The brothers are 100 percent matches. (Shutterstock)

Tu Le, a San Jose resident, has been suffering from an aggressive form of cancer that requires the transplant. His brothers were determined to be 100 percent genetic matches, but were originally denied B-2 tourism visas to enter the country.

The brothers sent in visa applications at the end of May to travel to the United States, but immigration officials rejected their visa applications earlier this month. Officials cited a lack of evidence on the brothers’ applications that they would return to Vietnam after the transplant.

Multiple members of Congress from California, including Lofgren, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, and Sen. Kamala Harris called on federal officials to help the brothers enter the country.

Lofgren said she spoke with the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Dan Kritenbrink, on June 10, and he offered to arrange another interview for the brothers at the U.S. Consulate in Vietnam on Tuesday, so that new information could be considered in the case.

“I couldn’t be happier for Tu Le and his family,” she said.

Harris echoed the sentiment, saying she was “pleased the Department of State has recognized the moral imperative to act, and that Tu Le will receive the urgent and life-saving care he needs.”

“My thoughts will be with Tu Le, his daughter Diem Trinh Colisao, and the rest of their family throughout the road ahead.”

Le immigrated to the U.S. in 1992. He and his wife, Melody Bui, later became U.S. citizens. Today, Bui cares for Le full time in the couple’s San Jose home.

In a May 21 letter submitted to the U.S. Consulate in Vietnam with the brothers’ visa applications, Le’s physician at Stanford Health Care, Laura Johnston, wrote about the urgent need for a bone marrow transplant to save his life.

“Of the nine potential donors, only two are a perfect match,” the letter said. “Using a perfect match will improve chances for a successful transplant and reduces risk of complications.”

Without a transplant, Le’s cancer will advance quickly, and he would have only a few weeks to live, his daughter said.

VNF