Korean Who Served in US Military Faces Deportation; Should He Be Allowed to Stay in the US?
Via a reader tip comes this story about an Iraq War veteran facing deportation to South Korea:
An Iraq war veteran who grew up in Portland is being held by federal immigration agents in a Tacoma detention center and could be deported to South Korea.
Chong Hwan Kim, 41, has lived in Portland since his family immigrated with documentation when he was 5, his friends said.
But federal immigration authorities say Kim was arrested because of criminal convictions.
Immigration authorities detained Kim on April 5 because of a recent first-degree arson felony conviction, said Rose Riley, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman. Kim later told friends that agents arrested him after he got a call telling him to come downtown to discuss his probation.
But Kim’s friends argue it’s wrong to deport a man who grew up in and went to war for the United States. Jordan Meyers, who met Kim through a Department of Veterans Affairs support group, worries what will happen to his friend if he is sent to South Korea, where he does not speak the language and has no family.
“He came to our country legally. … He fought for our country. He bled with us,” Meyers said. “Does that not earn for him the right to live here?” [Oregon Live]
You can read more at the link, but serving in the National Guard does not give someone a right to have citizenship. Part of being applying to be a citizen is to not have a criminal history. Kim has an extensive criminal history. On top of that Kim received a general discharge under honorable conditions from the National Guard so he clearly got in trouble during his time serving to not get an honorable discharge.
He could have applied to be a citizen a long time ago if he came to the US with a valid Green Card, but I am willing to bet his criminal history is what has been preventing it from happening. Based on what I have read it seems Kim has earned his deportation and I recommend he begin brushing up on his Korean.
Well, ummm…NO! Not according to Trump & J.B.S. III unless they just deport Mexicans and S. Americans.
He’s not a US citizen, in spite of a lot of years to get that done. He’s a habitual felon who threw a firebomb at police. He should be deported to avoid being put in a hole and have dirt put on him.
Hmmm.
Mixed feelings about this.
People who grew up in America are essentially American regardless of what the paperwork says.
Therefore, while useless, perpetually dependent immigrants who refuse to adapt to American culture need to be sent back to their homeland, many Dreamers need to be given American citizenship… because they ARE American where it counts… but, of course, this would require a final review of a wise and street-smart board of realiats to make sure they were an addition to America rather than a burden.
This guy, however, seems like a scumbag… so he needs to be thrown out.
This is not based on his citizenship or military service. This is because it is the cheapest and least burdensom thing to do with a career offender who is not American.
Let him be Korea’s problem.
HE IS TOTALLY SCREWED IF HE IS GOING TO SOUTH KOREA WITH NO KOREAN LANGUAGE SKILLS.
Why in all those years did he not do the necessary process to become a citizen? His lack of action or inaction is not my problem. There was a process, he did not comply, he broke the law; end of story.
He can get a job working as a USFK contractor – they are all crooks anyway.
that guy goose is cooked
Not easy getting a job with U.S forces korea. You have to be in a Click.
How about this guy? Keep, or deport?
http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/phone/news/view.jsp?req_newsidx=232842
Born and raised in the US, so deportation isn’t possible. But this guy was ready to sell the Army out to ISIS.
Not sure how much longer ISIS will be remaining in business. They were driven out of Mosul, but like roaches running when the lights come back on, they are probably still around somewhere.
Did anyone else read this? Glad the Brits are on our side:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3927954/british-soldier-drowns-isis-puddle-sbs-troops-mosul-iraq/
Love the Sun’s writing style! Sometimes you have to filter the adjectives out to find the real story, but they are always an entertaining read.
Given he is in uniform, he has to face UCMJ music. He could easily be hanged or shot.
Apparently a British tradition.
Iraq: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-famous-bayonet-charge-of-modern-conflict-2012-10
Afghanistan: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9571522/Soldier-who-led-Afghanistan-bayonet-charge-into-hail-of-bullets-honoured.html
Falklands: https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/501068/we-ran-up-that-mountain-with-no-body-armour-no-helmet-no-compensation-if-we-got-hurt-but-id-do-it-again-tomorrow/
That’s the oldest PFC I’ve ever seen!