ICE deports Korean brothers nabbed by Border Patrol near US-Canada border
SEATTLE – Two Korean fugitives caught illegally entering the U.S. near Blaine, Washington, were deported Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
ERO officers transferred Sungwoo Kim, 49, and his brother Sungjoon Kim, 43, to the custody of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) at Incheon International Airport Wednesday to face fraud charges. They were escorted by ERO officers on a commercial flight that departed Tuesday from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The brothers were arrested last October by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Blaine, after illegally crossing into the U.S. from Canada by deliberately avoiding the port of entry. Records checks indicated they may be fugitives. Special agents with ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations office in Seoul, South Korea, worked with Korean authorities to confirm the men were wanted. According to the KNPA, Sungwoo Kim is wanted on two separate warrants for fraud totaling more than $100,000 (110,000,000 Korean Won). Sungjoon Kim is wanted for fraud amounting to nearly $30,000 (30,000,000 Korean Won).
“Foreign fugitives who believe they can find sanctuary in the U.S. to evade authorities in their home country are mistaken,” said Nathalie Asher, field office director for ERO Seattle. “Department of Homeland Security agencies are uniquely positioned to interdict these individuals and return them home to be held accountable for their crimes.”
An immigration judge ordered Sungjoon Kim removed in December. Sungwoo Kim was ordered removed in November.
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