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Cambodian rights workers are calling on the government to reform its immigration policies following the mob beating death of a Vietnamese man. Activists say the death of Nguyen Van Chyen, who was killed in Phnom Penh following a traffic accident last month, underscores an underlying problem of racism in Cambodia. Some analysts say immigration reform could help reduce tensions and dampen anti-Vietnamese sentiment. Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor for the rights group Licado, told VOA's Khmer service he agrees that better immigration enforcement is key. In order to prevent problems, I think Cambodia has to strengthen law enforcement, especially in immigration law and laws on nationality, he said. "In order to be naturalized as a Cambodian, a foreigner should be required to learn the Khmer language and understand Cambodias culture." Chea Vannath, an independent analyst, told the Khmer service that the enforcement of immigration will reduce the problems. So, until Cambodia takes the actions, then we can control the people feeling," she said. "Meaning that [immigrants] come, no matter what nationality, they live in Cambodia legally." One point of contention is the use of the Khmer word "yuon," which the crowd shouted ahead of Nguyen Van Chyen's beating death. Am Sam Ath said the word is customary, though not necessarily racist. Not everyone agrees, with many saying the word is a slur for Vietnamese people. The distinction is important, said Keat Chantharith, a spokesman for the national police and a ruling party supporter, because the word is used by leaders of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party. He accuses Sam Rainsy's party of using the word to stoke anti-Vietnamese sentiment for political gain. In fact, immigration police and the national police are trying hard to fulfill their work in immigration, he said. They have pushed law enforcement, registration work and management work for immigrants. Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the Rescue Party, denies the allegations, saying the opposition is merely pushing for better immigration enforcement and does not endorse violence. The CPP has not taken action on the issues and has been indulgent, he said. Vietnamese troops ousted the Khmer Rouge in 1979 and began a decade-long occupation of the country. There have been sporadic reports of violence against Vietnamese in Cambodia in the past two decades. This report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Khmer service.

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In Cambodia, Immigrant's Death Sparks Reform Debate

Immigration Reform Update by Katie Pavlich

By: RightSightings

Excerpt from:

Immigration Reform Update by Katie Pavlich - Video

Rep. Raul Labrador On Prospects For Immigration Reform
During a visit to the Statesman Editorial Board Monday, March 17, Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, says immigration reform is not likely to happen in this electi...

By: Idaho Statesman

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Rep. Raul Labrador On Prospects For Immigration Reform - Video

Washington

As frustration grows over the lack of progress on immigration reform and protests about the high number of deportations become more widespread and dramatic, President Barack Obama on March 13 and 14 told activists he would consider ways to ease the effects of strict enforcement.

The announcement came as immigrants facing deportation have been waging hunger strikes in detention centers and religious leaders, immigrants and other activists have been participating in advocacy campaigns involving fasting, prayer and public actions. Meanwhile, the House passed two bills aimed at reining in the kind of administrative steps Obama might take.

In a meeting at the White House with congressional Hispanic leaders March 13, Obama said he would ask Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to "do an inventory" of current practices related to deportation and "see how it can conduct enforcement more humanely within the confines of the law," said a readout on the session from the White House.

A day later, Obama, Johnson and other key administration officials met with representatives of more than a dozen organizations working for comprehensive immigration reform. The president reiterated his concern for the pain faced by families affected by deportation, but said a permanent solution to the problems of the immigration system must come through "meaningful comprehensive legislation," according to the White House.

Some participants in the meeting told reporters or issued statements saying that while they encouraged administrative actions to ease the effects of deportation, they also agree it's up to Congress to fix the whole system.

The Associated Press said Frank Sharry, director of America's Voice, said he encouraged the president to "go bold, go big, go now."

"The president has the ability to step into the vacuum created by the House Republican inaction to protect millions of people who are low priority, use his executive authority in an expansive way," he said.

Two years ago, Obama created the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which provides a way for young adults who came to the United States as minors to avoid deportation and get permission to work, as long as they attend school and meet other requirements. While more than half a million people have been approved for DACA, the administration also has been deporting people at record rates -- about 2 million have been deported since Obama took office.

Without specifying what policies might be affected, Obama had previously said that if he continues to be unable to get legislation passed in Congress, he would seek remedies through administrative actions.

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Frustrations over inertia on immigration law bring pressure for fixes

Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) is getting a boost on air from the conservative arm of the Mark Zuckerberg-backed group advocating an overhaul of the immigration system.

The radio and television ads from Americans for a Conservative Direction come after a contentious interview last week with Ellmers by radio host Laura Ingraham, who accused the second-term lawmaker of parroting liberal talking points in her defense of immigration reform. The initial ad buy is $150,000 and could be increased, according to a source familiar with the buy.

The pair of ads, which will go on air for 10 days starting Tuesday, refer to Ellmers as a conservative fighter for North Carolina. The ads open by saying that she backed a balanced budget amendment, favored cutting government spending and worked to protect key military bases in her district, then launch into a defense of her stance on immigration reform.

(Also on POLITICO: Renee Ellmers: Laura Ingrahams ignorant stand)

On illegal immigration, Renee Ellmers is opposed to amnesty, the 60-second radio ad says. Shes working hard to secure the border and fix our broken immigration system once and for all.

The 30-second television ad says of Ellmers: No amnesty. Period.

Ingraham, a high-profile conservative critic of immigration reform, and Ellmers got into a heated exchange on a radio show last week, when Ingraham told the lawmaker that her immigration comments were infuriating to my listeners and Ellmers told the radio host that she held an ignorant position on the issue.

Advocates of reform have long viewed Ellmers as a gettable vote on immigration overhaul efforts in Congress. She penned an op-ed in the Fayetteville Observer outlining her position, which includes an earned legal status for undocumented immigrants that could be obtained by paying fines, admitting to breaking the law and having their identities identified.

Those stances have earned her a challenger, Frank Roche, in North Carolinas May 6 primary.

Americans for a Conservative Direction is a subsidiary of FWD.us, the group backed by Facebook founder Zuckerberg that has been pushing immigration reform efforts on Capitol Hill. The conservative affiliate has launched ads backing GOP lawmakers such as Reps. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Mike Coffman of Colorado, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida who favor some kind of immigration reform.

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Immigration group defends Ellmers