Boudylam “Lam” Simmavanh is a welder and a father of four. He came to the U.S. as a child refugee from Laos about 40 years ago. With the rise of strict immigration policies under President Trump, Lam worried about his family’s future. In February, to protect him from deportation, his family started gathering letters from friends and community members, sharing what a positive impact he’s had on their lives in Orrville, Ohio.
David Handwerk, a former mayor of Orrville, described Lam as a productive member of the community. He wrote, “This can’t be fixed by tearing families apart.” Other supporters echoed those sentiments, calling Lam a role model and a kind-hearted person.
On October 28, Lam’s worst fears came true. After 18 years of regular check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he was detained. Audra, his wife and a U.S. citizen, said their family has been devastated. “We’re just a simple family trying to live our life. He’s no threat to this community,” she said.
In a recent interview, Trump mentioned that immigration raids need to go further, possibly affecting individuals without criminal records. A report from ICE shows that, as of late September, out of over 59,000 immigrants in custody, about 29% had criminal convictions, while 25% faced pending charges.
When Lam was detained, he was separated from his family by a glass barrier. His wife expressed heartbreak over the way they had to say goodbye, limited to phone calls. Lam was arrested despite not being a violent criminal. Tricia McLaughlin of Homeland Security stated that he is in the country illegally and had a past domestic violence charge.
Audra argued that the incident leading to those charges was misrepresented and poorly handled by his previous lawyer. “People are believing lies about who is being targeted by these policies,” she said.
Lam’s journey to the U.S. began in 1986 when he fled Laos. He was initially sponsored by a local church. He received his first green card that same year but lost track of it. After some confusion with immigration courts, he was allowed to stay in the U.S. but faced ongoing scrutiny.
While Lam is in detention, his family has taken steps to prepare for their future. They recently received hope when a petition for Lam’s green card was approved. Local advocates, like Jenny Fischer, who teaches English to immigrants, have pointed out the immense challenges families like Lam’s face in navigating the complex immigration process.
Community support has been strong. Friends have organized fundraisers to help the family cope while Lam is detained. However, with his absence, Audra is now struggling to care for their four children and worries about losing their home.
“My community is definitely fighting,” Audra said. They are reaching out to local representatives to understand why good people, like Lam, are facing such harsh treatments.
This situation highlights the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement in the U.S. Many argue it can tear apart families, while others claim it’s necessary to keep communities safe. As public sentiment shifts, more people are questioning the effectiveness and fairness of current practices.
Source link
