During a Minnesota House session addressing MinnesotaCare eligibility for illegal immigrants, State Representative Kaohly Vang Her (DFL–St. Paul) made a striking admission: she and her family are living in the U.S. under fraudulent circumstances. Sharing her personal history, Her revealed that her family came to America after the Vietnam War by falsifying documents. She had believed for years that her grandfather’s military service enabled their entry, but learned from her father that this wasn’t true. Her father, who worked at the U.S. Consulate processing refugee paperwork, altered documents to list Her’s grandmother as the mother of a relative who had ties to USAID, allowing the family to qualify for resettlement.

Her used her story to emphasize the desperation that drives people to leave their countries and the complexities behind the label of “illegal immigrant.” She stated that her family didn’t choose the U.S. based on benefits but simply sought survival. Her urged lawmakers to reconsider how they view undocumented immigrants, pointing out that her family contributed to the country despite their undocumented status. “You’re voting no against someone like me,” she said, referencing the MinnesotaCare bill, while highlighting her grandfather’s service and their contributions through taxes. Her remarks called for empathy and deeper understanding, underscoring that migration is often about escaping danger rather than seeking handouts.