Plight Of Detained Hmong Refugee Rallies Lawmakers To Family's Side

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/07/2025) At least five Hmong refugees who have purportedly lived legal, productive lives in Michigan for years face deportation and an uncertain future if they're sent to their ancestral home of Laos or Thailand, as federal officials appear to be preparing to do, state lawmakers said Thursday at a Capitol press conference.

Lue Yang, 47, of St. Johns, was apprehended by federal immigration officers from his job on July 15 for his role in a 1997 attempted home invasion, a crime for which he, at age 18, pleaded guilty to. At that time, he served 10 months in jail. Since the incident, his wife of nearly 25 years, Ancy Vue, said Yang has led an upstanding life as a hard-working, married father of six children.

He works at a Lansing-area manufacturing plant and volunteers in his community, Vue said. His record was expunged in 2018, but he's still had issues becoming a U.S. citizen due to the prior conviction, she said.

She stressed that Yang came to the United States when he was toddler, as the son of Hmong refugees. He was born “stateless” in a refugee camp in Thailand. His family had fled Laos due to political persecution. Yang's father, like many others, served with the United States forces during the Vietnam War.

However, when the Vietnam War ended and the United States withdrew, the new communist regime went after the Hmong people who helped the United States, driving them to Laos and then, ultimately, to the United States, where they were allowed to legally settle.

His arrest by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents came as a shock to Yang's family, as he allegedly did his regular check-ins and complied with all the rules he was asked to follow. Vue said at Thursday’s press conference that her husband is one of several other Hmong refugees who have been rounded up as part of the new federal effort to deport non-citizens with criminal records.

He's currently at a facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, the final site before folks like Yang are to be sent back to their country of origin, which Vue said is in question in Yang's case because he is “stateless.”

What she fears is that if he's sent to Laos, a country he's never lived in, he will be held responsible for his father's actions in helping the United States in Vietnam and be executed.

“We are proud American citizens. We are proud Michiganders,” Vue said. “We are not outsiders. Michigan is our community. America is our country.”

Vue choked back tears as she shared her story. How her husband would miss birthday celebrations for two of their children this weekend. How her teenage son is putting his football season on hold as this is working itself out. How their 99-year-old grandmother has been unable to talk for the last two weeks because she's cried herself hoarse.

She said the United States is a nation that values rehabilitation, not just for citizens, but for those who call this country home.

“We should be out there detaining the worst of the worst, but my husband is not one of them,” Vue said.

Aisa Villarosa, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, attended Thursday’s press conference in support of Yang and other individuals in a similar situation. Asked if these actions against him were illegal or just indecent, Villarosa said, “We strongly believe that due process was not followed . . . there are serious concerns also from the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is still the law of the land.”

Standing with Vue at the press conference were Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren), also a refugee and member of the Hmong community; her state Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), her state Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) and Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit).

All four took a few minutes at the microphone to express their disbelief and outrage at what had been done in this case and their commitment to do whatever they could to bring Yang home.

“This is not a border security issue,” Xiong said. “If you are not upset, you should be.”

U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte)'s office is aware of the situation and is working to gather more information, his spokesperson Jerry Ward said on Thursday.

“We have been in contact with his family and have opened a line of communication with the administration. We will continue facilitating these conversations in the hopes of achieving a favorable outcome for the Yang family within the confines of the law," Ward said.