Tae Heung “Will” Kim, a 40-year-old Texas-based researcher, was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after returning to the U.S. from his brother’s wedding in South Korea. Kim, who first arrived in the United States at age 5 and has been a legal permanent resident since, was stopped at San Francisco International Airport during secondary screening.
Eric Lee, Kim’s attorney, told the Los Angeles Times that Kim was removed from the screening line and has had minimal contact with his family since, apart from a brief phone call last week. According to Lee, a Senate office informed him that Kim would be transferred to an immigration facility in Texas, though a Korean Consulate representative indicated he could be sent elsewhere.
In 2011, Kim was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession while in his twenties. Addressing the situation, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told the Washington Post: “This alien is in ICE custody pending removal hearings. If a green card holder is convicted of a drug offense, violating their status, that person is issued a Notice to Appear, and CBP coordinates detention space with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement].”
Kim’s attorney described the situation as “a little absurd,” stating that it stems from a minor incident that occurred nearly 15 years ago.
Kim’s parents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s on business visas. By the time they gained naturalized citizenship, Kim was too old to qualify for automatic citizenship. He remained in the U.S. on a green card and helped run the family’s doll-manufacturing business after his father passed away.
Now a doctoral student at Texas A&M University, Kim is engaged in research to develop a vaccine for Lyme disease. His mother, Yehoon “Sharon” Lee, expressed concern for his health, noting to the Washington Post that he suffers from asthma. “I don’t know if he has enough medication,” she said. “He carries an inhaler, but I don’t know if it’s enough, because he’s been there a week.”
In light of similar detainments, immigration experts are warning green card holders to be cautious about international travel due to potential re-entry issues.
