Opinion: Born in a refugee camp, state rep fears Trump deportation plan

I was born in a refugee camp in Thailand. During the Vietnam War, my father was recruited by the CIA. to support America’s efforts against communism. My parents fled the persecution of Hmong tribes by the communist regime in Laos, spending years hiding in the jungle before reaching a U.N. refugee camp in Thailand. They applied for asylum in the United States, and in 1987, when I was just 3, we were accepted. 
I spent the first 13 years of my life without a nation to call my own. After a decade of living here, I finally became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1997. Since then, I’ve felt an overwhelming sense of belonging, and I’m proud to call Michigan my home. I want nothing more than to give back to the community that gave my family a fresh start. 
Today, I’m honored to represent Michigan’s 13th House District in our state Legislature. I work hard every day to expand opportunities for all my constituents, just as others created opportunities for my family. I was reelected because my community and I share a vision of a Michigan where everyone, no matter their background, has the chance to thrive.  
But after last week’s election, with President Donald Trump poised to return to the Oval Office and promising, on Day 1, the “largest deportation effort in American history,” I’ll admit, the results of the election made me question the good in humanity. 
Trump’s strategist, Stephen Miller — just named the president-elect’s deputy chief of staff — has laid out the deportation plan: suspending refugee programs, barring visitors from so-called “troubled” countries, reassigning federal agents to support the plan, using the National Guard and local police for immigration enforcement and even constructing camps on open land to detain people while expanding expedited removal proceedings without hearings or appeals.  
With his judicial appointments in federal appellate courts, and a conservative U.S. Supreme Court majority in place to support these plans, Trump and his team are sending a clear message to families like mine: You’re not welcome here. 
Even though my family has always held legal status, the anti-immigrant rhetoric still leaves us feeling unsafe. 
This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about human dignity, and the values we say we uphold as Americans. For those of us who are here legally, working hard and contributing to our communities, this increasingly extreme agenda on immigration — fueled by the bigotry and xenophobic rhetoric we witnessed on the campaign trail — is truly devastating. These policies make me, and countless others, wonder if we’ll ever truly belong. 
And it’s not lost on me that broad policy changes could put my citizenship at risk. 
Some Trump advisors have promised to “turbocharge” denaturalization, stripping Americans who were not born here of their citizenship.  
As it stands, federal law allows for denaturalization in cases of certain crimes or fraud — measures meant to protect the integrity of our democracy. But Trump’s sweeping plans aim to undermine entire communities of immigrants who, like me and my family, have sacrificed everything to be here and contribute every day. This approach chips away at the ideals that make America a place of hope and freedom. How can we call ourselves a country of opportunity, if we’re actively working to exclude those who risked everything to find a safe home here? 
We could have made history last week by electing Kamala Harris as president — not just a woman of color, but a first-generation child of immigrants who understands the sacrifices and dreams of families like mine. Instead, voters chose a return to a presidency that promises division and fear. I now feel the same fear and uncertainty I thought I’d left behind as a child refugee. 
Immigrants, especially refugees, carry with them resilience and sacrifice. We help build the economy, create businesses and make our neighborhoods vibrant. Part of my role as a representative is to ensure that Michigan recognizes the value and contributions of its immigrant communities. But I can’t do this alone. We need allies from every community, and every side of the political spectrum, to join us in opposing policies that unfairly target and penalize people based on their immigration status. 
In Michigan, we are stronger because of our diversity. From our cities to our rural areas, immigrants play a central role in building a better future for everyone. I urge my fellow leaders, across party lines, to stand up for that future. Let’s remember that everyone here, regardless of where they started, deserves a chance to live in security and peace. 
To every family and community worrying about what lies ahead, please know you are not alone. Your voice matters, and people are fighting every day for your right to belong here. I promise to use my platform to advocate for the dignity, rights and protections you deserve. I want my children, and all Michigan children, to grow up in a country where they feel safe, where they don’t have to question their place. I want them to believe that the American dream is real — for them, for you, and for every other family here. 
Let’s protect that dream.  
Let’s choose empathy, understanding and compassion. Now is the time to fight for policies that truly reflect what we say this country stands for — with liberty and justice for all. 
Mai Xiong represents Michigan’s 13th House District. Submit a letter to the editor atfreep.com/letters and we may publish it online and in print.