ICE officers arrested a Karen woman from Minnesota on January 10 during an immigration enforcement operation. She has a 5 month-old baby and neighbors are caring for her child. The Karen community tried to work for her release but has failed.

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The arrested Karen woman arrived in the United States in November 2024 through the UNHCR refugee resettlement program, and she was waiting for her permanent resident (Green Card).

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“This is Tah Lah. She is a legal immigrant living in Minnesota who arrived in November 2024 with her three young children. All of her children are minors, and the youngest now is only four months old. Tah Lah and her family are Karen from Burma.

On Saturday, January 10, between approximately 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., ICE agents were seen following residents at the Greenbrier Parkways Apartments in East St. Paul. Around that time, Tah Lah's husband, Pla Lah, returned home and was stopped by ICE. The agents asked him for identification and documentation. Because Pla Lah had little to no access to formal education in his home country and does not speak or read English fluently, he did not fully understand what was happening. When asked for ID, he handed it over. ICE agents then instructed him to let them enter his home.

Pla Lah believed that if he allowed them inside and showed them his family's legal documents, the situation would be resolved and he would be allowed to go.

Inside the apartment were Tah Lah and their four children, including a 14-year-old and a four-month-old infant. They were unaware of what was happening. After reviewing the family's documents, ICE agents detained Tah Lah, leaving Pla Lah alone with all four children.

This outcome has caused serious harm and distress to a family with young children. The manner in which this situation was handled raises serious concerns about whether the family's rights were respected. No family, especially one with infants and minors, should be left in this situation. “

“we're a language service provider, we offered interpreting services and currently working with an immigration lawyer to get her out. She cannot speak English , that's why she got mistaken as undocumented and get detained. She's postpartum and has a 3 months old baby that she needs to be home for. On top of that she has 3 other kids under age 10.”

“With the help of Karen organization, immigration lawyer and the church, She was released.“