A Hmong woman from St. Paul, Minnesota, successfully attended her immigration check-in on February 5, 2026, without being detained, despite her ongoing fears. Known only as Nou for safety reasons, she has a complex history marked by a manslaughter conviction stemming from a traumatic past.
Nou’s story began when she was just 15 years old, living in a refugee camp in Thailand. In 1992, she was married to a man nearly three times her age. After being sponsored by her uncle, she moved to California to live with her husband, who subjected her to years of physical and emotional abuse. In a desperate act of self-defense, Nou fatally stabbed him in 2003, an incident that also led to her attempting to take her own life.
After pleading no contest to manslaughter, she served nearly seven years in prison. Upon her release, immigration officials were waiting, and her green card was revoked. Although a removal order was issued, it has yet to be enforced, leading to her regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
Given the recent increase in immigration enforcement in Minnesota, Nou was apprehensive about her appointment on Tuesday. She has significant mobility issues, requiring a walker and wheelchair due to the physical toll of abuse and her suicide attempt. Nou expressed concern that she would not survive detention or deportation to Laos, a country she fled at age two and has no family ties to.
Accompanied by her brother, who is her caretaker, Nou arrived at the St. Paul USCIS office in her wheelchair. Under her jacket, she wore a shirt that read, “America the Beautiful.” Two advocates, Xay Yang and KaYing Yang, were also present, providing emotional support during the appointment.
The check-in itself was brief, involving the taking of Nou’s fingerprints and photo. Following the appointment, she felt a sense of relief but also a “renewed sense of worry” as her next appointment is scheduled for June.
Xay Yang, executive director of Transforming Generations, a nonprofit that assists victims of domestic violence within the Hmong and Southeast Asian communities, emphasized the difficulties faced by individuals in Nou’s situation. “Individuals like her have already served their time, so it’s really double punishment,” Yang noted regarding the removal order.
KaYing Yang, senior advisor for the Southeast Asian Freedom Network, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the system’s treatment of survivors of abuse like Nou is particularly harsh. Both advocates are working to help Nou access the necessary resources and legal support, which they anticipate will be financially burdensome.
To assist with her legal and medical needs, former St. Paul City Council Member Dai Thao has initiated a GoFundMe campaign, encouraging community support for Nou.
Nou’s situation highlights the intricate challenges faced by survivors of domestic violence within the immigration system, where past traumas and legal hurdles intersect, often to devastating effect. As she prepares for her next immigration appointment, the community remains vigilant, advocating for her rights and well-being amid an uncertain future.
