NBC Nightly News Full Episode - March 26

>>> TONIGHT, THE. BOMBSHELL TEXT FROM. THE GROUP CHAT ABOUT A. U.S. MILITARY STRIKE, "THE ATLANTIC" EDITOR. INADVERTENTLY INCLUDED. RELEASING MORE THAT. THEY SENT INCLUDING. THE TIMING. THE SECRETARY OF STATE. CALLS IT A BIG. MISTAKE. INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS. ARE GRILLED ONCE. AGAIN. DEFENSE SECRETARY.

HEGSETH SPEAKING OUT. AS PRESSURE MOUNTS. >> I KNOW WHAT I'M. DOING. >>> RING OF FIRE IN. THE CAROLINAS. EVACUATION ORDERS. GROWING. FLAMES CLOSE IN ON. HOMES IN FLORIDA. THE RARE SEVERE. WEATHER THREAT IN THE. PACIFIC NORTHWEST AS. THE SOUTH PART OF. TEXAS BRACES FOR. FLOODS. AL ROKER IS HERE. >>> PRESIDENT TRUMP. ANNOUNCING FRESH AUTO. TARIFFS, WHAT IT MEANS. FOR THE PRICE FOR A. NEW CAR. >>> NEW VIDEO OF A. TUFTS UNIVERSITY. STUDENT DETAINED BY.

I.C.E. IN DAYLIGHT. THE DHS SECRETARY. TOURS A NOTORIOUS. PRISON IN EL SALVADOR. HOUSING MIGRANTS SENT. FROM THE U.S. >>> THE MICHIGAN. COUPLE IMPRISONED IN. MEXICO. THEY MEANT TO BE ON A. DREAM VACATION IN. CANCUN NOW TRAPPED IN. A NIGHTMARE OVER A. TIMESHARE DISPUTE. >>> TOM LLAMAS WITH. VICKY NGUYEN WITH HER. FAMILY, STRUGGLES AND. TRIUMPH.

>> THIS IS "NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH. LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. THERE ARE MAJOR. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE. CONTROVERSY OVER WHAT. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. PETE HEGSETH DIVULGED. OVER THE CONSUMER. MESSAGING APP SIGNAL, SHORTLY BEFORE U.S. MILITARY STRIKE. OPERATIONS COMMENCED. IN YEMEN. NOW "THE ATLANTIC". PUBLISHED WHAT IT. REPORTS ARE TEXT. MESSAGES HEGSETH. SHARED WITH A CHAT. GROUP THAT INCLUDED. TOP INTELLIGENCE. OFFICIALS AND. INADVERTENTLY THE.

MAGAZINE'S EDITOR IN. CHIEF. THE ADMINISTRATION. INSISTING THEY WERE. NOT CLASSIFIED. A CLAIM THAT LED "THE. A CLAIM THAT LED "THE. ATLANTIC" TO PUBLISH. THE MESSAGES. SOME AS U.S. AIRPLANES. WERE MOMENTS FROM. HEADING TO THEIR. TARGETS. WEATHER IS FAVORABLE, JUST CONFIRMED WE ARE. GO FOR MISSION LAUNCH. FROM HEGSETH. ANOTHER READING, 12:15. ET, F-18s LAUNCH, FIRST STRIKE PACKAGE. TOP INTELLIGENCE. OFFICIALS FACED A.

GRILLING BY DEMOCRATS. IN THE HOUSE. INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. AS THE CALLS FOR AN. INVESTIGATION GROW. LOUDER. PETER ALEXANDER LEADS. OFF OUR COVERAGE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, SECRET NO MORE. THE REPORTER WHO WAS. MISTAKENLY ADDED TO. THE GROUP CHAT WITH. NATIONAL SECURITY. OFFICIALS RELEASING. WHAT HE SAYS ARE ALL. OF THE MESSAGES. EXCHANGED. AMONG THEM, THIS FROM. DEFENSE SECRETARY.

HEGSETH, SENT 30. MINUTES BEFORE THE. U.S. STRUCK HOUTHI. TARGETS. DETAILING TIMES AND. THE WEAPONS TO BE. USED. HEGSETH WRITING AT. 11:44 A.M., WE ARE A. GO FOR MISSION LAUNCH. PREVIEWING THAT AT. 12:15, F-18s LAUNCHED. THE FIRST STRIKE. PACKAGE. AT 1:45, STRIKE DRONES. LAUNCH. 2:10, MORE F-18s. LAUNCH. FIVE MINUTES LATER IS. WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS. WILL DROP. THE EDITOR IN CHIEF.

RELEASING THEM AFTER. HE SAYS MULTIPLE. OFFICIALS SAID NO. CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. WAS SENT ON THE. COMMERCIAL APP SIGNAL. >> IF THE TIMING OF A. COMBAT MISSION IS NOT. SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT. INFORMATION, I SIMPLY. DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. >> THEY KNOW IT'S NOT. WAR PLANS. THERE'S NO UNITS, NO. LOCATIONS, NO ROUTES, NO FLIGHT PATHS, NO. SOURCES, NO METHODS, NO CLASSIFIED. INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW WHO SEES WAR. PLANS? I SEE THEM. EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS. ASKED IF THE. ADMINISTRATION IS. DOWNPLAYING THE CHAT. >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT. DOWNPLAYING. THE PRESS UPPLAYS IT. IT'S A WITCH HUNT. HEGSETH IS DOING A. GREAT JOB. HE HAD NOTHING TO DO. WITH THIS. >> Reporter: IN A. HEATED HEARING, THEY. GRILLED THE DIRECTOR. OF NATIONAL. INTELLIGENCE. >> IT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND. A LEADERSHIP FAILURE. >> THE IDEA THAT THIS.

INFORMATION, IF IT WAS. PRESENTED TO OUR. COMMITTEE WOULD NOT BE. CLASSIFIED, YOU ALL. KNOW IS A LIE. >> Reporter: REPUBLICANS EMPHASIZE. WHAT WAS NOT INCLUDED. IN THAT GROUP CHAT. >> WERE THERE NAMES? >> NO. >> ANY TARGETS? >> NO. >> ANY LOCATIONS? >> NO. >> Reporter: THIS FROM. SECRETARY OF STATE. MARCO RUBIO WHO WAS IN. THE CHAT. >> SOMEONE MADE A BIG. MISTAKE AND ADDED A. JOURNALIST. NONE OF THE. INFORMATION ON THERE. AT ANY POINT. THREATENED THE.

OPERATION OF THE LIVES. OF OUR SERVICEMEN. >> Reporter: THE WHITE. HOUSE STANDS BY ITS. ASSERTION THAT NOTHING. CLASSIFIED WAS SHARED. THE DOD MANUAL DETAILS. CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. AS SIGNIFICANT. MILITARY PLANS SAYING. THAT IS SECRET, THAT. IS CLASSIFIED. WHAT IS IT ABOUT WHAT. PETE WROTE THAT MAKES. YOU SAY IT'S NOT. CLASSIFIED? >> THE SECRETARY SAID. IT'S NOT. THERE WAS NO. CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. TRANSMITTED. NO WAR PLANS. DISCUSSED.

>> Reporter: IT'S NOT. WAR PLANS. WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE. THESE AS MILITARY. PLANS, MILITARY. OPERATION PLANS? >> I WOULD. CHARACTERIZE THIS. THREAD AS A POLICY. DISCUSSION, A. SENSITIVE POLICY. DISCUSSION, SURELY, AMONGST HIGH LEVEL. CABINET OFFICIALS AND. SENIOR STAFF. >> A TOP REPUBLICAN IS. CALLING FOR AN. INDEPENDENT REVIEW. INTO THE SIGNAL CHAT. >> Reporter: SENATOR. ROGER WICKER, CHAIR OF. THE ARMED SERVICES. COMMITTEE, WANTS THE. PENTAGON'S INSPECTOR. GENERAL TO. INVESTIGATE. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO.

WOULD LEAD THE. INVESTIGATION SINCE. THE PRESIDENT FIRED. THAT INDEPENDENT. WATCHDOG WHEN HE. RETURNED TO OFFICE. >> PETER, THANK YOU. >>> I WANT TO BRING IN. COURTNEY KUBE. THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION SAYS. THERE WAS NO. CLASSIFIED. INFORMATION. WHAT DOES PENTAGON. POLICY SAY? >> SECRETARY HEGSETH'S. TEXTS INCLUDE SPECIFIC. TIMES FIGHTER JETS. WOULD BE LAUNCHED. WHAT WOULD BE. CONSIDERED MILITARY. PLANNING. THE PENTAGON HAS CLEAR. GUIDELINES ON. CLASSIFICATION, STATING THAT MILITARY. PLANS OR INTELLIGENCE.

OPERATIONS WOULD BE. CLASSIFIED AT THE. LEVEL OF SECRET AT. LEAST. IT WARNS THAT THE. DISCLOSURE OF THIS. TYPE OF INFORMATION. COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS. DAMAGE TO OPERATIONS. ASSETS OR INDIVIDUALS. >> I KNOW YOU ARE. FOLLOWING ANOTHER BIG. HEADLINE ABOUT U.S. TROOPS OVERSEAS. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? >> TONIGHT, FOUR U.S. SOLDIERS WENT MISSING. DURING A TRAINING. EXERCISE IN LITHUANIA. EARLIER TODAY. THE ARMORED VEHICLE. THEY WERE RIDING IN. WAS FOUND SUBMERGED IN. WATER.

THE ARMY IS STILL. SEARCHING FOR THOSE. SOLDIERS TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU. >>> MILLIONS UNDER. FIRE THREATS FROM. MARYLAND TO FLORIDA. FIRE CREWS IN THE. CAROLINAS ARE WORKING. TO CONTAIN THE FLAMES. AS WILDFIRES THERE. BURN AND BURN. MARISSA PARRA IS ON. THE GROUND. >> Reporter: A. TOWERING INFERNO. DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO. HOMES IN THIS FLORIDA. NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS A GROWING RING. OF FIRE IN CAROLINA.

IN NORTH CAROLINA, THREE WILDFIRES. BURNING NEARLY 7,000. ACRES OF LAND. >> I'M HOPING THAT IT. DOESN'T JUMP AND WE. GET IT OVER THERE AND. BURNS UP OUR PROPERTY. >> Reporter: MULTIPLE. FIRES IN THE CAROLINAS. SPARKED BY WARM. TEMPERATURES AND. STRONG WINDS. THE REGION STILL. HEALING AFTER. HURRICANE HELENE. MONTHS AGO. IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH. CAROLINA, CREWS HAVE. BEEN WORKING AROUND. THE CLOCK DOING. WHATEVER THEY CAN TO. CONTAIN THE BLAZE. THE TABLE ROCK FIRE. BURNING NEARLY 2,500. ACRES.

WENDY CLARK LEAVING. LAST NIGHT WITH. WHATEVER SHE COULD. CARRY. IT FEELS LIKE BACK TO. BACK NATURAL. DISASTERS. >> NEVER IN MY 52. YEARS DID I THINK I. WOULD RUN FROM MY HOME. FROM A FIRE. >> Reporter: TREES. LEFT OVER FROM HELENE. FEEDING THE FLAMES. >> IT'S LIKE A. TINDERBOX. >> Reporter: WE ARE AT. COMMAND CENTER. THE CREWS ARE KEEPING. A CLOSE EYE ON THE. WINDS TO MAKE SURE. THIS TOWER OF SMOKE. BEHIND ME DOESN'T GET. ANY CLOSER. LESTER? >> MARISSA, THANKS. >>> AL, A VOLATILE. NIGHT ACROSS THE.

COUNTRY. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THOSE FOLKS AREN'T. GETTING RAIN. IN TEXAS, IT'S TOO. MUCH RAIN. NONSTOP MOISTURE. COMING IN FROM THE. GULF. HEAVY FLOODING FROM. CORPUS CHRISTI. ALL THE WAY BACK TO. NEW ORLEANS. SHOWERS AND STORMS. WILL SOAK TEXAS. SOME COULD PRODUCE. ONE TO THREE INCHES OF. RAIN PER HOUR. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. TEN TO 15 INCHES OF. RAIN. THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE. MAJOR FLOOD PROBLEMS. IN THE PACIFIC.

NORTHWEST, 7 MILLION. PEOPLE AT RISK FOR. SEVERE WEATHER FROM. SEATTLE TO EUGENE. TORNADOES POSSIBLE. THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A. WARNING FOR DAMAGING. HAIL OF TWO INCHES OR. MORE. >> AL, THANKS. >>> TURN NOW TO A HIGH. PROFILE VISIT TO AN EL. SALVADOR PRISON WHERE. THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION. DEPORTED ALLEGED GANG. MEMBERS. A TUFTS UNIVERSITY. STUDENT HERE ON A. VISA ARRESTED. KELLY O'DONNELL WITH. DETAILS. >> Reporter: THE. HOMELAND SECURITY. SECRETARY BEYOND THE.

BORDER. KRISTI NOEM, UNDER. GUARD IN EL SALVADOR. THERE TO SEE FIRSTHAND. THE PRISON HOLDING. ALLEGED VENEZUELAN. GANG MEMBERS RECENTLY. DEPORTED FROM THE U.S. >> DO NOT COME TO OUR. COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. >> Reporter: THE. PRESIDENT TOUTING THE. DEPORTATIONS. >> SEE THE ONES WE ARE. TAKING OUT. THE TOUGHEST OF ALL. GANGS. >> Reporter: LATE. TODAY, A NEW LEGAL. SETBACK. AN APPEALS COURT. BACKED UP THE FEDERAL. JUDGE WHO HAD ORDERED. DEPORTATION FLIGHTS. HALTED TEMPORARILY TO. REVIEW WHETHER THE.

ADMINISTRATION CAN. LEGALLY REMOVE THEM. WITHOUT DUE PROCESS. UNDER THE ALIEN. ENEMIES ACT. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS. 137 VENEZUELANS WERE. DEPORTED. A LAWYER FOR A. 31-YEAR-OLD SAYS HE. WAS WRONGLY SWEPT UP. BASED ONLY ON HIS. TATTOOS. >> HE IS A MAKEUP. ARTIST. NO ASSOCIATION EVER. WITH ANY TYPE OF GANG.

>> Reporter: IN A. SEPARATE ACTION, NEW. VIDEO SHOWS THE. DETENTION TUESDAY OF A. TURKISH Ph.D. STUDENT. AT TUFTS WITH A VALID. VISA. TONIGHT, DHS SAID SHE. ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES. IN SUPPORT OF HAMAS. A VISA IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT. PROVIDING NO FURTHER. DETAILS. AN I.C.E. DATABASE. SAYS SHE'S BEING HELD. IN LOUISIANA AFTER. BEING DETAINED IN.

MASSACHUSETTS. HER LAWYER SAYS. THERE'S BEEN NO. CONTACT. LESTER? >> KELLY, THANK YOU. >>> DAYS BEFORE. TARIFFS ARE SET TO. KICK IN, PRESIDENT. TRUMP WITH A DECISION. ON CARS. CHRISTINE ROMANS JOINS. ME. WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT. ANNOUNCE? >> NEW TARIFFS ON THE. AUTO INDUSTRY. THE PRESIDENT TODAY. ANNOUNCING A 25%. IMPORT TAX ON ALL. FULLY COMPLETED. VEHICLES BROUGHT INTO. THE UNITED STATES. STARTING APRIL 2nd. THE PRESIDENT SAID HE. WOULD EXEMPT AUTO. PARTS. A SENIOR. ADMINISTRATION.

OFFICIAL SAYS TARIFFS. WILL APPLY TO FOREIGN. PARTS. MANY AMERICAN MADE. CARS ARE CONSTRUCTED. WITH COMPONENTS THAT. CROSS BORDERS MULTIPLE. TIMES. IT'S MEANT TO BRING. MORE JOBS BACK TO THE. U.S. BUT WILL RAISE. PRICES. POTENTIALLY BY. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. >>> THERE'S. CONTROVERSY OVER AN. ANTI-VACCINE ACTIVIST. NOW TAPPED BY THE. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. AND HUMAN SERVICES TO. ANALYZE VACCINE SAFETY. DATA. HALLIE JACKSON JOINS.

US. WE ARE LEARNING MORE. ABOUT THIS RESEARCHER. TONIGHT. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THIS ANTI-VACCINE. ACTIVIST AND. DISCREDITED RESEARCHER. WHO IS BEING TAPPED TO. LOOK AT POSSIBLE LINKS. BETWEEN VACCINATIONS. AND AUTISM, ACCORDING. TO TWO SOURCES. FAMILIAR WITH THE. PLAN. THIS ANALYST HAS A. HISTORY OF SPREADING. MISINFORMATION THAT. VACCINES DO CAUSE. AUTISM. THAT'S A CONSPIRACY. THEORY THAT HAS BEEN. WIDELY DEBUNKED. SOME OF THE STUDIES ON. THE TOPIC HE HAS DONE. IN THE PAST WITH HIS. FATHER HAVE HAD TO BE. RETRACTED.

SOME EXPERTS ARE. CONCERNED ABOUT. FALLOUT IF HE LEADS. THIS NEW ANALYSIS. A DEEPLY IRRESPONSIBLE. CHOICE. NEITHER HAVE RESPONDED. TO OUR REQUEST FOR. COMMENT. >> THANK YOU. >>> WE WILL BE BACK IN. 60 SECONDS WITH THE. AMERICAN GRANDPARENTS. FROM MICHIGAN IN. PRISON IN PARADISE. THEIR FAMILIES'. >>> TO A VACATION. HORROR STORY.

A MICHIGAN COUPLE HAS. SPENT THREE WEEKS IN A. MEXICAN PRISON OVER A. DISPUTE WITH A RESORT. COMPANY. MAGGIE VESPA SPOKE TO. THEIR DAUGHTER WHO IS. PLEADING FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO HELP. >> Reporter: FOR. YEARS, MEXICO IS WHERE. KRISTY AND PAUL. VACATIONED WITH. FRIENDS, CELEBRATED. BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS. LINDSAY IS THEIR. DAUGHTER. >> THEY LOVE BEING. THERE. THAT'S WHERE THEY LIKE. TO TRAVEL. >> Reporter: THREE. WEEKS AGO, THEY FLEW. TO CANCUN EXCITED FOR.

ANOTHER TRIP. SHORTLY AFTER LANDING, PAUL CALLED LINDSAY. >> HE SAID, WE'RE. BEING ARRESTED FOR. FRAUD. >> Reporter: HOW DO. YOU PROCESS THAT? >> I SAID, FRAUD FOR. WHAT? >> Reporter: MEXICAN. AUTHORITIES ISSUED A. WARRANT FOR THEIR. ARREST OVER A YEARS. OLD DISPUTE WITH A. LUXURY TIMESHARE. CHAIN. THIS PHOTO SHOWS. KRISTY AT THE MEXICAN. PRISON WHERE SHE AND. PAUL HAVE BEEN EVER. SINCE. >> SHE'S ON THE PHONE. CRYING TO US THAT.

SHE'S STARVING. SHE HAS NOBODY TO TALK. TO. SHE CAN'T TRUST. ANYBODY. >> Reporter: ACCORDING. TO THE CRIMINAL. COMPLAINT, BACK IN. 2021, THEY BOUGHT AN. ELITE MEMBERSHIP. CONTRACT WITH PALACE. FOR EXCLUSIVE. BENEFITS. WITHIN MONTHS, THEY. WERE AT ODDS. KRISTY WROTE THEY. ACCUSED HER OF. WRONGFULLY POSTING. PHOTOS TO PROFIT OFF. THE RESORT AND. CANCELED STAYS WRAPPED. UP THROUGH A REFERRAL. PROGRAM.

PAUL THEN DISPUTED. NEARLY $117,000 IN. AMERICAN EXPRESS. CHARGES TIED TO THEIR. MEMBERSHIP. THE FAMILY'S LAWYER. SAYS PALACE FAILED TO. PROVIDE THE GOODS AND. SERVICES. >> THEY ARE SITTING IN. A MEXICAN PRISON RIGHT. NOW INDEFINITELY OVER. A CONTRACT DISPUTE. >> Reporter: FOR MORE. THAN TWO YEARS THEY. ASSUMED THE ORDEAL WAS. OVER. THEY HAD NO IDEA THERE. WAS A WARRANT FOR. THEIR ARREST WHEN THEY. FLEW TO CANCUN. THIS WEEKEND, THEIR.

LAWYER SAYS PALACE. OFFERED A SETTLEMENT. IF THEY PAID $250,000. SIGNED AN NDA AND. PUBLICLY APOLOGIZED, WHICH THE FAMILY. TURNED DOWN. PALACE RESORTS. DECLINED NBC NEWS'. REQUEST FOR AN. INTERVIEW. THE COMPANY'S LAWYER. SAYING THE COMPLAINT. WAS FILED IN. ACCORDANCE WITH. MEXICAN LAWS.

THE CONDUCT APPEARS TO. BE CRIMINAL. POINTING TO KRISTY'S. FACEBOOK POST. INSTRUCTING OTHERS HOW. TO REPORT SIMILAR. CHARGES TO THE. DETRIMENT OF THE. PALACE. LINDSAY SAYS SHE'S. BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE. STATE DEPARTMENT WHICH. TELLS NBC NEWS THEY. ARE AWARE OF THE CASE. >> WE NEED HELP. WE NEED HELP FROM OUR. POLITICIANS. WE NEED HELP FROM OUR. GOVERNMENT. >> Reporter: SHE'S. DESPERATE TO BRING HER. PARENTS HOME TO THEIR. GRANDCHILDREN. >> I WAS PICTURING. THAT MOMENT OF THEM. BEING ABLE TO COME. HOME AND TAKING OUR. DAUGHTERS TO SEE THEM. SORRY. JUST HAVING OUR FAMILY. THERE TO HUG THEM.

STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC. NEWS, BOSTON. >>> WHEN WE RETURN, COMING TO AMERICA. A FAMILY'S STORY OF. LOVE, LOSS AND LEAVING. >>> TONIGHT, WE WANT. TO SHARE A REMARKABLE. STORY ABOUT VICKY. NGUYEN. HER NEW MEMOIR THAT. FOLLOWS HER EXPERIENCE. AS A VIETNAM REFUGEE. HERE IS TOM LLAMAS. WITH THAT. >> Reporter: IN 1975, SAIGON FALLS AND THE.

SCRAMBLE IS ON TO GET. OUT. FOR THE NGUYEN FAMILY. LIVING IN SOUTH. VIETNAM, THERE'S NO. ESCAPING THE WAR. >> MY DAD RECALLED TO. ME JOINING THE WAR. EFFORT. MY DAD'S OLDER BROTHER. WENT MISSING IN. ACTION. >> Reporter: THREE. YEARS LATER, REFUSING. TO LIVE UNDER. COMMUNISM, THEY KNOW. THEY NEED TO FLEE TO. THE U.S. NOW THEY HAVE A BABY. THE JOURNEY TO FREEDOM. WILL NOT BE. GUARANTEED. THAT BABY, OUR VERY.

OWN VICKY NGUYEN. DO YOU THINK BACK ON. YOUR PARENTS WHEN YOU. WERE A BABY LEAVING. THEIR COUNTRY, CROSSING AN OCEAN? >> TO HAVE AN. 8-MONTH-OLD BABY AND. THINK WE ARE GOING TO. WRAP OUR BABY IN A. TOWEL, WE ARE GOING TO. SMUGGLE OURSELVES OUT. THROUGH A JUNGLE AND. HOPE WE CAN GET ON A. FISHING BOAT AND CROSS. AN OCEAN TO SAFETY TO. A REFUGEE CAMP, I FEEL. LIKE YOU ONLY MAKE. THAT DECISION IF YOU. ARE DESPERATE AND. HOPEFUL.

>> Reporter: THAT. TRIP, THE NEW LIFE THE. NGUYENS FOUND IN. AMERICA AND HOW A. REFUGEE TODDLER GREW. UP TO BE A NETWORK. CORRESPONDENT AND. ANCHOR IS WHAT SHE. WROTE ABOUT IN THE. BOOK. >> THEIR ATTITUDE WAS. >> I THINK ABOUT ALL. OF THE THINGS THEY. SURVIVED. THEIR ATTITUDE WAS. NEVER COMPLAIN, NEVER. EXPLAIN. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN. CONTROL. KEEP MOVING FORWARD. A LOT OF THAT RUBBED. OFF ON ME. >> Reporter: EARLY ON, THEY LEARNED LIFE IN. AMERICA WOULD NOT BE A.

FAIRYTALE. >> MY UNCLE GOT INTO. AN ARGUMENT WITH. SOMEONE AND WAS. STABBED TO DEATH. THAT DEVASTATED MY. MOTHER. >> Reporter: THEY. WOULD CARRY ON IN. THEIR NEW COUNTRY. VICKY GROWING UP IN. THE BAY AREA. HER PROM DATE WOULD BE. HER HUSBAND. SHE WOULD BUILD A. CAREER IN NEWS. WITH OBSTACLES. >> PEOPLE WOULD DRIVE. BE AND BE LIKE, HE'S. CONNIE CHUNG.

IT INDICATED TO ME. THAT. REPRESENTATION. MATTERS. THERE'S A LONG WAY TO. GO. >> Reporter: DESPITE. IT ALL, SHE CALLS. HERSELF A PROUD. AMERICAN, AN IMMIGRANT. WHO IS LIVING THE. AMERICAN DREAM. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS. IS YOUR STORY? >> THIS IS A DREAM TOO. BIG FOR MY FAMILY TO. HAVE, FOR ME TO HAVE, YET IT'S COMING TRUE. EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> Reporter: TOM. LLAMAS, NBC NEWS. >>> THANK YOU FOR. WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH.