Vietnam Agrees to Speed Up Deportations of Citizens from the U.S. Amid Trade Pressure

Vietnam has agreed to expedite the repatriation of several dozen Vietnamese nationals detained in the U.S. and to handle future deportation requests more swiftly, following U.S. threats of trade tariffs and visa sanctions, according to a lawyer familiar with the matter.

This decision is part of a broader set of concessions Vietnam is considering to maintain stable trade relations with the U.S., its largest export market. Among America’s top trade partners, Vietnam is the most reliant on exports to the U.S., making potential tariffs a significant economic risk.

Faster Processing for U.S. Deportation Requests

As part of the new agreement, Vietnam has committed to processing U.S. deportation requests within 30 days—a significant acceleration compared to previous timelines, said Tin Thanh Nguyen, a U.S.-based immigration attorney.

Nguyen, who received details from a Vietnamese official, also stated that within the first month of the second Trump administration, Vietnam agreed to issue travel documents for 30 Vietnamese nationals currently in U.S. detention, clearing the way for their deportation.

“This is unusual,” Nguyen noted. “In the past, Vietnam often delayed or outright refused to issue these documents, making deportations difficult.”

When asked about Vietnam’s stance, Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said:
“We expect all countries to take back their citizens who are in the U.S. illegally. Those that refuse will face consequences such as visa sanctions or tariffs.”

Vietnam’s foreign ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment. However, in a previous statement issued in February, a spokesperson reaffirmed that Vietnam would continue working closely with the U.S. on citizen repatriation in line with existing agreements.

Trade Risks Looming for Vietnam

Since the start of Trump’s second term, the U.S. has deported 37,660 people, primarily to Latin American countries. While the exact number of Vietnamese deportees remains unclear, some have reportedly been sent to Panama as part of deportation processing.

A Vietnamese official told Nguyen that the shift in Vietnam’s approach was triggered by warnings from U.S. authorities about potential trade tariffs and unspecified visa restrictions if Hanoi continued delaying deportations.

While Trump himself has not directly targeted Vietnam in his latest trade policies, his aides have raised concerns about Vietnam’s large trade surplus and trade barriers, putting the country at risk of future tariffs.

Vietnam is particularly vulnerable to any new global duties on semiconductors, as it is among the top exporters of chips to the U.S. Any restrictions on this sector could have serious economic consequences.

Who Is Affected?

Most of the 8,600 Vietnamese nationals currently facing deportation orders in the U.S. are individuals who originally entered the country as refugees before 1995, following the end of the Vietnam War.

While the latest agreement signals a willingness from Vietnam to comply with U.S. immigration policies, it also underscores the broader geopolitical and economic challenges shaping relations between the two countries.

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider