I am a refugee.

I have never met my grandparents, or any family members outside my mother and father who brought me, and my sister who was born here. The "cousins" and "uncles" and "aunts" I have now were all either adopted in the refugee camp I was born in, or when we settled in America. I'm grateful for this "family", the kindness of our sponsors who took us in and all of the strangers who have helped us with donated clothes, food and simply being there. I have not forgotten any of this.

This is the reason I started Laos In The House, because our trauma is also not to be forgotten. This is the reason I fight for Legacies of War, to help those left behind. This is why I am a board member for 1Love Movement, because deportation should not happen to those who've already been displaced by the very government who caused it.

The refugee ban is WRONG for so many reasons, and Laos In The House is committed to standing up for the rights of our fellow refugees, and making sure their stories get heard. If you have a refugee story of your own that you'd like to share, email me at catzie@laosinthehouse.com, I'd love to hear from you.

In Solidarity,
Catzie Vilayphonh
Founder of Laos In The House