To Whom It May Concern,

I write to respectfully urge you to ask David Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of ICE’s Boston Field Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure due process, exercise prosecutorial discretion, and halt the detention and deportation of Providence resident Chansareth Hong (A# 027-108-331).

Mr. Hong has called Providence home since 1978, being among some of the first Cambodian families to settle in the area. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his family fled the violence in Cambodia, he arrived in the United States as an infant and has spent virtually his entire life in Rhode Island. Like many Cambodian refugees, his childhood was shaped by poverty, racial violence, over-policing, and the many challenges refugee families faced while rebuilding their lives in America.

As a young adult, Mr. Hong made mistakes that resulted in criminal charges nearly thirty years ago. At just twenty years old, he accepted a no-contest plea after being advised that rejecting it could expose him to decades of imprisonment. He has consistently maintained that he was never informed that accepting the plea could permanently jeopardize his ability to remain in the United States. Despite these circumstances, he accepted responsibility for his actions and complied with every requirement of the criminal legal system.

His immigration journey has also been marked by extraordinary challenges. Although he initially prevailed before an immigration judge, that decision was later overturned after an appeal during a period when he lacked meaningful legal representation. Nevertheless, Mr. Hong continued to comply with every requirement placed upon him.

For more than twenty-eight years, he has dutifully reported to ICE, never missing a single check-in. During that time, he has worked, supported his family, raised his children, and lived under the constant uncertainty of a final order of removal.

Today, Mr. Hong is the sole caregiver and financial provider for his non-verbal autistic son following the passing of the child's mother in 2025. He is also the primary source of support for his elderly mother after the passing of his father in June 2026. Deporting Mr. Hong would not simply remove one individual from this country. It would separate a father from his child, leave a vulnerable family without its primary caregiver, and inflict lasting harm on people who have committed no wrongdoing.

Rhode Island is strongest when working families remain together and children can rely on stable caregivers. Deporting someone decades after they completed their sentence, and after nearly three decades of demonstrated compliance with immigration authorities, does not strengthen our communities or improve public safety. Instead, it imposes an additional punishment that falls most heavily on innocent family members.

Mr. Hong's story reflects resilience, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to his family despite decades of uncertainty. His continued presence in Rhode Island benefits not only those who depend on him, but also the broader community he has called home for nearly fifty years.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement exercise prosecutorial discretion by staying Mr. Hong's removal and allowing him to remain with his family while he continues pursuing all available legal avenues.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this urgent matter.

Sincerely,
[Name]
[Title]