Migrant Justice
In conversation with WeiChun Kua
WeiChun Kua (he/him) has been a part of climate and migrant organizing for a few years on the lands of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. As an organizer with SFU350, WeiChun was involved in the campaign that got SFU to fully divest from fossil fuels. He also worked with Migrant Students United SFU, a chapter of the Migrant Workers Alliance, to advocate on issues that affect migrant workers — including farmworkers, care workers, and international students. WeiChun is currently a mentor for Climate Recentered, a project supported by the Solid State Co-op and led by a group of racialized femme who aim to address the climate crisis in Surrey, BC by centering the voices of BIPOC youth. |
Q: For those who might not be familiar, what does it mean to be stateless and how has being stateless impacted your activism?
A: I am a second-generation stateless Chinese who was born and raised in Brunei. His identity as a stateless person, one who does not have citizenship anywhere in the world, has shaped his view on how border nation states impact freedom of movement. Being stateless means you do not have citizenship anywhere in the world. My grandparents migrated from China to Brunei and both me and my parents were born and raised there, but we still don’t have citizenship — only permanent residency status. This limits us to move freely across borders because we have to apply for visas everywhere we go, which is a very expensive process and sometimes we don’t end up getting visas.
A: I am a second-generation stateless Chinese who was born and raised in Brunei. His identity as a stateless person, one who does not have citizenship anywhere in the world, has shaped his view on how border nation states impact freedom of movement. Being stateless means you do not have citizenship anywhere in the world. My grandparents migrated from China to Brunei and both me and my parents were born and raised there, but we still don’t have citizenship — only permanent residency status. This limits us to move freely across borders because we have to apply for visas everywhere we go, which is a very expensive process and sometimes we don’t end up getting visas.
Q: In what ways do protections for migrants — particularly those who are racialized, stateless, or undocumented — align with the goal of building more climate resilient communities?
A: Migrant farmworkers are a vital part of our local food systems. [People don’t really question] where our food comes from, who puts the food in our grocery stores, whose labour goes into these processes, and what conditions these people work under. Farmworkers are very exploited and many live [in precarity]. Whether it's inhumane living conditions, being paid unfairly or a lack of access to healthcare, they are always at the mercy of their employers.
They are constantly at risk of being deported, losing their status, losing their permits, and becoming undocumented. Not protecting migrants is [fundamentally at odds] with building climate resilient communities because they are here whether we visibly see them or not. They are [frontline workers] and the work they do is essential, so we need better mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Q: How would abolishing the carceral state (like the existence of border patrol, state surveillance, and immigration detention centres) advance climate justice?
A: A lot of migrants came here because of the imperialism that they faced in their countries — the instability that causes people to move across borders to seek opportunities. Many families are separated [in this process] and need to make money to send back and support their [loved ones]. We need to acknowledge the role countries like Canada play in causing sociopolitical instability in other nations, which force people out of their [homelands] to migrate here for a better future and better opportunities. Rich countries [predominantly those in the Global North] like Canada are contributing the most to climate change, but the Global South is experiencing the worst effects of this crisis. These people are being forced to migrate to survive, but because of the carceral state, not everyone can migrate here legally. Things like immigration detention centres, which are known for their inhumane treatment of people, detain migrants because they are fleeing from climate catastrophe or escaping persecution for speaking up against their governments. |
Q: What do you radically imagine to be present in a just future for all?
A: As the climate crisis worsens, we’re going to see a lot of migration. I think of abolishing nation state borders as really important, especially on Coast Salish territories and other stolen lands. The question really is: why does the colonial government have the right to determine who has legal status and who doesn’t on stolen lands? Borders currently define whether you have access to [essential services] like healthcare, financial aid, housing, fair wages, worker protection, etc. To really build a just future for everyone, we also need to abolish carceral systems that punish people for migrating to survive. This means ensuring we are uniting families instead of separating them and prioritizing health and wellbeing. People would benefit from this in so many ways — including their ability to contribute more to communities because they don’t need to worry about when they’re going to [eat their next meal] or getting their next paycheck. |
Q: What are some ways youth can take action in pursuit of collective liberation?
A: Youth nowadays are more aware of history, the role of the colonial state, and conditions of the people in their communities. To take action, we really need to be building international solidarity with one another by thinking about the way the work you’re doing connects to other liberation movements you’re not directly part of or don’t have a personal connection to. Amplify and support other movements — whether that be donating or educating yourself and others. We can’t be free until all of us are free!
A: Youth nowadays are more aware of history, the role of the colonial state, and conditions of the people in their communities. To take action, we really need to be building international solidarity with one another by thinking about the way the work you’re doing connects to other liberation movements you’re not directly part of or don’t have a personal connection to. Amplify and support other movements — whether that be donating or educating yourself and others. We can’t be free until all of us are free!
Ways To Take Action
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Bridging the Intersections between Migrant Justice and Climate Justice
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- Climate Migrants
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- Vulnerability to Climate Effects
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