Refugee detained at ICE appointment after 24 years complying with supervision order
Jun 8, 2026·Location: Lincoln, NE
Country of origin: Vietnam
DetainmentLPR/Green CardFamilyCourt Order ViolationRefugeeWork AuthorizationAsian/Pacific IslanderICE/USCIS OfficeNebraska

Thien, who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee in 1984 at age 3 and became a permanent resident, lost his green card status at 16 due to a mistake. After serving his sentence, he was placed on an order of supervision rather than deported because Vietnam was not accepting deportees. For 24 years, he complied with every condition of the order, maintained work authorization, built a business, and raised a family. When he attended a scheduled immigration appointment, he was detained within 10 minutes without an interview and is now facing deportation.
Sources
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