About the Campaign
Across Massachusetts, Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee communities are facing ongoing detention and deportation—often due to old criminal records shaped by systemic inequities and the legacy of war and displacement.
For decades, our communities have built lives here. Yet families are still being torn apart.
Pardons are a critical pathway to relief.
A state pardon can clear a person’s criminal record, reopen their immigration case, and create a pathway for them to remain with their families and communities. Pardons can also remove barriers to employment, housing, and education.
That’s why we are launching a campaign to demand Governor Healey, Protect & PARDON our people.
Our Demands
We are calling on the Parole Board, Governor, and Governor’s Council to…
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Expedite the process for applicants who are most at risk including but not limited to community members at risk of ice detention and deportation, elders, and members who require special care and/or resources
Expand the parole board to address the backlog of pardon applications
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Follow set timelines for the pardon process for present and future applications
Create a community oversight and accountability body for the pardons process to ensure the parole board, governor, and governor’s council respond to applications timely
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Shorten pardon eligibility waiting periods
Timely access to case records, more guidance on applying and navigating the process, ensure all resources for applying are translated in languages needed by community members.
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Priority Action:
Attend the Protect & Pardon Campaign Launch
Mass detentions and deportations are ripping our communities apart. For Southeast Asian refugee communities who have called Massachusetts home for over 50 years, this is not new, but it is escalating.
State and city leaders cannot continue to use the federal government as a scapegoat for inaction. Our communities need protection NOW.
You’re invited to launch the campaign with AARW and build the people power needed to protect our communities.
Saturday, May 2, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Dorchester, MA
Address Provided Ahead of Event
RSVP HERE
Other ways to
take action now
Donate to our Community Defense Fund
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Donate here to sustain the critical work of defending and protecting our community members.
By joining the team, we will train our members to support families with ICE accompaniment, court accompaniment, help meet everyday mutual aid needs like rides, food, childcare, or interpretation, and respond to other direct service needs that come up as families navigate these incredibly difficult moments.
Join our Deportation Defense Team
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Please consider contributing to directly support Dong, an AARW member who is rebuilding his life in Vietnam after surviving multiple detentions and deportation from Boston in early 2026.
Donate to Dong’s Gofundme
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Share resources with members you know facing or at risk of deportation/ICE detention
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We keep each other safe.
Stay Connected &
Get Involved
There are many ways to support this campaign and get involved in the work.
Contact us to:
Join organizing meetings
Volunteer for outreach and events
Support impacted community members
Email: teresa@aarw.org
Press: Media@aarw.org
Follow along for updates @aarw.boston