FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 28, 2020

CONTACT: Tracy La, tracy@vietrise.org

Vietnamese Refugee, Tin Nguyen, is Released from Adelanto ICE Detention Center

The public and legal campaign to release Vietnamese Refugee Tin Nguyen from the Adelanto ICE Detention Center, after being incarcerated for 22 years and detained by ICE for 9 months, successfully brings Tin home to his family and loved ones.

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — On Monday afternoon, Vietnamese refugee Tin Nguyen was released from the Adelanto ICE Detention Facility and reunited with his family after 22 years of incarceration and 9 months in ICE Detention. Less than two weeks ago, a public campaign was launched to #BringTinHome to coincide with the filing of a habeas petition for Tin’s release. 

An outpouring of support from across the county and country that consisted of calls to ICE, over 600 community petition signatures, and a press conference that consisted of speakers including Tin’s three sisters and mother, Congress members Lou Correa and Alan Lowenthal, Santa Ana Council Member Vicente Sarmiento, immigration attorney Sabrina Rivera from CARECEN, and Vietnamese-American advocacy group VietRISE all came together to demand ICE release Tin and bring him home.

“I am just too excited and all I can say is finally. Tin worked so hard and long to come home. We all worked so hard together with him and now he’s coming home,” said Tin’s youngest sister, Thuy Nguyen. “Our 84-year old mother can now live the rest of her life peacefully knowing her son is home with her after being apart for 22 years.”

Tin Nguyen is a Vietnamese refugee who immigrated to the U.S. as a child. He served 22 years of incarceration due to mistakes he made as a youth. He transformed his life while incarcerated and was granted a commutation by Governor Brown in 2018 to give him a second chance to rejoin his community. He was granted parole in 2019 but instead of coming home to his family, Tin was detained by ICE.

“Every day that ICE continued to detain Tin, they were violating his constitutional right to due process, detaining him far past the legal limit that forbids indefinite civil detention, and neglecting his medical conditions as someone who is at increased risk of contracting COVID-19,” said Ben Seelig and Alex Duran, Tin’s pro bono attorneys from O’Melveny & Myers LLP. “We filed a habeas corpus petition on Tin’s behalf to force the government to explain their justification for Tin’s cruel and inhumane detention.”

“I am glad that Tin was released by ICE earlier today and is back with his family. Like many youth in the Vietnamese diaspora, Tin was only a child when he came to the U.S. in 1979. He faced numerous difficulties while trying to learn English and assimilating to his new home. Growing up, he made some bad decisions, but he has paid his debt to society,” said Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46). “Ultimately, Tin learned from his mistakes, and took steps to change his life. I am excited to see what he makes of this opportunity and overjoyed that he can finally return home to his loved ones.”

“I was proud to lead a letter to the Acting Secretary of DHS advocating for Mr. Nguyen’s immediate release and I am glad that he can now return to his family and his life. He should never have been taken into custody after his parole. Tin and his family have fought for years for him to come home,” said Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47). “I am inspired by the legal advocacy and outpouring of community support that have made his release possible.”

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