A 41-year-old Korean woman was arrested after attempting to re-enter the United States by changing her passport name, despite having been denied entry twice before. She was caught when her fingerprints revealed her true identity.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that on May 7, officers arrested Nam Young-Shin at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing near Niagara Falls, New York. She was charged with attempting to illegally enter the country.
According to the DOJ, Nam presented a Korean passport under the name Nam Ye-Jin to US Customs and Border Protection officers. After she refused to submit fingerprints, officers moved her to secondary inspection, where a fingerprint scan confirmed she was Nam Young-Shin.
Prior Entry Denials and Legal Charges
Nam had a record of two previous entry denials, the DOJ stated. On April 3, 2024, she was denied entry at Las Vegas Airport, resulting in her removal from the Visa Waiver Program for five years. In July 2024, she attempted to enter again at the Texas border, where she was detained and later deported after two months.
The DOJ reported that Nam falsely answered “no” when asked whether she had ever used another name or been denied entry to the US. She was arrested on charges of illegal re-entry and making false statements. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison.
BY YEOL JANG [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
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