Milwaukee mother deported to Laos after prison sentence

Ma Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong-American woman, was recently deported to Laos after living in the U.S. since infancy. Her deportation followed a 30-month prison sentence for marijuana-related charges and was unexpected, according to her former lawyer. Yang lost her permanent resident status under the Trump administration. She was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after being instructed to report to their Milwaukee office. Her lawyer noted that deportations to Laos were not common and that Yang's situation was unforeseen. Yang's early life included abuse and neglect, leading to her involvement in a marijuana trafficking case. Despite having no prior criminal record, she was sentenced to prison, which has kept her away from her five children.