OCA Calls on Congress to Stop ICE Abuse and Visa Freeze
For Immediate Release
January 27, 2026
Media Contact:
Socheata Sun, Senior Communications Associate
socheata.sun@ocanational.org
Washington, D.C. — Asian Pacific American Advocates strongly condemns the Trump administration’s latest actions targeting immigrant communities, including the decision to freeze visa applications, the continued deaths of individuals in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, and ongoing efforts to expand funding for a system that lacks basic accountability and transparency.
Last week, the administration moved to halt visa processing for 75 countries, most of which are in Southeast Asia, a decision that would further destabilize families, disrupt educational and workforce pipelines, and undermine the United States’ longstanding commitment to welcoming immigrants. These policies disproportionately impact immigrant communities, including Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, many of whom rely on family-based, employment-based, and humanitarian visa pathways.
“When the government freezes visa applications while people are dying in ICE custody, that is not a policy failure. It is a deliberate choice,” said Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. “This administration is willing to sacrifice immigrant lives to advance a cruel political agenda, and Congress is complicit if it continues to fund an agency that operates without transparency or accountability. Our communities deserve humane immigration policies, not a detention system that puts lives in danger.”
At the same time, reports of deaths and wrongful detentions connected to ICE and immigration enforcement continue to mount. The violent arrest of Chongly Scott Thao, a Hmong U.S. citizen, the death of Parady La, a Cambodian man under ICE detention, and the kidnapping of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos raise serious concerns about due process violations and the overall treatment of individuals in custody. These deaths are not isolated incidents, but the result of failures within a system that prioritizes detention and deportation over humanity. OCA also remembers the many lives lost during encounters with federal agents, including Silverio Villegas González, Isaias Sanchez Barboza, Renee Nicole Good, and Alex Pretti—individuals who were fatally shot as a result of immigration enforcement.
OCA stands in solidarity with the AAPI and broader immigrant community as they grieve these losses and continue to demand justice. Congress must reject calls for increased ICE funding and take immediate action to investigate deaths in custody, strengthen independent oversight mechanisms, and ensure detainees have access to adequate medical care and legal protections.
###
About OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates
Founded in 1973, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national, member-driven social justice organization of community advocates dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). Learn more about our work at ocanational.org/about.