US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper - Photo: US Embassy
In a move to respond to the Trump administration's tightening immigration policy, on February 14, the US Embassy in Vietnam posted a video on its Facebook page to warn Vietnamese people.
Appearing in a video lasting more than 1 minute and 30 seconds, US Ambassador Marc Knapper begins with the story of 17 people from Vietnam, Egypt, India and Iran who made a 150km journey by small boat from an island in Colombia, heading to Nicaragua in the hope of crossing the border into the US.
"I am sad to report that the boat sank less than 200m from shore. Five people died, including two children, and four are still missing. Three young Vietnamese people were rescued," Mr Knapper continued.
Video: US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper advises Vietnamese people not to cross the border into the US
Like many others trying to cross the border into the United States, these people "found no bright future but only suffering, regret and death," the US ambassador said.
“Risky journeys by air, land or sea cost illegal immigrants and their families money, health and even lives,” he warned.
He urged Vietnamese people not to cross the border illegally or believe the empty promises of human traffickers, online scammers and those who promise to help with visa procedures.
Every year, according to Knapper, hundreds of people die or go missing while trying to cross the border into the United States. Even if they do make it, they risk being arrested and deported back to their country of origin.
"These tragedies are preventable. As friends and partners of the Vietnamese people, we urge you not to risk yourself, your family, or those around you on this illegal journey," the US ambassador warned.
Regarding the boat sinking incident off the coast of Nicaragua, on February 10, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba and Nicaragua said that there were 3 Vietnamese survivors in the incident.
Two of them have Vietnamese names and Hungarian residence cards, while the other has a Vietnamese driver's license issued in Thua Thien Hue.
On February 13, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said that Vietnam supports and creates conditions for citizens to live, study and work abroad on the basis of complying with Vietnamese law, the law of the host country and international law.
When asked to comment on the Trump administration's move to tighten immigration, including the deportation of Vietnamese people, Ms. Hang said that recently, "the reception of Vietnamese citizens deported by the US is carried out based on the agreement to receive back citizens signed between the two countries."
According to the representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries have had close, prompt and timely coordination on this issue. Ms. Hang affirmed that Vietnam is ready to continue to cooperate closely with the US side on receiving back its citizens in the spirit of signed agreements.
US Ambassador meets with Vietnam's Minister of Public Security
Scene of the meeting between Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang and US Ambassador Marc Knapper - Photo: Ministry of Public Security
According to the Ministry of Public Security's electronic information portal, on February 13 in Hanoi, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang received US Ambassador Knapper. At the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of issues on bilateral and specialized cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and US security partners, police and law enforcement forces.
According to the US Embassy, during this meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in law enforcement to curb illegal immigration, prevent cybercrime and combat transnational organized crime.
In addition to immigration and his meeting with Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, Mr. Knapper met with Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien last week amid the Trump administration’s tariff moves against many US trading partners.
Tuoitre.vn
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dai-su-knapper-khuyen-cao-nguoi-viet-khong-vuot-bien-vao-my-20250216130205425.htm
Comment (0)