Hmong

Hmong veterans made extraordinary sacrifices helping American forces during the Vietnam War and I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to make sure that we continue to honor those sacrifices. One of my proudest achievements is working with the late Bruce Vento, U.S. Representative from Minnesota, on passage of the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act.  This bill, which was signed into law by President Clinton in May 2000 expedited the naturalization process for Hmong veterans.

Like many, I am still very worried about the conditions the Hmong endure in Laos and Thailand’s Phetchaboun province.  That is why I have urged the State Department to continue to press Lao and Thai authorities to improve conditions, allow greater transparency, and honor basic human rights.

Following the repatriation of the Lao Hmong by the Royal Thai Government back to Laos in January 2010, I sent a letter to the Government of Laos expressing concern for the safety of those repatriated and urging the government to treat all of the returnees humanely, guarantee access to the international community for independent monitoring, and allow those who are eligible for resettlement to be resettled without delay.

In June of this year, I hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Laos, Ravic R. Huso, for a meeting with members of the local Hmong community. I am pleased that Ambassador Huso was able to visit western Wisconsin, hear from our local Hmong community, and respond to their concerns.  During his visit, he and the group of Hmong leaders and community members were able to discuss future Hmong immigration as well as the recent repatriation of the Lao Hmong to Laos.  

The safety of the recently repatriated Lao Hmong is still very concerning. As we move forward, I will continue to be engaged in the topic, learning about the resettlement camps, listening to the safety concerns of those who have been recently moved, and speaking to government leaders to ensure that those who were repatriated are being treated fairly. I will also work with the State Department and Ambassador Huso so that my office and our local Hmong community are able to remain actively engaged in settlement issues and ensure we protect Hmong refugees in Laos.