A Hmong woman from St. Paul, Minnesota, successfully navigated a check-in appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on February 5, 2026, despite her fears of detention. Nou, who requested to be identified only by her first name for safety reasons, remains in a precarious immigration situation following a manslaughter conviction related to a tragic incident in her past.
Nou’s journey began in 1992 when she was married at the age of 15 to a man significantly older than herself while living in a refugee camp in Thailand. After being sponsored by her uncle, she moved to California in 1993 to live with her husband. Sadly, Nou endured years of physical and emotional abuse, which she attributes to her husband’s controlling behavior.
In 2003, she fatally stabbed her husband in what she describes as an act of self-defense during a violent incident. Following this, she attempted suicide by stabbing herself. Nou pleaded no contest to manslaughter and served nearly seven years in prison. Upon her release, immigration officials were waiting for her, revoking her green card and issuing a removal order that has yet to be enforced. Since then, she has been required to attend regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
The heightened enforcement of immigration laws in Minnesota has left Nou anxious about her safety. She is disabled, a condition stemming from both her husband’s abuse and her suicide attempt, and fears that she would not survive detention or deportation to Laos, a country she fled at the age of two. Nou has no relatives in Laos, adding to her distress.
On the day of her appointment, her brother, who serves as her caretaker, brought her in a wheelchair. She wore a shirt emblazoned with the phrase “America the Beautiful” under her jacket, symbolizing her complicated relationship with her adopted country. Accompanied by two advocates, including Xay Yang, executive director of the nonprofit Transforming Generations, Nou underwent a brief check-in where her fingerprints and photo were taken.
After the appointment, Nou expressed relief but also a “renewed sense of worry” for her upcoming appointment scheduled for June. Xay Yang noted the significance of supporting individuals like Nou, who have already faced significant legal consequences for their past actions.
Another advocate, KaYing Yang, who serves as a senior advisor for the Southeast Asian Freedom Network, emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by those with criminal convictions in their immigration cases. “Individuals like her have already served their time, so it’s really double punishment,” she remarked.
Recognizing the financial strain that legal representation can impose, former St. Paul City Council Member Dai Thao has initiated a fundraising campaign through GoFundMe (gofund.me/fd04d955f) to assist Nou with her legal and medical needs.
As the situation unfolds, advocates continue to work diligently to navigate the complexities of Nou’s case, aiming to secure the support she requires for a more stable future.
