Release Michael Nguyen

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address this body and demand the release of one of our constituents, Michael Nguyen, a law-abiding American citizen with no criminal record in the United States.

He was arrested almost a year ago in Vietnam while visiting his elderly relatives. He has been held in detention for almost a year.

This unjust imprisonment is due, essentially, to one act, which is his expression of freedom of speech. He has experienced extreme hardship, both mentally and physically, while in prison.

It is unacceptable that an American citizen is detained in Vietnam for almost a year for nothing else than expressing his freedom of speech. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has not provided us with any evidence of wrongdoing that would justify such an arrest. The government has, instead, confirmed that he is being charged with violating article 109 of Vietnam's penal code, which is essentially a catch-all.

What is his crime again? His freedom of speech, expressing his opposition to government policy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Government of Vietnam to release this American citizen. They are charging him with nothing more than expressing his freedom of speech.

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