For Immediate Release

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As Americans and members of the Hmong Student Association (HmSA) at the California State University, Fresno, we condemn in the strongest terms possible the harmful acts being carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the equally harmful actions and omissions of our U.S. government. ICE raids and deportations do violence to and harm countless families, including U.S. citizens, within communities throughout the Central Valley and across our country. We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to everyone affected by ongoing government-sanctioned violence against immigrant and other marginalized communities.  

We also want to inform the community about an extremely urgent impending crisis; tens of millions of Americans’ access to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other government financial assistance was delayed for the month of November due to the government shutdown that lasted for 44 days. This government inaction and the lack of remediation creates a humanitarian crisis that threatens the health, safety, and well-being of American families, including Hmong and other Asian American families. We sympathize with those who are affected by these changes and affirm our belief that no human being should be deprived of food, housing, or other necessities of life. 

The government-sanctioned neglect and violence against marginalized communities that we are witnessing today reminds us of the tragedies that occurred almost three decades ago when the U.S. government denied millions of Americans access to public assistance simply because they were not U.S. citizens. In 1996, the U.S. Welfare Reform Act restricted eligibility for public assistance, such as food stamps, to only persons who were U.S. citizens. As a result of this federal policy, millions of lawful immigrants and permanent residents, including Hmong refugees, lost their Food Stamps and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (Parrott, Kennedy, and Scott, 1998; U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2003). Many Hmong people participated in rallies, wrote letters to leaders, and lobbied – demanding that their rights be reinstated. Unfortunately, many of our Hmong elders protested the U.S. government by committing suicide as a result of losing their only means of obtaining food, housing, and other basic human rights (Xiong, 2022). These events that occurred almost three decades ago mirror the same political violence seen today, where marginalized communities are being denied access to food, shelter, and justice. 

The Hmong people have also been described in derogatory terms such as ‘Meo,’ ‘tribes,’ and ‘aliens’ in American media and official government documents. The term ‘alien’ in particular is being used today to describe many immigrants as a method to portray them as criminals, foreigners, or both. This pervasive criminalization of immigrants, in turn, is used by our government to justify its racial profiling, arrest, and deportation of numerous individuals, including individuals with no criminal convictions. There are currently a total of 59,762 people in immigration detention centers across the US – the largest group that makes up this number is the immigrants with no criminal record (Olivares and Craft, 2025). There have been numerous reported incidents of immigrants being kidnapped from public spaces and detained at routine U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services appointments. Some are being deported to countries that they are not even from, while those that remain at detention centers describe the conditions as inhumane and demoralizing. Again, the U.S. justifies these attacks on civil rights — such as the right to due process — by dehumanizing these individuals with the term ‘illegal aliens.’

It would be a dishonor to the Hmong people’s dedication to fighting for civil rights and liberties if we did not condemn the current attacks on marginalized communities. In particular, our Black, Brown, and Asian people and families who come from low-income backgrounds are the most vulnerable to the political violence rampant throughout America. Regardless of your political affiliation, religious beliefs, or socioeconomic background, it is undeniable that this is a clear attack on human rights.
As an active organization in the Fresno area, HmSA would like to share our current efforts to promote education, inclusivity, and collaboration for those in need. Over the years, HmSA has partnered with numerous local groups, including the Parent University of Fresno Unified, Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP), Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (FIRM), and Associated Students, Incorporated (ASI) at Fresno State, among other Fresno-based organizations. 

Partnering with Parent University, HmSA has been able to provide support for elementary students by passing out free school supplies, clothing, and hygiene products. In collaboration with HIP, HmSA members have canvassed various neighborhoods throughout Fresno, distributing “Know Your Rights” door hangers and red cards with information on what to do when approached by ICE agents. HmSA has also volunteered with FIRM, helping clean, paint, and refresh their Family Welcome Center, as well as organize clothing donations for their upcoming drives. Currently, HmSA is working alongside ASI and other campus organizations to collect as many non-perishable goods as possible for the Fresno State Student Cupboard, which is part of a larger effort to address the food insecurity that currently affects many students. HmSA has annually hosted an Education Conference, which encourages and promotes higher education among high school students throughout the Central Valley and across California. This year will be the 37th year with the theme: “Constellations of Peb Lub Neej.”

These initiatives reflect HmSA’s ongoing commitment to fostering a community of leaders who care for and support others. With this press release, we aim to reaffirm our values and commitment to continuing our advocacy for the rights and well-being of those around us. 

Resistance against oppression is inherently intertwined with the Hmong identity, and choosing to remain silent is not reflective of the bravery exhibited by the Hmong people throughout history. HmSA will continue to provide opportunities for members to engage in political advocacy with organizations that focus on the needs of marginalized communities. We have a Pop-Up Market scheduled for November 21, 2025, where we will be selling items donated to us by our club officers, members, and local businesses. 100% of these profits will be donated to the Central California Food Bank to support those who may be facing food insecurity. We are also in the process of creating a Little Free Pantry to provide free food and other necessities to those in Fresno. In the coming weeks, HmSA officers will make it an utmost priority to donate their time, efforts, and funding to help supply drives, organize educational workshops and teach-ins, provide resources for detainees of ICE, and collaborate with other organizations that also share this mission to uphold human rights. Please continue to remain patient with us as we navigate how HmSA can continue to support our community. 

 

In Solidarity,
2025-2026 Officer Team of the Hmong Student Association at CSU Fresno

 

Resources 

Know Your Rights:

• aclu.org/know-your-rights

• ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas 

 

Report ICE Sightings in the Central Valley

• https://faithinthevalley.org/vwn/report-ice/ 

• Valley Watch Network Hotline (559-206-0151)  

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National Bail Bonds:

• bit.ly/cje-bond

• envisionfreedom.org

• bailproject.org 

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Live Map of ICE Sightings:

• deportationtracker.live  

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Legal Resources for Immigrant Rights:

• https://vallecentral.org/guias-para-inmigrantes/ 

• immdef.org

• nilc.org

• nlg.org 

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Housing, Clothing, and Food Assistance Resources by Fresno City College Extended Opportunity & Resources

• https://www.canva.com/design/DAGRJfAruzs/wMMAhx3PldIcGeJFNViOXA/view?utm_content=DAGRJfAruzs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer 

 

Find a Mutual Aid Hub in Your Area:

• mutualaidhub.org 

 

Find a Local Food Bank in Your Area:

• feedingamerica.org

• mapping.littlefreepantry.org 

• fresnomission.org

• ccfoodbank.org/home/findfood/ 

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Instagram Pages to Follow:

• @cvcommunityaction

  • Comprehensive page that reposts social justice events such as teach-ins, volunteer opportunities from multiple organizations

• @so.informed 

  • Online source of quick reads about critical events happening in the U.S.A. and other countries 

• @fresno_resistance

  • Rallies, community meetings, and Fresno city council meet-ups organized by local community members 

• @powercaaction 

  • Voting resources, information about your rights, and updates on ways to get involved throughout California 

• @fresnofoodpolicy

  • Comprehensive page that shares resources for those who may need food assistance, food-related education (teach-ins, workshops, and events for schools) 

• @faithinvalley

  • Mutual aid efforts and educational resources regarding immigrant rights and other social justice causes in the following counties: Fresno, Merced, Kern, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin

• @cencalfoodbank 

  • Largest nonprofit fighting to ensure food security for those in the Central Valley

 

Sources:
Parrott, T., Kennedy, L. & Scott, C. (1998). Noncitizens and the supplemental security income program. Social Security Bulletin. 61(4): 3-31. 
Romine, Taylor, and Dianne Gallagher. “DHS Says 130 People Arrested in Charlotte Operation, 44 with Criminal Records.” CNN, Cable News Network, 17 Nov. 2025, www.cnn.com/us/live-news/charlotte-north-carolina-chicago-immigration-11-17-25. 
Xiong, Y. S. (2022). Hmong American movements and the politics of racialized incorporation. Rutgers University Press.