US deportations to Vietnam surge: Returnees struggle to rebuild lives in an unfamiliar country
The United States has seen a significant surge in deportations of Vietnamese nationals since 2025, with over 1,000 removed in the first half of 2026 alone. Many returnees struggle to reintegrate into Vietnamese society due to a lack of documentation, family connections, and familiarity with the country.
Why it matters
This trend highlights the humanitarian challenges faced by long-term immigrants who are deported to countries they no longer consider home.
HANOI:The Vietnamese immigration authorities on Sept 12 received 110 Vietnamese nationals who were sent back from the US, the latest group in a sharp increase in deportations to Vietnam since 2025.
Court documents show that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed 1,851 Vietnamese nationals in financial years 2024, 2025 and 2026 up to June, including 1,094 in FY2026 alone. The FY2026 figure has since risen by nearly 200.
The latest arrivals are part of a spike in US deportations to Vietnam since 2025, including people who arrived in the US decades ago and had previously been largely protected from removal. Many have spent much of their lives in the US and, once returned, face practical problems ranging from obtaining documents and finding work to reconnecting with family and adapting to a country they barely know.
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