The Situation
About Face is raising funds for our fellow veteran, Kimlis Tek, an Army veteran and Cambodian refugee currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma. After serving 15 years in the Washington Department of Corrections—a decade and a half dedicated to personal growth, education, and total accountability—Kimlis was prepared to return to his community as a changed man.
Instead, he was met at the prison gates by ICE in April 2025. Kimlis has now been detained by ICE for nearly a year, enduring the horrific conditions inside the Tacoma detention center. This facility is, for all intents and purposes, a modern concentration camp—a place where people are stripped of their dignity and basic rights. The existence of such a place is a shameful stain upon our country’s history. Kimlis is caught in the "prison-to-deportation pipeline" and is facing imminent removal to Cambodia.
A History of Survival and Service
Kimlis’s journey is rooted in a history of displacement and survival. His parents fled the horrific Killing Fields of Cambodia, seeking refuge in a Thai refugee camp where Kimlis was born. They eventually immigrated to the United States to build a new life in safety.
Growing up as a refugee, Kimlis stepped up to serve in the U.S. Army, dedicating himself to the country that gave his family a second chance. While he served his court-mandated sentence for the mistakes of his past, he is now being subjected to a "double punishment." It is a profound tragedy that the U.S. government is now seeking to exile him back to the very country his parents risked everything to escape; this is part of the Trump regime's horrific policy of ethnic cleansing and a crime against humanity.
The Mission: A Foundation for Success
Kimlis is fortunate to have some family in Cambodia who are willing to help him upon arrival. However, they are of very limited means and can only provide the most basic shelter. Our goal is to provide Kimlis with the best possible chance to successfully establish himself and build a stable, independent life upon his arrival in Cambodia. We are raising funds to ensure he has the resources necessary to navigate this forced transition with dignity.
How Your Donation Helps
100% of the funds raised will go toward:
Sustainable Reintegration: Helping Kimlis transition from temporary family care to a stable, independent living situation.
Essential Survival: Food, clean water, living arrangements, and clothing suitable for the tropical climate.
Legal & Administrative Fees: Obtaining Cambodian identification, work permits, and residency papers so he can legally find employment.
Medical Care: Access to healthcare and support as he navigates the trauma of deportation after nearly a year in a modern concentration camp and 15 years of prior incarceration.
Communication: A local phone and data plan to remain in contact with his family and his veteran support network back here in the U.S.
Who We Are
My name is Jonathan Wyant. I'm a United States Army veteran and a co-chair for South Sound About Face: Veterans Against The War. We are an organization comprised of post-9/11 veterans focused on ending militarism and addressing its root causes in both U.S. foreign policy and domestic communities. We believe that the values of service and community do not end at the border.
Standing in Solidarity
At South Sound About Face, we believe that "Vets Helping Vets" doesn't stop at the border. Kimlis is our brother-in-arms. He has paid his debt to society. We are coming together to make sure he isn't abandoned in a foreign land.
Transparency
As Kimlis is currently detained in Tacoma, our chapter is organizing this fund to ensure the money is ready the moment he is removed. We will provide regular updates on his status and how the funds are being utilized to support his arrival and reintegration in Cambodia.
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