Deportation threat looms due to halted Congressional funds
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Radio Free Asia (RFA) extended its workforce furloughs to include a portion of its employment-based visa-holding staff in its D.C. headquarters, as the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) continues to withhold RFA’s Congressionally appropriated funds for the month of April. These individuals now enter into a 60-day period in which they have to find a new employer to sponsor their visa or face possible deportation.
“Despite our many appeals to the Trump Administration and Congress for help, we are sadly not able to continue paying staff at risk of deportation,” said Bay Fang, RFA’s President and CEO. “These individuals, who come from countries where they could face reprisal for their work with RFA, have made great personal sacrifices to advance U.S. foreign policy interests overseas. They do not deserve to pay such an unthinkable price that may cost them their freedom and safety.
“Without our Congressionally appropriated funds, we have no other choice. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
Employment-based visa holders at RFA total nearly 40 people. Their countries of origin, including China, Vietnam, and Cambodia, routinely target the free press, even jailing journalists. Eleven journalists associated with the U.S.-funded media outlets are behind bars overseas, including RFA contributor Shin Daewe, who is serving 15 years in Myanmar and four RFA contributing journalists jailed in Vietnam. While not all visa holders were furloughed today, RFA will be forced to continue this process if Congressionally-appropriated funds are not disbursed within weeks.
The new round follows on RFA’s initial furloughing last month of three-quarters of its U.S.-based workforce on March 21. Furloughed U.S. employees are on unpaid leave, while continuing to receive health insurance coverage for a limited period. In the meantime, RFA is assisting its most at-risk employees with employment-based visas in seeking outside assistance as they weigh their legal options.
To date, RFA has filed a motion for a temporary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking the disbursement of Congressionally appropriated funds.