The Trump administration in the United States has temporarily frozen immigration applications from 19 countries, including Laos, deepening what officials describe as a sweeping security review but raising uncertainty for Lao nationals seeking permanent residency or naturalization in the United States.
The pause affects green card and citizenship requests handled by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), following last week’s shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, which officials linked to an Afghan asylum recipient.
Since then, the administration has suspended asylum processing, reviewed past approvals, and directed a re-examination of existing residency permits from countries deemed “of concern.”
Laos is among those on the list, alongside Myanmar, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Cuba, Afghanistan, and several other low-income nations. The immigration services said the halt was necessary to ensure applicants “are the best of the best,” but immigration lawyers across the US reported cancelled oath ceremonies, scrapped interviews and confused applicants being turned away without explanation.
While the number of Lao nationals affected is currently unknown, the move introduces new complications for Lao citizens studying, working, or seeking family reunification in America.
The US has long been a destination for higher education and resettlement among Lao communities, with multi-generation diaspora links in states such as Minnesota, California and Washington.
The new restriction also arrives at a sensitive moment for Laos, whose young people are increasingly looking outward for education and employment.
Migration to Thailand dominates, but smaller streams head to Australia, South Korea, Japan, and the US, often relying on study pathways or family sponsorships now caught in uncertainty.
Officials in Washington have framed the crackdown as a national security response, but with no timeline for lifting the pause, Lao applicants could face lengthy delays in what was already a backlogged immigration system.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WEB1-1.png6271200Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2025-12-04 14:28:142025-12-05 14:31:56Laos Among Nations Affected by U.S. Halt on Green Card, Citizenship Processing
Laos and Vietnam have signed 12 cooperation documents aimed at tightening coordination across defense, security, economic ties, and provincial partnerships during a two-day state visit to Vientiane by Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam from 1 to 2 December.
To Lam, making his first visit to Laos since assuming office, held talks with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith. The two leaders then witnessed the signing of a series of new bilateral cooperation agreements by government officials from both sides at the Presidential Office.
The agreements include defence and security cooperation plans for 2026, covering areas such as joint border management and the construction of the Lao-Vietnam Friendship Road..
The two sides also approved an industry and commerce memorandum to strengthen supply-chain links, along with cooperation frameworks between their justice ministries, foreign ministries, and central Party bodies for 2026–2030.
A separate agreement formalized coordination in the banking sector, while provincial authorities from Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa and Laos’ Houaphanh provinces endorsed a joint cooperation plan covering the same 2026–2030 period.
Both countries also committed to continuing collaboration in national television programming. Currently,cooperation in television broadcasting includes Vietnam Today, VTV4, and Vietnamese-language news on Lao National Television.
During the visit, officials from Laos presented To Lam with a National Gold Medal in recognition of his role in advancing bilateral relations. Both governments noted ongoing growth in trade and investment, with bilateral trade earlier this year approaching USD 3 billion and expectations for further expansion.
On 2 December, the Vietnamese leader attended a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and joined Lao leaders in inaugurating the Laos–Vietnam Friendship Park in Vientiane. He also met with former Lao leaders and co-chaired a meeting of both Politburos to outline the long-term strategic direction for bilateral cooperation.
By Beatrice Siviero/AFP – The Lao capital Vientiane has an uncharacteristic buzz lately, bedecked with flags and T-shirt vendors ahead of commemorations of 50 years of Laos on 2 December, but for many young people, history carries little weight.
Pathet Lao established the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on 2 December 1975, following a decades-long civil war.
Laos became a one-party state, King Savang Vatthana died in captivity, and centralized planning was imposed on the economy as landlocked Laos, always remote, became increasingly isolated.
It later opened up and embraced market reforms, but remains among Asia’s least developed countries.
Thousands of troops and state personnel will take part in a military parade on Tuesday to mark the anniversary, in keeping with other key dates in September in ideologically aligned neighbors China and Vietnam.
But the past does not resonate with many young Laotians.
“Of course, we do learn history in school, but we don’t talk about it much,” said Thiradeth Khamhoung, 19, an economics student in Thailand who co-founded PrepPath, a platform helping Lao high school students explore careers and plan their futures.
“We don’t let political circumstances get in our way when we’re building something,” he told AFP.
“My suggestion for many youth would be just start it, don’t let politics, which we can’t control, hold you back.”
People joke that the abbreviation Lao PDR means “Lao Please Don’t Rush”.
But Bart insists: “Please don’t rush, it doesn’t mean we can’t develop. It’s about finding our strengths, working on what we’re good at, and building from there.
“Laos will change in the next 50 years just as it has since its independence: slowly, but steadily.”
TikTok Window
Social media is one of the drivers of change, he added, even affecting language.
“Some of the words my grandpa used were in French, and I didn’t even know what he was talking about,” he said.
“Now, a lot of those French words are being replaced by Thai words. Media and social media are a big reason for that.”
Tony, a 21-year-old university student in Vientiane, said many young people get their fashion trends, ideas, and global outlook from TikTok.
“It’s like a window to the world,” he said.
Migration to Thailand for work is commonplace, and thousands of Lao students head overseas each year, drawn by international education and better job prospects.
“Compared to my grandparents, it’s easy for us now,” said one Lao master’s student in Australia. “You just go on Google, and you can learn what you want.
“In the next 10 or 20 years, people will be speaking up more and have more freedoms.”
Trump Tariffs
China is Laos’ dominant economic partner through infrastructure investments, including a railway linking Vientiane and Kunming, in Yunnan province, and a wider economic corridor.
In recent years, hydropower exports have been a key economic driver, while garment factories, electronics assemblers, and other light-manufacturing firms have relied on the American market.
But expansion is slowing, and inflation is rising while GDP per capita remains around USD 2,100 according to the World Bank’s most recent figures, and it now faces Trump tariffs of 40 percent, one of the highest rates in the world.
Those pressures mean the mindset of the younger generation is changing, “especially when comparing my grandparents’ political and economic views to my own”, said communications officer Namfon Sirithirath, 30.
“It’s good that youth engagement is currently being promoted,” she said.
“It would be much better if it were promoted more, and if policymakers listened more to their concerns or issues, so that in the future, policies could be put in place that are more appropriate for the current era.”
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AFP__20251201__86JK69E__v2__HighRes__TopshotLaosPoliticsSocialHistory-1920x1280-1.jpg12801920Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2025-12-02 14:19:422025-12-05 14:22:56Young Lao Push for Change 50 Years After Party Victory
Laos Among Nations Affected by U.S. Halt on Green Card, Citizenship Processing
The Trump administration in the United States has temporarily frozen immigration applications from 19 countries, including Laos, deepening what officials describe as a sweeping security review but raising uncertainty for Lao nationals seeking permanent residency or naturalization in the United States.
The pause affects green card and citizenship requests handled by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), following last week’s shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, which officials linked to an Afghan asylum recipient.
Since then, the administration has suspended asylum processing, reviewed past approvals, and directed a re-examination of existing residency permits from countries deemed “of concern.”
Laos is among those on the list, alongside Myanmar, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Cuba, Afghanistan, and several other low-income nations. The immigration services said the halt was necessary to ensure applicants “are the best of the best,” but immigration lawyers across the US reported cancelled oath ceremonies, scrapped interviews and confused applicants being turned away without explanation.
While the number of Lao nationals affected is currently unknown, the move introduces new complications for Lao citizens studying, working, or seeking family reunification in America.
The US has long been a destination for higher education and resettlement among Lao communities, with multi-generation diaspora links in states such as Minnesota, California and Washington.
The new restriction also arrives at a sensitive moment for Laos, whose young people are increasingly looking outward for education and employment.
Migration to Thailand dominates, but smaller streams head to Australia, South Korea, Japan, and the US, often relying on study pathways or family sponsorships now caught in uncertainty.
Officials in Washington have framed the crackdown as a national security response, but with no timeline for lifting the pause, Lao applicants could face lengthy delays in what was already a backlogged immigration system.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/12/03/laos-among-nations-affected-by-u-s-halt-on-green-card-citizenship-processing/
Laos, Vietnam Agree to Strengthen Defense, Security, Economic Cooperation
Laos and Vietnam have signed 12 cooperation documents aimed at tightening coordination across defense, security, economic ties, and provincial partnerships during a two-day state visit to Vientiane by Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam from 1 to 2 December.
To Lam, making his first visit to Laos since assuming office, held talks with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith. The two leaders then witnessed the signing of a series of new bilateral cooperation agreements by government officials from both sides at the Presidential Office.
The agreements include defence and security cooperation plans for 2026, covering areas such as joint border management and the construction of the Lao-Vietnam Friendship Road..
The two sides also approved an industry and commerce memorandum to strengthen supply-chain links, along with cooperation frameworks between their justice ministries, foreign ministries, and central Party bodies for 2026–2030.
A separate agreement formalized coordination in the banking sector, while provincial authorities from Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa and Laos’ Houaphanh provinces endorsed a joint cooperation plan covering the same 2026–2030 period.
Both countries also committed to continuing collaboration in national television programming. Currently,cooperation in television broadcasting includes Vietnam Today, VTV4, and Vietnamese-language news on Lao National Television.
During the visit, officials from Laos presented To Lam with a National Gold Medal in recognition of his role in advancing bilateral relations. Both governments noted ongoing growth in trade and investment, with bilateral trade earlier this year approaching USD 3 billion and expectations for further expansion.
On 2 December, the Vietnamese leader attended a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and joined Lao leaders in inaugurating the Laos–Vietnam Friendship Park in Vientiane. He also met with former Lao leaders and co-chaired a meeting of both Politburos to outline the long-term strategic direction for bilateral cooperation.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/12/03/laos-vietnam-agree-to-strengthen-defense-security-economic-cooperation/
Young Lao Push for Change 50 Years After Party Victory
By Beatrice Siviero/AFP – The Lao capital Vientiane has an uncharacteristic buzz lately, bedecked with flags and T-shirt vendors ahead of commemorations of 50 years of Laos on 2 December, but for many young people, history carries little weight.
Pathet Lao established the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on 2 December 1975, following a decades-long civil war.
Laos became a one-party state, King Savang Vatthana died in captivity, and centralized planning was imposed on the economy as landlocked Laos, always remote, became increasingly isolated.
It later opened up and embraced market reforms, but remains among Asia’s least developed countries.
Thousands of troops and state personnel will take part in a military parade on Tuesday to mark the anniversary, in keeping with other key dates in September in ideologically aligned neighbors China and Vietnam.
But the past does not resonate with many young Laotians.
“Of course, we do learn history in school, but we don’t talk about it much,” said Thiradeth Khamhoung, 19, an economics student in Thailand who co-founded PrepPath, a platform helping Lao high school students explore careers and plan their futures.
“We don’t let political circumstances get in our way when we’re building something,” he told AFP.
“My suggestion for many youth would be just start it, don’t let politics, which we can’t control, hold you back.”
People joke that the abbreviation Lao PDR means “Lao Please Don’t Rush”.
But Bart insists: “Please don’t rush, it doesn’t mean we can’t develop. It’s about finding our strengths, working on what we’re good at, and building from there.
“Laos will change in the next 50 years just as it has since its independence: slowly, but steadily.”
TikTok Window
Social media is one of the drivers of change, he added, even affecting language.
“Some of the words my grandpa used were in French, and I didn’t even know what he was talking about,” he said.
“Now, a lot of those French words are being replaced by Thai words. Media and social media are a big reason for that.”
Tony, a 21-year-old university student in Vientiane, said many young people get their fashion trends, ideas, and global outlook from TikTok.
“It’s like a window to the world,” he said.
Migration to Thailand for work is commonplace, and thousands of Lao students head overseas each year, drawn by international education and better job prospects.
“Compared to my grandparents, it’s easy for us now,” said one Lao master’s student in Australia. “You just go on Google, and you can learn what you want.
“In the next 10 or 20 years, people will be speaking up more and have more freedoms.”
Trump Tariffs
China is Laos’ dominant economic partner through infrastructure investments, including a railway linking Vientiane and Kunming, in Yunnan province, and a wider economic corridor.
In recent years, hydropower exports have been a key economic driver, while garment factories, electronics assemblers, and other light-manufacturing firms have relied on the American market.
But expansion is slowing, and inflation is rising while GDP per capita remains around USD 2,100 according to the World Bank’s most recent figures, and it now faces Trump tariffs of 40 percent, one of the highest rates in the world.
Those pressures mean the mindset of the younger generation is changing, “especially when comparing my grandparents’ political and economic views to my own”, said communications officer Namfon Sirithirath, 30.
“It’s good that youth engagement is currently being promoted,” she said.
“It would be much better if it were promoted more, and if policymakers listened more to their concerns or issues, so that in the future, policies could be put in place that are more appropriate for the current era.”
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/12/01/young-lao-push-for-change-50-years-after-party-victory/