NEWS: Minnesota Father Reunited With Family After Two Months in ICE Detention

This is adapted from a news release shared July 22 by MN8 about the story of Blong Yang and his family

 

On Thursday, July 3, Blong Yang was released from detention after being separated from his family and community for over two months. Blong Yang is a Hmong Minnesotan who was detained by ICE on April 30, 2025, while on his way to work.

Their daughter was devastated and in disbelief at the news that her father had been taken. “When we went to get his truck at the side of the road, it was such an eerie and empty feeling seeing his lunch sitting there in the seat, left behind. I thought I was never going to see him again. It felt like he died in a way. My dad is my role model, adventure buddy; he’s always pushing me to be my best.”

The family endured significant hardships during Blong’s detention. Anna and both of their daughters missed work while dealing with the emotional weight of losing their husband and dad, and navigating the legal system. One daughter finished her college classes under major distress and canceled her upcoming semester registration. Their two younger children missed multiple days of school. “I was so sad without my dad. I thought I would never see him again. Without him, I didn’t feel safe because he couldn’t protect me,” the youngest child shared.

 

The financial impact was severe. The family was at risk of losing their home, while anticipating thousands in legal fees and detention call costs. They sold assets and borrowed money while their second-oldest daughter took up two jobs to compensate for the loss of half the household income.

“It was almost worse than death, not knowing,” Anna explained. “The constant fear of the unknown was a feeling like you’re in a nightmare and you can’t wake up.”

With community support, the family raised over $29,000 through GoFundMe. Working with Mai Neng Moua Law Office and Minnesota 8 (MN8), they prepared extensively for Blong’s immigration hearing, bringing in tons of community observers and preparing testimony. After the hearing, the judge ordered Blong’s release. “When I saw my wife and all of our kids, we gave each other big hugs, and it felt really good. In that moment, I felt whole again,” Blong shared.

“Legal representation alone isn’t enough in these cases. Working alongside MN8 creates a powerful combination of legal advocacy and community support that makes all the difference for families like Blong’s,” said Mai Neng Moua, attorney for Blong Yang. “Southeast Asian refugees face a unique injustice in our immigration system — having rebuilt their lives after fleeing war, they now face deportation to countries they barely know because of old convictions. This double punishment ignores their rehabilitation and tears apart families who have already endured significant trauma. It always brings me great joy to be a part of keeping families together.”

Blong was unjustly detained for 64 days for a technical error and an unjust immigration system. ICE agents claimed he missed a court date, though Blong said he never received any notification. They also cited convictions from over 27 years ago, for which he had already completed his sentence.

“The people of the law are supposed to protect us, and it’s so scary and unsettling when they are actually the ones hurting your family,” said Anna.

During detention, Blong unfairly lost his job of nearly 9 years, adding to the family’s challenges.

Blong’s case is part of a troubling pattern affecting Southeast Asian families with decades-old removal orders. Since January 2025, the administration has intensified enforcement against Southeast Asian Americans, particularly targeting those who arrived as refugees following the Vietnam War and its aftermath. In May, 158 Southeast Asian Americans were deported to Laos and Vietnam, and MN8 documented over 15 Hmong Minnesotans detained in early June.

“The release of Blong Yang represents not just one family’s victory, but the power of community organizing and collective care,” said Montha Chum, Co-Founder and Executive Director of MN8. “We believe true justice means healing harm rather than multiplying it through detention and deportation. When our community comes together, raising funds, filling the courtroom, and demanding dignity, we are demonstrating that transformation happens not through punishment and separation, but through solidarity and restoration. Every family kept together is a step toward a world we are fighting to build, where all people, regardless of their past mistakes, deserve to live with dignity and belonging.”