All posts filed under: Auto Bulk

An Iu Mien Story Pt.1 – #FreeSaelee, The Secret War, and Resettlement

Published by Timothy Singratsomboune

“I would never think that we would have that many supporters,” Naichann Saechao says, referring to the nearly 200,000 signatures collected online to free her nephew Kao from ICE detention.  In fall 2020, the internet was shaken up by the Guardian’s story about an Iu Mien American refugee named Kao Saelee from California. Despite Kao’s service fighting historic wildfires just before finishing his 22 year prison sentence, he was handed over to ICE for deportation to his birth country of Laos. Instead of reuniting with his family who had come to take him home, Kao was taken to an ICE detention facility across the country in Louisiana. Despite calls for a pardon by California Governor Gavin Newsom, Kao is still in ICE detention today. With the massive reaction to Kao Saelee’s story, more people are talking about the plight of young refugees finding their way in America. However, the visibility of these refugee experiences, especially for communities like Iu Mien Americans, remains low. According to Iu Mien Community Services –Iu Mien are a vibrant ethnic …

Van Ditthavong debut film All Roads to Pearla

Published by Staff

This September, Lao American filmmaker Van Ditthavong’s debut feature film ALL ROADS TO PEARLA had its debut, and Little Laos on the Prairie recently interviewed him on his journey and what’s next for him, in addition to his advice for other emerging creators. You can see our complete interview here: https://vimeo.com/461977256 Van Ditthavong was born in Vientiane, Laos. His father had been studying for a master’s degree in Louisiana, and soon after his birth, his mother and older brothers went to the US to visit, while he stayed in Laos. The plan had been for him to reunite with his family when he was bigger. However, that did not happen because of the political turmoil in the country that included many being detained in re-education camps. He was separated from his parents for 3 years. His aunt and uncle crossed the Mekong with him into Thailand. Recently his aunt told him that during their flight, the family in front of them stepped on a landmine. They were killed and Van Ditthavong’s family were lucky. Eventually, he reunited …