Nhon Ngoc Nguyen

Nhon Ngoc Nguyen was a Vietnamese Refugee who was granted legal residency in 1983. In 1991 he was convicted of second degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. An initial immigration detainer was issued in 2004 when he was in serving this sentence in San Quentin State Prison.

In 2013 he was transferred to Ice Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) after being released on Parole. At this time the Vietnamese government declined to issue travel documentation, and as a result ERO issued him an order of supervision and released him from custody.

On February 24, 2025 ICE agents arrested Nhon in Albuquerque, NM in an attempt to fulfill a final notice of removal and detained him at El Paso Processing Center (EPC). An initial medial intake was attempted by staff at EPC where he showed normal vital signs, but the exam was not completed due to his altered mental state and disorientation. EPC Staff referred him to University Medical Center (UMC) in El Paso, TX. 

On February 26, Nhon was transferred to Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) Hospital, in El Paso, TX, where he remained until March 13 when he was discharged to EPC. On the same day a review of his discharge papers showed that a CT scan had of brain atrophy and small-vessel ischemic changes of the brain, it was also noted at this time that he was unable to feed himself or use the bathroom independently, and he was referred back to UMC for evaluation.

On March 26, Nhon was transferred back to LTAC due to his struggle with activities of daily living until he was discharged to EPC again, due to stable vital signs. From EPC was admitted to their medical housing unit (MHU). On April 7th he was returned to LTAC where his condition continued to deteriorate and he was referred to hospice care. On April 14th a no not resuscitate order was issued and on on April 16th he was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.