ICE Arrests Vietnamese Man in Removal Proceedings After 15 Years
If you have an old deportation order and believed you were protected by a country agreement, do not wait — those agreements can change. Contact an immigration lawyer immediately to review your case and find out if any legal options remain open to you. In these situations, acting before an arrest gives you far more choices than acting after.
What Happened
ICE arrested Dinh Quy Nguyen, a 56-year-old Vietnamese national, on May 5, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Nguyen had a final order of removal — a judge's official decision ordering him deported — dating back to December 30, 1997. Despite that order, he lived freely in the Houston community for more than 15 years.
For decades, the US had an agreement with Vietnam that blocked ICE from deporting Vietnamese citizens who arrived in the US before July 12, 1995. Nguyen arrived on December 15, 1977, so that agreement protected him from being sent back. When he was transferred into ICE custody in 2011 after serving a prison sentence, ICE was required by US law to release him because there was no realistic chance of removing him at that time. That law prevents ICE from holding someone indefinitely if deportation is not likely in the near future.
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The Trump administration made changes to that agreement with Vietnam, removing the protection that had applied to pre-1995 arrivals. ICE says those policy changes now allow it to deport people like Nguyen who previously could not be removed. Nguyen is currently held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, while ICE prepares to deport him to Vietnam.
Why This Matters for Vietnamese Immigrants
This case is a signal that Vietnamese nationals who arrived before July 12, 1995 — and who have final orders of removal — may now face deportation. If you or someone you know is in this situation, the risk of arrest and removal proceedings has increased significantly under current policy.
What to Do
- If you have a final order of removal (a court decision ordering you deported), contact an immigration lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer may be able to file a motion to reopen your case or explore other legal options.
- If ICE arrests you, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer before answering questions. Do not sign any documents without legal advice.
- If you are a Vietnamese national who arrived before July 12, 1995, lawyers recommend you do not assume old agreements still protect you — seek legal advice now, before any arrest happens.
- If you are detained, a lawyer can request an immigration bond hearing (a court proceeding where a judge decides if you can be released while your case continues).