Under a memorandum of understanding concluded in Hanoi, the United States over the next five years will be able to send back the immigrants, most of whom until now were not being issued travel documents by Vietnam, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Many of these immigrants are convicted criminals, Kelly A. Nantel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was quoted as saying. He said these immigrants arrived in the United States after the restoration of diplomatic ties with Vietnam in July 1995.

Julie Myers, head of the U.S. agency who signed the agreement, said, "This agreement allows us to carry out a judge's order to remove individuals from our country in a safe and humane manner."

There are about 6,500 more Vietnamese immigrants who are reportedly in deportation proceedings.

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