LIVING IN FEAR
My name is Bounthanh Phommasathit. I am a bombing survivor and a former refugee, sharing my story to highlight the challenges Lao Americans face and advocate for fair treatment.
In 1979, my husband and I, with two toddlers, arrived in Bexley, Ohio, as refugees. The Trinity Lutheran Church sponsored us, and our journey from risking our lives in Laos to spending a year in a refugee camp underscores the resilience of our community.
Having lived through wartime and survived the 1960 General Kong Le’s Coup, the Lao Civil War, and the Secret War in Laos, I want the audience to feel respect and appreciation for our resilience and contributions, fostering empathy for our community’s journey.
My significant accomplishments in self and family development are beyond our dreams. I was lucky enough to work for the local governments in Franklin County, the City of Columbus, and the State of Ohio, and I retired from the State of Ohio. While working, I completed a bachelor’s in social work and a Master of Science in Human Services Administration.
In addition, we raised our children in Ohio, and each one of them earned a bachelor’s degree and/or higher. Our children own small businesses, and one of our daughters is working at Ohio State University.
In addition, my husband and I are co-founders of the Lao Mutual Assistance Association, where we spent our retirement volunteering to help our community thrive. Our children also put their time and resources into the good cause. We use this association to help our community pay for end-of-life funeral expenses. From 1984 to the present, I have devoted my time to assisting former refugees and immigrant families from Southeast Asia who lack a voice, yet are intelligent people always willing to develop themselves for a better future for themselves and their families. Employment, housing, school registration for children, and the purchase of expensive cars are part of their American dreams. To achieve these goals, I can prove that I worked hard, despite language and cultural barriers.
Many of the Southeast Asian former refugees and immigrant families are the focus of their resettlement process, but not limited to the following:
A COMMUNITY LIVING IN FEAR
When ICE raided Columbus, Ohio, and captured criminals and undocumented Southeast Asian former refugees and immigrants, it was a shock to the community.
I am telling the story above; I wish our president and/or the Trump administration could hear me. I am saddened when Laos is one of the 19 countries that are banned from immigration and calls Laos a third-world country. It is so disturbing that many Lao citizens with valid permanent residence cards have completed the application process, passed the American Citizenship civic test, and are scheduled to attend a swearing-in ceremony at the Southern District Court of Ohio. Still, they were called out to pause all immigration for Laos. It was so unfortunate that, after the incident in which two National Guards were killed, the swearing-in ceremony for the green card holders who are from Laos was on hold for further consideration. The killer did not come from Laos. It is not fair to punish the green card holders who live, work, and do business in the United States.
By emphasizing that Lao Americans are unfairly punished despite their positive contributions, I want the audience to feel a sense of injustice and a desire to advocate for fair policies.
LIVING IN FEAR AGAIN
I agree that a group of Lao citizens who have criminal backgrounds face criminal background checks when they were young. They have been deported for the crimes they have committed. However, what about the people who have served their time in jail, grown up, and have family in the US? They indeed made a mistake, but later corrected themselves to become good citizens. Did the administration say, “No mistake made by any human being in a lifetime?” That is impossible! No one is perfect. The way ICE removed people from the family and the community was/in a hostile manner. The situation scares people from going to work, to markets, or to temples/churches.
This vibe reminds me of the Pathet Lao Government that took over Laos after the fall of Vietnam. I recall the city of Vientiane, and other cities have become ghost towns. There were hardly any cars and/or motorcycles on the streets. There was my neighbor, who was a military commander, who believed that he would not be taken to the political brainwashing camp (Samana). I had this conversation with him just the night before. The next day, I learned he was taken and in police custody just because he was a higher-ranking military officer in Laos. Many days passed. His wife went back to ask the police; they said he had been sent to a re-education camp, but he has never been found.
I am comparing the scenario I experienced in Laos after the Vietnam War ended in 1975 to my business next-door neighbor in Columbus, Ohio. My business neighbor and her husband owned a restaurant located on the far east side of Columbus. I knew she had some background, but I have never questioned her. Every day, I bumped into her and said good morning, and my office often ordered food from her restaurant for a decade. Due to the ICE in control, I learned that ICE took her along with many other folks from the Lao community who have had criminal backgrounds. This action terrified the whole community, prompting them to stay indoors and keep a lookout.
Every day, community members called me to vent about the situations they experienced. Some could not sleep because they worried about themselves, even though they are not illegal residents. They said our president changes his mind so quickly, and he could order any immigration status for deportation. They could be in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught and sent to nowhere by mistake. The living situation in the US is unstable, and many people are considering finding a permanent home elsewhere.
Respectfully submitted,
Bounthanh Phommasathit,
Bombing Survivor and former refugee
