A California man who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee more than four decades ago has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over a decades-old deportation order. Chuong Dong, convicted in 1989 of robbery and later probation violations, was taken into custody during a routine check-in, reigniting debate over immigration law, second chances, and due process.
Longstanding Deportation Order
Dong came to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1981 and later became a lawful permanent resident. His criminal record, including a 1989 robbery conviction, led to a removal order issued in 1999. Despite the ruling, Dong checked in regularly with immigration officials for years until his most recent transfer to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California.
Family Appeals for Compassion
His wife, Christy Huynh, has spoken out about the personal and community impact of his detention. “Chuong has fully turned his life around and has contributed greatly to our community,” she wrote in a statement. Huynh added that ICE agents dismissed her concerns during his check-in, saying, “To them, it’s like, destroying people, families, it’s something that they can laugh at.”
Legal Challenge in State Court
Attorney Adam Klugman has filed a motion to vacate Dong’s decades-old conviction under a 2017 California law that allows challenges if defendants were unaware of immigration consequences. A hearing is set for August in the San Diego County Court. Klugman said, “This is a due process issue, where his plea was fundamentally flawed and he did not knowingly accept these consequences.”
Defense Arguments on Due Process
Klugman stressed that Dong lacked understanding of the deportation’s meaning when he entered his plea. “If you had translated the concept of deportation in Vietnamese to him, his native language, he still would not have understood what that meant,” Klugman argued. He added, “Almost 40 years later, he is facing the consequences, which is very unfortunate because he’s a changed man.”
ICE Labels Dong a Felon
ICE officials maintain that Dong poses a threat due to his criminal record. Patrick Divver, Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in San Diego, said, “Dong is an illegal alien from Vietnam and a repeat felon who has racked up over five years in prison for various felonies to include robbery, multiple burglaries, and grand theft.”
Enforcement Justification from ICE
Divver continued, “Individuals who commit multiple violent felonies and defy lawful orders of removal issued by an immigration judge will not be allowed to remain in the United States. Dong will remain in ICE custody until he is deported. ICE San Diego is steadfast in its commitment to protecting the community by ensuring that dangerous criminals like Mr. Dong are removed.”
Community Support and Hardship
Despite ICE’s stance, Huynh and community members have rallied behind Dong, citing his rehabilitation and service. Huynh wrote, “His detention has caused great hardship to our family and created a void in the community he has long served.” Letters of community support have also been submitted to highlight his changed life and positive contributions.