ICE drops Utah violinist’s deportation case

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The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has dropped interest in the deportation case of Utah violinist John Shin.

Shin’s attorney Adam Crayk confirmed with the Denver Gazette: ’That means John is not in deportation proceedings anymore. We won entirely. He’s out.’

Shin was released from detention on 8 September on a $25,000 bond. Crayk then filed a petition to terminate the case, giving the government 30 days to appeal. The period ended on Wednesday 8 October with no further action taken.

Crayk confirmed that ICE can no longer pursue deportation, and expects Shin to have a green card in about 16 months.

Shin spent 17 days in a detention facility in Aurora, CO, more than 500 miles from his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, following his arrest by ICE agents in a hotel car park in Colorado, where he had travelled to on a work trip in August.

Shin, 37, was born in Korea and moved to the US aged ten on his father’s visa, before securing his right to remain under Deferred Access for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. Settling in Utah, he obtained a master’s degree in violin performance from the University of Utah and played regularly with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. 

He lost his DACA status due to a now-spent conviction for impaired driving that took place in 2019. He married US citizen Danae Snow in 2021 and became stepfather to her two children. At the time of his arrest, he was undergoing the process to obtain a green card to stay in the country, but was unable to secure legal status in a timely fashion due to extenuating circumstances.

’His wife lost her job, John was having to put together piecemeal jobs, his father passed away of cancer, and they were in a little bit of financial disrepair,’ said Crayk. 

He added: ’Under the former administration, John was in no way, shape or form a priority for removal.’

Shin’s arrest caused outrage in the local and wider musical community. Colleagues and friends rallied by playing their instruments at the Utah State Capitol government in Salt Lake City, and a GoFundMe created by Shin’s wife Danae has raised more than $80,000 for his bond.

Crayk believes that ICE’s lack of resistance suggested it just wanted Shin’s particular case to go away.

’I’m really glad that our government didn’t choose to fight this and didn’t waste valuable resources on somebody that is ultimately going to be a green-card holder and a citizen.

’I’m glad it’s over for John Shin’s case. But there will be more,’ said Crayk, alluding to the tens of thousands of immigration cases still undergoing a decision.