Ngoc Phan was preparing for her husband’s deportation to Vietnam when everything changed unexpectedly. On April 15, 2025, her husband, Tuan Thanh Phan, was set to leave the U.S. after serving a lengthy prison sentence. The couple had been ready for this moment, gathering luggage and filling out necessary paperwork. Family in Vietnam was waiting to welcome him. However, in a shocking twist, he was instead deported to South Sudan.
Tuan, once a green card holder, had his residency revoked due to a conviction for first-degree murder and second-degree assault stemming from a gang-related incident in 2000. After serving about 25 years in prison, he was picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 3, the day he was supposed to be released. Ngoc expressed her confusion and heartbreak, stating there was no prior indication he would be sent anywhere other than Vietnam.
The decision to send detainees to South Sudan raised serious concerns. Tuan was among several individuals who were initially told they would be deported to their home countries, only to find out later that South Sudan would be their destination. This country is known for its instability and poverty, which has led many to question the safety of deporting individuals there.
ICE officials defended the deportations, claiming that many of the detainees’ home countries, including Mexico and Vietnam, were unwilling to accept them back due to their criminal records. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons emphasized the need to remove individuals deemed public safety threats from the U.S. However, immigration lawyers argued that the deportees were not given adequate time to contest their removals and lacked proper legal representation.
A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that deportees must be given more time to contest their removal to third countries, stating that they should receive notice in their native language and have at least 15 days to prepare. This ruling came after a deportation flight to South Sudan was already underway, leading to a legal battle over the rights of those being sent back.
As of now, Tuan and others remain in detention at a military base in Djibouti while the government fights the court’s order. Ngoc has not heard from her husband since he was taken away, leaving her anxious and frustrated. She feels the administration is unfairly categorizing him with others who may have entered the country illegally or committed multiple offenses.
The situation highlights the ongoing complexities of U.S. immigration policies, particularly the use of third countries for deportations. Critics argue that such practices undermine due process and risk sending individuals to dangerous environments. As the legal battles continue, families like Ngoc’s are left in uncertainty, waiting for answers and hoping for justice.