This past week, my husband Thien was detained and taken into ICE custody. This is the hardest thing our family has ever faced.
Thien came to the United States in 1984 as a refugee when he was just 3 years old. A year later, he became a permanent resident. At 16, he made a mistake that cost him his green card status, and an order of removal was issued. He took responsibility, served his time, and was released early. But Vietnam was not accepting deportees, so instead of being deported, he was placed on an order of supervision.
For the last 24 years, Thien has honored every single condition of that order without exception. He maintained his work authorization, built his own business, and raised a family. Last week, Thien received an official notice for an interview appointment. He went to that appointment as he had honored faithfully for 24 years. He showed up, as he always has and they detained him within 10 minutes. No interview, they just took him.
He did everything right. He followed every rule, every appointment he faithfully showed up and now with this new administration, they just took him anyway and now is detained for deportation.
Thien has lived in America for 41 years. This is the only home he has ever known. He does not deserve to be ripped away from the life he built here and the family who needs him.
He is one of the most fun, loving, and hardworking people I know. He gives to others without a second thought. His sudden absence has left a hole in our home that none of us know how to fill. Our 5-year-old keeps asking where her daddy is. Our older girls are trying to stay strong when they shouldn’t have to. And I am trying to hold it all together while my heart is completely broken.
We are doing everything we can to fight for him. The legal battle ahead is urgent and extremely expensive. Immigration attorneys and legal defense fees are overwhelming with no guarantees. We are fighting against a government decision that is already in motion. But Thien needs to know we got him. Our kids need their father home and America is his home.
We are urgently raising funds to retain experienced legal representation to fight his deportation in immigration court.
If you can donate, please do. No amount is too small. Every dollar goes directly toward keeping this family together. If you cannot donate, please share this page. The more people who know Thien’s story, the better our chances.
Your prayers, your shares, and your generosity mean more to us than words can say. Thank you for loving our family through this.