In 1979, my aunt and her family left Laos, went to a United Nations refugee camp in Thailand, and obtained their refugee identification cards.  They were required to make immigration choices in the refugee camps. The United States, Canada,  Switzerland, Australia, and other countries became refuge partners. Ling's parents decided their chances were best in the United States and chose New York as their destination. Ling’s family yearned for New York’s symbolic and historical promises of the “American Dream.”  Refugee ID cards could help them live legally in the United States in the short term.

– Jinyao

Relationship:  Im/migrant who arrived as a child Im/migrant who arrived as a child