Federal immigration authorities have arrested a legal permanent resident pursuing his doctorate. At San Francisco International Airport when he came back from his brother’s marriage.
Tae Heung “Will” Kim, from South Korea, has lived in the country since he was 5 years old and has a green card. The 40 -year -old is currently a doctoral student at Texas A&M University, where his research focuses on the development of a Lyme disease vaccine, according to has THE Washington Post.
Immigration officials arrested him on July 21 during the secondary inspection after his arrival of a two -week visit to South Korea for the marriage of his younger brother.
Why it matters
President Donald Trump has ordered the government to achieve what the Republicans call the largest deportation operation in the history of the United States.
In addition to people living in the country without legal status, immigrants with valid documentation, including green cards and visas, were detained. Nowsweek Docused several cases involving holders of green cards and candidates who have been swept away in ice raids.
Immigration authorities have said that legitimate permanent residents could dismiss their green cards and visas if they had violated the law.
What to know
In 2011, Kim was accused of minor possession of marijuana in Texas, according to his lawyer, Eric Lee. He fulfilled a community service requirement and then obtained a non-disclosure order, sealing the public offense.
“If a green card holder is found guilty of a drug offense, violating his status, this person receives a comparison notice and CBP coordinates the space of detention with Ice Ero. This foreigner is being moved to ice waiting,” said an American spokesperson for customs and border protection Nowsweek.
Lee said The Washington Post that Kim was denied access to legal representation. According to Lee, the government has not provided reason for its detention, and the immigration authorities prevented Kim from speaking with a lawyer or contacting his family directly, apart from a brief telephone call to his mother on Friday.
“If the Constitution does not apply to someone who has lived in this country for 35 years and is a green card holder – and has only left the country for a two -week vacation – that means [the government] Essentially discuss that the Constitution does not apply to anyone in this country for less time than it, “said Lee.
Kim’s mother, Yehoon “Sharon” Lee, said The Washington Post that she is deeply concerned about her well-being.
“He’s a good, very sweet son,” she said.
Sharon Lee arrived in the United States for the first time with her husband on a business visa in the 1980s and finally became a naturalized citizen. But at that time, his sons, including Kim, were too old to automatically receive citizenship. The two boys remained legal permanent residents, having grown almost entirely in the United States
Andrea Renault / Star Max / IPX
What people say
Sharon Lee said THE Washington Post:: “I immigrated here in the United States – I thought I understood that it was a country of equal rights where the Constitution also applies.”
Eric Lee said THE Washington Post:: “It is someone whose research will save countless lives if it is authorized to continue – farmers who risk obtaining a Lyme disease.”
“Trump always tells how much he likes the great farmers in America. Well, Tae is someone who can save the lives of farmers.”
What happens next
Sharon Lee said The Washington Post May she worry about her son’s health because he remains in detention.
“I am most concerned about his state of health. He has had asthma since he was younger,” said Lee. “I don’t know if he has enough drugs. He wears a inhaler, but I don’t know if it’s enough, because he’s there per week.”
