Since the beginning of 2025 in America under the Trump Administration, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began aggressively rounding up those with orders to leave the country and in particular with those with criminal records - no matter how minor the infraction or how long ago it was - and deporting them back to Laos.
Overall
Notably, there are an estimated 4,800 people considered by ICE to be nationals of Laos who have removal orders and are living in the U.S. Most of these are those who overstayed on their visas with only a small number due to criminal convictions.
For 2024 specifically, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s Overstay Report, the rate of those from Laos who overstayed were:
- Non-immigrant visitor visa (ie. those who entered for work or pleasure) - 28.34% or 530 individuals
- Non-immigrant student visas - 11.41% or 21 individuals
Lao PDR's response
There is no formal repatriation agreement between Laos and USA. However, under pressure from American officials this year, the Lao embassy in Washington began issuing documents for deportees.
Moreover, on March 25, 2025, the Lao Embassy in Washington went as far as to issue a voluntary return notice to Lao citizens residing illegally in the US. In the notice, people were invited to voluntarily return without penalty. However, that notice mention's specifically those with Lao passports.
A subsequent posting on July 11, 2025 written in Lao language, the Lao Embassy warns of the stricter immigration situation in America. It goes on to reiterate its previous message of encouraging voluntary returns, as well as, a more broader message of support to those who need it.
The case for Lao refugees
The challenge here are the historical implications. Many Lao immigrants to the US are legacies of the mass exodus out of Laos after the 1975 communist revolution, where they then arrived in the US as refugees.
In these cases, the refugees no longer have formal ties to Laos or documentation of being a Lao citizen or hold Lao passports. While most of them went on to obtain US citizenship, unfortunately some have fallen through the cracks and never obtain proper documentation even after decades of living in America.
ICE and DHS - what they choose to share
On May 25, 2025, it was widely reported on several news outlets that approximately 65 individuals were deported to Laos. It is uncertain whether that number is simply for the month of May or if it includes all those deported for the year 2025 up until the date of that announcement.
During that time, ICE began posting more news and press releases of their raids. And the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began posting press releases of some of the individuals they were deporting. In particular, their posts focused on those who had committed and had been convicted of serious crimes.
However, what those posts fail to include are the complete lists of names and numbers of those being taken. They also do not report on the number of those who were later found to be innocent, have no criminal history, cases of mistaken identities, those who had in the past committed minor or petty crimes, or who had already served time and changed their lives around.
An example of this is when Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on March 14, 2025 about Ma Yang, 37, a mother of 5 who had been taken by ICE based on an old marijuana charge and had already served 2 years. She was born in a Thai refugee camp and grew up in America her entire life with no ties to Laos. Unfortunately, Ma Yang's case is not unique.
Denial of rights
While in some cases some people have reported being treated decently while in detention along with having access to their lawyers, unfortunately, this cannot be said for all cases. It's worth noting that people held in detention will be less likely to communicate grievances or maltreatment, as all communication is monitored and there would be an obvious fear of retribution.
However, as reported in many news outlets, there appears to be a lack due process or legal access once ICE has taken custody of deportees. In some situations where cases have gone to court and a judge has issued decisions, orders, or injunctions against ICE's actions, those individuals were still being deported.
Not to be entirely gloomy, there are indeed some good news stories showing that after legal court battles that individuals are being released. The message there is not to lose hope.
Nevertheless, there are families who report not being able to see their loved ones and no updates are provided to them by ICE officials. Recent publicized cases in 2025 highlighted ICE sending deportees to 3rd countries for those whose home country would not take them. In these cases, it was found that ICE gave no notice or as little as 6 hours notice to the families.
Tracking the numbers
Keeping track of the specifics on deportees to Laos has been a particular challenge since the DHS has not shared their complete list of names but rather is cherry picking specifics ones for their press releases.
ICE's own statistics page only has data up to January 2025 for deportations. So there are no datasets yet of what's been happening this year for those deported to Laos.
However, some websites are doing their own estimates based on different sources and news outlets. TheGlobalStatistics.com estimates 254 have been deported to Laos for 2025 so far, at the time of this writing.
Further, the Lao government and its embassy in Washington, who would have to be in agreement to accept deportees and help arrange transportation, including issuing travel documents, have not posted any numbers either.
Youtube Vloggers
Lao Youtube vloggers began reporting the news of the deportations as early as May of this year when the first big announcement regarding the 65 deportees was made.
One such channel is called US Citizen in Laos (video links here and here) where she began reporting the arrivals of these individuals.
On another Youtube channel called Konbannok in a video post dated October 8, 2025, the host visits one of the deported and sees how he's settling into life in Laos.
The one profiled in that video actually did start his own Youtube channel called WelKham Back Laos to document how he's adjusting to life in Laos after having been deported from America.
More to come
As the Trump Administration is only in its first year and US agencies have been emboldened to continue the aggressive number of raids and deportations, we can expect more people to be sent back to different countries, including Laos.
For some groups, if previous years could be described as a trickle, then the next 3 years will likely be a flood.
Resources
- Asian Law Caucus - For those in America facing deportation, this organization has set up a webpage with several links and resources for people looking for news, advice, and information. Be sure to check out their link.
- Lao Embassy - In Washington, DC, this is the official resource on assisting Lao people with documentation needs relating to US deportations.
- V&M First 65 Deportees - A Facebook group that was started from 3 of the original 65 Lao deportees (from May 2025). It's become an online community for those who were deported or facing deportation. It's a way for them and their families to share experiences, discuss, and share information.
- Returning Laos Deportees - Similar group to the one above. A Facebook group for Lao deportees already deported or facing deportation. Importantly, they also share news about what's happening on the ground both in the US and Laos.
- Double Displacement - Similar group to the one above. A Facebook group that's aimed at helping and sharing information for Lao deportees and their families. Importantly, they have members who share information including flights related to Lao deportees.
- ICE Flight Monitor - A Bluesky social account created by HumanRightsFirst.org to track deportee flights.
- Americans in Laos - A Facebook group that was started as a way for Americans visiting or residing in Laos to communicate. A lot of recent posts are related to helping Lao deportees who have recently arrived to Laos.
- ICE Online Detainee Locator System - From the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- GoFundMe - A number of deportees or their supporters have taken to this platform to try to help those who have been deported or fighting deportation.
- Laoconnection.com (updated November 20, 2025)
When I clicked on the link to Lao Embassy's "voluntary return notice," it appears to only talk about those Laotians who have come to America but now have expired visas, and how the embassy can assist with travel documents and visas.
ReplyDeleteBut nothing is mentioned on Lao refugees. How can the embassies help those refugees with criminal records that have deportation orders?
Unfortunately, we don't have the answers. It's best to contact them and ask directly.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while the Lao embassy voluntary return notice doesn't mention it, we know already through news reports that under pressure from US officials that the Lao embassy issued passports and documentations to even those who were former refugees. The individuals mentioned in our post are such cases (ie. Ma Yang and Kham Paneboun).
Thanks for the response! Yes, I am aware of Ma Yang and Kham Paneboun cases. However, these two were picked up by ICE and were removed, so all their paperwork was done by ICE.
ReplyDeleteMy question is for those refugees with removal orders however not picked up yet. Will the embassy assist and provide them with travel docs and entry visas?
But thank you anyways. Will reach out to the embassy.