State Department Response to McCollum Letter: Trump Administration Determined to Deport Hmong and Lao with Final Orders of Removal

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after receiving an official response to her Feb. 3 letter outlining concerns about any proposal that would deport to the Lao People's Democratic Republic more than 4,700 members of the Hmong and Lao community with orders of removal:

"The State Department's official response to my letter makes it crystal clear that the Trump administration intends to deport to Laos all Hmong and Lao community members with final orders for removal. The Lao government's refusal to enter into an agreement with the Trump administration is the only obstacle preventing massive deportations from our Hmong and Lao communities.

"The Trump administration's deportation policy, and Republican support for it in Congress, is an attack on Hmong-American and Lao-American families and a betrayal of the courageous and vibrant Hmong and Lao communities that contribute so much to America's strength and success. It is my intention to introduce legislation next week to prevent President Trump from deporting any former Hmong or Lao refugees back to Laos. I am certain Democrats in Congress will stand proudly with our Hmong and Lao communities to stop President Trump from moving forward with his dangerous deportation policy."