Analysis on Deporting Cambodian Refugees

   In the article "Deporting Cambodian Refugees", the AYPAL (Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership) group was formed in an effort to defend the Cambodian refugees from being deported back to their own country and to provide assistance in terms of navigating the United States. The notion of an illegal immigrant is usually seen negatively by U.S. society, as the media portrays illegal immigrants as "unproductive members of society who leech off of the tax-payer's money". However, that is considered a myth that overexaggerates the life and simplicity of illegal immigrants living in the United States. Rather, this myth is actually established by business owners with the idea of a neo-liberalistic agenda as well as a reason to deport and exploit the illegal immigrants in work areas. AYPAL have voiced their limitations and difficulty with youth advocation in terms of policy involvements and rights, due to their inability to be heard by their state representatives and negative association of the Cambodian refugees as being criminals. When looking back in history, the reason why America has accepted Cambodian refugees was due to their involvement with the government in terms of oppressing the people and destruction of certain areas. Eventough involvement of Cambodian situations cause problems, to deport people back to the country who was responsible for their "refugee" status would be far worse situation because they could not integrate in either countries. In a more universal sense, this struggle applies to many illegal immigrants who fear of being deported due to their inability to integrate into the society that they have initially left. Yet, I believe that this is also a race and skin color issue, as they would more likely persecute a person who is non-white and doesn't speak English rather than the european illegal immigrants. Due to society's portrayal of illegal immigrants, non-white illegal immigrants would have a harder time standing up for themselves and voicing their perspective as to why they deserve to stay in America. Because it is very difficult in general for people to obtain citizenship and the application is biased and skewed in favor of certain individuals with a unique skill or money, the notion of classifying an illegal immigrant is also race driven and a stereotype that is ingrained within the American society.