Restore & Reintegrate Livelihoods for Returnees in Laos

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest from ROOTS Laos

ROOTS Laos

ROOTS Laos is committed to a more thriving & sustainable future in Laos for the returnee community to live, work, play. ມຸ່ງຫມັ້ນສ້າງອານາຄົດທີ່ດີ ເເລະ ຍືນຍົງໃຫ້ກັບຜູ້ປະກອບການເເລະ ທຸລະກິດນ້ອຍໃນລາວ ໃຫ້ພວກເຂົາດຳລົງຊີວິດ ໄດ້ຢ່າງມີຄວາມສຸກ ເເລະ ມີຄຸນນະພາບ

Over the past twelve months, more than 500 people have been deported from the United States to Laos &mdash; including Lao, Hmong, Mien, and other ethnic communities &mdash; averaging nearly one deportation flight carrying 50-100 loved ones every month. They arrive stateless in the motherland they barely know without housing, stable income, language fluency, documentation, and a family support system.&nbsp; ROOTS Laos&nbsp;was created to be that extended support system, responding directly to the growing deportation crisis and ensuring deported individuals are not left to navigate reintegration alone. Based in Vientiane, ROOTS Laos is a grassroots returnee reintegration project supporting people deported from the United States as they rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and hope in Laos. Since launching in May 2025 (an iteration of a prior 2015 reintegration program), ROOTS has provided critical support through legal sponsorship, Lao language learning, cultural orientation, legal and systems navigation, employment connections, and community care for deported returnees adjusting to life in Laos. This work is led by a small but deeply committed team of local Laotians, diaspora leaders, and returnee leaders &mdash; people with lived experience who understand the realities of deportation and reintegration firsthand. The majority of the team are women leading frontline support and advocacy in Laos every day. Your donation directly supports deported returnees and the local team making this work possible. In Laos, every donated dollar creates immediate and tangible impact.Here&rsquo;s what your support can help fund:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">$200&ndash;$300 helps cover sponsorship paperwork and licensed legal aid to advocate for the release of a deported returnee from temporary holding facilities</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">$500&ndash;$600 helps keep the ROOTS community space open for one month &mdash; providing a safe place for workshops, emergency support, resource navigation, and community gatherings</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">$700&ndash;$800 sustains critical reintegration programming, including Lao language classes, cultural orientation, legal education, and workshops helping deported individuals navigate life in Laos</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">$1,000&ndash;$2,000 supports the monthly salaries of ROOTS&rsquo; small but experienced frontline team leading this work on the ground</li></ul>When you give to ROOTS Laos, you are helping someone rebuild after forced displacement and ensuring deported loved ones are not forgotten. OUR MISSION: ROOTS Laos (Returnee Reintegration Outreach + Opportunity Transition Support) is a returnee reintegration social enterprise committed to a more thriving and sustainable future in Laos for the returnee community to live, work, and play. FISCAL NOTE: ROOTS Laos operates in both the United States and Laos and is fiscally sponsored by Village Focus International. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States through VFI&rsquo;s 501(c)(3) status (EIN# 93-1299601).

Over the past twelve months, more than 500 people have been deported from the United States to Laos — including Lao, Hmong, Mien, and other ethnic communities — averaging nearly one deportation flight carrying 50-100 loved ones every month. They arrive stateless in the motherland they barely know without housing, stable income, language fluency, documentation, and a family support system. ROOTS Laos was created to be that extended support system, responding directly to the growing deportation crisis and ensuring deported individuals are not left to navigate reintegration alone.Based in Vientiane, ROOTS Laos is a grassroots returnee reintegration project supporting people deported from the United States as they rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and hope in Laos. Since launching in May 2025 (an iteration of a prior 2015 reintegration program), ROOTS has provided critical support through legal sponsorship, Lao language learning, cultural orientation, legal and systems navigation, employment connections, and community care for deported returnees adjusting to life in Laos.This work is led by a small but deeply committed team of local Laotians, diaspora leaders, and returnee leaders — people with lived experience who understand the realities of deportation and reintegration firsthand. The majority of the team are women leading frontline support and advocacy in Laos every day.Your donation directly supports deported returnees and the local team making this work possible. In Laos, every donated dollar creates immediate and tangible impact.Here’s what your support can help fund:$200–$300 helps cover sponsorship paperwork and licensed legal aid to advocate for the release of a deported returnee from temporary holding facilities$500–$600 helps keep the ROOTS community space open for one month — providing a safe place for workshops, emergency support, resource navigation, and community gatherings$700–$800 sustains critical reintegration programming, including Lao language classes, cultural orientation, legal education, and workshops helping deported individuals navigate life in Laos$1,000–$2,000 supports the monthly salaries of ROOTS’ small but experienced frontline team leading this work on the groundWhen you give to ROOTS Laos, you are helping someone rebuild after forced displacement and ensuring deported loved ones are not forgotten.OUR MISSION: ROOTS Laos (Returnee Reintegration Outreach + Opportunity Transition Support) is a returnee reintegration social enterprise committed to a more thriving and sustainable future in Laos for the returnee community to live, work, and play.FISCAL NOTE: ROOTS Laos operates in both the United States and Laos and is fiscally sponsored by Village Focus International. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States through VFI’s 501(c)(3) status (EIN# 93-1299601).

Give the gift of stable housing and healthcare to vulnerable returnees in Laos who need it the most in this next chapter of their life.&nbsp; ROOTS is in urgent need of supporting a group of disabled returnees we&#39;ve sponsored who have severe chronic conditions that require regular medical attention, hard-to-find medications, and secure housing. The three biggest challenges we&#39;re facing for the group: 1) All returnees are stateless on arrival which impacts their ability to cross borders to Thailand or Vietnam for special medication and healthcare, 2) Limited healthcare infrastructure in Laos lack accessible and affordable quality care, especially for mental health practitioners, and 3) People with disabilities are generally unable to seek work in Laos which is heavily reliant on able-bodied jobs. Here&#39;s a snapshot of some returnees under our care:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mr. A&nbsp;was comatose on arrival. He has diabetes since childhood, kidney failure, and double bypass heart surgery. His conditions require life-saving hemodialysis 3x a week, blood transfusions 2x a month.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mr. B&nbsp;has epilepsy with physical disabilities and require clinical treatment by a neurologist.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mr. C&nbsp;has schizophrenia and requires psychiatric treatment.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mr. D&nbsp;has psychosis with psychotic features and requires psychiatric treatment.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">...and many more returnees who need financial assistance from ROOTS to pay for their housing and healthcare.</li></ul>Our initial goal for the fund is $15,000 to cover at least six months of housing and healthcare for this group. Your gift to the New Beginnings Campaign ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນໃໝ່ for Housing &amp; Healthcare Fund&nbsp;is set up to help directly pay for rent and healthcare needs. Each contribution goes to secure&nbsp;housing, quality medical care, critical medications, transportation to appointments, and caregiving support.&nbsp;

Give the gift of stable housing and healthcare to vulnerable returnees in Laos who need it the most in this next chapter of their life. ROOTS is in urgent need of supporting a group of disabled returnees we've sponsored who have severe chronic conditions that require regular medical attention, hard-to-find medications, and secure housing. The three biggest challenges we're facing for the group: 1) All returnees are stateless on arrival which impacts their ability to cross borders to Thailand or Vietnam for special medication and healthcare, 2) Limited healthcare infrastructure in Laos lack accessible and affordable quality care, especially for mental health practitioners, and 3) People with disabilities are generally unable to seek work in Laos which is heavily reliant on able-bodied jobs. Here's a snapshot of some returnees under our care:Mr. A was comatose on arrival. He has diabetes since childhood, kidney failure, and double bypass heart surgery. His conditions require life-saving hemodialysis 3x a week, blood transfusions 2x a month. Mr. B has epilepsy with physical disabilities and require clinical treatment by a neurologist. Mr. C has schizophrenia and requires psychiatric treatment. Mr. D has psychosis with psychotic features and requires psychiatric treatment. ...and many more returnees who need financial assistance from ROOTS to pay for their housing and healthcare.Our initial goal for the fund is $15,000 to cover at least six months of housing and healthcare for this group. Your gift to the New Beginnings Campaign ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນໃໝ່ for Housing & Healthcare Fund is set up to help directly pay for rent and healthcare needs. Each contribution goes to secure housing, quality medical care, critical medications, transportation to appointments, and caregiving support.

Housing & Healthcare Fund ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນໃໝ່

It&rsquo;s with deep sadness that the ROOTS Laos family shares the passing of one of our own, Hoyvanh &ldquo;Tony&rdquo; Khounmixay, on August 9, 2026 in Vientiane, Laos. He died due to severe complications from a lifelong battle with end-stage renal disease (kidney failure), heart disease, and diabetes.&nbsp; Although he had disabilities, he was diligent about making it to Lao language class, going to dialysis treatments every week at Hospital 150, and ensuring he stayed active every day by walking up and down his apartment stairs, finding the freshest fruits around the local neighborhood, and riding around town on his electric scooter. He had a love of gaming and food and recently opened a popular restaurant business with fellow returnees in Vientiane called Western Style BBQ. &nbsp; Tony was born in a refugee camp in the Philippines, while en route from Laos to America, where his family sought asylum in the 1980s. He was from Albert Lea, Minnesota. He is survived by his daughter, siblings, and beloved dog Charlie. Friends and family described him as an incredible homecook, reliable friend, active listener, and honest with his perspective on life. He was kind and genuine with everyone he interacted with, from the ROOTS team to his dialysis nurses. He was deported to Laos in February 2026 by the United States government. He was only 38 years old. Please help the team and his family cover funeral costs associated with properly putting Tony&#39;s spirit to rest. Tony&#39;s life mattered. We know that given the circumstances, he should&#39;ve been here with us today. We appreciate your generosity and care.&nbsp; In hope,&nbsp;Chanida, Chit, Manoun, Sai &amp; The Advisory Board (ROOTS Laos)

It’s with deep sadness that the ROOTS Laos family shares the passing of one of our own, Hoyvanh “Tony” Khounmixay, on August 9, 2026 in Vientiane, Laos. He died due to severe complications from a lifelong battle with end-stage renal disease (kidney failure), heart disease, and diabetes. Although he had disabilities, he was diligent about making it to Lao language class, going to dialysis treatments every week at Hospital 150, and ensuring he stayed active every day by walking up and down his apartment stairs, finding the freshest fruits around the local neighborhood, and riding around town on his electric scooter. He had a love of gaming and food and recently opened a popular restaurant business with fellow returnees in Vientiane called Western Style BBQ. Tony was born in a refugee camp in the Philippines, while en route from Laos to America, where his family sought asylum in the 1980s. He was from Albert Lea, Minnesota. He is survived by his daughter, siblings, and beloved dog Charlie. Friends and family described him as an incredible homecook, reliable friend, active listener, and honest with his perspective on life. He was kind and genuine with everyone he interacted with, from the ROOTS team to his dialysis nurses. He was deported to Laos in February 2026 by the United States government. He was only 38 years old.Please help the team and his family cover funeral costs associated with properly putting Tony's spirit to rest. Tony's life mattered. We know that given the circumstances, he should've been here with us today. We appreciate your generosity and care. In hope, Chanida, Chit, Manoun, Sai & The Advisory Board (ROOTS Laos)

ROOTS Laos

ROOTS Laos

More ways to support us

Restore & Reintegrate Livelihoods for Returnees in Laos

US$10,710 of US$30,000 goal

Donate today

Housing & Healthcare Fund ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນໃໝ່

US$435 of US$15,000 goal

Donate today

In Memory of Hoyvanh 'Tony'

US$925 of US$3,000 goal

Donate today

Powered by