"Supporting Violinist Held by ICE: Musicians Rally Behind Utah's Long-Standing Musician"
Donggin Shin, a well-known professional violinist in Salt Lake City, finds himself in a challenging situation after being arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Colorado on Aug. 18.
Shin, who is also known as John Shin, came to the U.S. from South Korea with his father when he was a child. His father obtained a student visa that covered Shin as a dependent. Later, Shin became a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. However, his DACA status was revoked due to a DUI conviction, which is considered a "significant misdemeanor."
Shin's legal troubles began in 2019 when he was convicted of a DUI. This led to his visa overstay, and he is now being held at the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colo.
Shin's wife, DaNae Shin, shared the details of a phone call she said she received from him on the day of his arrest. She subsequently set up a GoFundMe Page to help raise money to cover his legal fees. At the time of writing, the campaign has received over $72,000 in donations.
The violinist has played with the Utah Symphony and Ballet West, among other groups. He is a longtime member of the local Salt Lake City music community.
This year has seen a massive surge in immigration-related arrests and detainments in the U.S. Donggin Shin's case is scheduled for a hearing on Sept. 2.
Similar cases include that of Jane Eugene, a British vocalist, and Guilherme Lemes Cardoso E Silva, a Brazilian visual artist. Both were arrested for overstaying their visas. The organization that supported Guilherme Lemes Cardoso E Silva after his work visa expired in 2017 is not publicly disclosed.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrants' rights, has been following Shin's case closely. They are working to ensure that individuals like Shin, who have contributed significantly to their communities, are treated fairly and given a chance to rectify their mistakes.
As the community awaits the outcome of Shin's hearing, they continue to rally behind him, hoping for a favourable resolution that will allow him to continue his music career in the U.S. and contribute to the local arts scene.
