Families Belong Together
Story of Kanley Souet
My name is Kanley Souet. I have been working at CERI as an outreach worker since November 2019, providing care management for survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide and their at-risk youth in Oakland and here is my story:
On February 25, 2019, my husband Roeun received a letter from ICE notifying him of his upcoming deportation to Cambodia. Roeun and I have been married for 15 years. He is a kind and caring partner and father. Together, we have worked hard to peacefully raise our five children (the eldest is 13 and the youngest 5) and create a safe and happy home for our children here in Oakland. My uncle suggested for us to reach out to CERI for assistance with ICE. I knew of this organization for the support and care they provided for my late mother many years ago. Therefore, I did not think CERI would be able to help us with these matters. However, out of desperation we decided to go to CERI the next day. When we walked into CERI’s door, I could never foresee that our nightmare could unfold to an endearing and hopeful chapter in my life.
Roeun is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide. He came to this country with his family after fleeing the Killing Fields and living in Thai refugee camps for five years. He was only 9 years old then. The family resettled in a poor and high crime neighborhood of Oakland. During the 1980s, Oakland was one of the nation's most crime-ridden cities. Roeun committed his first and only crime when he was 22. At one of the lowest points of his life, Roeun stole a car and was arrested three blocks away. He paid a high price for this mistake. Not only did he serve time in prison for one year, he had to report to ICE every year, could not file for citizenship and was not permitted to travel outside of the US.
On March 13th, Roeun turned himself in to ICE. CERI in collaboration with Asian Law Caucasus and Asian Prisoners Support Committee organized a rally in front of the ICE building in San Francisco. A large number of elder Cambodians, all survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide were there in protest of his detention. Witnessing so many members of the Cambodian community (most not even knowing my husband), standing in solidarity and defiance of his deportation, was an unforgettable scene. I could not hold back tears as I discovered my new family. To my amazement, CERI’s elders held several other rallies protesting ICE in San Francisco and Sacramento. I wished my mom was alive to see the support our family was receiving from her community.
Since his detainment by ICE, CERI started a program for the impacted families providing therapy and care management for my children and me. Every Tuesday CERI community, clients and staff embraced us with open arms, listened to us and at times cried with us. I was seen for individual therapy while my children were supported by CERI’s outreach workers and therapists through play and expressive arts therapy. We would always leave with hearts filled with love and hope.
On May 30th, our attorney called to inform us that Alameda County District Attorney office vacated my husband’s conviction and dismissed his record; he was free to return home! The prayers of the elders and their rallies created this miracle. In disbelief and tears, I first called CERI to share our wonderful news.
During the three months that I was in therapy at CERI (while Roeun was in ICE detention), I was able to look back at my life. like Roeun, I came from a family of survivors and grew up in a high crime neighborhood of Oakland. I realized that I had been affected by my family’s trauma of the Khmer Rouge as well. I also came to understand that the trauma of poverty and crime had played a role in the mistake that I made at age 15 when I dropped out of high school. As a mother, determined to not let that happen to my children, I worked as a bus driver from 5 am to 2:00 pm so that I would be able to pick up my children, cook them delicious homemade meals and help them with their homework. It was during these months that I realized I had a longing for education. I asked to volunteer at CERI, as I discovered my passion was giving back to the community who has always supported us through difficult times. CERI Staff recognized my drive and offered me a job as a care manager and outreach worker. It is such a joy to be welcomed at CERI as a contributing staff. While continuing to be a good mother and partner, finding fulfillment in a job I love, I would like to earn my GED, followed by my bachelor’s degree and who knows, maybe even my master’s degree in social work.
