Pang Nhia Hang Bailey, a 53-year-old Hmong refugee who came to the U.S. back in 1978 and has continuously lived here for nearly five decades, was detained by ICE while reporting as part of her annual check, raising once more discussions about the rights of long-term green-card holders as well as the vulnerability of the Hmong community under shifting U.S. immigration policies.
Early background and early years
Pang Nhia Hang Bailey was born in 1972 in Laos, during the “Secret War” in neighboring Laos, which was part of the Vietnam War. As a distressed young refugee, she was resettled to France in 1973, from where she was admitted to the United States in 1978 under the 1951 Refugee Convention that gave asylum to Hmong allies of the U.S. military effort in Southeast Asia. Initially settling in Detroit, Michigan, she became part of the increasing population of Hmong in the U.S.—now estimated at about 360,000, mainly in California and Minnesota.
Immigration journey and expired green card
Upon entry, Bailey attained the blue-colored permanent residence status (green card) enabling her to work, raise children, and integrate into her local community. She married Scott Bailey, an American citizen, in 1999, and the two raised four children—three of whom graduated high school post their mother’s detention, with the youngest to graduate in 2027. However, her green card became invalid in 1995. For one reason or the other – either through cumbersome bureaucracy or lack of English proficiency – she never reapplied for it.
Legal challenges and the bank fraud case
In 1999, Bailey and her husband faced allegations of bank fraud. A criminal docket reveals that an initial case accusing the couple of executing a scheme to defraud a financial institution was dismissed by Judge Donald Scheer. Subsequently, both were indicted for bank fraud—Bailey pleaded guilty in May 2000, though specific sentencing details remain unclear. While the conviction rendered her technically ineligible to renew her green card, Scott Bailey’s GoFundMe campaign emphasizes that the offense was nonviolent and occurred decades ago.
Detention by ICE
On July 30, 2025, Bailey appeared at an ICE field office in what her husband described as a routine “annual report” obligation. Without prior warning, agents arrested her and transferred her to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center. ICE records confirm her detention, and Bailey’s family remains uncertain where she might be deported, given that she has not lived in Laos since infancy and Laos has no formal repatriation agreement with the U.S.
The detention sparked alarm within the Hmong community, as at least 15 other Hmong refugees were similarly detained after reporting to ICE for interviews. Many of those detained, like Bailey, were born in refugee camps in Thailand or France and entered the U.S. legally. Their precarious statuses—stemming from expired documentation or decades-old convictions—have exposed them to expedited removal despite lifelong ties to American communities.
Community and political response
Michigan State Representative Mai Xiong, the first Hmong American legislator in Michigan, publicly condemned the detentions, emphasizing that those arrested “came to the U.S. legally as children of Hmong veterans who fought alongside America” in the Vietnam War. Representative Xiong organized a rally at the State Capitol in Lansing on August 8, 2025, protesting ICE’s actions and calling for protections of long-term lawful residents.
According to some legal advocates, the situation is further complicated by Laos’s resistance to issuing travel documents for deportation and a partial U.S. travel ban on Laos implemented in June 2025. Asian Law Caucus remarked that with no formal repatriation process, detainees could end up staying in detention indefinitely, thus illuminating the humanitarian stakes in Bailey’s case.
Implications and next steps
Bailey’s detention has reopened a series of discussions about U.S. immigration enforcement priorities. Detractors suggest that the targeting of elderly, nonviolent, longtime residents with profoundly rooted ties to the communities weakens the ethical foundation of due process and refuge. On the other hand, advocates for strict enforcement argue that honoring immigration laws, including timely renewal of permanent-resident status, is paramount for national sovereignty.
As the legal proceedings continue, Bailey’s case is likely to affect the interpretation of the expedited removal policies relating to green-card holders with lapsed documentation and criminal convictions. Bailey’s campaign and demonstrations seek to win her release, renewal of her green card, and protection against any similar unceremonious deportations by ICE of any other Hmong refugee who has lived peacefully for decades. The outcome may affect ICE’s future conduct during further “annual report” check-ins and influence any legislative moves to protect those vulnerable immigrant groups.
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