Cambodian Refugee Detained by ICE Sparks Legal Challenge and Advocacy Outcry
Los Angeles, CA – January 16, 2026 – A decades-long resident of the United States and survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide is fighting her recent detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sithy Yi,a Cambodian refugee,filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday,alleging unlawful detention following a routine check-in. The petition names U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and senior ICE officials as respondents.
Yi’s legal team argues that her detention at the Adelanto ICE facility is unjust and serves no legitimate purpose, instead aiming to instill fear and undermine the principles of due process. “Ms. Yi has lived in the United States for more than four decades,” stated her attorney, Kim Luu-ng. “All of her immediate family are U.S. citizens – her husband, mother, sisters, six children and eight grandchildren. She has rebuilt her life, complied with every requirement imposed on her and lived peacefully in the community for years. Yet ICE unjustly tore her away from her family and now seeks to deport her to a third country, where she faces grave danger or refoulement back to Cambodia.”
Yi arrived in the United States after surviving the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime and has resided in Southern california for 44 years. In 2016,she was granted withholding of removal by an immigration judge under the United Nations convention Against Torture,acknowledging the substantial risk of torture should she be returned to Cambodia.
Beyond her history as a genocide survivor, Yi is also a victim of severe domestic violence and a cooperating witness in a criminal case, possessing a pending U-visa petition supported by law enforcement certification. For over a decade, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) consistently deemed her detention unneeded, allowing her to remain in the community under supervision. This history makes her recent detention particularly concerning to advocates.
The case has drawn support from AAPI Equity Alliance and Pacific asian Counseling Services, who are calling for Yi’s immediate release and a halt to deportation efforts. Manjusha P. Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI Equity, emphasized the broader implications of this case. “Ms. Sithy Yi‘s story is not isolated,” she stated. “Southeast Asians,many of them refugees,are being detained at routine immigration check-ins and not returning home to their families. This is deplorable. Ms. Yi is a beloved mother and grandmother who has endured unfathomable violence. We join the call for her immediate release and urge leaders at every level to condemn this unlawful denial of due process.”
As of today, ICE has not responded to requests for comment.The outcome of Yi’s petition could set a precedent for similar cases involving long-term residents and vulnerable populations facing deportation. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding immigration enforcement practices and the treatment of refugees and survivors of trauma within the U.S. immigration system.
Keywords: Cambodian refugee, ICE detention, deportation, habeas corpus, immigration, AAPI, Khmer Rouge, U-visa, domestic violence, human rights, immigration law.
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