WE WILL SHARE THEM ON TV ON MONDAY. 50 YEARS IN AMERICA TODAY, A GROUP OF. IN SACRAMENTO CELEBRATED THIS MILESTONE. KCRA 3’S ERIN HEFT BRINGS US THE STORY OF THE HUMAN PEOPLE. A DAY OF JOY. 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING. THE CELEBRATION OF THE HUMAN PEOPLE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. FLEEING FROM THE VIETNAM WAR. A LIFE OF REFUGEE TO THE NOW VIBRANT LIVES THEY’VE BUILT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU’RE ORIGINALLY FROM CHINA, MIGRATED TO LAOS, THAILAND, VIETNAM. THIS IS TIANCHENG HER STORY. ONE OF NEARLY 50,000. OUR PARENTS GAVE US THAT CHANCE TO LIVE HERE. WE SETTLE HERE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE SAFETY. AND WE DO THRIVE. AND THIS IS WHY WE’RE SO HAPPY TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS EVENT, TO SHOW OUR RISEN PROMINENCE OF ALL OF OUR PROFESSIONALS, OUR EDUCATORS. WE HAVE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, NURSES. SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AS A NINE YEAR OLD AFTER FLEEING LAOS WITH HER FAMILY AND ENDURING THREE SEPARATE REFUGEE CAMPS. SHE CAME TO THE U.S. UNABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH WITH NO FORMAL EDUCATION. CUT TO 50 YEARS LATER, CHUNG STANDS HERE AS A FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER. I REMEMBER GROWING UP. THE KEY WAS YOU MAKE SURE YOU GO TO SCHOOL, HAVE A HIGH EDUCATION AND GET A GOOD JOB SO YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR OWN FAMILY AND AND HELP THE COMMUNITY. AND I SEE TODAY, I’M VERY PROUD THAT THERE ARE VERY MANY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. CHUNG EXPLAINING. SACRAMENTO HAS THE LARGEST GROUP OF UNION PEOPLE WITH NEARLY 20,000 WHO CALL THE REGION HOME. VIBRANCE AROUND EVERY CORNER. A CELEBRATION OF THE INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. FROM A GROUP WHO CAME TO THE COUNTRY WITH LITTLE TO NOTHING, WHO NOW THRIVE WHILE KEEPING
Sacramento celebrates 50 years of the Iu Mien community in America
A celebration filled with joy and pride, reflecting both the struggles of the past and the accomplishments of the present.
Updated: 5:55 PM PDT May 23, 2026
A Sacramento community gathered Saturday morning celebrating a major milestone: 50 years of the Iu Mien people in the United States.Honoring the journey of the Iu Mien community, many of whom came to America as refugees fleeing the Vietnam War. Originally from China, many Iu Mien families later migrated through Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam before eventually resettling in the United States in search of safety and opportunity.For many, the road to America was filled with hardship. Tan Tung, one of nearly 50,000 Iu Mien people in the U.S., arrived at age 9 after fleeing Laos with her family and surviving three separate refugee camps. She came to America unable to speak English and with no formal education.Now, 50 years later, Tung is a family nurse practitioner, standing as one of many examples of the community’s resilience and success.“Our parents gave us that chance to live here and settle here for the opportunity and the safety,” Tung said. “We do thrive, and this is why we’re so happy today to celebrate this event, to show our risen prominence. We have educators, doctors, lawyers, nurses.”She said the values passed down through generations emphasized education, hard work, and service to family and community.“I remember growing up, the key was to make sure you go to school, have a higher education, and get a good job so you can support your own family and help the community,” Tung said. “Today, I’m very proud. There are very many successful people.”Sacramento is home to the largest Iu Mien population in the country, with nearly 20,000 people living in the region.A celebration filled with joy and pride, reflecting both the struggles of the past and the accomplishments of the present.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A Sacramento community gathered Saturday morning celebrating a major milestone: 50 years of the Iu Mien people in the United States.
Honoring the journey of the Iu Mien community, many of whom came to America as refugees fleeing the Vietnam War. Originally from China, many Iu Mien families later migrated through Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam before eventually resettling in the United States in search of safety and opportunity.
For many, the road to America was filled with hardship. Tan Tung, one of nearly 50,000 Iu Mien people in the U.S., arrived at age 9 after fleeing Laos with her family and surviving three separate refugee camps. She came to America unable to speak English and with no formal education.
Now, 50 years later, Tung is a family nurse practitioner, standing as one of many examples of the community’s resilience and success.
“Our parents gave us that chance to live here and settle here for the opportunity and the safety,” Tung said. “We do thrive, and this is why we’re so happy today to celebrate this event, to show our risen prominence. We have educators, doctors, lawyers, nurses.”
She said the values passed down through generations emphasized education, hard work, and service to family and community.
“I remember growing up, the key was to make sure you go to school, have a higher education, and get a good job so you can support your own family and help the community,” Tung said. “Today, I’m very proud. There are very many successful people.”
Sacramento is home to the largest Iu Mien population in the country, with nearly 20,000 people living in the region.
A celebration filled with joy and pride, reflecting both the struggles of the past and the accomplishments of the present.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel