The Shocking True Story Of Tae Heung “Will” Kim: 5 Facts About The Scientist Detained By U.S. Immigration

The case of Tae Heung “Will” Kim stands as a stark and unsettling example of the complexities and harsh realities of U.S. immigration enforcement, even for longtime legal permanent residents. As of December 13, 2025, his story remains a crucial reference point for discussions on academic freedom, human rights, and the precarious status of green card holders with past legal issues. His four-month detention sparked a massive outcry from the academic and Korean-American communities, turning a personal legal battle into a national conversation about due process and justice. The scientist, a doctoral student at Texas A&M University, was detained upon returning to the United States, despite holding a green card since childhood. His eventual release was hailed as a victory for advocacy groups, but the circumstances of his prolonged detention—and the threat it posed to his vital research—continue to resonate deeply across the nation.

Tae Heung “Will” Kim: Full Biography & Profile

The biographical details of Tae Heung “Will” Kim underscore his deep ties to the United States and his significant contributions to the scientific community, which made his detention particularly shocking to his supporters.

• Full Name: Tae Heung Kim (Preferred Name: Will Kim)
• Age: 40 (at the time of the major detention event)
• Place of Birth: South Korea (Korean-born)
• U.S. Residency Status: Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) since the age of five.
• Education: Doctoral Student at Texas A&M University (Texas A&M)
• Occupation: Scientist, Researcher, Academic
• Primary Research Focus: Developing a cutting-edge vaccine to treat Lyme disease.
• Detaining Agencies: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Detention Location: Initially San Francisco International Airport (SFO), later transferred to an immigration detention facility in Raymondville, Texas.
• Legal Counsel: Karl Krooth.

The Shocking Detention and Four-Month Legal Battle

Will Kim’s ordeal began on a routine return trip to the United States, where he was immediately flagged by immigration authorities. Despite being a legal permanent resident (LPR) for decades, his green card status did not grant him absolute immunity from detention or deportation proceedings.

Kim was initially detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on July 21. This initial stop, known as "secondary review," quickly escalated into a prolonged detention that lasted over four months.

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The core reason for the detention was reportedly a past, non-violent drug conviction from years prior. Under certain U.S. immigration laws, even longtime LPRs can be deemed "removable" based on past criminal history, regardless of the time elapsed or the severity of the offense. This legal loophole is what immigration authorities, specifically ICE, leveraged to hold him.

During his detention, Kim was transferred from the airport to a more isolated immigration detention facility in Raymondville, Texas. His lawyer, Karl Krooth, and a coalition of advocacy groups immediately launched a public campaign demanding his release, arguing that his detention was a miscarriage of justice that punished a productive, law-abiding scientist.

The Critical Research on Lyme Disease

One of the most compelling aspects of Tae Heung Kim’s case was the immediate threat his detention posed to his vital academic work. At Texas A&M University, Kim was a dedicated scientist on a research team focused on developing a groundbreaking vaccine for Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a serious public health concern, and the interruption of his work was highlighted by scholars as a loss not just to him, but to the broader scientific community.

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The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) both issued strong statements, framing his detention as an attack on academic freedom and scientific progress. They argued that detaining a scientist whose work could save lives over a decades-old conviction was counterproductive and morally indefensible.

The academic entities involved in the advocacy efforts stressed that Kim was a student in good standing and his contributions to the Lyme disease vaccine research were significant. This focus on his positive contributions served to humanize his case and rally public support against the strict, often unforgiving application of immigration law.

The Victory for Advocacy and Human Rights

After more than four months of intense legal pressure and public advocacy, Tae Heung "Will" Kim was finally released from federal detention. His release was a major victory for the coalition of human rights and Korean-American organizations that had championed his cause, including the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC).

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The case galvanized the community, highlighting the vulnerability of legal permanent residents who, despite living in the U.S. since childhood, can face deportation due to past mistakes. The campaign successfully shifted the narrative from a simple immigration enforcement case to a human rights issue concerning due process and the disproportionate punishment of LPRs.

His release marked the end of his physical detention, allowing him to return to his family and his critical research at Texas A&M. However, the legal battle over his immigration status and potential removability may not be entirely over, as the government could pursue further action, though his high-profile release makes that less likely in the short term. The case continues to serve as a high-profile example for immigration lawyers and advocates fighting similar deportation cases across the United States.