[Interview] After 18 months in ICE detention, one man leaves behind a life in the US for a Korea he barely remembers
In May 2024, a Korean immigrant named Kim Chung-sik, 57, was released from an ICE detention facility in California after 18 months of detention. Kim had been awaiting deportation order vacated by an immigration court in August 2023. However, his release was delayed as the Trump administration appealed the decision. Kim, who had lived in the US for over 40 years, was unable to obtain US citizenship due to a lack of documents.
Living in the US, Kim struggled with gambling debts and allegations of fraud, leading to his arrest and deportation listing. Once in detention, Kim faced poor conditions and lack of medical attention. He lost hope and decided to return to Korea, a country he barely remembers.
Written by urgent.news from The Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
