Case of Mr. Michael Nguyen

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source