ICE detains Australian man Phu Nguyen after violent Las Vegas arrest attempt
Consensus Summary
Multiple sources report that Phu Nguyen, a 57-year-old Australian citizen born in Vietnam, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles on Tuesday after a violent arrest attempt in Las Vegas on Monday. Nguyen overstayed his visa, which expired in May 2015 after entering the US legally in May 2013. Footage from Las Vegas shows ICE agents in plainclothes tackling and partially handcuffing Nguyen at Harry Reid International Airport, with bystanders intervening and forcing the agents to abandon the attempt. Nguyen was later arrested in Los Angeles and is now held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Centre in California. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is making urgent inquiries, while US officials face criticism for ICE’s tactics. The ABC specifies the Las Vegas incident occurred on July 13, while other sources only mention Monday without a date.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Phu Nguyen, 57, an Australian citizen born in Vietnam, was detained by ICE in Los Angeles on Tuesday after an earlier arrest attempt in Las Vegas on Monday
- Nguyen overstayed his visa, which expired in May 2015 after entering the US legally in May 2013
- The attempted arrest in Las Vegas occurred at Harry Reid International Airport
- ICE agents wore plainclothes, including hooded sweatshirts and masks, during the Las Vegas incident
- Nguyen was partially handcuffed and left on the ground during the Las Vegas incident
- ICE arrested Nguyen at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday
- Nguyen is being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Centre in California
- Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is making urgent inquiries about Nguyen’s detention
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Department of Homeland Security described Nguyen as 'illegal alien and citizen of Australia ... born in Vietnam'
- The attempted arrest in Las Vegas occurred on July 13
- ICE claimed Nguyen had 'attempts by agitators to help him evade ICE officers at Las Vegas airport'
- There were 12,000 ICE agents hired without adequate vetting, per Senator Chuck Schumer’s post
- Democratic senator Jacky Rosen condemned ICE’s 'violent attempted arrest of an elderly man'
- ICE Los Angeles said Nguyen had 'attempts by agitators to help him evade ICE officers at Las Vegas airport'
- Nguyen was partially handcuffed for over an hour before boarding his flight in Las Vegas
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states the Las Vegas incident occurred on July 13, but the Guardian, THEAGE, and SMH only mention 'Monday' without specifying the date
- The Guardian and THEAGE/SMH describe the Las Vegas incident as happening on Monday night, but ABC provides a specific date of July 13
Source Articles
Australian man detained by ICE in Los Angeles after earlier arrest attempt in Las Vegas
Footage shows Phu Nguyen, 57, being partially handcuffed by plainclothes agents in a Las Vegas airport terminal Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An man believed to be an Australian citizen has been arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) after bystanders interrupted an earlier attempt by agents to detain him. ICE Los Angeles said Phu Nguyen, 57, originally of Vietnam, had overstayed his visa, in a post on X. Continue reading...
Australian tackled, handcuffed by ICE officers in Las Vegas
Footage of the incident showed the two agents left the man on the ground after a crowd began to form.
Footage shows Australian man handcuffed by ICE agents in Las Vegas airport
The 57-year-old was later arrested for overstaying his Visa and is currently detained at an ICE processing centre in California.
Australian tackled, handcuffed by ICE officers in Las Vegas
Footage of the incident showed the two agents left the man on the ground after a crowd began to form.