Minnesota Lawmaker Shares Personal Immigration Story

A member of the Minnesota State Assembly, Rep. Kaohly Vang, spoke candidly during a special session on Monday organized by Governor Tim Walz. The focus was on revising the eligibility of Minnesotacare for undocumented adult immigrants.

Rep. Vang took the chance to share her own experiences, revealing her status as an undocumented immigrant. She recounted how her family arrived in the United States after the end of the Vietnam War, primarily remembering her father’s journey. At one point, she asked him how they came to enter the country.

Initially, Vang had thought they were granted entry due to her grandfather’s military involvement. However, her father later clarified that this was not the case. He worked at the U.S. Consulate and was among the few who were fluent in English and could type quickly, which was crucial for processing immigration paperwork.

She mentioned that, despite several missed opportunities to immigrate to the U.S., her family eventually found a way. Vang emphasized that they had to be creative in navigating the immigration system, which had its barriers, especially for those without connections in the military or government.

During her talk, she reflected on how her family, despite being undocumented, had been strategic in their plans. They considered which states provided better resources, showing a pragmatic approach to their difficult circumstances. Vang noted, “No one leaves their home country unless absolutely necessary.” This pointed to the desperation driving many to seek a better life.

Her intent in sharing her story, she stated, was to humanize those often labeled as illegal immigrants. She conveyed that while her family had been resourceful, they had still broken the law to come to the United States. “I didn’t realize that until recently,” she admitted, urging lawmakers to reconsider their views on immigration policies.

While she did not elaborate on her office’s stance, Vang passionately appealed for empathy, highlighting that many immigrants merely seek a chance at life, not benefits or uprooting their lives out of choice.