Show of ‘quiet support’ planned at hearing for West Seattle resident in ICE detention

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The Sanislo Elementary community is rallying support for a school employee’s husband who is in ICE detention.

Chittakone “Alan” Phetsadakone, originally from Laos, is at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, the online roster confirms. A flyer is circulating to request community presence at his hearing this Friday morning in Seattle:

The flyer was shared with us by a family friend, who also shared a social-media post made by the Sanislo PTA, reading in part:

This is not the post I imagined for our first day of school, but a Sanislo family member needs your help. One of our own has been caught in the deportations that are sweeping our community and you have a chance to help keep a faily together. Cheryl Eugenio is the backbone of Sanislo. She keeps our school running every day from the front office and knows each of your kids. Her husband was detained during his regularly scheduled check-in with ICE and has been held in Tacoma. He is at ris of deportation to a third country. Cheryl has asked that everyone share the information of his next hearing so we can fill the courtroom with quiet supporters. … If you have ever asked what you can do to protect our community, this is your chance to show up. The courtroom holds 70 and we want it packed with support.

Sanislo community members plan to carpool to the federal-court building.

According to an online docket, the hearing is related to Phetsadakone seeking a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, and seeking release. We haven’t been able to obtain the court docments yet but w will be asking seeking ICE comment tomorrow about the case.

ADDED THURSDAY: Since we published this story, another family friend has started a crowdfunding page, which has more information on the situation.

Lauren September 3, 2025 (5:36 pm)

I hate, hate, hate that this is happening in our community. Let’s share our support and show how strong we are together.

mygoodness September 3, 2025 (8:19 pm)

Why is he being detained?

Josh September 4, 2025 (11:09 am)

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Because this country elected monsters that eat truth to run it.
- Mike September 4, 2025 (2:38 pm)
  
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  Josh: I think his question relates to the legal basis (or lack thereof) for this individual being detained. Unless you have specific information in that regard…
  - Derek September 4, 2025 (3:56 pm)
    
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    Existing shouldn’t be illegal
Lauren September 4, 2025 (3:27 pm)

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This information is in the GoFundMe, linked in below comments: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dkt4g-help-keep-a-family-together/cl/s?utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_c-amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_US&attribution_id=sl%3A534416fe-dfad-4630-a4a5-6edeb5411444&ts=1756999466
Sara September 4, 2025 (3:30 pm)

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From what I’ve learned his legal status was revoked from an indiscretion/ arrest that happened when he was a teenager. I do not know specifics, nor do I think they matter. This was something from about three decades ago and for which he already made restitution. He had a clean record since and was an upstanding member of his community. But the courts are stripping people of their rights and legal status for any reason.
- k September 4, 2025 (8:19 pm)
  
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  A friend of mine was picked up by ICE for a supposed theft charge from decades ago in their home country. They also claimed he did not have legal status after overstaying a visa. None of that was true, and his family have documents to prove it (you have to get a stamped document from the home country saying you don’t have any legal issues and you’ve never been arrested to get the visa to come here in the first place). He got a new work visa before the tourist visa expired. He has always been here legally. Take anything ICE says with a grain of salt. They’re grabbing people at their immigration check-ins and making up reasons after the fact.
Charles September 4, 2025 (5:28 pm)

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FASCISM

Oerthehillz September 3, 2025 (8:44 pm)

I don’t know how all this works, so complex. But looks like he’s at least assigned to a compassionate judge from what I’ve read.

Star55 September 3, 2025 (10:35 pm)

So disgusting we need as a collective group to speak out, loud and proud.!!!!

Alki res September 4, 2025 (12:01 am)

Thank you for sharing. I had no idea about this particular case. I will be joining in support!Please continue to share cases like this so the community can stand up against this madness.

Sarah September 4, 2025 (8:10 am)

My son has been Chittakone and Cheryl’s daughter’s classmate for 8+ years. They are the most generous and kind family. They made each holiday a special day for their daughter and her classmates. Cheryl is the heart of Sanislo, taking care of students, staff, and parents too. I pray that this family can stay together, here, where their home is.

1000amys September 4, 2025 (8:27 am)

Here is a link to a Go Fund Me set up to help the family with expenses and loss of income.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/dkt4g-help-keep-a-family-together/cl/s?utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_c-amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_US&attribution_id=sl%3A534416fe-dfad-4630-a4a5-6edeb5411444&ts=1756999466

mygoodness September 4, 2025 (12:32 pm)

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Per this link – he arrived in the US at age 2 (age 2!!) as a refugee from Laos and has lived here ever since. Been with his wife for 26 years and raised 3 kids. In what I would guess the time his family fled Laos in the ’70s Laos was engulfed by the Laotian Civil War, a major theater of the Cold War’s Vietnam War, experiencing a prolonged “Secret War” of extensive U.S. bombing campaigns, CIA-supported Hmong militias fighting the communist Pathet Lao, and the eventual fall of the U.S.-backed government, leading to the establishment of the communist Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975. So his parents flee a US funded war in Laos with him in their arms when he’s a baby. He lives a good life here for 40-50 years and now the US wants to send him back to Laos – a country he wasn’t even old enough to remember. What the what.
west sea September 4, 2025 (2:36 pm)

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Thank you for the fundraiser link, just donated!

It’s literally the least we can do. ❤️

Seattle Scouser September 4, 2025 (8:37 am)

The people who voted for this will be judged by history and their children. Justice for Alan!

JDoe September 4, 2025 (2:25 pm)

Does anyone know how long the hearing might last or if it’s possible to leave mid-way? I’d like to take a little time off work to go, but can’t take off the entire afternoon.

Sara September 4, 2025 (3:32 pm)

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Most of us have kids to pick up around 2 and are all planning on things being well done by then. Even if you have to leave early, being there at all is helpful. Thank you so much for supporting our amazing neighbor.
Sara Bond September 6, 2025 (6:52 am)

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On waking up I find the latest filing from the court. The judge granted the temporary restraining order and ordered Alan’s immediate release. I’m sending the info to WSB to confirm, but Alan will be going home. We won!

Ms. de Ita September 4, 2025 (4:19 pm)

Alan is the type of dad who cheers on his daughter at every frisbee game and tells his sons to help their mother. As their former teacher, I can’t imagine how heartbroken they will be this school year. Please come to the court with us and stand up for families. I don’t think it will take too much time.

Dr Wu September 4, 2025 (5:56 pm)

If the US had open borders this probably wouldn’t be an issue.

Mrs Rogers September 5, 2025 (3:51 pm)

Are there any updates yet? Praying for peace for this family and community.

Mary September 5, 2025 (4:58 pm)

I was at the hearing which seemed to go almost as well as one could hope. Certainly there was a crowd of supporters: seventy or more of us were in an overflow room! I’m hoping the WSB might offer some follow-up stories about how the judge rules.

WSB September 5, 2025 (5:52 pm)

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I am sorry to say I was not able to leave the peninsula this morning so I couldn’t cover the hearing. I’m attempting to check court files, although the federal courts have different systems and as of yesterday the docs in this case were not accessible.
WS Res September 5, 2025 (7:40 pm)

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If he wasn’t immediately hooded and snatched by masked unmarked “agents” and stuffed in a van, that’s a cautiously good sign.

JDoe September 5, 2025 (5:43 pm)

Also hoping for an update. I was able to be there for part of the hearing, but was unable to stay the full time. It’s absolutely horrid what Alan, his family, and the community of which Alan is such a valuable member, is being put through, no matter the outcome.

SlS September 5, 2025 (6:07 pm)

I was in the courtroom today; also wondering where/how to get an update. Judge seemed like he was going to move quickly to at least block deportation for a couple weeks so the case could be deliberated. I felt like Alan’s team presented their case well, while the federal prosecutors’ case was full of holes. I don’t know how or where to find results – hoping you can, WSB. Thanks!

AlanSupporter September 6, 2025 (7:49 am)

From the PTA fb page” Alan was granted his TRO and the judge has ordered his immediate release as of last night. I will be in contact with the family to see when he will be coming home, but the judge ordered his immediate release with prohibition on further detainment pending a future hearing on the merits of his case. This is the best case scenario. Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who turned out to support him. You did this. Our community did this. I’m so proud of all of you.”

Bill September 6, 2025 (8:51 am)

Sanislo PTA group on FB has update. TRO granted.

WSB September 6, 2025 (9:14 am)

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Thanks. The online records are updated also, and I’ll be writing something shortly.

Bill September 6, 2025 (9:46 am)

According to update on the gofundme, he is home but still facing legal battle with threat for continued harassment.

JDoe September 6, 2025 (11:08 am)

Thank you so much for the update! I hope that the Sanislo community please keeps us updated on the future hearing date so that we can show up again (and we’ll continue to pass along the gofundme too). We’ll be thinking of Alan and his family as they continue to deal with this ongoing trauma.