Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a Vietnamese national convicted of attempted murder of a police officer who remained free in America for over 15 years because his home country refused to accept him back, marking a significant shift in deportation policy under the Trump administration.
Decades of Failed Deportation Attempts
Dinh Quy Nguyen was convicted of attempted capital murder of a police officer and burglary on June 28, 1989. Despite receiving a final deportation order in 1997, he walked free in 2011 after Vietnam refused repatriation. ICE agents finally arrested him in Houston on May 5, 2026. For over a decade, immigration officials considered Nguyen untouchable under a previous agreement that prevented the United States from deporting Vietnamese citizens who arrived before July 12, 1995. Nguyen entered the country on December 15, 1977, effectively shielding him from removal despite his violent criminal record.
After being taken into ICE custody in 2011, Nguyen was released and allowed to roam free in our communities due to a previous
New Administration Takes Action
The arrest represents a major policy shift under President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis emphasized the timing during National Police Week, stating the agency removed this criminal to prevent further victimization of Americans. Department of Homeland Security officials say recent policy changes aim to eliminate longstanding diplomatic barriers that allowed certain convicted criminals to remain in the United States. The renewed enforcement effort targets individuals who previously escaped deportation due to technical diplomatic obstacles.
Long Criminal History in America
Nguyen’s nearly five-decade presence in America began with his admission in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1977. An immigration judge issued his final removal order on December 30, 1997, which the Board of Immigration Appeals affirmed on May 26, 1998. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice transferred him to ICE custody on March 17, 2011, but authorities released him just three months later when Vietnam refused to take him back. He remained free until this recent arrest.
What Happens Next
Nguyen is currently detained at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, awaiting his removal to Vietnam. The Department of Homeland Security says this case demonstrates a commitment to ensuring heinous criminals can no longer victimize Americans due to diplomatic technicalities. The new enforcement approach signals that foreign nationals with violent criminal convictions will face deportation regardless of previous diplomatic obstacles. This policy reversal affects thousands of foreign nationals who were previously shielded from removal by bilateral agreements with their home countries.
Although I don’t totally understand the deportation “reasoning”, why on earth was he just released back into society? Why couldn’t he be detained? If Vietnam refuses to take him back again now, will he just be released back into society again? Something is wrong with that picture!
He attempted murder of a police officer. Vietnam did not want him back so now what ? he was set free ? Why was he not Put in jail ?
hang him
There is no way this monster, did not commit other crimes. Those, should also be listed. If their Country of origin, refuses to take back their garbage. Send them to a 3rd World hell-hole prison.