‘One of a Kind’ Tucson Physical Therapist Faces Deportation After 35 Years

(TUCSON) A “one of a kind” Tucson physical therapist, who fled Laos as a child with his family in the 1970s, is facing deportation based on a crime committed more than 35 years ago. Court filings and local advocates say the case remains active as of mid-2025, with no public confirmation of a final removal order. The outcome could affect not only one clinician’s future but also the patients who rely on his specialized care in Tucson.

Immigration attorneys following the case say the crime at issue has not been publicly detailed. That matters because U.S. immigration law treats certain convictions—especially older drug or theft offenses—very differently from violent felonies or aggravated felonies, which can make relief much harder.

In this case, supporters focus on the man’s decades in the United States, his work record, and his family ties, while the government emphasizes that a past conviction can still trigger removal, even after many years.

Public Concern and Local Protests

The case has unfolded alongside growing public concern in Tucson about immigration enforcement near health care settings. In May 2025, more than 200 protesters gathered outside Tucson Medical Center, according to local reports, urging hospitals to keep immigration enforcement agents away from patients and staff.

Organizers said they were motivated by stories of long-time residents—including health workers—facing deportation. The physical therapist’s situation has become a focal point for that concern, with supporters calling him “one of a kind” in his field and warning that his removal would disrupt care for local patients who depend on continuity and trust built over many years.

Advocates also note how rare the path to the United States was for his family, who left Laos during a period of upheaval in Southeast Asia. For many who arrived as children, the United States became home in every sense—school, work, military service, business ownership, and raising families. Yet immigration law can still treat a decades-old conviction as grounds for removal, and the clock does not erase the legal weight of a past offense.

Enforcement Context and Supervision Programs

Current enforcement practices have sharpened the stakes. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to carry out removals for people with criminal records, including convictions from long ago.

Recent developments and trends include:

• Tighter enforcement in several regions during 2024 and 2025.
• Procedural changes that give wider access to certain hearings.
• Increased use of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), which:
  • Keeps people in the community under monitoring.
  • Often involves check-ins or ankle devices.
  • Serves as an alternative to detention for some cases.

Still, none of these steps guarantee relief for someone with a qualifying conviction. Outcomes depend heavily on the record, the judge, and legal strategy. VisaVerge.com reports that people with criminal convictions—even from decades earlier—remain at higher risk of removal under current priorities.

Important: A single past conviction can still control the outcome, regardless of how much time has passed.

Community Response and Health Care Impact

Local activists argue the cost of deporting a long-serving Tucson physical therapist goes beyond one person’s life. Patients in physical therapy often need steady, repeated sessions with the same clinician. A sudden removal can mean:

• A break in treatment plans
• Delayed recoveries
• Increased stress that impedes healing

Some medical professionals in Tucson warn such cases create fear among both patients and staff. They worry people may skip appointments or avoid hospitals if they fear immigration agents could appear—concerns amplified by the spring protest outside Tucson Medical Center.

Supporters also say the therapist’s work helps fill a local workforce gap:

• Rural and border communities often struggle to hire and keep specialized clinicians.
• Losing one experienced provider can ripple through clinics and home health agencies.
• Replacing a senior clinician with years of trust among Tucson families can take months—or longer—for small practices.

Legal Process and Relief Options

Deportation is a legal process, not a single event. It usually starts with a formal Notice to Appear listing the government’s charges and proceeds before an immigration judge, where the person can seek relief.

Common relief paths include:

1. Cancellation of removal for certain long-term residents
   • Requires strict proof of continuous residence, good moral character, and hardship to qualifying U.S. relatives (citizens or lawful permanent residents).
2. Asylum or related protections
   • Requires a well-founded fear of harm and can be difficult for people with certain convictions.
3. Prosecutorial discretion or deferred action
   • Can pause a case based on humanitarian factors or agency priorities, but is discretionary and not guaranteed.

Appeals typically go to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and, in some cases, to federal courts. Lawyers may also seek a stay of removal to prevent deportation while an appeal is pending.

In practice, outcomes hinge on:

• The exact conviction and how it is classified under immigration law
• Length of residence and rehabilitation
• Community ties and letters of support
• Documented hardship to U.S. family members

Immigration attorneys stress that thorough preparation is critical. The court will usually weigh defense records against the government’s evidence to make a final ruling.

For official information on immigration courts, appeals, and how to check hearing information, see the Executive Office for Immigration Review at the U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/eoir.

Local Legal Support and Practical Steps

In Tucson, community groups are rallying around the therapist’s family by:

• Raising funds for legal costs
• Organizing rides to court
• Gathering letters from employers, patients, and community members

Local lawyers emphasize assembling a thorough record, including:

• Certified copies of prior court records
• Proof of rehabilitation (e.g., treatment programs, certificates)
• Letters from employers and patients detailing the clinician’s service
• Clear evidence of hardship to U.S. relatives

These materials can be decisive in persuading a judge or securing prosecutorial discretion.

Policy Outlook and Court Backlogs

Policy analysts say to watch two threads as 2025 unfolds:

• Whether immigration agencies continue prioritizing people with older convictions
• How often courts grant relief in cases with strong equities (long residence, community service)

There is no clear timetable. Immigration courts face heavy backlogs, and some hearings are rescheduled multiple times. For families, that means months of waiting, which can put jobs, mortgages, and school schedules in limbo.

Health Sector Responses and Staff Concerns

The case has prompted practical questions within Tucson’s health sector. Some clinics are reviewing policies for responding to law enforcement requests while ensuring compliance with privacy laws and hospital protocols.

Common steps being adopted include:

• Staff training on who to call if agents appear
• Protocols for protecting patient information while cooperating with lawful requests
• Clear guidance so clinicians can continue patient care without fear

Nurses and therapists report they want consistent procedures to avoid disruptions to patient treatment.

Divergent Views and the Human Element

Supporters hope the therapist’s long record of service will persuade authorities or the court to allow him to stay. Critics counter that immigration law must be enforced consistently and that criminal convictions carry consequences, even decades later.

Both positions reflect the central tension in immigration enforcement in 2025: balancing public safety and rule of law with the human cost of removal.

For now, the Tucson case remains open and the final decision is unknown. What is clear is the depth of local concern. Whether this “one of a kind” physical therapist remains with his patients may come down to how the law treats a long-ago crime weighed against a lifetime built in southern Arizona.