SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Chuong Dong, a California man who has lived in the U.S. for more than four decades, during a routine check-in last week in NBC San Diego.
Dong, who came to the U.S. as a 12-year-old refugee from Vietnam in 1981 and later obtained a green card, was taken into custody because of a 1999 deportation order tied to old criminal convictions. ICE confirmed the detention, calling Dong “an illegal alien” and “a repeat felon.”
Dong’s detention highlights the Donald Trump administration’s tougher immigration enforcement, which has put longtime residents with decades-old convictions under renewed scrutiny, even if they have complied with immigration reporting requirements.
What happened
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Dong reported for his annual ICE check-in, but a kiosk failed to recognize his information.
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He was then transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County.
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Records show he previously served over five years in prison for robbery, multiple burglaries, and grand theft.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) notes that lawful permanent residents can be removed if they commit crimes or other actions that violate immigration law.
Dong’s wife, Christy Huynh, a U.S. citizen, said the couple has been married for more than 20 years and their two children are also U.S. citizens. She told NBC 7 San Diego:
“He became a new, different person after serving his time.”
Family friend Hung Huynh appealed on Instagram for Gov. Gavin Newsom to intervene, writing:
“Chuong has fully turned his life around and has contributed greatly to our community.”
Legal battle ahead
Dong’s attorney, Adam Klugman, said they filed a motion to vacate Dong’s 1989 conviction under a California law allowing challenges to pleas made without understanding immigration consequences. A hearing is scheduled for August 26 in San Diego County Court.
“This is a due process issue, where his plea was fundamentally flawed and he did not knowingly accept these consequences,” Klugman said.
ICE officials, however, argue that Dong has ignored a valid removal order for more than 25 years. Patrick Divver, ICE’s San Diego field office director, stated:
“Dong is an illegal alien from Vietnam and a repeat felon who has racked up over five years in prison… Further, Dong has been under a final order of removal for over 25 years clearly choosing to ignore this court order.”
What’s next
The August 26 hearing will decide whether Dong’s 1989 conviction can be vacated. Even if successful, federal immigration officials will still decide whether to reopen or modify his deportation proceedings.
Dong remains in ICE custody at Otay Mesa Detention Center.
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