The Trump administration’s decision to cut funding for the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has left foreign journalists working for US-backed media outlets in a precarious situation. The agency funds Radio Free Asia and other outlets that deliver uncensored information to parts of the world under authoritarian rule.
Two Cambodian journalists, Vuthy Tha and Hour Hum, who worked for Radio Free Asia, are among those at risk of deportation after President Trump signed an executive order gutting the agency’s funding. The men fear being sent back to their repressive homelands, where they could face persecution and harassment.
According to Reporters Without Borders, at least 84 USAGM journalists in the United States on work visas could face deportation. Eleven journalists are currently behind bars overseas, including those from Myanmar and Belarus.
The organization’s director general, Thibaut Bruttin, has criticized the Trump administration for abandoning these journalists. “It is outrageous that these journalists, who risk their lives to expose the extent of repression in their home countries, might be completely abandoned,” he said.
Journalists for Voice of America have also sued against the order, citing fears of imprisonment and physical danger if deported. The court has temporarily halted contract terminations, preventing visa holders from being forced to leave.
The US administration’s decision comes after a high-profile prisoner swap that included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. However, critics argue that the Trump administration is targeting journalists who have defied authoritarian regimes to promote democracy and press freedom.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/radio-free-asia-voice-of-america-trump-084045acb927d5cc2ddc46b61d59a692