Judge sets $25K bail for Lynn resident facing potential deportation to Cambodia

A 38-year-old Lynn man, who faces potential deportation to Cambodia after spending nearly his entire life in the United States, could be released on bail as early as this week.

Samath “Sam” Thoeun, whose story was detailed by WBUR, entered the U.S. as a baby in 1988 after his family fled the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Growing up in Lynn, he joined a local chapter of the Bloods street gang when he was in middle school and was arrested repeatedly as a minor and young adult. Thoeun acknowledges his past criminal history, but says he put his past behind him.

He now has a wife and daughter who are both U.S. citizens.

Still, his record complicated his efforts at obtaining citizenship and he was ordered removed from the U.S. in 2008. But when authorities were unable to secure travel documents to deport him to Cambodia at the time, they allowed him remain in the U.S. under an “order of supervision,” requiring regular check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to a criminal background check provided by Thoeun's lawyer, his sole run-in with law enforcement after that was in 2020, when he was charged with driving under the influence — a jury cleared him of the charge.

Thoeun now has a job driving a forklift in Danvers, he says.

A government lawyer argued in Chelmsford immigration court Thursday that Thoeun should continue to be detained, pointing to the gang affiliation and past criminal charges. But Thoeun's lawyer, Jonathan Ng, insisted his client is now a law-abiding citizen with strong ties to the local community.

"This is a case of genuine rehabilitation," Ng said in an interview after the hearing.

Judge Yul-mi Cho set bail at $25,000, after balancing the competing arguments. Cho acknowledged the flight risk concern, but said that could be mitigated by a “very high bond.”

Ng said in court he believes the family will be able to post bail, which would allow Thoeun to go home while his immigration case proceeds. Thoeun is seeking asylum. His family has set up a GoFundMe and says community members have offered to contribute money.

However, the government has until Friday to appeal the judge's decision to release Thoeun on bail.