The Hmong perspective on
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
this means that over 10 percent of the Asian American community is undocumented. These undocumented Asians include Hmong Americans.
This status has major repercussions when it comes to education access and workers’ rights. However, the immigration debate is not only
centered on the path to legalization. Many aspects of immigration reform will also impact Hmong American citizens. The applications of
Hmong citizens hoping to sponsor family members from foreign countries are backlogged; current waiting periods are five to 10 years. The
integration of immigrants into American society has many implications for Hmong communities, especially when it comes to issues such as
language access.
As advocates and Congressional leaders push immigration reform, we must ensure that there is a Hmong voice in the immigration
debate so that our community’s concerns are heard. A new series on immigration reform will examine the implications of each principle of
comprehensive reform and what it means to the Hmong community. As refugees and immigrants to this country, Hmong Americans have
worked hard to contribute economically, culturally, and socially. Let us make sure that future Hmong immigrants also have this opportunity by
fixing the immigration system.
You can help the efforts of the Hmong National Development as we advocate for immigration reform by sharing your immigration stories.
Please contact Arlee Vang at arlee.vang@gmail.com for more information on how you can help.
This status has major repercussions when it comes to education access and workers’ rights. However, the immigration debate is not only
centered on the path to legalization. Many aspects of immigration reform will also impact Hmong American citizens. The applications of
Hmong citizens hoping to sponsor family members from foreign countries are backlogged; current waiting periods are five to 10 years. The
integration of immigrants into American society has many implications for Hmong communities, especially when it comes to issues such as
language access.
As advocates and Congressional leaders push immigration reform, we must ensure that there is a Hmong voice in the immigration
debate so that our community’s concerns are heard. A new series on immigration reform will examine the implications of each principle of
comprehensive reform and what it means to the Hmong community. As refugees and immigrants to this country, Hmong Americans have
worked hard to contribute economically, culturally, and socially. Let us make sure that future Hmong immigrants also have this opportunity by
fixing the immigration system.
You can help the efforts of the Hmong National Development as we advocate for immigration reform by sharing your immigration stories.
Please contact Arlee Vang at arlee.vang@gmail.com for more information on how you can help.
By Arlee Vang
Policy Research Intrern, Hmong National Development, Inc.
Comprehensive immigration reform is important to the Hmong community. Most Hmong came to the
United States as refugees. As a result, Hmong refugees and naturalized citizens continue to be impacted
by immigration laws. Hmong who wish to reunite with their family living in Laos or Thailand must do so
within the immigration system. A Hmong family in Wisconsin can be torn apart by an Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on their home. Undocumented Hmong students across the country are
unable to obtain a college education. Immigration reform advocates suggest that comprehensive
immigration reform is the best way to address the broken immigration system.
There are six core principles which would guide a comprehensive immigration reform bill. These
principles are: (1) a path to legalization for millions of undocumented persons currently residing in the
United States, (2) keeping families together by eliminating the immigration backlogs, (3) protecting the
rights of workers regardless of immigration status, (4) giving students access to higher education
regardless of immigration status, (5) protecting and restoring the basic rights and liberties of immigrants,
and (6) promoting the social, political, and economic integration of immigrants into American culture.
What do these principles mean for Hmong Americans? Hmong Americans often do not think the
immigration debate includes them. However, about 1.5 million of the estimated 12 million undocumented
immigrants living in the United States are Asians. With approximately 13.5 million Asian Americans,
Policy Research Intrern, Hmong National Development, Inc.
Comprehensive immigration reform is important to the Hmong community. Most Hmong came to the
United States as refugees. As a result, Hmong refugees and naturalized citizens continue to be impacted
by immigration laws. Hmong who wish to reunite with their family living in Laos or Thailand must do so
within the immigration system. A Hmong family in Wisconsin can be torn apart by an Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on their home. Undocumented Hmong students across the country are
unable to obtain a college education. Immigration reform advocates suggest that comprehensive
immigration reform is the best way to address the broken immigration system.
There are six core principles which would guide a comprehensive immigration reform bill. These
principles are: (1) a path to legalization for millions of undocumented persons currently residing in the
United States, (2) keeping families together by eliminating the immigration backlogs, (3) protecting the
rights of workers regardless of immigration status, (4) giving students access to higher education
regardless of immigration status, (5) protecting and restoring the basic rights and liberties of immigrants,
and (6) promoting the social, political, and economic integration of immigrants into American culture.
What do these principles mean for Hmong Americans? Hmong Americans often do not think the
immigration debate includes them. However, about 1.5 million of the estimated 12 million undocumented
immigrants living in the United States are Asians. With approximately 13.5 million Asian Americans,
Arlee Vang
