In a disturbing turn of events, a green card holder returning to the United States from a family wedding has been detained over a decade-old marijuana charge.
Tae Heung “Will” Kim, a 40-year-old PhD student from Texas, was stopped at San Francisco airport on July 21 after arriving from South Korea, where he had attended his brother’s wedding. He was questioned for hours by border authorities before being handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking serious concerns about civil rights and due process.
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According to officials, Kim’s only known offense is a 2011 misdemeanor marijuana conviction, for which he already completed community service. Despite traveling multiple times since then without incident, this time he was suddenly flagged and detained.
Kim has lived in the U.S. since the age of five and has built a life around his studies, health challenges, and family. His abrupt arrest has left his loved ones shaken, especially given the severe conditions in which he is reportedly being held.
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Reports suggest Kim is locked in a windowless room, sleeping upright in a chair, and denied any access to a lawyer or his family. His attorney has called the detention a gross violation of constitutional rights, especially considering the charge is now legal in many U.S. states.
ICE has not responded to questions about the situation, which many view as part of a growing pattern of green card holders being detained upon re-entry, often without prior warning.
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These alarming developments have sent shockwaves through immigrant communities. Many fear that even minor or outdated legal issues could now lead to detention or deportation.
Kim’s mother, Sharon Lee, shared her heartbreak with the media, saying, “I immigrated here to the States, I thought I understood it was a country of equal rights where the Constitution applies equally.” Her words echo the anxiety felt by countless others who now question the reliability of their legal protections.
