Korean Woman Deported After Using Altered Passport Name

A Korean woman deported from the United States after attempting to re-enter the country under a different name has pleaded guilty and is set to be returned to South Korea.

Nam Young-shin, 41, was arrested in May at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection checkpoint near Niagara Falls, New York. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on June 27, she has now been sentenced to time served and transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation.

At the time of her arrest, Nam presented a South Korean passport bearing the name Nam Ye-jin. When she refused to submit fingerprints, officers initiated secondary screening. Her biometric data later revealed her true identity.

Records show that Nam had previously been denied entry at Las Vegas International Airport in April 2024. As a result, she was barred from the U.S. Visa Waiver Program for five years. In July 2024, she attempted to cross the border illegally through Texas, where she was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and deported.

Despite the previous removal, Nam tried again to enter the United States using altered identity documents. Her case has drawn attention for highlighting security checks at border crossings and enforcement of entry bans.

BY YEONGCHAE SONG   [song.yeongchae@koreadaily.com]