America: The fact that LS Tony Pham is the new director of ICE is controversial

The news that Tony Pham, a Vietnamese-American, was appointed to lead the controversial United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in the community.

While his rise was supported by some compatriots, others were bitter and many expressed the expectation that, with his refugee background, LS Tony Pham would have a more understanding view of immigrants. Vietnamese immigrants and other refugees.

In an interview with BBC News Vietnamese, California resident Ngo Van Hieu, co-founder of the Vietnam Human Rights Network, said:

This appointment of LS Tony Pham as Director of ICE has its pros and cons. But the more I think, the more I see the horror of this event. ”

” Mr. Tony was originally a child with his family evacuated from Vietnam and authorized to legally immigrate to the United States through the United States. But the fact that a government has a reputation for being tough on refugees and illegal immigrants, using a former refugee to control immigrants, including many asylum seekers, is unfortunate. Yep. ”

Immediately following the announcement of Tony Pham’s appointment on August 26, Tracy La, VietRISE CEO, sent out a press release asking Tony to recall the origin of the refugees:

“As a Vietnamese youth fighting organization in the largest Vietnamese community in the United States, led by youth who have witnessed the horrors of ICE in Little Saigon, California, he led us. pleads with Tony Pham to remember his background as a refugee and to do the right thing, respecting the human rights of all immigrants and refugees. ”

VietRISE not only calls, but also clearly lists what these organizations expect Tony Pham to do:

“If Mr. Pham remains a bit loyal to refugees, he will begin by announcing the closure of ICE immigrant prison camps, suspending all deportations during the pandemic, ending the collusion ICE took on groups that were enemies of him and immediately released all those detained by immigration. In other ways, he turned his back on the refugees and sided with a major agency. Rogue government that only appears as a threat in our community.

When asked about his expectation that LS Pham would be treated more comprehensively with Vietnamese refugees who were in danger of deportation, Mr. Ngo Van Hieu replied:

”I hope so. But the Director position is high and important, but it is only an executive position. So he was only afraid that Tony would “have to dance at night” because he had to do everything he could to please President Trump and other anti-immigrant supporters of Trump.

We must remember that Professor Dinh Viet, Deputy Minister of Justice, also helped the administration of President George W. Bush to draft the Patriot Act of 2001, including some restrictions on human rights. Mr. Viet was a refugee because he was trampled on for human rights by the communist government after 1975; Yet in 2002, he was eager to help President Bush draft a law that violates human rights. ”

Mr. Hieu stated:

In this role, even if he wants to help the refugees, Mr. Tony Pham cannot do much for them. You can take comfort in thinking that if you don’t work as the director of ICE, someone else will. But, with the day of the presidential election and the National Assembly approaching, if President Trump and the Conservatives control the National Assembly, Tony or who is the director of ICE, asylum seekers to the United States and immigrants will be limited and difficult; If the opposition wins, I think the rules will be easier. ”

Both the appointment of Tony Pham to head the agency of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and his expectations have provoked mixed reactions in many Facebook circles. Facebooker Nina Hoabinh writes on her personal page:

” I can’t understand why anyone said they were proud to see Tony Pham being appointed to head ICE. Am I wrong or not? ”

Facebooker Anh Thu Nguyen, also on Facebook personally wrote:

” Have you seen this news? I am very concerned that the right-wing Vietnamese media will use this to further their anti-immigration argument, as the Vietnamese have long established themselves in the United States. ”

Former San Jose member LS Tam Nguyen commented: “ Using the asylum to deport the asylum, only Trump can do that. ”

Facebook’s Sunny Do commented: ” What if I had reforms that improve ICE? People hate him just because he’s Vietnamese. Honestly.”

Duc Nguyen of Facebook noted: “ Tony Pham is a completely different legal refugee from illegal immigrants. ”

On the score of the “ totally legal refugees ” that Hieu Van Ngo analyzed on Facebook:

” It should be added that political refugees departing from Vietnam, who have been previously agreed by the US government and Vietnam, are considered “legal immigration” from Vietnam to the United States.

But if the person travels to Thailand or another second country to request asylum in the United States, although the Refugee Convention allows the right to request asylum, Thailand or Malaysia may also consider it illegal immigration. Of course, when the United States allows US asylum (temporary residence with I-94) it is legal. So those who used to come to America legally (after coming to Thailand, Malaysia, Africa etc … illegally) and then aggressively joined the “anti-immigration” mafia to mistreat people from Central and South America who they crossed the border. Coming to America is very bitter. ”

The promotion of Mr. Tony Pham took place in the context that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had many personnel changes.

President Trump’s announcement Tuesday said he was nominating Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf as minister. Mr. Chad Wolf served as Acting Minister for 10 months.

The ever-changing status of ICE staff likely makes the appointment of attorney Tony Pham attract the attention and controversy of the American people.

In particular, on the Reddit forum, this news is also widely discussed.

The Mystery_Biscuits signer commented optimistically:

Certainly, a person has benefited from the Immigration and Citizenship Act [Immigration and Nationality Act, gọi tắt là INA] 1965, religion gave refugees the opportunity to become Americans. I firmly believe that he will extend the same kind of benevolence based on his authority! ”

Serene Chapter signer disagrees:

”It is not. Do not wait! It will be a minority pushing tough policies against minorities and will be seen by Republicans as immune from accusations of racism or xenophobia. ”

Commenter named Lawyxr commented:

Most conservative Vietnamese Americans / war refugees have far-right tendencies. Not all of it is good news. ”

But why is the appointment of a Vietnamese-American to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency causing the public to be shocked and appear more anxious and excited?

According to the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), during Trump’s tenure, the deportation of Southeast Asians increased at an alarming rate. In fiscal year 2017, the number of deportees in the Vietnamese community increased dramatically, with 71 people compared to 35 in 2016.

Furthermore, Tony Pham’s nomination comes at a particularly difficult time when many people are recovering from economic health and the deterioration of the pandemic. Earlier this month, ICE deported 30 Vietnamese Americans, including several refugees believed to be protected by a 2008 agreement between the United States and Vietnam.

In a statement sent on August 26, ICE wrote:

“As a seasoned DHS leader, Tony will ensure that ICE continues to protect our country’s borders from crime and illegal immigration. Pham, who joined ICE in January 2020, will serve as the senior official serving as Director of the agency ”.

LS Tony Pham’s biography posted on the ICE website states that the person who was recently appointed to lead this organization was born in Saigon and came to the United States as a refugee in 1975. Mr. Tony Pham officially became a US citizen ten the following year in 1985. ”

“When I came to this country looking for hope and opportunity as a refugee, I signed a debt with the United States. I have a debt for my freedoms and opportunities, a debt to pay. I will pay it by committing myself to my community as an ethical citizen and passing on my experience. and opportunities to serve those around me. ” The ICE website quotes LS Tony Pham.

Before joining ICE as a prosecutor, LS Tony Pham worked as an attorney for local government officials in Virginia. Thereafter, he continued as a warden at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Prison.

A senior Homeland Security official told CNN that Pham was “well suited to the current administration.”

ICE did not respond to a request for comment from Vietnamese BBC News.