Help Melissa Reunite with Her Loved Ones

This GoFundMe has been created because so many members of the community have reached out to ask if they can support the Melissa's family financially. Neither Melissa's family nor her community group are requesting money. They do understand and are extremely grateful that people are led to help and give in many different ways. If you are a person who has asked about, or are someone who is led to help in this way, here is an official site to contribute to Melissa's family. All proceeds will be used for her legal fees and any financial shortfalls the family may experience as a result of her absence.

OUR FRIEND IS MISSING

#bringmelissahome

"Melissa" is missing. She is missing from her home. She is missing from the community that she loves. She is not however missing from our hearts and our minds. We plan to unite as a community to bring her home.

For almost 22 years, Melissa and her husband "Danny" have been contributing members of our community here in Hagerstown. As young people, they opened Nail Palace and Spa in the Longmeadow Shopping Center. They have built a thriving business. If you have ever had the pleasure of stepping through the door of their shop, you instantly become family to them, and they have become family to us. If you have been a client since they opened, your lives have likely been enriched as a result of watching their family grow and their business thrive. What you may not have known is that behind Melissa's sweet smile and kind, welcoming demeanor was a constant fear. This fear has been realized. On Monday May 12, 2025, our friend was taken into custody by ICE. She has been detained since that date. The threat of deportation to Vietnam is real and imminent.

The time to tell her whole story has come.

Melissa left Vietnam with her parents and 3 brothers as refugees in 1993. They fled to the Philippines and lived in a refugee camp for almost a year. While living there they received permission to come to the United States. She and her family were issued Green cards at that time. Melissa arrived in the U.S. when she was 11. She went to school and graduated High School in Northern Virginia. She began attending George Mason University, while working part time at a doctor's office. Melissa is a lover of all things science. Working at a doctor's office seemed a perfect fit. While working at the doctor's office and going to college she met a boy. With this boy came bad news. He had money issues and continued to try to make them Melissa's issues. Alas, young love and the things we will do in it's name. Melissa made a horrible 19-year-old girl in love decision to take money from the doctor she worked for and give it to the boyfriend. Please know that Melissa makes no excuses for this behavior. It was her decision. It was wrong. She paid full restitution and has repeatedly felt the repercussions of her actions. Melissa received a jail sentence and served a few months in jail. She got out of jail and made a promise to herself to better her life and never make such a poor choice again. In late 2003, shortly after meeting Danny, ICE knocked on her door. They took her into custody. During that time she was taken to immigration court. Because of her criminal conviction, they were able to get a final deportation order. Meaning they could remove her from the USA and return her to Vietnam. They held her in ICE detention for six months. But could not deport her as Vietnam, at that time was not willing to accept people back who had left the country before 1995. She left in 1993. ICE, by law, could not hold her indefinitely so they let her go home.

With the agreement that she check in with ICE each year. Melissa went on to build a life. She married Danny. Opened a business. Had four amazing children. Got a college degree. Became a home owner. A tax payer. A care provider for her dear friends, Kathy, and Jean.....and a beloved, contributing member of the Hagerstown community.

On Monday, May 12th, Melissa rose early as she always had before. Drove to Baltimore to check in. Without any warning she was immediately locked up, detained and told she was being deported to Vietnam. In two weeks time she has been moved from Baltimore to Louisiana to Arizona to Tacoma, Washington. Which is where she sits today.

It is incumbent upon us, as her friends to make good noise to anyone who will listen in an effort to get our friend back home with her children, her husband, and her community that loves her!

On paper, our Melissa is truly a girl without a state. Without a nation. Without a home. Please help us make it clear that we know exactly where her home is...and where she belongs!