My name is Jamie, and I am the eldest daughter of Ke Phonhthalyhane.

It deeply saddens me to share that my father was detained on the morning of October 8th and is now in the process of being deported.

My dad has always been the primary caregiver and rock for my mother, who suffers from pulmonary hypertension, lupus, and most recently, cancer. She depends on a machine to keep her heart pumping and requires at-home care. I am now stepping up to help care for our household, but it has been incredibly difficult—both emotionally and financially.

My father will need financial support to start over in Laos, a country he has no memory of.

Ke is the very definition of a devoted father. Having been in the U.S. since the age of three, he worked hard to build a life here—raising a family, serving as a federal employee, and always lending a hand to others in our community. He helped us get through the day with his dad jokes or his amazing cooking, and his absence will be felt by many. He is a family man through and through, and he needs our support now more than ever.

Anything helps and we are thankful for your time.