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Sokuntheavy “Theavy” Kheam is a Cambodian immigrant and Mainer of more than 20 years who resides in Gorham. She is among the thousands of U.S. immigrants waiting to be allowed to reunite with family members stuck abroad due to green card backlogs that can take years or even decades to clear.
As both an immigrant from Cambodia and a proud Mainer of more than 20 years, it’s a joy being able to immerse myself in the traditions of both my old and new homes. Whether it’s discovering which part of the state has the best lobster roll or cooking authentic Khmer dishes for my neighbors, I’ve met kind and welcoming people at every turn. The experience has led me to realize just how much we all have in common.
It’s simple: We all want our kids to have more and better than we did, to take care of and comfort our elderly family members, and to ensure that our communities are safe and secure. It’s the motivating force behind just about everything we do, from choosing jobs to selecting which neighborhood to live. And that’s no different when it comes to immigrant families like mine.
My journey here, like that of many immigrants, was marked by uncertainty and bravery. I came to the U.S. when I was 19 years old, both eager and nervous to start a new life that inevitably came with ups and downs. I learned English and found a job in manufacturing, one that I still work to this day. I had three beautiful children and moved from Portland to the suburbs. But one thing I could have never expected was the sheer scale of the bureaucratic logjam when it came time to try to reunite with my family back in Cambodia. Turns out, we weren’t alone.
A part of our immigration system meant to keep families like mine together is underwater. Backlogs on green cards for 4 million people currently stuck abroad can take years or even decades to clear. More than just a painful and unnecessary separation between loved ones, these delays can be perilous for family members facing danger where they are. That’s why it’s so important to build on our current system: To ensure families can access safety, freedom, and unity together.
Offering families a secure, legal pathway to migrating isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also the smart choice for ensuring our communities remain vibrant and resilient. Unified families join their neighbors in making neighborhoods a better place for everyone to live. Parents and caregivers volunteer in schools; kids join sports teams and community cleanups; and grandparents donate to local organizations. In my community, I carpool my daughter and her friends to dance classes just as I help immigrant neighbors in need with transportation to their government appointments and with complex online applications. It’s what good neighbors do.
Unfortunately, this kind of family-first, common-sense approach is rapidly becoming less common. A growing number of elected officials and public figures across the country have decided that their politics are more important than the safety and flourishing of our communities.
As if the existing red tape around family immigration weren’t enough, the Trump administration announced in February a callous, unprecedented, and possibly illegal suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries. The fallout has been predictably chaotic and brutal, pulling out the rug from beneath hundreds of thousands of immigrants waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.
Here in Maine, though, my neighbors didn’t try to exclude me or my family. They welcomed us, as good Mainers do. My story of welcoming, immersion, and contribution is just one among many. It’s why more than 70% of voters support making it easier for U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their close relatives so they can join them here. We should be working to support families here, not tear them apart or terrorize them.
Luckily, there’s a better path. By defending and improving our existing family-based immigration system, we can keep families united while improving community health and well-being. Together, we can create a just family-based immigration system that expands opportunities for families to move to the U.S. and thrive together.
