The Simmavanh family of Orrville, Ohio is facing a devastating crisis. Their husband and father, Lam Simmavanh, has been detained by ICE and is now facing deportation to Laos—a country he has not lived in since he was a very young child.

Lam came to the United States in 1986, when a local church sponsored his family to escape war and begin a new life. His father had bravely fought alongside American forces during the Vietnam War, but sadly passed away when Lam was a sophomore in high school—at a time when he needed his father the most.

Lam grew up in Orrville, Ohio, and graduated from Orrville High School. For more than 40 years, he has proudly called America his home. Through faith, perseverance, and hard work, Lam built a life centered on family and friendships.

Lam has worked as a welder for Ventrac/Toro, where he has been a valued and dedicated employee for over 25 years. He has never stopped working to provide for his family, often taking extra shifts to make ends meet. Lam is a proud homeowner, pays his taxes, and is an active, contributing member of his community. At the time of being detained, Lam had a work visa. He has been actively working on his immigration status with legal counsel for the entire time he has resided in the US.

He is a loving husband to his American wife, Audra, of 21 years, and together they are raising four children—a first grader, a high school freshman, a college freshman, and a young adult—all of whom are U.S. citizens. Lam is the kind of person who shows up for his friends, helps his neighbors, and lives a quiet life built on integrity.

Now, after nearly four decades in the United States, Lam has been taken from his family due to poor court appointed legal representation stemming from a misdemeanor more than 26 years ago. A lack of due process has not allowed him a fair opportunity to present his case or have his day in immigration court. The United States is the only home he has ever known. Today, he sits in a detention facility hours away from his loved ones, facing imminent deportation to Laos—a country he has not seen since early childhood.

His wife, children, and extended family and friends struggle to understand why this is happening to a good man who has lived here almost his entire life.

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Why We Are Asking for Help

With Lam gone, Audra is suddenly a single mother trying to hold her family together emotionally and financially. She works for a local non-profit serving others, but losing Lam’s income makes it nearly impossible to stay afloat. They worry about the mental health of each member of the family.

Funds will be used for:

   •    Household bills (house payment, utilities, groceries, and unforeseen expenses)

   •    Essential needs while transitioning to one income

•    Healthcare

This is not a political issue—this is a human issue. Regardless of anyone’s stance on immigration, no family deserves to be torn apart like this. Lam has lived here since he was a child. His home is here. His family is here. His life is here. With the cruel removal of Lam from their lives, the family is left heartbroken.

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How You Can Help

Please consider donating to support the Simmavanh family during this painful time. If you cannot donate, sharing this page is just as important. Every act of kindness makes a difference.

This is a family who has always given to others. Now they need us.

Join us in standing with them.

— Friends and Family of the Simmavanh Family