[Visible Together – Washington, D.C. | August 8, 2025] — Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-06) and Rep. Dave Min (D-CA-47), joined by 14 other Members of Congress, have sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding explanations for recent cases in which Asian immigrants and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and allegedly denied constitutional rights.
The lawmakers cited multiple recent reports of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals being detained for prolonged periods, denied access to legal counsel, and facing other potential violations of due process rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. The letter also raises concerns over possible breaches of CBP’s Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search (TEDS) National Standards, which limit custody to 72 hours “wherever practicable.”
Cases highlighted include:
- Tae Heung “Will” Kim, Texas A&M University Ph.D. candidate and LPR, detained for nearly a week upon return from South Korea, denied contact with family and lawyer.
- Yeonsoo Go, 20-year-old Purdue University student with valid R-2 visa, detained by ICE at a routine hearing.
- Lewelyn Dixon, University of Washington Medical Center lab technician and SEIU member, held for months after travel to the Philippines.
- Maximo Londonio, IAMAW union member and LPR since age 12, detained for two months after returning from the Philippines.
- Unnamed Vietnamese American father from Garden Grove, CA, held for over a month after a routine ICE check-in.
- Yunseo Chung, Columbia University student from South Korea, facing deportation proceedings after participating in campus protests.
The lawmakers requested that DHS, CBP, and ICE provide, by August 22, 2025, detailed data on the number of U.S. citizens and LPRs detained since January 20, 2025, including nationality, legal status, detention length, and percentage who are AAPI; the number denied access to legal counsel; and the legal basis for such denials.
The letter was signed by:
- Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-06)
- Rep. Dave Min (D-CA-47)
- Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10)
- Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA-36)
- Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39)
- Rep. Derek T. Tran (D-CA-45)
- Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY-10)
- Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-28)
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08)
- Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02)
- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10)
- Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06)
- Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13)
- Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03)
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07)
- Rep. Al Green (D-TX-09)
CAPAC urged federal agencies to clarify the legality of these detentions and to outline concrete measures to ensure AAPI immigrants and lawful residents are fully protected under the U.S. Constitution.
