Following the detainment of violinist John Shin by ICE (the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement), Homeland Security is fighting back.

The official X account said that their decision was due to the fact that Shin is a “Criminal.” The account said, “This ‘Utah violinist’ is Donggin Shin, a CRIMINAL illegal alien from South Korea. His criminal history includes a DUI conviction. Shin entered the U.S. on a tourist visa on September 3, 1998. This visa required him to depart the U.S. by March 3, 1999. Over 25 years later, he was STILL illegally in the U.S. Our message is clear: criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.”

Shin was detained earlier in August and his lawyer Adam Crayk noted that the reason for Shin’s detainment was due to the fact that Shin originally came to the US under his father’s student visa before eventually marrying a US citizen.

Shin came to Utah from South Korea when he was ten years old and stayed for 25 years. He was able to secure status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allowed eligible immigrants brought to the country illegally by their parents to remain and work in the United States.

His lawyer added that beyond their control, the family wasn’t able to file for the green card in a timely fashion. He added that Shin struggled with the death of his father in 2019 when he received a DUI but completed the necessary probation.

Following the detainment, musicians have showed support and his family has raised over $70,000 for legal fees and to be able to start Green Card paper work. Additionally, friends and supporters of Shin have been playing their instruments at the Utah State Capitol government office and will aim to continue doing so until Shin returns home.

Shin is a violinist who has a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Utah and has performed with the Utah Symphony and Ballet West. He is being held in a federal immigration detention center in Aurora, Colorado.

Homeland Security has increased detainments in the U.S. as President Trump seeks to enact his promised “mass deportation” agenda. In several states, the rate of ICE arrests has more than doubled and the White House is now reviewing 55 million visas to check if holders “broke rules.” The authoritarian president, who is also 34-time convicted felon, is looking at prospective students and visitors’ social media with officials looking for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.”

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