Summary
Melissa Tran, a mother from Maryland, spent five months in detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to a crime she committed over two decades ago. President Donald Trump's administration has increased deportations, affecting individuals with past or minor legal issues. Tran was released after her case was highlighted and a judge ordered her release.
Key Facts
- Melissa Tran was detained by ICE for five months because of a legal issue from more than 20 years ago.
- Tran immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam as a refugee in the early 1990s.
- In her youth, she pleaded guilty to forgery and larceny, involving checks from her summer job.
- Vietnam initially did not accept deportees from the U.S. who arrived before 1995, which led to her release back then.
- Tran had been regularly checking in with immigration officials for 21 years without problems until May 2025.
- She was detained during a routine check-in, with no immediate explanation, and transferred to various detention centers.
- During her detention, she faced long transfers, limited communication with family, and inadequate living conditions.
- Tran was eventually released after a judge's order following community support and media coverage.
