Washington, D.C. - Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) joined with Representatives Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ) in co-signing a letter to President Bush asking him to clarify the administration’s policy on the deportation of refugees to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The letter references recent comments by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel about the possible deportation of the Tran family to Vietnam . Mr. Tran, the patriarch of the family, fled Vietnam over two decades ago after escaping from a communist "re-education" camp. “The administration must clarify the alarming statements made by the Department of Homeland Security,” noted Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “I find it shocking that DHS would even consider deporting the Trans to Vietnam , where Mr. Tran had previously been imprisoned for anti-communist activities. The United States government should not be in the business of deporting people to totalitarian regimes.” "I was outraged to hear that the Bush Administration may be considering returning refugees to Vietnam . I am confident that if the Administration tries to implement this change that my House colleagues and I would take immediate action to block the deportation of refugees to Vietnam ," said Rep. Loretta Sanchez.   more »