(HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND) A Hagerstown mother and small business owner is back home after a federal judge ordered her release from ICE detention, but her fight against deportation is far from over. Mong “Melissa” Tuyen Thi Tran, a Vietnamese refugee who came to the United States at age 11, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on May 12, 2025.
After five months in custody, the court found her detention had become indefinite because ICE had not taken sufficient steps to carry out her removal to Vietnam. The ruling freed her from custody, yet her removal case remains active.
Tran’s detention triggered rallies across Hagerstown. Supporters organized under the #BringMelissaHome banner, held letter-writing drives to federal officials, and gathered outside local landmarks to press for her return. Community leaders and customers from the nail salon she runs with her husband described her as a longtime neighbor who raised a family and worked for decades in Maryland.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, such hometown campaigns can shape public attention and sometimes prompt closer review by officials, even when the legal process continues on its own track.
Legal findings and court reasoning
Court filings reviewed by her legal team focused on two central issues:
– Whether ICE had a viable plan to deport her to Vietnam within a reasonable period.
– Whether continued detention remained lawful.
The judge concluded ICE had not shown meaningful progress toward removal, making further detention unlawful. That decision brought immediate relief to Tran and her family, though it did not cancel the underlying deportation case.
Tran’s legal history dates back more than 25 years to a conviction at age 18. She served her sentence and paid a fine. Supporters say she was pressured into the offense as a teenager and has had no recent criminal history. Still, immigration law often treats certain convictions—no matter how old—as grounds for removal. That tension sits at the heart of many cases involving long-term residents with deep ties to their communities.
“The judge found that ICE had not taken sufficient steps with Vietnam to arrange travel documents or otherwise move the removal forward,” a key point in the ruling that led to her release.
Court-Ordered release after months in custody — key facts
- Detention period: 5 months (May–October 2025) following her May 12 arrest.
- Legal background: Old conviction at age 18; sentence served; fine paid; no recent criminal history.
- Current status: Released by court order because detention had become indefinite; removal case still active.
- Community response: Hundreds rallied in Hagerstown; #BringMelissaHome campaign; ongoing support for her family.
ICE detention is meant to ensure people appear for hearings and to facilitate removal if a judge orders deportation. But federal courts can order release if detention drags on without a realistic path to deportation. In Tran’s case, the judge found ICE had not taken sufficient steps with Vietnam to arrange travel documents or otherwise move the removal forward, tipping the legal balance in favor of release.
The emotional and economic toll is significant. Five months away from a spouse, children, and a small business can upend finances and strain mental health. Her salon lost income and staff stability, and her family juggled caregiving and bills. These are the often unseen costs of detention, separate from the legal battle itself.
What comes next in the removal case
Although Tran is home, she remains in removal proceedings. Her legal team is exploring options for relief that could allow her to stay in the country lawfully. Possible options include:
- Asylum or related protection if she fears harm in Vietnam. Asylum is requested on USCIS Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (see USCIS guidance and the official form at https://www.uscis.gov/i-589).
- A stay of removal from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations if the agency is moving to carry out a final order. Stays are requested on ICE Form I-246, Application for a Stay of Deportation or Removal (see instructions at https://www.ice.gov/forms/i-246).
These tools do not guarantee success, and each has strict standards. But they offer a framework for people like Tran—long-settled residents with old convictions—to present evidence of rehabilitation, family ties, and humanitarian concerns. Her attorneys will also press arguments tied to her refugee journey from Vietnam, her decades in Maryland, and the impact on her U.S. community.
Practical steps for others in similar situations
For people facing comparable circumstances, attorneys and community groups recommend the following actions:
- Keep copies of all immigration and criminal records in one safe place.
- Show proof of strong community ties:
- School records for children
- Letters from employers and clergy
- Mortgage or lease statements
- Tax filings
- If ICE issues reporting instructions, follow them closely and keep evidence of attendance.
- Seek a qualified immigration lawyer with experience in criminal-immigration issues. Community groups can provide referrals and, in some cases, limited legal aid.
Policy context and community impact
Policy matters here. Under President Biden, DHS has emphasized focusing resources on people who pose threats to public safety. Still, removal proceedings can continue based on past convictions, even if someone has lived in the same city for years, raised children, and run a stable business. That gap between policy framing and day-to-day case outcomes is often where families feel the sharpest pain.
In smaller cities like Hagerstown, detentions can ripple through:
– Local economies
– Schools
– Places of worship
Employers lose experienced workers. Children lose daily contact with parents. Business owners risk closure. Those consequences exist regardless of how a judge finally rules.
VisaVerge.com reports that community advocacy, combined with careful legal strategy, can affect timelines and outcomes—especially when courts examine whether detention still serves a lawful purpose. For families, the gap between release from custody and resolution of a deportation case can feel like living on a fault line: home, yet never fully secure.
Important resources:
– USCIS Form I-589: https://www.uscis.gov/i-589
– ICE Form I-246: https://www.ice.gov/forms/i-246
For Tran, the immediate crisis—prolonged ICE detention—has ended. The longer fight—whether she can remain in the United States—is still in front of her. Her supporters promise to keep showing up in Hagerstown, arguing that a single mistake made decades ago should not erase a lifetime of family, work, and community ties. The courts and immigration authorities will decide what comes next.
This Article in a Nutshell
Mong “Melissa” Tuyen Thi Tran, a Vietnamese refugee who arrived in the U.S. at age 11, was detained by ICE on May 12, 2025. After five months in custody, a federal judge ordered her release, finding ICE had not made sufficient progress to remove her to Vietnam and that continued detention had become indefinite and unlawful. The ruling freed her physically but left her removal case active. In Hagerstown, the #BringMelissaHome campaign mobilized hundreds, highlighting her decades-long community ties and economic contributions as a small business owner. Tran’s legal team is pursuing avenues such as asylum or a stay of removal, while emphasizing evidence of rehabilitation, family ties, and refugee history. The case underscores tensions between immigration enforcement and longstanding community integration, with potential implications for similarly situated residents.
