In an interview:

Dith: "I saw light, like the sunrise, when I got to the border but I felt nervous until today -- when I get complete freedom."

From 1980, Dith worked as a photojournalist with The New York Times in the United States. In 1986, he became an American citizen with his wife, Ser Moeun Dith. They were later divorced. Dith then married Kim DePaul, but they also divorced. He also campaigned for recognition of the Cambodian Genocide victims, especially as founder and president of The Dith Pran Holocaust Awareness Project. He was a recipient of an Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1998 and of The International Center in New York's Award of Excellence.

Dith died on March 30, 2008 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just three months earlier. He was living in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Survivors include his companion, Bette Parslow,

His daughter, Hemkarey.

His sons, Titony, Titonath and Titonel.

His sister, Samproeuth.

His six grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.

Dith Pran died  at the age of 65. Dith Pran was Sydney Schanberg’s photographer and journalistic partner in Cambodia. When Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975, Schanberg was expelled from the country. Schanberg arranged for Dith Pran’s wife and children to be evacuated to the United States, but Pran stayed behind.

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