***PHOTOS COURTESY OF CUONG VAN HUYNH AVAILABLE HERE***
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement calling for longtime Seattle area resident Cuong Van Huynh to be allowed to remain in the United States ahead of an immigration check-in, joining a chorus of public statements in support, including from Teamsters Local 117 and MLK Labor:
“Cuong Van Huynh is a hardworking and esteemed member of the Seattle and King County community. Here’s what I know from Van and the people who love him: He works full-time at Swire Coca-Cola and also runs a beloved Banh Mi and chicken wings shop, Honey Bear, with his wife in Federal Way. Van works overtime to support his two sons who are in college studying aerospace engineering and business. He often engages in charitable works across the community and truly embodies the American dream.
“Van came to America as a refugee from Vietnam in 1984. Van was convicted back in 2006 for attempting to purchase marijuana—since then, he has made tremendous contributions to our community. It is beyond wrong to deport a man with an American wife and two American children for trying to purchase marijuana nearly two decades ago, a substance that has now been legalized in Washington state.
“I am joining local unions and community members in calling on the Trump administration to allow Van to remain here in America, his home, with his family. Seattle and King County are better off thanks to Van, his hard work, the family he’s raised here, and the community he’s built. I hope the entire community will join me in standing with Van. This man is a pillar of our community, and he should not be torn away from his family and his home after 40 years.”
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