On January 5th, Kou Lor reported to a check-in at ICE's office at the Whipple building, where he was taken into ICE custody to be deported to Laos. He was the breadwinner for his family; he worked as a certified CDL truck driver.

We are fundraising to support his family as they figure out how to process the sudden loss of their father.

Kou Lor is a refugee from Laos, he came to this country as a kid with his mother and four older brothers. He was born on March 10th, 1972 and In October of 1972, his father would be killed in action, fighting for the United States in the Vietnam War. He was raised in the United States, does not know Lao, and has minimal connections to the country. His deportation will fracture a family hub that has formed in the suburbs of Minneapolis.

Kou lost his Permanent Resident status due to mistakes he has been tried for, served time for, and been rehabilitated for. He was officially released to ICE on October 6th, 2003, on completion of his prison sentence, however Laos did not commonly accept deportees at that time, which meant he was able to turn his life around and build a positive one for himself in the shadow of his immigration status.

Kou and his Wife have 5 children under the age of 18. The oldest is preparing for their Senior year in High School while the youngest cannot understand why their father hasn't been home in weeks.

We believe it is cruel and unjust to deport this father 23 years later, years after he served his time. The current administration is making an example of him, wholly disregarding the collateral damage to his family, children and the history of how Hmong people arrived here.

However, we understand the reality of what we are up against, and so does Kou. We are fundraising to stabilize his family this year. The need is dire and immediate, there is a mortgage to be paid, and Kou was bringing in 4-5k a month - without this income, the family is at risk of losing their home.

Thank You for taking the time to read this. We understand it is a difficult time for everyone, so please donate what you can or share the GoFundMe with neighbors and friends.