The Hmong, a tribal people from highland Laos, are recent immigrants to the United States. During the Vietnam War, many Hmong villagers were recruited by the United States to fight against the communist forces in Laos. When the United States forces withdrew from Vietnam and Laos, the Hmong became the target of violent reprisals by the Lao government, and thousands of Hmong were forced to flee across the Mekong River to seek refuge in Thailand. Now almost 50,000 Hmong live in semi-permanent Thai refugee camps, where they await church, civic, or family sponsorship for resettlement in France, the United States, or other countries.