Gathering in Germantown endorse Anovsack "Anou" Vongbandith, a coffee shop proprietor detained in an ICE detention facility
Anovsack "Anou" Vongbandith, a beloved cafe owner in Germantown, Philadelphia, is currently being held by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. Vongbandith was detained last month as he left for work and has been separated from his family ever since.
On August 9 and August 15, 2025, hundreds of people rallied in Germantown, chanting “Bring Anou home!” and calling for his release. The rally featured speeches from Vongbandith’s wife Anh, local politicians such as state Sen. Art Haywood and state Rep. Chris Rabb, as well as local advocacy groups and clergy.
Vongbandith arrived in the U.S. at the age of 5 after fleeing Laos with his family to escape the communist regime. He and his wife opened their restaurant a year ago and are well known in their community. However, Vongbandith ran into legal troubles when he and his wife were accused of sexual misconduct. As a result, his children were removed from his custody and placed in foster care.
State Sen. Rabb expressed his support for Vongbandith, stating that he is his neighbor. Rabb also criticized the U.S. for not being great and stated that it will not be until it is good. He expressed his intention to continue standing against deportation if he becomes a congressman.
Advocates express worry about Vongbandith's health and the adequacy of medical care at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center. Immigration attorney reports indicate troubling conditions in similar detention scenarios, including restricted attorney contact and mistreatment.
Community members, activists, and family members gathered outside Vongbandith's restaurant, Das Good Cafe, to show solidarity and rally in support of the cafe owner. Protesters chanted "Who's our neighbor? Anou's our neighbor" and "Care not cages" during the rally. Rev. Holston asked the crowd to connect with each other, emphasizing the importance of community.
The police shut down W. Chelten Avenue for the block surrounding Vongbandith's restaurant due to the large crowd. The rally attracted a larger crowd than expected, with at least 500 people attending. Chris Hoepner attended the rally because he wanted to fight back against deportation efforts.
Ahn, Vongbandith's wife, stated that he has limited connections to family in Laos. She also expressed that Vongbandith wants to return home and rebuild his life with his loved ones. The case has drawn broader condemnation against ICE practices, with activists and local leaders calling to hold ICE accountable and support legislation to monitor and regulate agents, especially in light of concerns over agents concealing their identities during operations.
In summary, Anou Vongbandith remains detained by ICE at Moshannon Valley, with ongoing community efforts advocating for his release amid concerns over his health, legal predicament, and family separation.
- The rally held on August 9 and August 15, 2025, in Germantown featured speeches from local politicians and advocacy groups, discussing policy-and-legislation about ICE practices, particularly the treatment of detainees and the need for better regulation to prevent human rights abuses.
- State Rep. Chris Rabb, at the rally, not only expressed his personal support for Anou Vongbandith, but also criticized the current political system, stating that it is not great and will not be until it is good, emphasizing his intention to continue standing against deportation if he becomes a congressman.
