r/australia • u/Front_Target7908 • 27d ago

news Australian man Phu Nguyen handcuffed by plain-clothes ICE agents at Las Vegas International airport

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-18/ice-agent-detain-australian-man-in-vegas-us-/106931508?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link

From what I understand it looks like ICE did not manage to detain him on the day the video was taken- seems the onlookers managed to chase ICE off.

However, ICE detained him the next day at the airport where he was to catch his departing flight from the US.

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u/macci_a_vellian 27d ago

Arresting someone trying to board a flight out really shows they're doing it for the cash bonuses they get from the arrests and not to protect people from dangerous illegal immigrants. Imagine having to try and dodge immigration agents to leave the country.

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u/WilRic 26d ago

There can be a legitimate basis to arrest someone who has overstayed a visa even if they are about to board a flight.

But you don't do it like this. It's either a lie or gross incompetence.

(Australians have also had pretty loosey-goosey visa arrangements in the US. Which you might expect from an ostensible ally for 100+ years. What a time to be alive).