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yesterday

Green-Card Holder Reportedly Moved to Texas ICE Facility After Weeklong SFO Detention

Attorneys cannot confirm his whereabouts after a reported transfer to Texas, with no access to a lawyer or case information.

Tae Heung “Will” Kim, right, is seen here at his brother's recent wedding in South Korea. Earlier this month he was detained and held at San Francisco International Airport.
Federal agent outside the Immigration Courtrooms of Federal Plaza in New York.
Federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on July 28, 2025, in New York City.
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Overview

  • Tae Heung “Will” Kim, a 40-year-old PhD candidate at Texas A&M, was pulled into secondary screening at San Francisco International Airport on July 21 over a sealed 2011 misdemeanor marijuana conviction.
  • He spent more than seven days in an airport holding area lacking natural light, proper sleeping arrangements and basic hygiene access.
  • CBP says he is now in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, invoking his past drug conviction to trigger a Notice to Appear despite eligibility for a minor-offense waiver.
  • Kim’s legal team has been unable to verify his exact location following reports of a transfer to a Texas detention center or to review the charges against him.
  • Advocates warn this case highlights a broader enforcement shift that subjects long-term legal residents to prolonged airport detentions and due process denials for decades-old offenses.