John Shin, a violinist well-known in Utah's classical music circles, was released from the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday, according to FOX13. After posting bond, Shin exited a Colorado detention center around 4:30 p.m. to a group of supporters following weeks of detention.
The musician, associated with the Salt Lake Symphony as well as Ballet West, found himself under ICE's scrutiny after being arrested last month. The circumstances of his detention relate to his immigration status as well as a previous impaired driving conviction from 2020, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune. Shin arrived in the U.S. under his father's student visa and later married a U.S. citizen. He has also contributed his talents to the music community as a teacher. As noted on LinkedIn, he was employed as a radio engineer for AT&T while also playing for two music studios at the time of his arrest.
Shin's detainment prompted a significant community response, underscored by the creation of a GoFundMe campaign designed to assist with his legal expenditures. KUTV reported the fundraiser collected just under $80,000, coming close to its $90,000 target by September 4. Snow, identified as Shin's spouse, acknowledged that it was the community support, accumulation of funds, and letters of support that "helped bring her husband home."
