An Australian citizen, Phu Nguyen, 57, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles on Tuesday, following a botched arrest attempt at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas that was interrupted by bystanders. ICE Los Angeles confirmed Nguyen, originally from Vietnam, had overstayed his visa.
Footage shows airport arrest attempt
Chris Motley, a filmmaker, captured the incident on video and posted it on social media. The footage shows Nguyen shouting as a man and a woman in surgical masks pinned him to the ground and handcuffed him. An airport security officer stood between Nguyen and a growing crowd. The two individuals then stood up and walked away, leaving handcuffs dangling from one of Nguyen's wrists. Motley noted that police arrived later, but Nguyen remained partially handcuffed for over an hour before being checked by medical staff and allowed to board his flight.
ICE statement and political reaction
ICE Los Angeles posted on X that Nguyen had enjoyed "attempts by agitators to help him evade ICE officers at Las Vegas airport." He was taken into custody upon landing in Los Angeles. Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada condemned the "violent attempted arrest of an elderly man," criticizing the plainclothes agents for lacking uniforms, body cameras, and identification. She argued that such actions instill fear and harm Nevada's tourism economy.
Australian government response
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was making urgent inquiries. While it can provide consular assistance, it cannot secure the release of detained citizens. The US Department of Homeland Security described Nguyen as an "illegal alien and citizen of Australia … born in Vietnam." The department has been contacted for comment.
Broader ICE controversies
US officials face mounting calls to restrict ICE operations after agents killed two men who were not enforcement targets in less than a week. There have been 22 deaths in ICE custody in 2026. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer criticized the Trump administration for hiring 12,000 agents without proper vetting, accusing Republicans of granting ICE "vast power and no accountability."
