Help Michigan Hmong Families In Crisis
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This GoFundMe was set up to provide financial assistance to the Michigan Hmong refugees detained by ICE and their family members. All money raised will be given directly to the family members to help pay for legal assistance, food, child care, and bills.
The Michigan Hmong refugees who were detained recently received letters in the mail ordering them to report to an ICE field office in Detroit, on July 30th. They believed it was an immigration court hearing. However, they were unexpectedly detained upon arrival. Many did not have legal representation.
Now, their family members are left to navigate an extremely complex system; and their loved one is in danger of being deported to Laos, a country many if not all have never been to. Their parents and grandparents fought alongside American soldiers during the Vietnam War / Secret War against Laos communist troops. As a result, they were born in a refugee camp in Thailand.
These are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, our kid’s classmates' parents. The family members impacted are elderly parents who cannot speak English and mothers with young children. They need our help.
HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR TESTIMONIES:
- It's with a heavy heart that we are here seeking assistance. Sai Vang, our son, brother, uncle, and friend has been taken from us and we are here today asking for help to bring him home. Sai has never allowed the mistake he made as a young adult to define him. He has been a law abiding citizen since, has worked hard and was able to purchase a house 6 years ago. With that purchase, he moved his aging parents in with him and is currently the caretaker of them both.
- My husband, WA KONG LOR, was detained on July 30,2025 in downtown Detroit. He received a letter in the mail on July 15, 2025 indicating that he was needed for an in person interview. He had second thoughts while receiving this letter, questioning whether he should go to it, as it may seem like a setup. On that morning July 30,2025 we both went down hoping that it was just the interview. We both got to the office not knowing that it was going to be no say to one another as in goodbye.
- With my husband's situation of being detained I have four children who have no idea that their father is gone or where he is. My child asked me where their dad had gone as to where we both left early and only I came back home. Life has been very challenging not knowing what can I do, how should I start, it comes with who, what, where, why, and how for me. My kids are aging from 5 through 13 years old. I haven't gotten it together where I should tell them that their father might never come back home. He is a brother of 8 and has 4 sisters. His parents' heart drops everyday not knowing what to do dealing with sickness and he's the person who they would look at when they need medical help getting to and from the hospital. I'm financially struggling on how I can just get my husband home to his kids and I promise his mom that I will do whatever it takes to bring her son back to her knowing I don't even know where to start.
- My name is Scott, an African American, born in the United States of America. My wife Pang Nhia Hang Bailey born in Laos only lived in Laos as a toddler or infant and was brought to America as refugees being allies with America both our nationalities are considered interracial in America. Pang is currently detained or deported by ICE, her status as of 8/5/2025 when searching US immigration and customs enforcement, online detainee locator system. Pang was held by ICE on July 30th on Wednesday approximately 10:00 am. Pang’s Deportation status began 2007 as a result of making one crucial decision of committing a crime in the United States. I am her husband and also was involved with the same irresponsible decision as young people, I was born 1977, Pang was born 1972. We have an almost 6 year age difference. Our mistake of breaking the law occurred around 12/06/1995. We have been married for 30years I’ve stayed by her side during her entire process of the deportation process and never left her, also creating a family of 4 children and 1 grandchild. Those kids are Skylyer 23, Scarlytte 21, Scott 17, and Sylus 16.
Organizer
Colton Hughes
Organizer
Lansing, MI