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A Korean living in the United States as a permanent resident has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities amid a broad crackdown on immigrants, according to members of the Korean American community. Tae Heung Will Kim, a green card holder and resident of Texas, has been held by federal agents at San Francisco International Airport since July 21, after undergoing additional security screening, according to the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC). The civic group said the 40-year-old is a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University, where he is researching a potential cure for Lyme disease. Kim, who moved to the U.S. at the age of 5, was detained upon returning from a trip to Korea to attend his brother’s wedding. “He is being held in inhumane conditions without access to legal counsel,” NAKASEC said in a statement, calling for Kim’s immediate release and his return to academic and private life. A Washington Post report, citing Kim’s attorney, said that the government has not explained why he was detained. Immigration officials have reportedly denied him access to a lawyer and limited his communication with family to a brief call with his mother. While the exact reason for his detention remains unclear, according to Kim’s attorney, he was charged in 2011 with possession of a small amount of marijuana. This led to a court order requiring him to perform community service, which he completed. “Will suffers from asthma, a condition that can be exacerbated by stress, and we are unsure about his access to his medication,” the advocacy group said. “Customs and Border Patrol’s own manual declares that a person can only be held for 72 hours – yet Will has been in their custody for nearly triple that.” Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Korea Times that its diplomatic missions in the U.S. are providing consular assistance to Kim. The case comes amid growing anxiety among Korean nationals in the United States over the Donald Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown. Since taking office in January, the administration has ramped up mass arrests and deportations, ended several temporary legal protections and suspended refugee admissions and visa processing. According to the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, which has the largest Korean population in the U.S., four to five Korean nationals have requested consular assistance after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as ICE, since the beginning of the year. This marks a significant increase compared to just one case in the two years before Trump’s second term. submitted by /u/coinfwip4 |
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