Washington, DC – Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), expresses dismay at the recent detainment of a Vietnamese refugee family by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, just days after the family’s 24-year old daughter was reported to have advocated publicly in support of H.R. 1275, the American Dream Act.   

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested the parents and brother of Tam Tran, a 24-year old UCLA graduate who testified before Congress in May on the plight of undocumented immigrant students.  Tran has been an ardent supporter of the American Dream Act, which would allow undocumented immigrant students to apply for legal status if they have completed two years of postsecondary education or military service.  Passage of the American Dream Act is an immigration priority for CAPAC. 

The family, detained overnight and released to house arrest after Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) intervened, had received final deportation orders in 2001 after their appeal for political asylum was denied.  Rep. Lofgren is chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee which called Tran as a witness.  

Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15): “I am deeply concerned about the recent detainment of Tam Tran’s family. It sends a disturbing message to others who are advocating on behalf of immigrant communities or who otherwise participate in our democracy by speaking out.”

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16): “The arrest of Tam Tran and her family raise troubling issues of witness intimidation.  It is now startling to hear a spokesman for the government suggest that the victim of a re-education camp in Vietnam might be forcibly returned to the arms of that Communist government.”