Texas Researcher Tae Heung Kim Detained Over Week at Airport Now Facing Deportation

A Texas A&M University researcher, Tae Heung "Will" Kim, was detained for over a week at San Francisco International Airport. Kim, a legal permanent resident with a green card, was held by immigration authorities after returning from his brother's wedding in South Korea. His family and attorneys reported that he lived off airport food and slept in a chair during this period.

Kim is now facing deportation proceedings and is currently held at an immigration detention centre in Arizona. His attorney, Karl Krooth, mentioned that he has not yet been able to speak with Kim. The reason for Kim's detention on July 21 remains unclear, according to Krooth.

Immigration Enforcement and Legal Challenges

Customs and Border Protection stated that any green card holder with a drug offence violates their legal status and can be detained. Kim was charged with misdemeanour marijuana possession in Texas in 2011, where recreational use is illegal. His attorneys did not discuss these charges but noted that Kim completed community service and successfully petitioned for nondisclosure of the offence.

Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, there has been a significant increase in immigration enforcement. This campaign has affected American citizens, legal permanent residents, visa holders, and visitors, leading to detentions and deportations for minor infractions.

Impact on Kim's Life and Family Concerns

Kim has lived in the US since he was five years old. After his father's death, he helped with his family's doll-manufacturing business before entering a doctoral programme at Texas A&M. He is involved in research on a Lyme disease vaccine. His mother, Yehoon "Sharon" Lee, expressed concern about his asthma and the medical care he might receive in detention.

Krooth criticised the conditions of Kim's detention at the airport, stating that it denied him due process rights. "The airport is not a detention facility," Krooth said. He described how Kim was moved between two small rooms during the day without windows and slept in a chair at night.

Communication Barriers and Legal Proceedings

While detained at the airport, Kim had limited communication with his family. He was allowed only one phone call and occasional texts with his brother. Since being transferred to Arizona, there has been no contact with him. An airport spokesperson mentioned that they are not informed when CBP denies entry to passengers.

Lee shared that she and her husband entered the US on business visas in the 1980s. By the time they became naturalised citizens, Kim was too old for automatic citizenship. The family's situation highlights the complexities of immigration laws affecting long-term residents.

The case underscores ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement efforts and judicial attempts to limit executive power. It also raises questions about the treatment of individuals with minor infractions under current policies.

With inputs from PTI