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

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CALLING ON VIETNAM TO RELEASE MICHAEL NGUYEN

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 20, 2019

  Mr. SHERMAN. Madam Speaker, I want to join my colleagues, especially 
Katie Porter who has shown exceptional leadership on this important 
issue, in calling on Vietnam to release Michael Nguyen and allow him to 
return home to his family.
  Born in Vietnam, Michael left the country in 1975 and is a U.S. 
citizen who lives in my home state of California. Michael has lived in 
the United States for decades and has no criminal record. In fact, he 
has been an exemplary citizen. Besides being a business owner and 
committed family man, Michael is active in his church and his 
community.
  In July 2018, Michael traveled to Vietnam to visit elderly family 
members. He had regularly gone on trips to Vietnam. This time, however, 
Michael was detained and imprisoned by the Vietnamese police. It was 
over a week before Vietnam even acknowledged Michael had been detained. 
Then, for nearly a year, his family, the American consulate, and 
concerned members of Congress were given no information about his 
alleged wrongdoings. Instead, despite repeated inquiries into the 
nature of his alleged crimes, the Vietnamese authorities kept stating 
that he was under investigation. It is a red flag that Michael was 
imprisoned for months and months without being formally charged with a 
crime. Making matters worse, he was not allowed to speak or see his 
family members, nor was he given access to an attorney.
  Only recently was Michael officially indicted on the vague charge of 
carrying out activities against the Vietnamese government. Although 
Michael's trial is expected to begin later this month, his alleged 
transgressions are apparently still a state secret in Vietnam.
  As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, I hope 
to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship. Our two countries have 
many common interests. Despite the scars of history, we have a 
burgeoning friendship. Many U.S. companies have large operations in 
Vietnam--including Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Levi's, and Converse--
helping to propel Vietnam's extraordinary economic growth.
  Michael's unjust imprisonment jeopardizes this progress. To avoid 
that outcome, the Vietnamese government should immediately release 
Michael and allow him to return home to his family in California. That 
would be a win-win outcome for the United States and Vietnam. Most 
importantly, it would bring an end to the unimaginable tragedy 
Michael's loving wife and children have had to endure over the last 
year.

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