Hmong still face difficulties because of Vietnam War ties

HUAY NAM KHAO, Thailand -- When Lao Teng and his wife, members of Laos' ethnic Hmong minority, fled their homeland last June, they had hoped that they could leave their fear of persecution behind.

Harsh reality quickly set in when they were arrested for illegal entry into Thailand upon their arrival at Huay Nam Khao, where about 8,000 other Hmong refugees have been living in limbo, wondering if their future holds a forced return to Laos.

Thailand classifies them as illegal immigrants despite their claims that they face persecution by the communist government of Laos due to their Vietnam War-era ties with the United States, and the bad blood that continues to this day.

Ironically, the U.S. itself has raised a new hurdle to their migration. Post-9/11 anti-terrorism laws have disqualified many Hmong refugees for resettlement, since their guerrilla activity, originally in support of U.S. aims and later in self-defense, technically qualifies them as terrorists.