U.S. Immigration Drops Utah Violinist’s Deportation case

October 10, 2025, 1:36 PM · On Wednesday U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) dropped its deportation case against Utah violinist John Shin, who had been detained at an ICE detention camp in Aurora, Colo. for 17 days in late August and early September.

"That means John is not in deportation proceedings anymore," his South Salt Lake attorney Adam Crayk told the Denver Gazette. "We won entirely. He’s out."

Utah violinist John Shin and his wife Danae Snow Shin.

Shin is a violinist with a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Utah and has performed with the Utah Symphony and Ballet West.

Shin was working on a telecommunications project at Fort Carson, Colo. when he was flagged by federal officials as he tried to enter the U.S. Army base near Colorado Springs, due to discrepancies in federal records related to his migratory status. Agents placed shackles on both Shin's wrists and ankles and drove him 70 miles to the ICE detention camp in Aurora, where he was housed in block with 70-80 people and slept with no pillow on yoga mats over a metal frame for the next two and a half weeks.

"I was absolutely terrified. I cried all day," Shin said at a press conference following his release. "When you are inside the detention center you have no information coming from outside. I was in constant panic. Every night I wasn't sure what was going to happen tomorrow or the following day."

Shin was required to post a $25,000 bond and to wear an ankle monitor in order to be released from the Colorado detention center and return to his family in Salt Lake City on Sept. 4.

Originally from South Korea, Shin, 37, entered the U.S. legally with his father at age 10 under a tourist visa. His father switched to a student visa, under which Shin was a dependent. Shin later received status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, until it was revoked due to a 2020 driving-while-impaired conviction, according to his lawyer.

Shin has been married for four years to DaNae Snow Shin, a U.S. citizen, but at the time of his detainment he had not yet legally rectified his citizen status. Shin has since submitted an application for legal permanent residency.

After he was detained on August 18, Shin's wife helped rally their Salt Lake City community to help him, with a GoFundMe campaign as well as a benefit concert and other efforts by fellow musicians.

The deadline for U.S. officials to appeal an immigration judge's Sept. 8 order terminating the deportation case against Shin, however, came and went on Wednesday without action, meaning deportation efforts have come to an end.

"It is a great understatement to share with you that I am sincerely grateful for all of the love and support I've received from everyone," Shin wrote on his Facebook page, after returning to Utah. "I only strive to return this love and kindness of support back to the community."

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