John Shin, a well-known Korean violinist based in Utah and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month, appeared in a Colorado courtroom Tuesday amid appeals from his family and the local community for his release.
Shin (37) is currently being held at an immigration detention center in Aurora, Colorado, where he was detained on Aug. 18 by ICE agents. His arrest prompted an immediate outcry from family and friends, including many in Utah’s vibrant arts community.
On the eve of Shin’s courtroom appearance friends of the violinist organized a benefit concert, with funds going toward a GoFundMe campaign launched shortly after his arrest. During the hearing, the judge remarked on the show of public support for Shin.
A bond of $25,000 was set for Shin’s release, with the government arguing Shin posed a danger stemming from a previous DUI conviction. Family say they were able to cover the bond thanks to the success of the crowdfunding campaign. Barring appeals from the government, Shin’s lawyer says he could be free within days.
Shin has performed with the Salt Lake Symphony, Utah Symphony, and Ballet West. He was reportedly arrested due to a 2019 DUI record that surfaced in the ICE system. The situation has drawn particular sympathy because Shin was in the process of securing permanent residency through his U.S. citizen spouse.
According to his wife, Danae Snow, Shin entered the United States at the age of 10 on his father’s student visa but fell out of legal status after failing to apply for a green card in time. He later obtained work authorization through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program introduced under the Obama administration and had been maintaining lawful presence under its protections. Several years ago, he married an American citizen and subsequently applied for a green card.
Shortly after his arrest, Shin was able to make a 30-second phone call to his wife, informing her of his detention and transfer to the immigration facility.
To cover legal expenses, Snow launched a GoFundMe campaign, explaining that the 2019 DUI stemmed from the grief of losing his father to a brain tumor. “John is a devoted husband and father, and a talented violinist with a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Utah,” she wrote. “He has always worked hard to support his family and mother, and he is deeply loved by the musical community.”
Violinist Gabriel Gordon, who has collaborated with Shin for more than a decade, said, “At first it was shocking, but with the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdowns, I’ve seen this happen too often. It’s heartbreaking, but sadly not surprising.” Gordon has been playing the violin daily outside the Utah State Capitol to call for Shin’s release.
Shin’s former professor, Robert Baldwin, expressed his sorrow in a local media interview: “He was always an enthusiastic student, excited about his next performance, constantly researching new recordings and bringing fresh ideas.”
Snow appealed for help in reuniting her family: “If John can return home, we can live again in love and peace.”
