Washington, DC – On Friday, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia & the Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim (CA-40) and Committee Chairman Brian Mast (FL-21) wrote to the Thai Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, urging the Thai government to reconsider its decision to deport 48 Uyghur refugees who have been in Thai custody for more than a decade.
Read the letter HERE or highlights below.
Thailand and the United States are strong partners and historical allies. Today, we write to you with great concern about the imminent deportation of 48 Uyghur refugees currently in Thailand, who are at serious risk of facing persecution, torture, and potentially death if returned to China. We urge the Thai government to reconsider its course of action and protect their safety.
The 48 men in question fled China over a decade ago, seeking sanctuary from the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing campaign of genocide against Uyghurs for their religious beliefs, cultural practices, and political views.
China’s repressive policies in Xinjiang, including arbitrary detention in so-called “re-education” camps, mass surveillance, forced labor, forced sterilizations, and destruction of Uyghur cultural heritage, have made it impossible for many to live freely.
Despite being in Thai custody for more than 11 years, the situation of these 48 refugees has not improved, leaving them in prolonged limbo with no legal recourse or certainty about their future. Their treatment not only violates international standards but is also contrary to the humanitarian principles Thailand has long championed.
The United States strongly supports the Uyghur Labor Prevention Act, a U.S. law which holds China accountable for its use of forced labor in relation to Uyghur detainees. The deportation of these 48 refugees to China would directly contravene this act, as it could expose them to exploitation and abuse.
We request that the Thai government halt the deportation and grant the 48 Uyghurs an opportunity to resettle in a third country that can ensure their safety and dignity. This decision would undoubtedly strengthen the U.S.-Thailand relationship.
