On May 20th, 2025, ICE attempted to secretly and illegally disappear my husband, Tuan Phan, to South Sudan, a war-torn country, where he could face imminent risk of detention, torture, or death. A federal judge stopped the flight mid-air, and the plane was diverted to a U.S. military base in Djibouti, Africa. Tuan is a Washingtonian, legal permanent resident, and Vietnamese refugee of the U.S. wars in Southeast Asia. For 44 days, Tuan was held in a shipping container, shackled by the feet, in Djibouti before the Supreme Court allowed ICE to complete a third-country deportation to South Sudan without allowing Tuan the right to due process to contest his removal. ICE didn’t even attempt to contact Vietnam and deport Tuan to his country of origin before sending him to South Sudan – all to fulfill their anti-immigrant and mass deportation agenda.

Tuan was handed over directly to ICE by the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) after completing his 25-year sentence in March. Tuan already paid a steep price for a grave mistake he made at just 18 years old. He has been remorseful and repented. But rather than returning to his family upon release, Tuan was a victim of the DOC-ICE pipeline and was immediately detained once more.

Our communities pleaded with Governor Ferguson to take action against the unprecedented, cruel, and inhumane actions of the Trump Administration. Over 1,000 community members, 60 elected officials, and 50 organizations across Washington demanded that Governor Ferguson grant Tuan a pardon and end DOC’s collaboration with ICE, knowing these actions could save Tuan from third-country deportation and stop others in DOC’s custody from facing the same fate after serving their time. I begged the Governor to save my husband’s life, to condemn this type of double punishment, but he refused – denying the pardon and sealing Tuan’s fate.

On July 5th, Tuan landed in South Sudan, a country facing tremendous civil unrest with a “Do Not Travel” advisory from the U.S. Department of State. Upon arrival, Tuan was immediately detained by the South Sudanese authorities and his exact whereabouts are currently unknown. Tuan continues to be arbitrarily detained in South Sudan in an undisclosed location without access to legal counsel. He is kept in a secure facility and guarded 24/7 by soldiers with AKs and no one is allowed access to him nor is he allowed access outside the facility.

It has been almost a year since the U.S. attempted to disappear my husband, an action ruled illegal by the U.S. Federal District Court. And it’s been almost ten months since he’s been captive in South Sudan. Due to the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, there has been limited supply of food and water, and at times, he has been without clean drinking water, sometimes for days. My husband has lost 20 pounds. I am doing everything I can to get him the resources he needs to ensure his wellbeing.

This past year has been extremely difficult and exhausting as I continue to navigate this extraordinary situation. It’s very distressing and has taken a great toll on me, but I will not stop fighting and advocating for my husband’s safety and freedom until he is safely repatriated to Vietnam.

The funds will be used to support Tuan’s essential needs, return to Vietnam, and provide the necessary financial foundation for us to reconnect and build a safe and free future. Tuan is my lifelong friend and partner of 30 years. He’s been imprisoned for more than 26 years. He deserves to finally be free.