Kim Taeheung Detained at Airport After Trip to Korea
Ten Days in Custody... Mother Says "My Heart Truly Aches"
Kim Taeheung, a 40-year-old U.S. permanent resident, has been detained by authorities during an immigration inspection at San Francisco Airport, and his mother has appealed for his release.
Photo of Taeheung Kim (far right), detained by U.S. immigration authorities, attending his brother's wedding. Korean American Volunteer Education Council, Yonhap News Agency
According to Yonhap News, Kim's mother, Sharon Lee, held an online press conference on July 31 (local time) and said regarding her son's detention, "It feels as if the sky is falling and the ground is collapsing," adding, "I haven't been able to eat for days. My heart truly aches."
She learned about her son's detention only after being contacted by her younger son (Kim's brother). She also stated, "There was no contact whatsoever from the authorities."
Kim, who was born in Korea, immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of five and has lived in the U.S. for over 35 years, obtaining permanent residency. Before his detention, he was a doctoral student at Texas A&M University, a prestigious state university, where he was researching a Lyme disease vaccine.
According to Kim's attorney, he traveled to Korea with his family in early July to attend his younger brother's wedding, and after completing a two-week stay, he was detained during immigration inspection at San Francisco International Airport on July 21 while returning to the United States.
His attorney, Carl Cruz, said, "The exact reason for Kim's detention has not been confirmed," and pointed out, "The airport is neither a detention facility nor an immigration court, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are interrogators, not neutral judges."
Kim's mother said, "My hope is that Taeheung will be released soon, finish his studies that he hasn't completed yet, and become someone who can help others in society."
Currently, Kim, who had been detained at San Francisco Airport for over a week, has reportedly been transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Arizona. Kim's legal team stated that they have not been able to contact him since his arrival at this facility.
Kim's attorney claimed that Kim's human rights were violated while he was held at a location in San Francisco Airport that was not an official detention facility. He explained that Kim was interrogated in a small windowless space, was unable to see sunlight during the day, and at night had to sleep on a chair without a bed.
U.S. authorities have not officially disclosed the reason for Kim's detention. However, it is presumed that the issue may be related to Kim's 2011 indictment for possession of a small amount of marijuana. The Washington Post (WP) reported that a CBP spokesperson stated, "If a permanent resident is convicted of a drug offense in violation of their status, a notice to appear is issued, and CBP coordinates detention space with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)."
During the press conference, there was a question about whether Kim's indictment occurred before or after he obtained permanent residency. However, his attorney declined to answer, citing that it could become a point of contention in future immigration court proceedings.
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), which organized the press conference, stated that they have contacted Nancy Pelosi (Democrat), U.S. Representative for San Francisco, Michael McCaul (Republican), U.S. Representative for Texas, Young Kim (Republican, California), a Korean American U.S. Representative, and Andy Kim (Democrat, New Jersey), a U.S. Senator, to request assistance for Kim's release.
The organization is also conducting an online petition campaign urging Kim's release.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
