BREWERYTOWN (KYW Newsradio) — A day before the highly anticipated presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, immigration advocates pushing for the release of a local man recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials staged a sit-in at one of Harris’ campaign offices.
Leaders from Philly’s Southeast Asian community joined immigration advocates inside the Harris-Walz campaign office just off Girard Avenue in Brewerytown on Monday. In addition to demanding the release of Sereyrath “One” Van, they pushed for a pause on deportations until Biden leaves office and a closure of all immigrant detention centers.
Others like Kenny Mai rallied outside. He’s a member of Philly’s Southeast Asian community, and spoke of One, a longtime member of the community who was detained by ICE back on Aug. 15.
His family fled from the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia to Thailand first — where One was born — and then to the U.S. in 1984, when he was four.
“One’s story is our story,” said Mai.
Currently, One is detained at Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County, Western Pennsylvania.
Tia Chao is One’s youngest sister and said her brother’s detention has been “emotionally stressful” for her and her whole family.
“It just put a lot of strain on us with trying to help him with what we can,” she said.
With the debate coming to town, Chao said she hopes a more humane approach to immigration is something both candidates address.
“It’s a messed up system. I think immigration is kind of broken,” she said. “Families are being separated, and that has put emotional and mental stress on people. I guess it just kind of triggers everyone that’s been through this.”