Local immigrant justice groups are calling for Governor Dan McKee and Attorney General Peter Neronha to intervene in the immigration case of Chansareth Hong, a Cambodian refugee who has lived in Providence since arriving as an infant in 1978.
The Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) said Hong has attended routine immigration check-ins for close to 30 years, but in April, was given an ankle monitor and informed he would be detained soon. Hong’s next ICE check-in is on Wednesday, July 22.
Over 2,000 people have signed a petition demanding that the governor and attorney general tell ICE not to detain Hong and give him due legal process and not detain the Providence resident.
Community Rallies Around Case Ahead of July 22 ICE Check-In
Hong’s family was one of the first Cambodian families to settle in the West End of Providence, according to an action toolkit from activist groups.
In 2025, the mother of Hong’s autistic, non-verbal 9-year-old son passed away. In June of 2026, Hong’s father passed away, making Hong not only the sole caretaker of his autistic child, but his elderly mother as well. PrYSM began supporting Hong’s case as the stakes of his possible detainment or removal grew.
“Together with a new lawyer, we supplemented his I-246 application and filed a FOIA request to obtain his immigration court documents,” said PrYSM in a statement. “After inquiring about the status of his relief application, a letter soon arrived of its denial. To date, neither ICE nor the Executive Office for Immigration Review has replied to his lawyer’s request for information.”
On Monday July 20, 13 members of the Providence City Council sent a letter to the Acting Field Officer David Wesling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Boston Field Office. The councilors said Hong’s removal would have a “devastating and far-reaching effect” on his community.
“He has complied with every reporting obligation despite living for decades under the constant worry that attending one of those appointments could result in his detention, demonstrating unflinching respect for the process,” reads the letter. “Due process requires that counsel has the opportunity to obtain the records needed to present his case before he is detained or deported.”
PrYSM and City Council said that Hong was convicted of an unspecified crime approximately 30 years ago but has kept a clean record ever since.
“After representing himself in immigration court from 1998 to the early 2000s, Chansareth was provided immigration relief over a conviction for which he served no jail time,” said PrYSM. “Unfortunately, months later this ruling was appealed. Without knowledge of the process and funds to hire a lawyer, Chansareth was unable to respond and the decision was eventually overturned.”
PrYSM is calling for people to sign a petition to stop Hong’s potential deportation proceedings, to call Governor McKee and Attorney General Neronha and demand their support, and attend a rally at the Warwick ICE field office on Wednesday, July 22nd at 1 p.m.
“Chansareth is a longtime Providence resident and primary caregiver for his autistic son and mother,” wrote PrYSM. “After nearly thirty years of compliance with ICE, we believe his family deserves the opportunity to remain together.”
Governor Dan McKee and Attorney General Peter Neronha did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Eric Halvarson es reportero de noticias locales para The Providence Eye.
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