Milwaukee woman deported to Laos faces uncertain future

A Milwaukee woman, Ma Yang, has been deported to Laos after spending years as a permanent U.S. resident. Yang, 37, is feeling "shaken" as she faces a future of more than a decade away from her partner and five children in Wisconsin. She was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and moved to the U.S. where she had legal status until she pleaded guilty to cannabis charges. Yang served 30 months in prison, believing her plea deal would not jeopardize her residency. However, she was unexpectedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March and sent to Laos, a country she has never known. Since arriving in Laos, she has been staying in a government facility while struggling with her diabetes and high blood pressure without access to her medication. Her deportation is part of a broader trend where many individuals, including those with legal residency, are facing removal from the U.S. due to past convictions. Activists are advocating for Yang and her family, emphasizing the emotional toll on her children who now live without their mother. Yang’s future in Laos remains uncertain. Even if she manages to appeal her deportation, her immigration lawyer indicates she could be barred from returning to the U.S. until the 2040s. Critics of the deportation policies argue they unjustly affect families and communities, often uprooting them without adequate legal considerations. Yah Yang's case highlights ongoing debates about immigration enforcement and its impacts, especially on Southeast Asian American communities who have faced significant hardships. Activists worry that more deportations could follow, as thousands of individuals with deportation orders remain in the U.S.