U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper has urged Vietnamese citizens to avoid illegal migration, warning against the false promises of smugglers, online scammers, and visa fixers.
In a 1.5-minute video posted on the U.S. Embassy’s Facebook page, Knapper shared the tragic story of 17 people from Vietnam, Egypt, India, and Iran who attempted to sail from Colombia to Nicaragua on their way to the U.S. The boat sank just 200 meters from shore, resulting in five deaths, including two children, while four people remain missing. Three young Vietnamese were among those rescued.
“This journey was supposed to lead them to a better life, but instead, they found suffering, regret, and even death,” Knapper said. He emphasized that such illegal attempts by land, air, or sea come at great cost—draining savings, risking health, and, in many cases, costing lives.
Every year, hundreds of men, women, and children go missing or die while trying to reach the U.S. unlawfully. Even those who make it often end up in detention or fall victim to human trafficking. U.S. immigration authorities routinely apprehend and deport illegal immigrants, including Vietnamese nationals, back to their home countries.
“These tragedies are preventable,” Knapper stated. “As Vietnam’s friends and partners, we implore you not to take this illegal and dangerous journey.”
Vietnam’s Response
Following the boat tragedy off Nicaragua’s coast, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba and Nicaragua confirmed on Monday that three Vietnamese citizens survived. Two hold Hungarian residence cards, while the third has a Vietnamese driver’s license from Thua Thien-Hue Province.
During a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference on Thursday, spokesperson Pham Thu Hang reaffirmed Vietnam’s stance on lawful migration. She emphasized that Vietnam supports its citizens living, studying, and working abroad, provided they comply with domestic, host country, and international laws.
Regarding the deportation of undocumented Vietnamese immigrants from the U.S., Hang confirmed that repatriations are conducted under a bilateral agreement on citizen returns. She reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to working closely with the U.S. on this issue.
Strengthening Law Enforcement Cooperation
In Hanoi on Thursday, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang met with Ambassador Knapper to discuss security collaboration between the Ministry of Public Security and U.S. law enforcement. The talks focused on curbing illegal immigration, combating cybercrime, and tackling transnational organized crime.
Earlier, Knapper also met with Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien to discuss trade relations, supply chain cooperation, and fair trade between Vietnam and the U.S.
By reinforcing law enforcement ties and public awareness, both nations aim to prevent illegal immigration and its devastating consequences.
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Source: Vietnam Insider