ICE Arrests Houston Man After 15 Years Free Despite Removal Order
Dinh Quy Nguyen had a deportation order against him since 1997. For over 15 years, a diplomatic agreement kept ICE from sending him back to Vietnam — so he lived freely in Houston. In May 2026, that protection disappeared, and ICE came to his door.
A Final Order of Removal Did Not Mean Immediate Deportation — Until Now
For more than 15 years, Dinh Quy Nguyen, a 56-year-old Vietnamese national living in Houston, Texas, had a final order of removal (a judge's official decision that a person must leave the US) on record. He also had serious criminal convictions. Yet he remained free in the community. His case shows how diplomatic agreements between countries — not just immigration court decisions — can determine whether someone is actually deported.
Nguyen arrived in the US on December 15, 1977. He was convicted of attempted capital murder of a police officer in 1988 and burglary in 1989. An immigration judge ordered him deported on December 30, 1997. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) — the highest immigration court in the US — confirmed that order on May 26, 1998. When he was released from a Texas prison in 2011, ICE took him into custody. But a long-standing agreement between the US and Vietnam blocked ICE from sending him back. Under US law, ICE cannot hold someone indefinitely if there is no realistic chance of removal in the near future. So in June 2011, ICE had to release him.
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The Trump administration changed the terms of that agreement with Vietnam. That change removed the diplomatic barrier that had protected Nguyen and others who arrived in the US before July 12, 1995. ICE arrested Nguyen on May 5, 2026, in Houston. He is now held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, and is waiting to be deported to Vietnam. ICE's Houston field office covers 56 counties across Southeast Texas.
What This Means If You Have a Removal Order
This case is a reminder that a final order of removal does not expire. Even if years pass without action, that order stays on record. Changes in US policy or diplomatic agreements with your home country can suddenly make deportation possible — even decades later. If you or someone you know has an old removal order, now is the time to speak with an immigration lawyer about your options.
What to Do If You Have a Removal Order or Fear Deportation
- Find out your exact status. If you are not sure whether you have a removal order, an immigration lawyer can check your records. Do not wait for ICE to show up.
- Know your deadlines. You generally have 30 days to appeal an order of removal, and 90 days to file a motion to reopen your case (ask the court to look at your case again). Missing these deadlines makes it much harder to fight deportation.
- Ask about a Stay of Deportation. You may be able to file Form I-246 (a request to pause your deportation, called a Stay of Deportation). The filing fee is $155. This does not cancel your removal order, but it may give you more time.
- Do not ignore ICE contact or court notices. If you receive any notice from ICE or an immigration court, respond immediately — ideally with a lawyer's help. Ignoring notices almost always makes your situation worse.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Bond Hearing: How to Get Released”.
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A final order of removal never expires — it stays in the system indefinitely, and shifts in US foreign policy or bilateral agreements can make it enforceable overnight, as this Houston case clearly shows. If you have an old removal order, you may still have options: a motion to reopen, a stay of deportation (Form I-246, $155 fee), or other forms of relief depending on your specific situation and how much time has passed. Do not wait for ICE to act first — consult an immigration attorney now to understand exactly where you stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE arrest me if my removal order is many years old?
Yes. A removal order does not have an expiration date. ICE can act on it at any time, including years or decades later, especially if US policy or agreements with your home country change.
What is the deadline to appeal a removal order?
You generally have 30 days from the date of the order to file an appeal. If you miss that window, you may still be able to file a motion to reopen your case, but you usually have only 90 days to do that.
What is a Stay of Deportation and how do I get one?
A Stay of Deportation is a formal request to pause your removal while you pursue other legal options. You file Form I-246 with ICE. The fee is $155. It does not cancel your removal order, but it may give you more time to work with a lawyer.
Why was this man released from ICE custody in 2011 if he had a removal order?
US law does not allow ICE to hold someone indefinitely if there is no realistic chance of removing them in the near future. At the time, a diplomatic agreement with Vietnam blocked his deportation, so ICE was legally required to release him.