Vietnamese refugee detained 65 days after ICE check-in, released after federal intervention
Jan 12, 2026 · Anchorage, AK, Vietnam

A Vietnamese immigrant who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee in 1992 was detained by ICE on January 12, 2026, during what he believed was a routine check-in appointment at an Anchorage facility. ICE held him for 65 days in the Anchorage Correctional Complex, citing a denied green card application based on an old teenage criminal conviction from the 1990s. His attorney and immigration lawyers disputed the detention, arguing he was eligible for permanent residency under the Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act and that the criminal conviction on his DHS record was inaccurate. A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order, and ICE canceled his final administrative removal order on March 18, 2026, resulting in his release. He was released on conditions including an ankle monitor and weekly ICE reporting requirements.
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