Deportation of Cambodian Americans - Characteristics of Deportees

Characteristics of Deportees

Deportees are typically young men in their twenties and thirties who were born in Cambodia or the Thai refugee camps and arrived in the United States as small children, members of the so-called 1.5 generation. A survey by one immigrant advocacy organization showed that deportees had spent an average of 20 years in the United States. As such, they received most or all of their education in the US, often speak Khmer poorly, and lack socialization to Cambodian culture. Much of them dropped out of school when they were young and took the streets because they had a lack of parental supervision and role models. Many once were members of Khmer youth gangs such as the Tiny Rascal Gang, Asian Boyz, Oriental Boy Soldiers, Oriental Blood Brothers, and GrandVille Boys. Some were forced to leave behind wives and children in the United States.