Who is An Nguyen?

An Nguyen is a Vietnamese refugee who came to the United States as a child in 1990 to be reunited with his family, who migrated to the U.S. five years before him. As a youth, An’s family struggled with poverty and adjusting to life in a new country. Facing poverty, racism and bullying as a youth, he ultimately made a mistake that resulted in a series of robberies. An served over 20 years in prison for the robberies, and while there he chose to turn his life around. He participated in multiple self-help programs to better understand and take responsibility for the consequences of his actions, worked multiple  jobs and enrolled in job skills training, and cared for his family emotionally by calling and writing to them.

Today, An is a beloved father, brother, and an uncle, and serves as a primary caretaker to his elderly mother. He has a large family of 28 members who all live in the U.S. and love him dearly, and he has a large support system of community members who believe in him and need him here. 

However, a series of federal immigration bills that passed in 1996 made immigrant detention mandatory and expanded the list of deportable offenses for immigrants and refugees. Despite completing his sentence, An is one of many refugees who continue to be double punished by these harsh immigration laws. An was transferred to ICE and placed in deportation proceedings shortly after his release from prison in October 2019. A month later, an immigration judge ordered An to be deported despite completing his prison sentence. Because ICE was unable to effectuate his deportation at this time, An was released shortly after. In March 2020, An came in for what he believed was a regular check-in, but ICE re-detained him.  

He, his family, and attorneys were able to fight for his release from detention through a habeas petition and because An’s health conditions made him medically vulnerable to severe illness or death from COVID-19. Since his release, An, his community, and family have fought hard for him to be able to stay home

An should not be punished again by being deported and permanently separated from his family. A pardon from Governor Newsom will ensure An continues his re-entry journey with his loved ones and community. Join us to #KeepAnHome.