Thousands Of Hmong Refugees Struggle In Minnesota

"Many Hmong fought on the side of the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Fearing persecution after the U.S. withdrawal, hundreds of thousands fled to Thailand. But they were deemed illegal immigrants by the Thai government and restricted to refugee camps. Starting in the late '70s, waves of these refugees have made their way to the U.S. Today it's estimated that there are 250,000 people of Hmong heritage across the country. Starting with an initial influx of roughly 60 refugees in 1976, the Twin Cities gradually attracted the largest Hmong population in the country."

State Sen. Mee Moua, who is Hmong, "is concerned that the inability of these refugee families to make ends meet will fuel anti-immigrant sentiments, even though they are here at the invitation of the U.S. government. Earlier this month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed several new measures aimed at cracking down on illegal immigrants, most notably a new 10-officer police unit charged with arresting undocumented residents."