A Vietnamese refugee with permanent residency in the United States, identified as Chuong Dong, was released after spending more than two months in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The case, reported by NBC San Diego, has generated national attention by exposing how old deportation orders continue to affect residents who have lived in the country for decades and entire families established.

The arrest that sparked the case

According to the media outlet, Dong was arrested during a routine immigration appointment in August at the San Diego ICE offices. What should have been a quick procedure ended with his transfer to the Otay Mesa Detention Center after the system failed to recognize his record and agents discovered an active deportation order dating back to 1999.

His wife, Christy Huynh, recounted that the process was surprising and confusing, as they waited for hours before the agents took him away. During his detention, the family held out hope of resolving the case and restoring his legal immigration status.

The process that led to his release

Days after his arrest, a San Diego County judge overturned the conviction that had led to his deportation order, as well as other old offenses that were no longer legally relevant. With that ruling, his legal team requested a halt to the immigration proceedings against him and the reinstatement of his permanent residency. According to NBC San Diego, on October 22, the family received the news: Chuong Dong was returning home with his Green Card restored. “The first thing I did was hold his hand, like we always do when we’re in the car,” Huynh said. “We couldn’t believe it. It was a mixture of relief, joy, and surprise.” For his lawyer, Derek Poulsen, the court decision represents “a great victory in difficult times for immigration.” He explained that his client not only regained his freedom but also the stability he had built over more than 40 years. Poulsen urged other immigrants in similar situations to seek legal counsel.noting that many could regularize their status if they were informed of their legal options.

Dong, for his part, stated that at the detention center he met dozens of people from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in similar circumstances, all with stories marked by past mistakes and prolonged legal processes. “No one was the worst of the worst,” he said, “just people trying to rebuild their lives.”

The Life Behind the Case

Born in Vietnam, Dong arrived in the United States in 1981, at the age of 12, as a war refugee. Shortly afterward, he obtained his permanent residency and began a new life. His youth was marked by abuse and dropping out of school, which led to legal problems in the late 1980s. After serving his sentence, he decided to start over.

In 2001, he married Christy Huynh, a U.S. citizen, with whom he had two children. Since then, he has worked as an inspector on hospital construction and healthcare projects, earning the respect of employers and colleagues who describe him as a responsible and dedicated professional. His wife said that after his release, they returned home to San Diego around 2 a.m., and just a few hours later, Dong went back to work. Although the couple has spent more than $70,000 on lawyers and legal fees over the years, they both say it has been worth it. “Nothing compares to her freedom,” Huynh said. “It’s better than winning the lottery.”