The Hmong people, while now significantly present in the United States, particularly in states like Minnesota, have their historical roots in Southeast Asia. Their journey to becoming a notable part of the American demographic is a story of conflict, displacement, and resilience.
The narrative of Hmong migration to the US is closely tied to the aftermath of the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War era. Following the Pathet Lao’s rise to power in Laos in 1975, a period of intense persecution began for the Hmong population. Many Hmong individuals and families had allied with the CIA during the Secret War in Laos, and faced severe repercussions as a result. This post-war climate forced thousands to flee their homeland, seeking refuge from the new regime.
Thailand became the primary destination for Hmong refugees escaping Laos. Many endured perilous journeys, including crossing the Mekong River under dangerous conditions, to reach safety in Thai refugee camps. These camps, managed by international organizations like UNHCR, provided temporary shelter and aid. From these camps, resettlement programs facilitated the migration of Hmong refugees to countries around the world, with the United States being a major receiving nation. The US Refugee Act of 1980 further enabled larger waves of Hmong resettlement in America. Minnesota emerged as a key hub, attracting a significant Hmong population, making the Twin Cities area home to the largest urban concentration of Hmong people in the United States.
Even as the last major Thai refugee camp, Wat Tham Krabok, closed in 2004, Hmong individuals continued to arrive in the US, joining established communities and further solidifying their presence. The 2010 census highlighted this growth, recording over 260,000 Hmong individuals in the US, with a substantial portion residing in Minnesota. This migration story underscores the Hmong people’s journey from their ancestral lands in Southeast Asia to becoming a vibrant and integral part of American society.
Here were thousands of Hmong, many of whom spoke American military lingo and had names likes ‘Lucky’ and ‘Judy’ and ‘Bison’ and who had been soldiers, radio operators, pilots, and CIA operatives in a war unknown to the American public. This was unacceptable. How could the U.S. abandon these people? If the United States owed gratitude to anyone in Southeast Asia it was the Hmong.
Lionel Rosenblatt, head of the Refugees International, in Larry Clinton Thompson’s Refugee Workers in the Indochina Exodus, 1975-1982 (2010)
