GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – After almost five months behind bars over his immigration status, St. Johns resident and Hmong-American community leader Lue Yang, 47, walked out of ICE custody Wednesday and back into the arms of his family. This was in large part thanks to the persistent intervention from Michigan Congressman Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte).
Yang, a father of six, has lived in the United States virtually his entire life. He arrived as an infant in 1979 after his father assisted the CIA during the secret war against communism in Laos. Born stateless in a Thai refugee camp, Yang entered the country legally and built a life in mid-Michigan, where he has become a respected figure in the state’s Hmong community.
Barrett pressed ICE for answers: “Lue is not and never has been an illegal immigrant.”
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Barrett immediately stepped in when he learned Yang had been taken into custody this summer. “I’m so thankful that Lue was reunited with his family. As soon as we heard of his arrest, my staff aggressively sought more information,” said Barrett in a press release. “Lue is not and never has been an illegal immigrant, and he does not present a threat to our community, which motivated me to work tirelessly to see him released from custody.”
Barrett added that he supports immigration enforcement that is “firm, fair, and humane.” But this situation didn’t fit any of those standards. Because of that, Barrett and his staff worked closely with Yang’s wife, Ann Vue, pushing federal officials to reevaluate the case. In October, Barrett hand-delivered a letter to ICE officials in Detroit urging Yang’s release and held direct conversations with senior administration officials. Barrett’s office said that although Yang does not have permanent immigration status, he has long maintained lawful presence in the U.S. Barrett credits the Trump administration for ultimately listening to his concerns.
A decades-old conviction sparked a modern-day immigration battle after arrest.
As we reported previously, Yang’s trouble stemmed from a conviction in his youth for sitting in a car during a home break-in. He served a 10-month sentence, remained in the country lawfully, and spent the decades that followed as a productive, law-abiding resident. The conviction was later expunged, and he received a full pardon from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer this fall.
Yang was arrested by ICE on July 15, 2025, after leaving work. He was one of 16 Hmong and Laotian refugees who were detained by ICE in July according to the Detroit Free Press. All but Yang have been deported. These events triggered fear and confusion for Yang’s family and the broader Hmong community.
Family reunited.
Yang’s release marks a major relief for his family, and for Yang. He told the Detroit Free Press, “It feels good to be with the family. It feels good to know that I’m not going to get separated from them…It feels good. I can’t express that enough.” His employer is also supportive of him and will be welcoming him back soon. His wife said, “The kids are ecstatic…And it feels good that he’s going to be home right in time for the holidays, to be with the babies, our kids.”
What happens next?
Vue noted that Yang isn’t entirely in the clear yet; he must still meet certain technical requirements to avoid being deported again. His motion to reopen the case is pending, and once it’s granted, his attorneys plan to challenge the final order of removal. Whitmer’s pardon gives them added leverage by erasing his criminal conviction.
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For Michigan’s Hmong community – many of whom arrived in the U.S. under similar circumstances – the case underscored how vulnerable long-settled refugees can suddenly find themselves. For now, Yang is home, surrounded by family, and beginning to rebuild after a harrowing ordeal.
Click here to watch the video of Yang reuniting with his family.
