Father in Laos watches family through cameras after deportation
Zong Yang, a 49-year-old Hmong father, uses Ring cameras to guide his three youngest sons through their school mornings in South St. Paul, Minnesota, while he lives alone in Vientiane.
By Larissa Bell ·
For five boys in South St. Paul, Minnesota, the start of the school day begins with a voice from 12 hours ahead. Zong Yang, 49, lives in Vientiane, Laos, but he connects with his family in Minnesota via Ring cameras installed in their home. At 8 a.m. local time in Minnesota, it is 8 p.m. in Laos. Zong watches his sons, King, 3, Titan, 7, and Everest, 9, prepare for the school bus. He calls out to them to put on their shoes, replicating the routine he maintained before his removal from the United States.
The family's routine has shifted since federal agents arrested Zong during Operation Metro Surge in February. He was deported to Laos in early May. Before his departure, Zong worked the overnight shift at a Home Depot in Inver Grove Heights. He returned home around 5:30 a.m. and managed the morning logistics for his younger sons. His wife, Linda Yang, 41, now handles these responsibilities alone. She works from home until 11 a.m., drops King at preschool, and then travels to her office to work in person. She also cares for King during the day by taking him to a relative who babysits him.
Zong maintains contact with his sons through the home cameras and daily phone calls. He describes the period from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. as emotionally intense. He uses the technology to remind the boys of their daily schedule and to provide guidance. "It works out good; it gives me a little peace back," Zong said. He attempts to remain involved in their lives despite the physical distance. The older sons, Kenji, 15, and Yaay, 17, manage their own routines. Yaay attends Winona State University, while Kenji attends high school.
Linda Yang, 41, manages the household and works in person at her office. She noted that the change has required a complete restructuring of the family's daily schedule. "Now, it's like, 'OK, well, got to figure it all out now, a whole new different time,'" Linda said. She plans to visit Zong in early December. She views this trip as a necessary step to reconnect physically after months of communication through screens. "Right now it seems so surreal, like it's not true," Linda said during a video chat with her husband.
Zong Yang was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and immigrated to the United States at age 3. His family fled Laos following the Vietnam War. He lost his green card after a 1999 conviction for felony burglary in Wisconsin. He never obtained citizenship in Laos, Thailand, or the United States. Since arriving in Laos, he has struggled with depression and the silence of his new apartment. To cope, he bought a Lego set to recreate memories of bonding with his sons. He also offers to teach his friend's son English, a skill he is learning through YouTube videos. He and Linda have discussed his obtaining Lao citizenship and a passport to facilitate future travel.
