The death toll of Asian immigrants in ICE Custody is growing: Part 2 of 2

Family and supporters of Parady La demand answers after he died while detained by ICE.

The numbers are in, and they paint a grim picture of what’s happening in our detention centers. In what’s being called the deadliest year in two decades, at least 12 Asian immigrants have lost their lives while in the custody of federal agents between 2024 and early 2026.

ICE agents arrested Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal around 7 a.m. on Friday, March 13, outside his apartment in Richardson, Texas. His family reported that masked agents detained him as he was preparing to drive his children to school.

“His children watched as he was surrounded and taken away,” the family said in a statement. “That moment will stay with them forever.”

A day after being arrested, Paktyawal died, of "unknown causes," according to an ICE press release. He was the twelth Asian to die while in ICE custody.

“We cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man,” his family said.

        RELATED: ICE's wide net catching Asian Americans: Part 1 of 2

ICE described him as "illegal criminal alien,"  but he was never charged and never convicted, say his supporters.

Paktyawal was a refugee who fought for 10 years with US Special Forces in Afghanistan. When the US left Afghanistan, he and his family were allowed to apply for asylum.

The Trump regime has effectively shut refugee pathways for Afghans, curtailing the US refugee programe and instead giving preference to white South Africans.

The administration also ended temporary protected status for Afghans, leaving an estimated 11,700 Afghans in the US without protection from deportation, according to the organisation Global Refuge.

Refugee dies after being abandoned by ICE

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, was one of the latest victims of federal agents carrying out the orders of Donald Trump and his hatchet man Stephen Miller.Shah Alam sas released from custody on Feb. 19. A Rohingya refugee with legal status in the United States, his body was found Feb. 26. According to publicly available reporting and information provided by his family, Shah Alam was nearly blind, did not speak English, and was unable to independently navigate transportation after being released miles from his family residence.

“Nurul Amin Shah Alam should be alive today. He is dead because US Border Patrol agents abandoned a blind refugee miles away from home and then lied to cover it up. Video footage proves that Mr. Alam was left outside of a coffee shop that was closed, not a ‘warm, safe location’ as they claimed," said Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

"The Department of Homeland Security’s cruelty, callousness, and indifference to human life is absolutely sickening," the New York congressmember continued. "As members of Congress, we demand answers and justice for his family. The Department of Homeland Security must be held accountable.” 

The death of Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal and Shah Alam are just the latest deaths of Asian American detainees in the first two months of 2026. The other two deaths this year so far include: 

• Lorth Sim (59, Cambodia): Passed away Feb. 16, 2026, at the Miami Correctional Facility in Indiana.
• Parady La (46, Cambodia): Died Jan. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia while reportedly being treated for drug withdrawal.

Asian American deaths in Trump's first year

These aren’t just statistics; they are members of our community whose stories were cut short. Eight other Asians died while in custody of Donald Trump's immigration enforcement officers in 2024 and 2025:

• Shiraz Fatehali Sachwani (61, Pakistan): Died Dec. 6, 2025.

• Kai Yin Wong (63, China): Died Oct. 25, 2025, in San Antonio after heart surgery complications.

• Huabing Xie (53, China): Died Sept. 29, 2025, after a seizure at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in California.

• Chaofeng Ge (32, China): Died Aug. 5, 2025, in Pennsylvania; a death his family is still seeking answers for through a lawsuit.

• Tien Xuan Phan (55, Vietnam): Died July 19, 2025, following a hospitalization for seizures.

• Nhon Ngoc Nguyen (Vietnam): Died in 2025.

• Jaspal Singh (57, India) and Pankaj Karan Singh Kataria (60, India): Both died in late 2024.

Community advocates like Stop AAPI Hate point to medical neglect and language barriers as a "human rights crisis" within these facilities.

An Asian American mother joins a memorial for her son and others who died in ICE custody.

The scale of the surge

The crackdown hasn't just been about those who have died; the entire system has seen a massive ramp-up:

• Asians in custody: As of early 2026, the number of Asian immigrants held in detention has ballooned. Between January and mid-October 2025 alone, 7,069 Asian individuals were detained. This is part of a broader trend where total ICE detention reached a record high of over 68,000 people by February 2026.

• Already deported: From January 20 to mid-October 2025, 2,631 Asian individuals were removed from the country.

• Who is being targeted?: Despite the rhetoric of targeting "criminals," recent data shows a "supermajority"—between 74% and 84%—of Asian detainees in 2025 had no prior criminal convictions. The top countries of origin for these arrests include China (30%), India (28%), and Vietnam (15%).

Southeast Asians targeted

In the wake of Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS, Asian Americans and Asian immigrants in Minneapolis are living in fear, afraid to leave their homes without carrying their passports and worried they could be detained or deported at any moment. ICE agents have reportedly asked Minnesota residents to tell them where their Asian neighbors live.

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul is home to one of the largest Hmong American communities, most of whom are refugees because their family members aided or fought for US forces in the Vietnam War. As legal refugees, they were given Temporary Protected Status visas.

“Southeast Asian communities are being systematically targeted. Immigration enforcement knows where they live. People are not getting the medical support they need, workers are refusing to go to work, and families are living in hiding. Survivors of violence and refugees who fled war are being retraumatized. That’s no way to live,” said Xay Yang, executive director of Transforming Generations.

“Southeast Asian American communities have been dealing with ICE violence for decades, with more than 15,000 people living under deportation orders to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. We know that the problem isn’t new—but the scale is. In 2025 alone, nearly 900 individuals were deported to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, compared to an average of about 90 per year between 1996 and 2023," said Quyen Đình, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC).

“My people consider being Hmong to be synonymous with being free, because of our resilience and survival, despite a history of persecution from ruling governments in the many places where we have migrated for thousands of years. It deeply saddens me that Trump and federal leaders are choosing to mark the 250 years of our beautiful country by undermining our democracy and taking away our human and civil rights,” said Minnesota State Representative Liz Lee, Secretary of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators. 

“For the Karen communities in my district and across Minnesota, the loss of Temporary Protected Status and the burden of immigration re-vetting interviews are placing immense strain on families. We will continue to organize and gather to ensure that all of our legal rights are observed and respected.”

View from the edge

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) racial profiling and aggressive enforcement practices have resulted in trauma, family separation, and death. 

2025 was recorded as the deadliest year for ICE in over two decades, with deaths nearly tripling from 2024 as the detained population reached record highs of over 68,000.

“Forty people have died in ICE custody since the President took office last year. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern of lawlessness and moral decay that has come to define the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and it is our communities that are suffering,” said Meng. 

“We must rein in DHS and take every action to protect our communities, like passing the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act, which would end the deportation of Southeast Asian American refugees and provide a pathway for them to live and work in the United States. CAPAC is proud to champion this legislation.”

It's only March and we have nine more months to go. At the current rate, we are at a looking at 12 more Asian American deaths as a result of ICE activities by year's end. How many more must die before someone is held accountable?

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

ICE hunting for Asians in the Twin Cities

SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC

Dressed only in his underwear, ChongLy Thao was brought outside by ICE agents.

Federal immigration agents bashed open a door and detained a Hmong American US citizen in his Minnesota home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him out onto the streets in his underwear in subfreezing conditions, according to his family and videos reviewed by The Associated Press.

ChongLy “Scott” Thao told the AP that his daughter-in-law alerted him on Sunday afternoon that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were banging at the door of his residence in St. Paul, across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, the other half of the Twin Cities.

He told his daughter-iin-law not to open it. Masked agents then forced their way in and pointed guns at the Thao's daughter-iin-law and 4-year old grandson, yelling at them, Thao recalled.

“I was shaking,” said the 57-year oldThao, who at the time was dressed only in in his underwear and a pair of Crocs. “They didn’t show any warrant; they just broke down the door.”

He told his daughter-in-law to get his ID in the bedroom but the agents said they didn't need an ID. Then the agents handcuffed him and led Thao, wearing only his underwwear and Crocs into the sub-freezing weather to their vehicle. Someone was able to throw his crying grandson's blanket over him.

Neighbors were blowing whistles and yelling at the dozen-or-so armed masked agents. One of the onlookers recorded the incident. The video went viral.

According to various sources, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, herself a Hmong refugee, ICE agents are asking for the location of Asians in the Twin Cities, home to the countriy's largest community of Hmong and with large communities of Vietnamese refugees and Chinese Americans.

Asians are not safe from ICE

Recent data shows a significant increase in the detention and deportation of Asian immigrants over the last year. According to reports from the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and TRAC Immigration, the number of Asians arrested by ICE more than tripled in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

While Asians represent about 16% of the undocumented population in the US, they have historically made up a small fraction of ICE arrests. However, that share has grown as enforcement efforts expanded:

Thousands of Asians rounded up by ICE

Between February and July 2025, Asian arrests rose to 3,705, up from 1,054 in 2024.

Five countries account for roughly 82% of Asian detainees:

• China (PRC): 30%

• India: 28%

• Vietnam: 15%

• Laos: 6%

• Nepal: 3%

Most of the Asian detainees were came from states with high Asian populations. Approximately 25% of Asian detainees in 2025 were from California, followed by Texas (14%) and New York (10%).

Despite the Trump regime's claim that they are targeting hardened criminals for deportation, a majority of Asian detainees in 2025 did not have a criminal record. The share of detainees with criminal convictions dropped significantly as ICE shifted focus toward broader "interior enforcement." in order to meet the regime's quota of 3,000 per daiy.

After being detained, for whatever reason, data shows Asian detainees are being moved between facilities more frequently, averaging 2.8 transfers per person in 2025, which can complicate access to legal counsel by removing the detainee from the family, but more importantly, from local legal support systems.

Most of the Hmong and Vietnamese in the Twin Cities area are, or are descended from, refugees  from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. They were granted refugee status by past administrations because they aided and fought for the US during the Vietnam War.

St. Paul Mayor Her, said that Asian residents, in the area, including her own parents, are living in fear, afraid to venture out for groceries, school or doctors' appointments. Earlier this month Her was installed as the city's first Asian American mayor, but nevertheless, she was advised to carry proof of citizenship with her.

“ICE drove him around for nearly an hour, questioned him, and fingerprinted him,” said his sister-in-law, Louansee Moua, in a Facebook post. “Only after all of that did they realize he had no criminal history and no reason to be detained. They then dropped him back off at his apartment like nothing happened.”

DHS claims the agents believed that two convicted sex offenders lived at the address. Thao and his family dispute this saying they don't know the suspects and that only Thao, his son, daughter-in-law and grandson live at the rental home.

Mayor Her visited the family after the incident. ICE "ddn't ask for ID," said Her. "They didn't verify if it was the right person." She criticized ICE's actions as "irresponsible and reckless."

“ICE is not doing what they say they’re doing,” said Mayor Her. “They’re not going after hardened criminals. They’re going after anyone and everyone in their path. It is unacceptable and un-American.”

The family told the AP they are particularly upset by Thao’s treatment at the hands of the Trump regime because his mother had to flee to the US from Laos when communists took over in the 1970s since she had supported American covert operations in the country and her life was in danger.

While ChongLy was not physically injured, the emotional and psychological harm has been profound. His daughter-in-law, who feared for her child’s safety, is deeply traumatized and now needs professional therapy. ChongLy also lives with severe psoriasis, a chronic condition that is significantly worsened by extreme stress. Since the incident, his health and emotional well-being have declined.

Thao's door was broken and a gofund me account has been established for legal fees and to help pay for the repairs. What can't be repaired is Thao's faith in the US government doing the right thing.

“I don’t feel safe at all,” Thao told AP. “What did I do wrong? I didn’t do anything.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Hmong American mayor joins lawsuit against ICE actions in Minnesota

SCREEN CAPTURE / KARE

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her told Congressmembers about the ICE surge of fear in her city.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her  characterized the city as being "under siege by the federal government" due to a surge in ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operations, during a Jan. 12 hearing.

When Her was sworn in as St. Paul's  first Asian American mayor, she could not have predicted that two weeks later her city would be joining a lawsuit against the Donald Trump regime and his quasi-military arm, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Her, a Hmong American refugee, strongly condemned the recent surge in ICE activity, calling it a "federal law enforcement occupation" that is terrifying residents, with agents reportedly going door-to-door and targeting people by appearance, leading to a lawsuit by the city, state, and Minneapolis to halt the operations.

“We are ground zero for Trump’s war on America,” she testified.  Lawmakers and other leaders held a field hearing at the Minnesota State Capitol about the ongoing ICE operations in Minnesota on Jan. 12. Some of the speakers joining Her included Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — all condemning the Trump regime.

"We've received reports of federal law enforcement officers going door-to-door asking people where the Asian people live right in our very own city," 

"I myself have received advice to carry my passport with me because they may try to target me based on what I look like as well," said Her, who was born in Laos.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are located across the Mississippi Rver from each other forming what is commonly referred to as the Twin Cities. The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7, has ignited widespread protests across the United States.

In coordination with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, St. Paul filed a joint lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on January 12, to halt what they described as unlawful and chaotic federal immigration actions.

Her stated that residents are afraid to leave their homes, with some even hiding passports, and emphasized the city's responsibility to protect its people from these perceived invasions and terrorizing tactics. She described federal agents "needlessly invading our neighborhoods and homes," causing residents to be scared and afraid to go out, notes St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her.

Her reported that ICE agents are asking where "Asian people live," highlighting discriminatory practices against Hmong and other immigrant communities, according to PBS NewsHour.

Her described residents as "scared and confused," noting that her own parents have been afraid to open their blinds or leave their home for medical appointments because of the federal presence.

She argued that the presence of masked federal agents wearing uniforms labeled "Police" undermines local law enforcement and public trust.

In coordination with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Saint Paul filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on January 12, 2026, to halt what they described as unlawful and chaotic federal immigration actions.

Mayor Her emphasized that while local officials have a responsibility to act, the current "occupation" of the city is putting all residents at risk and targeting individuals based on their appearance.

Two dozen members of the US House of Representatives listened to the testimonies of Minnesotans describing ICE actions.

A 20-year-old Somali-American U.S. citizen, Mubashir Khalif Hussen, testified that he was accosted by ICE agents outside his workplace. He alleged that despite repeatedly identifying himself as a citizen and offering his ID, agents dragged him outside and held him in a headlock on the ground for several minutes.

Testimony and legal filings described the widespread use of chemical munitions, including tear gas, pepper balls, and flashbangs against peaceful protesters and observers. One family reported their vehicle was trapped when a tear gas canister was deployed underneath it, causing their infant child to become "lifeless" and require mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Lawmakers and residents described agents pointing firearms at innocent bystanders and individuals who posed no threat, including a pastor.

Minnesota 4th district Congressmember Betty McCollum was part of the subcommittee and addressed Trump directly.

She noted that agents have threatened and assaulted workers in their workplaces and students outside their schools. Other reports detailed agents tackling students on school property and breaking car windows.

"President Trump, stop stoking the chaos in our neighborhoods," Rep. McCollum said. "You are creating a dangerous escalation. Now, Minnesota, we're not taking the bait. To my fellow Americans in other states, these actions left unchallenged could mean you're next."

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who hosted the hearing along with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), said: 

"We heard from incredibly powerful witnesses — members of the community who are standing up for their neighbors, and even who have been detained and had their rights violated for no reason. Instead of making us safer, Trump is deliberately escalating tensions in a city where crime rates have been declining. And the tactics are only accelerating. Let me be clear: this pattern of reckless, even lethal, use of force cannot continue, and we will do everything in our power to hold this Administration accountable and stop this lawlessness.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Hmong American wins special election for Minnesota legislature

Former Hmong refugee XP Lee elected to the Minnesota legislature.

A Hmong refugee won the special election to replace his mentor, the late Melissa Hortman, who was allegedly assassinated by a radical conservative gunman.

Xp Lee won the District 34B special election Tuesday (Sept. 16), which will return the House to a 67-67 tie after he is sworn in.

The Democrat won with 60.8% of the vote over Republican candidate Ruth Bittner’s 39.1%, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Lee is a health equity analyst at the Department of Health and a former Brooklyn Park city councilor. He said his win Tuesday is a “thank you” for everything the community has given him.

“My story is proof of what’s possible in our country and our state: I was born in a refugee camp, our family got our papers, and we came to this country when I was 10 months old. I worked hard in school, later I joined a union, and I have been serving my community in every way I can,” he said in a statement.

In a statement, House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) congratulated Lee for his win Tuesday. “Xp Lee is going to make a fantastic member of our team. He’s a union member, a father, and a testament to what’s possible when we make sure we don’t leave anyone behind. His story is the American Dream.”

With Lee's victory, there are now six Hmong politicians serve in the Minnesota state legislature. This includes one state senator and five members of the state House of Representatives. All are members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.

The main issues facing the Hmong community in Minnesota include significant health disparities, socioeconomic challenges, cultural tensions between generations, and recent threats of deportation. With a population of around 96,000, the community, the ssecond largest Hmong population in the United States after California's Hmong community, is actively working to address these systemic issues. The majority of the Hmong population resides in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, especially in Ramsey County (St. Paul) and Hennepin County (Minneapolis).

Lee is filling he seat left vacant by the slaying of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, who was killed along with her husband in their home June 14.

The suspect, Vance Boelter, has been charged with the homicides. The attacks, which were described by authorities as politically motivated, occurred on June 14, 2025, when Boelter, posing as a police officer, shot the couple at their home in Brooklyn Park

Lee said his campaign team did their best to make Hortman proud.

“I have never lost sight of the situation that brought us to this moment, and I will work hard every day to carry forward Speaker Melissa Hortman’s legacy,” Lee stold NPR.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

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Ex-Minneapolis cop Tou Thao sentenced for his role in George Floyd's death

SCREEN CAPTURE

Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao's (right) inaction as he warded off onlookers resulted
in the death of George Floyd, (behind him on the ground.)

UPDATED: July 28, 11 a.m. to correct spelling and editing errors and to add more details.

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Tou Thao was sentenced to 42 months in prison for his role in the death of Gorge Floyd Jr.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson sentenced Wednesday (July 27) the Hmong American officer along with fellow ex-Minneapolis Police Officer J. Alexander Jueng, who received a 36-months sentence.

George Floyd's death at the hands of MNPD officers sparked an outcry from civil rights advocates and a demand for police reform and the way law enforcement officers detain people in their custody.

RELATED: Who is Tou Thao?

On Feb. 24, 2022, following a trial that lasted nearly five weeks, a federal jury in St. Paul, Minnesota, found Thao and Kueng guilty of depriving Floyd of his constitutional right to be free from an officer’s unreasonable force when each willfully failed to intervene to stop former Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) Officer Derek Chauvin’s use of unreasonable force. 

The jury also found that Thao and Kueng deprived Floyd of his constitutional right to be free from a police officer’s deliberate indifference to serious medical needs when they saw Floyd restrained in police custody in clear need of medical care and willfully failed to aid him. 

The jury further found that both of these offenses resulted in cutting off air to Floyd's lungs resulting in his death. Both offenses are violations of the federal criminal civil rights statute that prohibits willful violations of civil rights by a person, such as a police officer, acting in an official capacity.

The same jury also found former MPD Officer Thomas Lane guilty of the same charges, resulting in bodily injury to Floyd and his death. On July 21, Lane was sentenced to 30 months in prison for this offense.

Former Officer Derek Chauvin previously pleaded guilty to depriving Floyd and a then-14-year-old child of their constitutional rights in violation of the same federal statute. On July 7, Chauvin was sentenced to 252 months in prison for those crimes.

“All four officers involved in the tragic death of George Floyd have now been convicted in federal court, sentenced to prison and held accountable for their crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. 

“George Floyd’s death could have been prevented if these defendants had carried out their affirmative duty to intervene to stop another officer’s use of deadly force. While these defendants have now been held accountable, law enforcement officers and leaders must take seriously the affirmative duty under the Constitution to intervene to stop misconduct by fellow officers and the duty to render medical aid. 

"The federal prosecution of all officers tied to the death of George Floyd should send a clear and powerful message that the Department of Justice will never tolerate the unlawful abuse of power or victimization of Americans by anyone in law enforcement,” said Clarke.

Floyd's agonizing death and his pleas to breathe was ignored by the officers as the scene was videotaped by onlookers. Chauvin kept his knee on the back of Floyd's neck  for more than nine minutes. 

Unlike officers Chauvin, Lane, and Keung, Thao didn’t physically touch George Floyd during the fatal incident. Thao instead interacted with the growing number of eyewitnesses. He’s seen in the viral video instructing onlookers to “get back on the sidewalk” while the three other officers pressed George Floyd down to the ground.

The recording of Floyd's last minutes went viral, sparking massive protests across the world and reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter movement. The incident and public outrage resulted in bans on the chokeholds often used by police officers to restrain suspects.

Thao spoke for more than 20 minutes at his sentencing hearing during which he frequently quoting scripture as he said his arrest and time in jail led him to turn toward God, according to sources in attendance. However, he did not directly address his actions or offer any apologies to the Floyd family. Thao — like Lane and Kueng — remains free on bond awaiting a state trial, but spent several weeks in jail after his 2020 arrest on the state charges.

Judge Magnuson noted the slew of letters supporting the former officer, including one that he said had 744 signatures, and cited what he called Thao’s “completely clean record.”

“You had a difficult childhood and have done well to become a good police officer, father and husband,” the judge said.

The ex-officers still will face another trial under state charges.

Both men are due to report to federal prison on Oct. 4, though Magnuson noted that could change because of their upcoming state trial. Magnuson said he would recommend that they be allowed to serve their time at minimum-security federal facilities in Duluth or in Yankton, South Dakota, so they could be near family. The final decision is up to the Bureau of Prisons.

“Former officers Thao and Kueng each had an individual duty and opportunity to intervene in the excessive force that resulted in the agonizing death of Mr. Floyd, but both men failed to take any action,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. 

“These sentences reaffirm that every law enforcement officer, whether rookie or senior, has an affirmative duty to protect individuals in their custody.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

'Sports Illustrated' names Hmong American Suni Lee Female as Athlete of the Year

SUNI LEE

Olympic gold medal winner Suni Lee was named Female Athlete of the Year by Sports Illustrated. She is the first Hmong American to win that honor.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported me along this journey. I hope to be an example to those who have a passion for something, but don’t always have the tools and support system needed to do so,” she wrote on Instagram after the awards ceremony Tuesday.

She repeated a portion of her thank you speech when she was handed the award: “Remember you don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. This year has been a dream come true and it’s just the beginning.”

The University of Auburn first-year student won three medals at the Tokyo Olympics over the summer, including an individual gold medal for her all-around competition. She also won a silver medal for Team competition and a bronze for the uneven bars.

She stepped up to the challenge after star gymnast and team leader Simone Biles withdrew from the competition as she struggled with her mental health.

Lee, who is a first-generation Hmong American, has spoken about her connection with her culture and community. In an interview with People magazine in July, she said becoming the first Hmong American Olympic gymnast “means a lot to the Hmong community ... and to just be an inspiration to other Hmong people [means] a lot to me too.”

Last month, Lee said she had been a victim of anti-Asian violence. In Los Angeles, standing on a sidewalk with friends, she said a car drove by with people in it shouting racial slurs at Lee, and one person pepper-sprayed her arm as the car sped away.

Fellow Olympian, swimmer Caeleb Dressler, was named Male Athlete of the Year. 

Tokyo Olympics: A distracted Suni Lee still earns a bronze medal on uneven bars

NBC

American Sunisa Lee didn't feel right Sunday during her uneven bars routine.

An Olympic bronze medal is nothing to sneeze at but Sunisa Lee couldn't help but sound disappointed.

The gold medal winner of the women's all-around gymnastic title last Thursday, Lee expected to do better on the uneven bars, her favorite event.

"Bars is something I really cherish," Lee said. "So when I mess it up, it really sucks.

“It really sucks because this wasn’t the bar routine I was supposed to do or wanted to do,” Lee said. “Bars is, like, my thing. I’m just kind of sad about it.”

It was the evening's high score, 15.3 that she earned for her complicated routine on the uneven bars during the all-around competition that put her in serious contention for the gold.

But Sunday night, she didn't feel right. She only scored 14.5. Belgium’s Nina Derwael won gold with a 15.2. Derwael won the last two world championships.

Lee admits the distractions that come with winning the gold medal may have affected her performance.

Since her gold medal a little more than two days ago, she has been caught in a whirlwind of interviews and social media mentions. It's a lot. As a result, judging from her uneven bars performance Sunday, it's probably too much.

Since the Olympics began ten days ago, the Hmong American's popularity has exploded. She's added 950,000 followers on Instagram, a stunning 390% increase, including 365,000 since she won the gold medal.

The fame and glory is something she wasn't prepared for. She was expecting to be playing second fiddle to Simone Biles, who was expected to dominate the gymnastics competition. Biles unexpected withdrawal to focus on her mental health needs, put Lee in the spotlight she never sought.

A bronze medal,"is really cool," Lee said. "I just wish the bronze medal was a (balance) beam medal, not bars."

Lee will get a chance to add to her gold and bronze when she enters the balance beam final on Tuesday, admittedly not her best event. A medal on vault would be a bit of a surprise.

She believes the social media was a distraction Sunday. The 18-year old Minnesotan  thinks she might avoid Twitter until the competition is over.

Tokyo Olympics: Suni Lee wins gold medal in best all-around gymnastic performance

The United States's Sunisa Lee with her newest hardware, an Olympic gold medal.

With all of the media focusing on gymnast Simone Biles and her mental health struggle, Sunisa Lee focused on herself and the task at had, to do her best. Her best, it turns out, was enough to win the gold medal in all-around.

"The past two years have been absolutely crazy with Covid and my family and everything else," Lee told journalists Thursday morning after she won the event at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.

"This medal definitely means a lot to me because there was a point in time when I wanted to quit and I just didn't think I would ever be here, including injuries and stuff.

"So there are a lot of emotions, but I'm definitely super proud of myself for sticking with it and believing in myself," said Lee, who is the first Hmong American to represent the U.S. in the Olympics.

The 18-year old gymnast won the women's all-around title ahead of Brazil's Rebeca Andrade, the silver medalist and the Russian Olympic Committee's Angelina Melnikova, who won the bronze.

Lee's gold medal was the fifth in a row for an American gymnast in the Olympic women's all-around.

Biles and the rest of her teammates, were in the stands to cheer on Lee, who is bound for Auburn University on a full athletic scholarship.

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Sunisa Lee on the balance beam.

Biles, who most experts had predicted to dominate the gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics, bowed out of competition earlier in the weak because of state of her mental health. Her health, she said, was day to day. It is not certain if she will compete on the individual events Sunday.

At the U.S. championships held prior to the Olympics, Lee had pushed Biles throughout the competition, actually besting the G.O.A.T. on the uneven bars, Lee's specialty.

Biles and the older gymnasts told Lee advised Lee prior tot he competition. “They told me to just go out there and not worry about anything else because I was starting to put a lot of pressure on myself,” Lee said.

Lee can add on to her gold and the silver medal earned by the team. On Sunday gymnasts will compete on individual events. Lee has qualified on the balance beam and uneven bars.

The gold medal was up for grabs up until the last event, the floor exercises. After Lee's performance, which she  made more complicated for the points, she waited until her score to finally celebrated, clapping her hands before hugging her coach. Across the Pacific, cheering broke out in St. Paul, Minnesota where family and friends had gathered to watch her historic performance on television.

The Twin Cities is home to one of the largest Hmong American communities in the United States. Lee is the American-born-and-raised daughter of Laos' Hmong refugees who fought on the side of the Americans during the Vietnam War. Thousands of Hmong families sought refuge in the U.S. after the war.

Just being in the Olympics representing the U.S. "means a lot to the Hmong community," Lee told People,  "... and to just be an inspiration to other Hmong people (means) a lot to me too."

Tokyo Olympics: Suni Lee joins Simone Biles in gymnastic's all-around competition

Suni Lee on the uneven bars in Tokyo.

The first Hmong American Olympian qualified for the individual all-around competition in women's gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sunisa Lee, of St. Paul, Minnesota was among the bright spots for the U.S. at the Olympics gymnastics arena in Tokyo. She will be joining Simone Biles, the world's No. 1 gymnast and compete in all five events for the crown of best gymnast.

After Biles, it was a battle between Lee and Jade Carey to determine who would join Biles in the all-around. Each nation can only enter two women. It wasn't decided until the balance beam, the final event when Lee scored higher than Carey.

The U.S. women were not at their best in the team qualifying round. Superstar Biles, especially, was not her usual other worldly self, particularly in her landings in the vault, balance beam and uneven bars where she had to take extra steps. 

As a result, the Russian women scored higher than the Americans, who up until yesterday were considered a lock for th gold medal.

Sunday's qualifying scores do not carry over to Tuesday when the team scores will count and the women's team was subdued coming off the floor. 

"Obviously, there are little things we need to work on,'' Biles said. "We'll go back and practice and work on that, so we can do our best performance at team finals. That's what matters.''

Lee said the competition was "most nerve-wracking" that she's been in. Nerves may have been part of the reason the U.S. did not perform up to their own standards. The other reason was that the Americans held back some of their best routines while the Russians upped their game.

Lee also qualified for the balance beam and uneven bars event finals.

Lee is the first Hmong American to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. It "means a lot to the Hmong community ... and to just be an inspiration to other Hmong people (means) a lot to me too," she stold the Sahan Journal.

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Suni Lee's family cheered her performance from their home in St. Paul, Minn.

Derek Chauvin's Asian American wife files for divorse

ASAM NEWS

Kellie Chauvin, the Hmong American wife of the former police officer charged for the murder of unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis, has filed for divorce.

Late this past week, the former Mrs. Minnesota, filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, former Police Officer Derek Chauvin.

“Her utmost sympathy lies with [Floyd’s] family, with his loved ones and with everyone who is grieving this tragedy,” a statement from her attorney said. “While Ms. Chauvin has no children from her current marriage, she respectfully requests that her children, her elder parents, and her extended family be given safety and privacy during this difficult time.”

She was also charged with writing a bad check for $42 in 2005, according to New York Post. The charge was dropped after she repaid the money. Ironically, Floyd was arrested, allegedly for using a fake $20 bill. 

Kellie Chauvin reportedly met her husband, Derek Chauvin, a veteran officer who had been in the Minnesota police force for 19 years, when he brought in someone in for a health check at her place of work before an arrest.

Now, along with former officer Tou Thau who stood guard as his fellow officers pinned George Floyd to the ground, Kellie Chauvin is part of the debate about Asian Americans’ complicity to racism against African Americans.

Kellie Chauvin, 43, was born in Laos during its civil war and lived partially in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her family immigrated to the United States as a refugee three years later, where she experienced economic hardships and was bullied, she told Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

“They say ‘land of the free,’ but I still didn’t feel like we were free,” Chauvin said. “We didn’t know English. My parents didn’t want us leaving the house because they didn’t trust the world. You land into this brand-new world and you don’t know what to expect, and so we were always kept inside.”

Tariq Nasheed 

✔@tariqnasheed

 · May 26, 2020

This is Kellie Chauvin, the wife of Derek Chauvin, the race soldier who lynched #GeorgeFloyd . Notice a pattern with dangerous white supremacists like Derek Chauvin and other alt-right types?

esther tseng

✔@estarLA

this is so tragic. she's the daughter of refugees, faced racism (i was an asian growing up in the midwest too) and probably felt her only way out was to marry "up" ... meanwhile making herself complicit in white supremacy. horrible, tragic pattern. no justice. no peace.

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8:47 AM - May 27, 2020

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Before she turned 18, Kellie Chauvin married a man she “barely knew” by arranged marriage, which was abusive. She received a degree in radiology and went back to school after she married Chauvin. She is now a real estate agent.

In an interview with Twin Cities Pioneer Press in which she expressed her desire to become Mrs. America, she said that her husband was “just a softie.”

“He’s such a gentleman,” she said. “He still opens the door for me, still puts my coat on for me. After my divorce, I had a list of must-haves if I were ever to be in a relationship, and he fit all of them.”

In the now-viral cellphone video that shows Floyd’s death, Chauvin is seen kneeling on his neck while Floyd says, “I can’t breathe.” 

“They murdered my brother. He was crying for help,” Bridgett Floyd, Floyd’s sister told the “TODAY” show.

The fired police officer was arrested Friday and charged with 3rd-degree murder and 2nd-degree manslaughter. No charges have been filed against the other three officers involved in the arrest and death of Floyd, including Hmong American, Tou Thau.

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Officer Chauvin has also received at least a dozen police conduct complaints during his time at the Minneapolis police force. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, (D-MN) former Minnesota prosecutor and one of Biden’s purported vice presidential finalists, chose not to prosecute Chauvin and five other officers in 2006 for shooting a man who allegedly “(turned) on the police,” according to The Guardian.

Rumors that Kellie Chauvin and Thou were related proved to be false.