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Australian man tackled by plainclothes ICE agents at Las Vegas airport, arrested next day in Los Angeles

Jul 14, 2026 · Las Vegas, NV, Vietnam

Australian man tackled by plainclothes ICE agents at Las Vegas airport, arrested next day in Los Angeles

Phu Nguyen, a 57-year-old Australian citizen born in Vietnam, was tackled and handcuffed by two plainclothes ICE agents in Terminal 3 of Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on July 13, 2026. Nguyen had entered the United States legally on a visa in May 2013 but remained in the country after his authorized stay expired in May 2015. Bystander and filmmaker Chris Motley recorded the confrontation on the airport floor; when officers realized they were being filmed, they withdrew, leaving one handcuff attached to Nguyen's wrist. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrived and removed the handcuff, finding no outstanding warrants. The following day, ICE agents arrested Nguyen at Los Angeles International Airport as he boarded a departing flight. He is currently held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Centre in California pending removal proceedings.

Timeline

Jul 14, 2026ICE agents arrested Nguyen at Los Angeles International Airport as he boarded a departing flight
Jul 14, 2026Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus and Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Caucus called for investigation into use of force, plainclothes appearance of officers, and public nature of confrontation
Jul 13, 2026Plainclothes ICE agents tackled and handcuffed Nguyen at Harry Reid International Airport Terminal 3 in Las Vegas; bystander Chris Motley recorded the confrontation; agents withdrew when they realized they were being filmed, leaving one handcuff attached; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police removed the handcuff and found no outstanding warrants
May 2015Nguyen's authorized visa expired; he remained in the country
May 2013Phu Nguyen entered the United States legally on a visa
After 7/14/2026Nguyen held at Adelanto ICE Processing Centre in California pending removal proceedings

Sources

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