Hagerstown Community Organizes After Resident Who Was to be Deported in 2003 is Detained by ICE

A Hagerstown resident and mother of four is at the center of a community effort following her detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to social media posts, Melissa (Mong Tuyen Thi Tran) was taken into custody during a routine check-in on May 12 in Baltimore and is now facing possible deportation to Vietnam. Her detention has prompted Maryland Delegate Matthew J. Schindler of District 2B to issue an appeal for her release.

Per the “Bring Melissa Home” Facebook page, Melissa immigrated to the United States legally with her family in 1993 as an 11-year-old refugee from Vietnam. Over the past two decades, she and her husband, Danny, have lived and worked in Hagerstown, raising four children. Allegedly, a criminal conviction involving taking money from an employer when she was 19 years old led to a final deportation order in 2003, but the United States was unable to deport her back to Vietnam as the country would not accept back anyone who left the country before 1995. Though she had consistently complied with yearly ICE check-ins, she was detained without prior notice during her latest visit. According to social media posts, since her detention, Melissa has been transferred through facilities in Baltimore, Louisiana, Arizona, and now Tacoma, Washington.

Community members describe Melissa as a resident who has contributed to Hagerstown’s local economy and social fabric. Delegate Schindler emphasized Melissa’s long-standing ties to the area and urged federal authorities to intervene. Supporters state that despite her past mistakes, she has built a life focused on responsibility and service.

A Facebook page titled “Bring Melissa Home” has been launched to share her story and encourage public involvement. A community meeting has been scheduled for June 4 at 6 p.m. at Nail Palace & Spa, located at 1563 Potomac Ave in Hagerstown, to discuss efforts to support Melissa.

While public statements and social media posts have described Melissa as the co-owner of Nail Palace & Spa, Radio Free Hub City has been unable to independently verify this claim using Maryland business records. These records list a different individual, Dung Nguyen Hoang of Silver Spring, Maryland, as the owner, and show that the business was registered in 2003 with registration expiring in 2008.

Radio Free Hub City reached out to ICE for comment to verify social media claims. Although the agency acknowledged the inquiry, it did not provide further information. Without an official statement, claims regarding the circumstances of Melissa’s detainment also remain unverified.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from Delegate Matthew J. Schindler, the “Bring Melissa Home” Facebook page, and Maryland Business Express.

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