Cambodian Journalists in US Fear Deportation After Trump’s Funding Cuts

Cambodian Journalists' Struggle in the US

Washington: After spending seven years in hiding in Thailand, two Cambodian journalists made their way to the United States last year on work visas, with the intention of continuing to provide unbiased news to their fellow citizens in Southeast Asia via Radio Free Asia.

However, Vuthy Tha and Hour Hum now express concerns about their employment and immigration status following President Donald Trump's recent executive order that significantly reduces funding for the US Agency for Global Media. This agency is responsible for financing Radio Free Asia and similar organizations that deliver uncensored news to regions under authoritarian regimes.

Vuthy, a single father of two, described the administration's decision as a sudden blow that could disrupt his life. He expressed regret that their audience might miss out on accurate news.

Both journalists are anxious about their ability to support their families and their right to remain in the US, fearing that returning to Cambodia—a nation hostile to independent journalism—could lead to persecution.

The current administration has been systematically reducing the size of federal agencies, resulting in numerous layoffs. The specific cuts to the US Agency for Global Media, which has a long-standing mission to promote American values abroad, could lead to the deportation of journalists who have bravely challenged oppressive regimes.

Currently, eleven journalists linked to US-funded media outlets are imprisoned abroad, including RFA's Shin Daewe, who is serving a 15-year sentence in Myanmar for alleged terrorism support.

According to Reporters Without Borders and a coalition of 36 human rights organizations, at least 84 journalists from the US Agency for Global Media on work visas in the US could face deportation, with 23 of them at significant risk of immediate arrest upon return.

Thibaut Bruttin, director general of Reporters Without Borders, condemned the potential abandonment of these journalists, emphasizing the moral obligation of the US Congress to protect them and uphold the principles of democracy and press freedom.

Neither the Senate Foreign Relations Committee nor the House Foreign Affairs Committee responded to inquiries, and the White House has remained silent.

The State Department stated it is working with USAGM regarding imprisoned journalists and denounced the unjust detention of those exercising their freedom of expression.

In response to Trump's order, several journalists from Voice of America, another USAGM-managed service, have filed a lawsuit in federal court, including two foreign journalists on temporary visas.

One journalist could face a decade in prison for his work with VOA, while the other, belonging to a persecuted minority, could be in physical danger, according to the lawsuit.

The court has temporarily halted the termination of contracts, preventing these visa holders from being forced to leave for the time being.

Both RFA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, also funded by USAGM, have initiated lawsuits to restore their funding.

These funding cuts follow the US's involvement in the release of Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual US-Russian citizen and journalist, in a high-profile prisoner exchange.

In February, the Trump administration announced the release of Andrey Kuznechyk, a Belarusian journalist, while four journalists from RFE/RL remain imprisoned in various countries.

Voice of America has contributors jailed in Myanmar and Vietnam, as reported by Jessica Jerreat, VOA's press freedom editor.

In Vietnam, four RFA reporters are incarcerated, and another is under house arrest, raising concerns about the diminishing American support for their release if RFA were to shut down.

Vietnam consistently ranks low on the Press Freedom Index, with about 40 journalists reportedly imprisoned under harsh conditions.

Khoa Lai, a Vietnamese journalist who joined RFA just days before Trump's inauguration, expressed fears about returning to Vietnam, stating he could face prosecution or imprisonment.

Vuthy and Hour began their careers with RFA in Cambodia but were forced to flee in 2017 when the government dissolved the main opposition party and arrested their colleagues. They continued reporting from Thailand as refugees until RFA brought them to the US last year.

They have covered a range of topics, including politics, corruption, human rights, and environmental issues.

Cambodia's former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who ruled for nearly 40 years before passing power to his son, praised Trump on social media for his actions against what he termed 'fake news.'

Despite the challenges, Vuthy remains hopeful for RFA's survival, stating that it is fighting for its existence.