[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RELEASE MICHAEL NGUYEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Correa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address this body and demand 
the release of one of our constituents, Michael Nguyen, a law-abiding 
American citizen with no criminal record in the United States.
  He was arrested almost a year ago in Vietnam while visiting his 
elderly relatives. He has been held in detention for almost a year.
  This unjust imprisonment is due, essentially, to one act, which is 
his expression of freedom of speech. He has experienced extreme 
hardship, both mentally and physically, while in prison.
  It is unacceptable that an American citizen is detained in Vietnam 
for almost a year for nothing else than expressing his freedom of 
speech. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has not provided us with any 
evidence of wrongdoing that would justify such an arrest. The 
government has, instead, confirmed that he is being charged with 
violating article 109 of Vietnam's penal code, which is essentially a 
catch-all.
  What is his crime again? His freedom of speech, expressing his 
opposition to government policy.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the Government of Vietnam to release this American 
citizen. They are charging him with nothing more than expressing his 
freedom of speech.

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