Ge Vang Wins Reprieve from Deportation
For Immediate Release
Friday, November 12, 2021
Contact
Julia Gay | julia@caalmn.org | (216) 744-4956
Friday, November 12, 2021, Saint Paul, MN – After 18 months of advocacy and support from CAAL, an immigration judge granted Ge Vang relief, terminating his deportation order on July 19, 2021.
Vang is among the approximate 16,000 Southeast Asian refugees who were caught in the wave of unforgiving effects after the 1996 immigration law changed.
“I feel like I can finally breathe because I no longer have to live in fear of being deported to Laos, a country I know nothing about,” Vang expressed.
Vang was born in a Thai refugee camp in 1978, after his parents and siblings fled their village in Laos under the threat of death and persecution. Vang’s father was recruited as a soldier to fight for the U.S. at the age of 15. At eight months old, Vang, his two siblings and parents came as refugees to America.
With little support Vang struggled to fit into a country that did not wholeheartedly accept him. He made a mistake when he was younger, but turned his life around and became a devoted husband, a loving father of four, and an active member of the Hmong community.
This avenue of relief became possible after Vang’s criminal defense attorney, Chang Lau from the Minnesota Public Defender’s Appellate Office, with the support of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, filed a post-conviction relief petition asking the state district court to vacate Vang’s old conviction. The court granted the petition.
Chang says, “I am heartened by the outcome of Ge’s case, and am so happy for Ge and his family. It is frustrating that so much time, effort and resources were required to obtain this outcome. The advocates, professionals and Ge’s family all worked hard to overcome and achieve this win.”
Jenny Srey, CAAL’s Senior Manager for Civic Power, stated, “Ge and his family showed the fierce resilience of our refugee communities. While he was released through legal channels, it took months of community organizing to get this victory. This is a win for communities that lays the groundwork for crimmigation systems to recognize second chances and the sanctity of family.”
“There are too many people like Ge who should’ve been protected but weren’t, and their families were kept in turmoil for years. We’re pleased with this outcome and hope more can be done to provide immediate relief through legal means for many others,” says Bo Thao-Urabe, CAAL Executive and Network Director.
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To learn more about this issue and CAAL’s work, join our next Power Talk: When We Fight We Win on the intersection of the criminal legal and immigration or crimmigation system with Ge, his family, and others on Thursday, December 9, 2021, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
About Coalition of Asian American Leaders
The Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) envisions a State where all Minnesotans, regardless of background, are actively engaged and can achieve prosperity. Our mission is to harness our collective power to improve community lives by connecting, learning, and acting together. To learn more, please visit www.caalmn.org.