(NLDO)- US Ambassador Marc Knapper recalled the heartbreaking incident that just happened, when a boat carrying people trying to cross the border into the US sank, with Vietnamese people on board.
The US Embassy in Vietnam has just posted a video on its Facebook page advising Vietnamese people not to cross the border into the US.
Ambassador Knapper in video clip advises Vietnamese people not to cross the border into the US (Screenshot)
At the beginning of the video, US Ambassador Marc Knapper recalls the heartbreaking incident that just happened. 17 people from Vietnam, Egypt, India and Iran made a 150 km journey by small boat from an island in Colombia, heading to Nicaragua in the hope of illegally reaching the US. They traveled halfway around the world and put their lives in the hands of smugglers in search of a better future in the US.
The boat sank less than 200 meters from shore. Five people died, including two children, and four are still missing. Three young Vietnamese citizens were rescued.
"Like so many others who tried to move illegally to the United States, these people did not find a bright future, only suffering, regret and death," said US Ambassador Marc Knapper.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper advises Vietnamese people not to cross the border into the US. Source: US Embassy
The Ambassador stressed that these risky journeys, whether by land, air or sea, cost illegal immigrants and their families money, health and even their lives.
"Don't do this, don't believe the false promises of online scammers and people who promise to help you with visa procedures" - the Ambassador advised.
He stressed that every year hundreds of people, including women, men and children, go missing or die while trying to illegally migrate to the United States. Even when they reach the United States, they often face detention or become victims of human trafficking.
When U.S. immigration authorities find illegal immigrants, they detain them and return them to their country of origin, including Vietnam. These tragedies are preventable.
"As friends and partners of the Vietnamese people, we urgently call on you not to let yourself, your family and those around you risk this illegal journey," the Ambassador urged.
Regarding the incident, the Nicaraguan Navy previously said that the boat carrying 17 migrants of Indian, Iranian, Egyptian and Vietnamese nationality departed on February 4 from Colombia's San Andres Island and sank in the waters off Nicaragua, near Corn Islands, 150 meters from the mainland, at 7:00 a.m. on February 5.
Initial reports indicate that 5 people have died and 4 are missing. Nicaraguan authorities have rescued 8 people, including 3 Vietnamese citizens, and are continuing to search for the missing victims.
The Vietnamese citizens include Truong Thi My Khanh, female, 24 years old; Hungarian residence card number: 001408524; Ho Long, male, 25 years old; Hungarian residence card number: 001409266 and Nguyen Van Duoc, male, 26 years old, with a Vietnamese driver's license issued in Thua Thien-Hue.
The Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has been providing food and medical care; at the same time, it requested that Vietnamese authorities notify the families of the above victims and cooperate in bringing these three citizens back to Vietnam.
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.
Regarding the Trump administration's deportation of many illegal immigrants and criminals, including Vietnamese, Ms. Hang informed that recently, the reception of Vietnamese citizens deported by the US is based on the agreement to receive back citizens signed between the two countries. The two countries have had close, quick and timely coordination on this issue. She affirmed: "Vietnam is ready to continue to cooperate closely with the US to receive back citizens in the spirit of the signed agreements and hopes that the US will create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to reside."
Meeting with Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang on the afternoon of July 3, 2024 in Hanoi, Ambassador Marc Knapper affirmed that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is developing well in many areas. The Ambassador emphasized that in the coming time, the US will increase exchanges and promote specialized cooperation in security and law enforcement with Vietnam, considering this an important foundation to realize the major goals set by the leaders of the two countries in the Joint Statement on implementing the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/dai-su-marc-knapper-khuyen-cao-nguoi-viet-khong-vuot-bien-vao-my-196250216200445076.htm
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