He was deported to a country he doesn't remember.

@ajplus

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SoundTikTok sound · Sci-fi ambient with a desolate and lonely atmosphere(1418505)

Why it worked

The video succeeds by humanizing a complex immigration issue through a personal, emotional narrative, allowing the subject to share his own perspective on displacement and adaptation.

Summary

The video profiles Laymone Khambounleung, a man who was deported from the U.S. to Laos after living in Louisiana for most of his life. He discusses his struggles with statelessness, cultural adjustment, and how he uses social media to document his life for his family back home.

Structure

1Introduction to Laymone's deportation story
2Laymone describes his initial fear and struggle to adapt
3Laymone discusses his current living situation and family connection
4Laymone explains his use of social media to document his life
5Laymone reflects on his coping mechanisms and future outlook

Product placement

TikTok (a) it ACTS — the subject uses it to document his life and share it with his family; removing it would change the video's premise of him showing his life on the platform.

On-screen text

He was deported to a country he doesn't remember. Now, he's showing us what his life looks like on TikTok. I'm getting uprooted and taken away from everything my child, my mother, my father, everything. After spending nearly his entire life in Louisiana, ILIANA HAGENAH @ilianayare Laymone Khambounleung is trying to rebuild his life in Laos, where he was deported to last year. But ... he's no longer a Laotian citizen. So, how did this all happen? Laymone's family left for the U.S. when he was a baby. and Laos has long refused to repatriate refugees. But last year, that all changed, following intense pressure from the Trump administration. Laymone is trying to reapply for Laotian citizenship – but for now, he's stateless. I was afraid. I dont know anything about Laos. I don't know what I was gonna do. how I was gonna survive, who I'm gonna be living with, you know, and how I'm gonna be making money. You know, income and everything. Even when some of the Lao people here, when they talk to us, I don't understand them sometimes because I'm used to the Lao in America and the Lao here is different and my Lao is not that great at all. I mean, have you been able to find some connection to Laos? I'm currently living with my aunt and uncle. Now, I'm getting help from family back home too with income. The food here has been great, really. Except a couple times when I had a stomach ache, you know. I got to meet my dad's side, family, my mother's side of the family and how, how they were raised and how they grew up and everything. The local way, you know. I got my cousin and uncle up there, getting some coconuts. Like, I'm still trying to learn too. That's why I have my social media there, to showcase that and everything. Not long after he came to Laos, Laymone decided to start documenting his experience on social media, with comedic videos and insights about his stay. Don't follow GPS in Laos, y'all. Make sure you stay on the main road. You follow GPS in Laos, this is where it's gonna take you. Look. Look. I want my family back at home to see how I'm living and how I'm doing. When they actually see me doing things and going here, they say, "OK, he's doing fine." When you're depressed, you hide it and you won't tell the next person, hey. something's going on. Or whatever, you know. It keeps my mind clear and away from the stress. What has helped you deal with this the most? Where I grew up in Louisiana, there's water everywhere. You know what I mean, I'm always out going fishing somewhere, with me and my buddies, you know? I miss it, you know what I mean, and that's how I cope. I go sit and chill by the water. Kuang Si Waterfall, Laos listen to the water, you know what I mean. It kinda calms me and relaxes me. And I just think about life. How did I get here and how I'm gonna make it better. Do you feel like there could be a point when you call Laos home? I still can't grasp it yet that Laos is gonna be my home. I still have hopes a little bit that I can make it back to be with my family over there. I know I'm gonna be here for a while, so I just have to accept it. I went through my coping phase and now, you know, I just have to clear my mind to move forward and to set myself up for the future here.

Original caption

He left Laos as a baby. 40 years later, the U.S. deported him there. Now he’s trying to navigate life in a country he barely remembers, as the Trump administration expands where and how it can deport people. @Mone’s POV #US #Immigration #Deportation #Laos #ImmigrationNews

More from @ajplus

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Transcript

He was deported to a country he doesn't remember. Now, he's showing us what his life looks like on TikTok. Yeah, I'm out here in Laos, man. I don't know what village I'm at. This the thing y'all see in Laos sometimes, bro, when y'all ride - Look. I'm getting uprooted and taken away from everything from me, my child, my mother, my father, everything. After spending nearly his entire life in Louisiana, Laymone Khambounleung is trying to rebuild his life in Laos, where he was deported to last year. But ... he's no longer a Laotian citizen. So, how did this all happen? Laymone's family left for the U.S. when he was a baby. and Laos has long refused to repatriate refugees. But last year, that all changed, following intense pressure from the Trump administration. Laymone is trying to reapply for Laotian citizenship – but for now, he's stateless. I was afraid. I dont know anything about Laos. I don't know what I was gonna do. how I was gonna survive, who I'm gonna be living with, you know, and how I'm gonna be making money. You know, income and everything. Even when some of the Lao people here, when they talk to us, I don't understand them sometimes because I'm used to the Lao in America and the Lao here is different and my Lao is not that great at all. I mean, have you been able to find some connection to Laos? I'm currently living with my aunt and uncle. Now, I'm getting help from family back home too with income. The food here has been great, really. Except a couple times when I had a stomach ache, you know. I got to meet my dad's side, family, my mother's side of the family and how, how they were raised and how they grew up and everything. The local way, you know. I got my cousin and uncle up there, getting some coconuts. Like, I'm still trying to learn too. That's why I have my social media there, to showcase that and everything. Not long after he came to Laos, Laymone decided to start documenting his experience on social media, with comedic videos and insights about his stay. Don't follow GPS in Laos, y'all. Make sure you stay on the main road. You follow GPS in Laos, this is where it's gonna take you. Look. Look. I want my family back at home to see how I'm living and how I'm doing. When they actually see me doing things and going here, they say, "OK, he's doing fine." When you're depressed, you hide it and you won't tell the next person, hey. something's going on. Or whatever, you know. It keeps my mind clear and away from the stress. What has helped you deal with this the most? Where I grew up in Louisiana, there's water everywhere. You know what I mean, I'm always out going fishing somewhere, with me and my buddies, you know? I miss it, you know what I mean, and that's how I cope. I go sit and chill by the water. listen to the water, you know what I mean. It kinda calms me and relaxes me. And I just think about life. How did I get here and how I'm gonna make it better. Do you feel like there could be a point when you call Laos home? I still can't grasp it yet that Laos is gonna be my home. I still have hopes a little bit that I can make it back to be with my family over there. I know I'm gonna be here for a while, so I just have to accept it. I went through my coping phase and now, you know, I just have to clear my mind to move forward and to set myself up for the future here.