June 20, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 104 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CASE OF MR. MICHAEL NGUYEN

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 20, 2019

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I stand here today in support of 
Michael Phuong Minh Nguyen--a proud American citizen, a loving husband 
to Helen Nguyen, and a doting father of four young daughters.
  However, it saddens me deeply that Mr. Nguyen has been unjustly 
detained by the Vietnamese government for over eleven months now--
nearly a year--which has caused immense suffering for his family and 
his entire community.
  Mr. Nguyen was arrested on July 7, 2018 while visiting relatives in 
Vietnam, detained without official charges, and is only now finally to 
stand trial next week on June 24, 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City.
  Mr. Nguyen has been an upstanding, model citizen of the United States 
for some 40 years and, to my knowledge, has no criminal record.
  In fact, he is an entrepreneur and a small business owner.
  He is also a man of faith and is actively involved in his local 
community church.
  One of our most sacred duties as elected officials is to protect our 
citizens from harm--on both domestic and foreign soil--and indeed I 
have never given up on my constituents even after they have been 
deported or detained abroad.
  This is why, since his detention last year, I have consistently 
urged, to both the United States and Vietnamese governments, swift 
action be taken to expeditiously return Mr. Michael Nguyen home.
  I am tremendously grateful to my colleagues in both chambers and on 
both sides of the aisle for their tireless advocacy on behalf of Mr. 
Nguyen and his family.
  Madam Speaker, I close by respectfully imploring the Vietnamese 
government to do the right thing--ensure a fair trial, a speedy 
resolution, and justice for Michael Nguyen.

                          ____________________