Linda Yang, a resident of South St. Paul, is now raising her five sons alone after her husband, Zong, was deported to Laos in May. The family’s story is one of many affected by the recent surge in deportations of Hmong residents from Minnesota and other states.

A Family Torn Apart

Zong, 48, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in February, after a cold encounter with Linda on her way to work. The agents informed her that they would be taking Zong the next morning, and Linda refused to let them take him without a chance to say goodbye to their sons.

The family had been preparing for the possibility of deportation, but the reality was still devastating. Zong’s sons, King, 3; Titan, 7; Everest, 8; Kenji, 15; and Yaay, 17, were left to cope with the loss of their father. Linda is now juggling the needs of her children, including a recent high school graduate, on her own.

Zong’s deportation was the result of a felony burglary conviction from his twenties, which led to a final order of deportation. The family had been following news of other Hmong residents being deported and had discussed the possibility of Zong’s deportation with their oldest sons.

A Community Affected

The Yang family’s story is not an isolated incident. Many Hmong residents in Minnesota and other states are facing deportation, leaving families to pick up the pieces. The community is coming together to support those affected, but the pain of separation remains.

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.