambodia but know nothing about the country and will not survive there. I totally disagree with that. Most of us including me born in Cambodia. Our families know nothing about being North American but we adjusted so therefor I think Kol will do just fine in Cambodia. He is able to speak Khmer even though he doesn't read or write and on top of that he speaks English. Worrying about him not surviving? I don't think that is a problem. He'll figure out just like all of us did. Law is law. It doesn't matter how much you fight it, it will not change. Good luck is all I can say.
Yeanny,
Kol will survive in Cambodia as you state. In response to your comment, I want to say that Legal system is not blind. Laws are created by powerful people to manipulate or punish certain groups of people, especially toward minority population. Laws are tools for controlling. American legal system does allow second chance just in case you or I get into trouble to give us a chance to change. It's in the Constitution. It's easy to get angry or frustrated with criminals and just want to lock them up or deport them away until one day it happens to you or me.
"Law is Law" Concept: Law is not always the law. Many unjust laws intentionally design to hurt minorities. Hear me out: Many crimes commited by Cambodian youngs were committed before the law and the deportation treaties were passed or signed into law. As one of the Cambodian community leaders we have an issue with that. Our people did the crime, the time, rehab, finished sentences, started pay taxes to society, and have families. This deportation laws allow the ICE to go years back and grabe and deport them. Why? Because minorities never stand up and fight together to demand justice for ourselves. Why we allow this law to go back and repunish them again when they already finished their sentences? Most Cambodian people here are NOT immigrants. We were mostly refugees. Refugees have UN Status and it's protected under International law regarding people who must escape their country due to war.
So, it's not whether Kol can speak Cambodian, or will he survive in Cambodia or not. To me, it's about fairness and justice. The politicians know Cambodian people are scared, uneducated, have no political voice in government, every man for himself, and laughing at other Khmers in trouble. So the US Gov't thinks it can walk all over us and other minorites in this country.
Organizers have approached different US politicians and Cambodian government to review the deportation treaty again. They have agreed to review it. What does US gain by deporting Khmers? Khmer people were NEVER/EVER a threat to US National security. I hope you help us fight against this injustice. Thanks.
Bunrath Math, MSW
thank you very much you are very correct
To all those who is pro or anti towards immigration law, we gonna have to accept the fact that the "law is the law". No matter how we played this out, we are still getting deported. Almost every country has the same law even in Cambodia. I only feel sympathy for their parents and their kids who has to watch their father or son getting deport back to Cambodia. I "mean" face it, you had committed a crime in this country or any other country that's giving you an opportunity to have a better life no matter how hard it is to achieve it,but you chose to break the law. In return they will and always will send you back to your homeland if you are not a citizen of that country. So accept the fact people, I too is on the list of deportation back to Cambodia. whether I like it or not I'm gonna have to suck it up. I committed a crime symiliar to that person that everybody debating on. Why should I cry about it. That just life of how I had put myself into. You was a man when you commit that crime, why all of sudden you became a "bitch" now, crying because your gonna get sent back. Face it everybody, United State will never ever change that immmigration law. It's only getting worst.Oh don't think that a black man became the presedent things get better for immigration. Think again, the democrat started all this shit in 1996 and Barrack Obama will continue doing this shit until everybody will come to understand that "dont commit crime in this country", or you will pay for your sin, and if you do commit crime make sure you get away with it.
And that my friend is the FACT
P.S.
I got deported
Law is NOT always the Law. Law like the deportation law was designed to punished minority like the Cambodian people. Why? Because the US government knew the Cambodian people are uneducated, have no political voice in government, waisting time, and so on. Therefore, Cambodian give them the right to punish our people. Your comment falls into a self-defeating trap. You would not have accepted everything about aspects of laws if you knew who make laws in this country or others. Laws are created to control people who are powerless and uneducated. If you or someone else agreed with this unjust law, then you're the law's intended target. You must stand up and help fight against any injustice inflicted on Khmer people or other minorities. Thanks
I'm sick of hearing the whining about once they got here they only got a choice of working for three dollars. You idiots are a joke. All my immigrant family members took that "chance" at work and did something instead of robbing and stealing. What were these people getting paid before? If they were living so lavishly before maybe they should not have run away from such great lifestyle to the slums of America. You logic is immorally retarded. They had their "chance" at life when they arrive. They abused their "chance" and rights as an American. Goodbye. The prey is now the victim. Karma.
America took these ONCE innocent children in from their OWN people whom were killing them by genocide. Obviously these people are ungrateful for the refuge. They only thing America asked in return is to obey the laws of this genocide free country. These people abused their help. Can you not get that fact? The laws of the earth can not erase what crimes has been done nor will the Lord of the heavens.
Oh they lived in poverty in America? Is that not better than genocide? And do you expect to get everything for nothing? You expect America to feed these people with a golden spoon after saving them? Raising spoiled brats? Obviously they were spoiled rotten by America.
Shut the heck up. Everyone is accountable for their sins. They did not give their victims a "chance" why should justice give them another "chance". They should have thought about inhumanity when they were committing crimes. Why don't you go try to save a tree. It would make more sense.
get to know him before you start talking smack .thank you
i wasnt ungreatfull,i was just acting like an american just like you and my peers but too bad i wasnt special like you
This is life. You only get one chance. When someone dies you can't restart and say I'm sorry. There is no going back. It doesn't matter if you are an old man or a youth you should know murder is wrong. Your are really stupid if you don't know murder and armed robbery is wrong.
For Cris sake hes a murder. You want me to think about his life. What about the person life that got killed.
Send his ass back. He deserves every bit of it. That's for the sin has cause upon himself…taking someone's life. I don't give a shit if he's served his time, but u can't bring back the life he took. So send his ass back to the hellhole. He won't be missed.
did u convert from buddhism to christian or muslim,,hatter
Good idea! Send him back to Cambodia. That is one of the excellent laws of America. In fact the deportees will do fine in Cambodia. The losers want to show that they are worth keeping then let them make Cambodia proud. Shoe the shoeless beggar children and teach them English. The losers had their chance in America and blew it, now get your butts out and stop your crying. America is for achievers who give not losers who only take. Bye Bye and good have fun.
i don't really know what the "f" ur saying but iam pretty sure, ur a fucken idiot. you know people servetheir time and have change, so they should get another chance. what about these fucken people that was born here molesting kids on the street, using drugs, selling drugs, why don't you fucken do something about it.
I am pretty sure you are an IDIOT Super Croc! ARe you kidding me?? America to me is not for acheivers, it's for lazy ass Americans who don't want to work and sit on their ass and collect welfare, SSI, food stamps, section 8.. Give me a break, I am sick of paying for the low life Americans, I say deport all the lazy ass people instead of the people who actually work and support there families like these deportees are doing. They have probably paid more back to this country than your ass ever will!!!
I do agree with you in that losers Cambodian boys should be sent back home. And you wish them lots of fun. I tell you what. Most of them do have fun when they get there. Lots of Karaoke bars and pretty women. Are you happy now that they are gone?
Let me tell you another thing. America is evolving itself every generation like the evolution of life. One of the reasons, in my opinion, that they deport these boys back home knowing that it does not make any sense, is so that they can make some room to import back-in people like the Muslim extremeous who will stick "in your ass" with whatever they can when their numbers grow.
I am Cambodian. He had time to get his American citizenship but he didn't. He can't be deported if he is an American citizen. So I don't feel sorry for him. Plus, he broke the law. Hes lucky hes not going on death row.
So my husband is also facing this deported Thursday because he was in a stolen car. When he was 17 so its not just people that have did bad crimes and im not justifying is wrong but kids will be kids and you are NOT a adult when your a teenager. How about the people that are born here and molest kids y cant we keep our kids safe. With all there father going to be deported what is going to happen? just remember tax payers people are going to have to now get your hard earn taxes… So if you think they should go think of that……
Stant i dont know where u come from or where have u been but first of all u are NOT a cambodian(a Cambodian would know how cambodia is.) Second, u are such an asinine u need to learn more about history n know of current world situation. a person who never know a country of birth n is force to go back have a small percent of serviving. esp being part from families for LIFE. n i mean LIFE. we are not talking about the daily living yet but only the hardship. to make my anger short at ur statement. Stant u need to go to school n learn more about third world living. n please put urself in others shoes. otherwise u will never know the pains n fears of those who are being PUNISH twice for a crime they have committed.
Shouldn't the guy had put himself in someones elses shoes before his crime resulted in someone elses murder. Think about the person that died and everyone that knew that person. Being deported is a small price to pay for killing someone. This guy is the same age as me and he participated in armed robbery and caused the death of someone. Hes lucky he won't be put on death row or go to jail.
A mistake is a mistake. No one can change the past. He did served 12 years for his crimes. He was convicted of 3rd degree murder – jail time is less than 1st degree murder. If he was on deathrow – he would face deporation b/c he has to serve all his term. Being deported is not a small price to pay when you never been there. That's the same as deporting you to your parents' birth place. Convicted criminals whom are natural born US citizen only have to serve their time.
Stant,
Your statement is valid and no one should deny your opinion and view about crime. Criminals must pay according "just" laws to protect other innocent citizens. I am a social worker, but i am very conservative regarding criminal. I, too, want criminals lock up and throw away the keys assuming that legal system applies laws evenly,and blindly toward every citizen in the US. You and I know that is not the truth. Laws are created to control the powerless, and specifically targeting a certain group in a given population. This same legal system also provide a second chance just in case you or I made legal mistake. The Cambodian made mistakes; they paid for it; rehabilitated; released to contribute back to society again. According to our understandings, None has committed crime again, but they became model citizens as the law expected of them.
Shouldn't they stay, then, to continue to pay back to society here? After all, you and I, and other taxpayers paid for their prison stint, their rehabs, job training, and so on. Now that they are free on releases or on parole, finished sentences and become good citizens again, then we deport them back? Isn't that counterproductive?
Thanks Stant for good discussion.
Bunrath
Man, you and others that are pro-deportation need to get your facts straight. And you guys need to READ or research more about US Deportation law that was enacted in 1996 called Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) and the Illegal Immigratin Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act(IIRIRA). Did you know that your citizenship status can be taken away from you if you are not born in US?
You say he did armed robbery and one ended up in a murder and he should be deported. But he was here legally!! Why don't we deport these citizens who killed people and worst crimes back to their native country also? If you don't vow by their legal status then why vow by these murderers citizenship also? You idiot should think before you speak.
We should work on a bill to help the people who are here legally that are trying to change their lives after a crime they've committed and paid their dues. More than helping people who come here illegally!!!
Well Deport Deport, if you knew anything at all then you would know that these people that are awaiting deportation are NOT Illegal, they are infact here in the county legally and are PERMANENT Residents! They work and pay taxes which is more than I can say for half of the American people who sit home and collect off of the goverment! Get your facts straight before you critize others!!!
he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in two armed robberies. One ended in murder.
Uh hello…..isn't the aboce statement enough reason to deport this loser?? There sould be NO discretion. If he's an illegal AND a thief and murderer, there should be no doubt he gets deported. Our gov't needs Zero tolerance and enforce our immigration laws. Now Oshama is going to give about 17,000 illegals amnesty too cuz they commited no "serious" crime. I guess entering this country illegally is not a crime anymore. Enough is enough with this stupid nonsense. Those politicians who support illegals will never get my vote come November or 2012. I want people elected who will stand up for law and order and deport the illegals when found…no questions asked. Illegal is illegal !
I do agree with you in regards to illegal immigrants, but this article is not about illegal immigrants whom committed crimes and are now facing deportation to their homeland. These are Cambodian-American whom faces deportation and are here legally under refugee status.