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 goal of continuing to provide objective and factual news to the people in their Southeast Asian homeland through Radio Free Asia. However, Vuthy Tha and Hour Hum now find themselves in a precarious situation as their jobs and legal status in the U.S. are under threat following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that severely impacted the government-run U.S. Agency for Global Media, which supports Radio Free Asia and other media outlets dedicated to delivering uncensored information to regions under authoritarian rule without a free press of their own.
The sudden decision by the Trump administration has left Vuthy, a single father of two young children, and Hour concerned about their ability to support their families and remain in the U.S. Returning to Cambodia, a country known for its hostile stance towards independent media, is not an option for them as they fear persecution for their journalistic work.
The dismantling and downsizing of federal agencies by the administration has led to the termination or suspension of tens of thousands of government employees and contractors. However, the impact on the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which plays a crucial role in extending American influence abroad through its networks, puts journalists at risk of deportation and potential harassment and persecution in their home countries. Currently, there are eleven journalists associated with U.S.-funded media outlets imprisoned overseas, including RFA’s Shin Daewe, serving a 15-year sentence in Myanmar on terrorism charges.
Reports indicate that at least 84 USAGM journalists in the United States on work visas are facing the threat of deportation, with 23 considered at serious risk of immediate arrest and potential imprisonment upon return to their countries. Advocacy groups like Reporters Without Borders and a coalition of 36 human rights organizations have highlighted the critical need for protection and support for these journalists and their affiliated outlets.
Thibaut Bruttin, director general of Reporters Without Borders, emphasized the urgent call for action by the U.S. Congress to safeguard these reporters and uphold the principles of democracy and press freedom that the United States stands for. While the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have not provided comments, the State Department has expressed condemnation towards unjust detentions of journalists and is working with USAGM on addressing the plight of imprisoned journalists.
Meanwhile, journalists from Voice of America, another news service overseen by USAGM, have taken legal action against the executive order, including two foreign journalists on temporary visas who face the risk of imprisonment in their home countries if deported. The uncertain future faced by these journalists underscores the importance of upholding press freedom and supporting those who risk their lives to expose repression and uphold democratic values.
The lawsuit stated that visa holders from a certain country, who could be at risk in their home country, are currently protected from forced departures due to a court order halting contract terminations. Another media outlet funded by USAGM, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), has also filed a lawsuit to restore funding. The recent cuts in funding by the Trump administration follow significant efforts by the U.S. to release imprisoned journalists, including Alsu Kurmasheva and Andrey Kuznechyk of RFE/RL. Despite these efforts, several journalists remain incarcerated in various countries, raising concerns about their safety and the future of media outlets such as Voice of America (VOA) and RFA.
In Vietnam, where press freedom is limited, journalists face the risk of imprisonment and mistreatment. Journalists like Khoa Lai, who works for RFA, fear returning to their home countries due to potential prosecution or imprisonment. Some journalists, like Vuthy and Hour, had to flee their country and continue reporting from abroad under hidden identities. The uncertain future of media outlets like RFA poses challenges for these journalists, who risk being sent back to dangerous environments if their support system diminishes.
Despite these challenges, journalists like Vuthy remain hopeful for the survival of RFA, emphasizing the outlet’s ongoing fight for existence. The situation underscores the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists in high-risk environments.
