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Hmong American Woman From Milwaukee Deported And Stranded In Laos
March 27, 2025
Ma Yang was born in Bangkok, Thailand, the daughter of Hmong refugees after the Vietnam War. She was 8 months old when her family resettled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and she has lived there ever since. She is now 37 years old. In 2020, she pleaded guilty to taking part in a marijuana trafficking operation and served 2-½ years in prison for counting and packaging cash that was mailed to suppliers of the drugs. Her attorney told her the plea deal would not affect her immigration status as a green card holder, but her legal permanent residency was revoked. She was deported to Laos earlier this month, a place she has never been, does not know the language, and has no family or friends. She has limited resources and dwindling medical supplies for her health conditions. She is now stranded in a rooming house in the capital of Vientiane, surrounded by military guards, with little idea of what to do next.
Ma is a mother of five. Her partner of 16 years, Michael Bub, has disabilities and is struggling to sleep and take care of their children. Their story has struck a chord with so many across the nation, especially those in the Hmong American community who have built lives in the U.S. and could not imagine returning to Laos. Ma’s case is almost unheard of since few people have been deported to Laos in recent years as the U.S. had designated Laos an “uncooperative” country that did not receive its deportees. Read the full Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
The family is seeking donations at gofundme.com/f/support-ma-yangs-return-to-her-kids.
The Independent picked up this story and has recently reported some updates to Ma Yang’s situation. Read that article.
Additionally, note these hotlines to report suspected unjust ICE encounters:
CASA (National) - 1-888-214-6016
UndocuProfessionals Network (National) - 1-844-500-3222
Voces de la Frontera - 414-465-8078
Forward Latino - 888-238-9473
Marathon County has a line to report ICE encounters at 715- 551-2552
ACLU Wisconsin - https://www.aclu-wi.org/en/about/contact-us
Visit https://www.csasisters.org/our-values/trafficking.cfm for a more extensive list of immigration services.
Posted in
Trafficking & Migration