On Monday, Minnesota State Representative Kaohly Vang Her (DFL–St. Paul) made a startling admission on the House floor, revealing that she and her family have been living in the United States under fraudulent circumstances.
The revelation came during a legislative session as Rep. Her shared a personal story from her childhood. “Because his mother had died, my father, as the one processing the paperwork, put my grandmother down as his mother,” she said. “And so I am illegal in this country. My parents are illegal here in this country.”
The statement quickly drew attention from lawmakers, with several now calling for an investigation and even potential removal from office. Vang Her, currently in her fourth term representing District 64A, holds the influential role of Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore and serves as co-chair of the Commerce, Finance, and Policy Committee.
Her résumé includes degrees from the University of Wisconsin and Northeastern University, and she is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of St. Thomas. Born in Laos and raised in Wisconsin, Her has said her family arrived in the United States as refugees when she was four years old. In previous biographical accounts, she has often emphasized her parents’ work ethic and their pursuit of the American dream.
“Born in Laos, my family came to the United States as refugees when I was four years old,” her campaign site reads. “I grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, a paper town where my father worked at the local paper factory and my mother as a teacher’s aide.”
If Rep. Kaohly Vang Her was speaking literally when she stated on the Minnesota House floor that she is “illegal in this country,” her continued service as a state legislator could be in violation of Minnesota law. The state constitution mandates that all members of the legislature must be U.S. citizens.
If Her is not a citizen and is residing in the United States unlawfully, she would be legally ineligible to hold elected office in the state. In addition to potential state-level consequences, her admission could also trigger federal legal implications.
Also, if Her is in the United States without legal status, she could be subject to deportation under federal immigration law. Furthermore, depending on how her name appears on official records, such as voter registration, government payroll, or campaign filings, she could face additional legal consequences for potentially making false statements or misrepresenting her citizenship status.
The admission is especially explosive as the nation sees a sharp escalation in immigration enforcement. In recent weeks, ICE has carried out large-scale raids in Los Angeles, arresting more than 100 individuals in the Fashion District and surrounding areas. The operations triggered widespread chaos, including burning vehicles, blocked freeways, and the deployment of National Guard troops to restore order.
