Community leaders rally as ICE detains Philadelphia man

Despite a month-long campaign coordinated by Southeast Asian community leaders and immigration advocates, federal authorities detained a man last week and appear to be preparing to deport him to a country he has never visited.

Sereyrath “One” Van, 44, was born in a Thailand refugee camp to Cambodian parents, and his family immigrated to the United States when he was 4 years old, settling in Southwest Philadelphia.

He spent nearly six years in state prison after being convicted in a drug dealing case out of Bucks County. During his incarceration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began deportation proceedings.

After being released from jail in October 2023, Van spent three months in ICE detention. Last month, immigration authorities arranged a meeting between him and representatives from the Cambodian consulate, his attorney said.

Though an original deportation order indicated Van would be removed to Thailand, with Cambodia as an alternative destination, Thailand was whited out in an updated document, Van said.

“You send me to Cambodia, that’s like triple punishment,” Van told Metro. “I did my time. I know I’m going to get deported, but now you’re trying to deport me to a country I’ve never been to. It’s kind of like, how much punishment do I deserve?”

Last month, Van filed an application for a U-Visa and requested deportation protection. ICE declined issue a ruling in the matter until a meeting Thursday, during which he was detained, according to his legal team.

He tried to apply for American citizenship more than a decade ago but was denied due to an earlier misdemeanor, Van said.

Van said he takes full responsibility for his narcotics crimes and now recognizes the damage caused by drug sales. “I’ve learned my lesson,” he added.

ICE officials declined to comment on the case, citing privacy laws.

Just before going in for his ICE check-in, Van said he wants to be a “poster boy” for the wrongs of deportation and work to help others impacted by the immigration system.

“He may actually be stateless, which means he may not be a citizen of any country,” said his lawyer, David Bennion, executive director of Free Migration Project.

VietLead, a community organization, organized a rally Thursday in the lead-up to Van’s appointment, and relatives, friends and activists gathered outside ICE’s field office on 8th Street in Chinatown.

They chanted “All for One” and other slogans centered on his nickname, which derives from an earlier childhood moniker – “One Eye” – based on a droopy eyelid.

Ire was directed at elected officials, particularly U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman. Organizers said the federal delegation that represents Van did not respond to requests for their support.

State Sen. Nikil Saval and City Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke showed up to the protest and accompanied Van when he entered the ICE office.

“His fight is all of our fight, and I appreciate that we refuse to sit quietly by while all of our communities are being dismembered,” Saval told the crowd.

Advocates connected Van’s experience with those of other immigrants and noted that U.S. military intervention in Vietnam helped to destabilize Southeast Asia, leading his family to become refugees in the first place.

Van, moments before he walked into the building, estimated that there was a “50-50” chance he would be detained and deported. He was taken into custody about 10 minutes after the meeting started, according to VietLead and the Free Migration Project.

“My unc right here is the most poised man you will ever see,” Tony Din, his nephew, told Metro. “That’s one thing that’s always going to stand out about him to me. As much as he’s going through right now, you see how calm and cool he is.”

Rally goers became emotional when Van’s legal team informed the group that he had been detained. VietLead representatives said they believe he is set to be transferred to Moshannon Valley Processing Center, an ICE holding site in Central Pennsylvania.

VietLead encouraged supporters to contact Philadelphia’s federal delegation and plead for help.

“It’s because of all of y’all that he came today,” En Bounsynhavong, Van’s brother-in-law, told those at the rally. “Just thank you for all your support and just got to keep fighting. Ain’t no more we can do but keep fighting.”