The WaPo tells the story of Yong Sun Harvill, a 32-year resident of the United States who is now locked up in a federal deportation compound in Arizona and struggling to get the medical attention she needs for cancer:
Underneath her baggy jail-issue pants, Yong Sun Harvill feels the soft lump just below her left knee. Sometimes it tingles. Sometimes it is numb. Like her cancer felt when it arrived behind the knee a few years ago.
She noticed the lump under the thin, blue cotton in August, five months after federal immigration officers, to her amazement, took her into custody to try to deport her for buying stolen jewelry more than a decade ago. The lump grows slowly. It is now three inches across. And though she keeps asking, no one has done a test to see whether her sarcoma has come back.
Her leg is painful and swollen from hip to foot, damaged by past surgeries and radiation treatments. Some nights, liquid seeps through cracks in her distended skin. Her left ankle is three times as big as her right. For years, she relied on a leg pump to boost her circulation and keep the swelling in check. But as an immigration detainee in this desert prison town, Harvill, 52, has been unable to persuade anyone to get her a pump, or to let her family back in Florida send hers from home.
Nor has she gotten the biopsy that a doctor has told her she needs to determine whether the spots on her liver might be tumors. And it remains uncertain whether her frequent crying spells are part of bipolar disorder, as some records suggest, or a flare-up of old anxieties — heightened now by chronic pain, bewildering medical problems, and the fact that, three decades after she arrived from South Korea as a teenage Army bride, she is in a jail far from home with the government trying to eject her from the United States.
How did Mrs. Harvill end up as a guest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
Yong Sun Harvill’s immigration troubles began in March 2007, as she was finishing 13 months in prison on a drug-possession charge. One day, a prison official summoned her to his office and handed her a phone. On the line was a man who worked in Orlando for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She would not be going home, he told her. She would be handed over to ICE agents, who planned to send her back to South Korea, a place she had not seen for 32 years.
[...]
After all her years in Florida, she would still drive to Tampa once a month to buy rice at a Korean grocery, but she also loved collard greens and black-eyed peas, was a die-hard Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, and knew the lyrics to all of Brooks & Dunn’s country tunes.In 2004, while she was riding with a friend, police stopped them for driving with expired tags. The car belonged to her friend, but the marijuana and methamphetamine on the floor were Harvill’s.
She pleaded guilty to drug possession and served her time. Ordinarily, that would have been that. But ICE had begun scouring jails and prisons nationwide for people it might be able to deport, and a check of Harvill’s criminal history turned up a decade-old felony conviction for buying stolen jewelry. Her lawyer insisted she’d had no idea it was stolen. A judge suspended the sentence and put her on probation, which was terminated early for good behavior.
A 1996 law had given the government new leverage to deport foreigners, including people living in the country legally as U.S. residents, if they had committed a crime at any time in the past, and the Bush administration was wielding that power aggressively. The law expanded the list of crimes defined as “aggravated felonies” that are grounds for deportation. It also for the first time required people to be locked up during their deportation cases — including permanent legal residents such as Harvill, who is not a citizen but has had a green card ever since she came to the United States.
If she’s not getting the treatment she needs, that’s a disgrace that needs to be rectified immediately. As for her deportation, however, she’s NOT a US citizen, and a two-time felon. South Korea wouldn’t have waited for the second felony to deport… and rightfully so.
PS: Just to show I’m not a completely heartless dick, I do hope the authorities show some leniency with Ms. Harvill — she is, after all, married to a US citizen, and being a legal resident of the US for three decades should count for something. And yes, she’s a cancer patient. Still, with two felony convictions to her name, any mercy shown to her by the US authorities is exactly that — mercy. And that would be a mercy many countries — including her own country — would not afford foreigners with similar rap sheets.
76 Comments
One: She’s a drug addict who got herself into this position.
Two: She chose to remain a Korean citizen, that was her choice. I chose to remain a Korean citizen myself, but I’m fully aware what rights I don’t have as a non citizen. It was her choice.
Three: She’s a convicted felon who broke the law. Deport her ass back to Korea.
^^ CN you don’t know if she’s a drug addict - she was convicted of simple possession — but assuming she is this is one more clear example of why the Drug War is a violation of human rights on a mass scale. People who use should be getting treatment and not sitting in jails and bouncing around between inflexible bureaucries.
There is not one person who can convince me that a non-violent drug user should spend any time in jail unless they are a danger to society (i.e. driving, etc.)
I hope in my lifetime we will put an end to this madness (borne out of Protestant guilt) of throwing people in jail for an act which is only hurting themselves.
Medical care for those awaiting deportation and deaths in custody due to negligence are receiving in-depth coverage in the US media. While she is in US custody, the federal government is responsible for providing her with needed medical care. I am a little uncomfortable with the prospect of expelling a cancer patient, even a convicted felon, who’s been here thirty years. However, she most likely has family in Korea who can support her after her return. If she has immediate family members in the US, such as a spouse and children, those factors should be taken into account.
I’m not convinced that South Korea would be so zealous about deporting an ailing American woman who’d been in Korea for decades married to a Korean, and I am far from convinced a woman who left Korea decades ago as a young army bride has a family in Korea that is all of a sudden going to take her in, care for her, and pay for medical bills. Especially if she has immediate family in the States, might a little compassion be in order?
I hope she can get the medical treatment she needs before being deported or immediately after arrival into Korea.
“South Korea wouldn’t have waited for the second felony to deport…”
Maybe not, but who cares? I’d prefer the U.S. set the standard.
(Which is not to say that non-citizens shouldn’t necessarily be deported for felonies. But for purchasing stolen jewelry? Why the hell is that a felony? And how does one go about proving that the purchaser new the merchandise was stolen? Brendon? You out there?)
At any rate, I believe the government should consider the unique circumstances (married to a U.S. citizen, her illness, length of time in the States) and grant her some leniency/mercy.
new >>> knew
Question. Did she pay income taxes while in the states? Yes or No.
If she did, isn’t she entitled to be treated better while in federal custody?
too bad she ain’t mexican. they don’t do these things like this to mexicans.
‘might a little compassion be in order?’
i doubt many expats will show any compassion since they’ll see this as yet another opportunity to promote their grievances.
as for the woman herself, i’d let her stay and give her the treatment she needs. that would be consistant with my american values.
“Just to show I’m not a completely heartless dick, I do hope the authorities show some leniency with Ms. Harvill”
I’ll take it one step further and that it’s as if they are slowly leading her to death.
“i doubt many expats will show any compassion since they’ll see this as yet another opportunity to promote their grievances.
as for the woman herself, i’d let her stay and give her the treatment she needs. that would be consistant with my american values.”
Whatever. If she was in Canada, that sort of treatment would be out of the question. Heck, she wouldn’t even be in prison. At the least, she’d be deemed a permanent resident and receiving the medical attention she needs. How’s that for values?
THE DEFINITION OF CLUELESSNESS:
OP: Just to show I’m not a completely heartless dick, I do hope the authorities show some leniency with Ms. Harvill — she is, after all, married to a US citizen, and being a legal resident of the US for three decades should count for something. And yes, she’s a cancer patient.
Sonagi: I am a little uncomfortable with the prospect of expelling a cancer patient, even a convicted felon, who’s been here thirty years.
GVI: Especially if she has immediate family in the States, might a little compassion be in order?
ICEBERG: At any rate, I believe the government should consider the unique circumstances (married to a U.S. citizen, her illness, length of time in the States) and grant her some leniency/mercy.
CM: She’s a convicted felon who broke the law. Deport her ass back to Korea.
PAWI: i doubt many expats will show any compassion since they’ll see this as yet another opportunity to promote their grievances.
Must be liberating to be entirely divorced from truth and fact.
“too bad she ain’t mexican. they don’t do these things like this to mexicans.”
Well… typically, they’re treated a lot worse… but then again, maybe my observation is skewed b/c I’m in Arizona (big-time anti-immigration state). Local ICE agents are out for blood, and I don’t mean that figuratively.
I’d say show some compassion and let the woman stay. Little leniency and mercy (as Robert put it perfectly) never hurt anyone.
I wonder if we could somehow harness Pawi’s bitterness into a (useful) renewable resource.
Whoa, last night was fun…
oops, wrong thread…
hey pawi, eat a dic|<
“Whoa, last night was fun…”
“hey pawi, eat a dic|<”
Those two comments should never be made back to back….
lol…good one bum…
Now back to the topic at hand.
bum, do you think amnesty is for the koreans?
The writer of that piece was not so subtle in their leanings on this issue…wow. One appeal to emotion after another after another.
She seems to have had no intention of returning to Korea which makes me wonder why she did not bother with citizenship. Would the previous (lame) felony have created a problem?
Funny though…busted for drugs, multiple felon, getting kicked out, and the paper is on her side. Seems surreal.
Like I said, my observation on certain immigration related policies are probably skewed to the extreme because I live in Arizona. But at the point where the local sheriff literally have ‘posses’ (apparently that’s the official terminology) going around and rounding up Hispanics like livestocks… can’t help but think that way.
Korean health care is a lot cheaper than that in the USA. And she can pay for it herself instead of demanding others to do what she wouldn’t…
Foreigners who come to the US (or any country) and repeatedly break the law should be sent packing… no matter how many collard greens they’ve enjoyed…
You would not believe how many heartbreaking phone calls I get from Americans, married to Koreans or born and raised here in Korea and often of Korean descent themselves, being put into the deportation cycle for simple drug possession. One strike and you’re out!
Back to the matter of Yong Sun Harvill languishing in “administrative custody” (she’s not in prison, despite the fact she’s being held in jail) while her cancer gallops ahead, that sounds like a classic tort claim against the government. I’d be glad to take such a case were I working in America.
The woman should be getting medical treatment while in custody, regardless of her resident status.
As for her being deported, even though it seems somewhat harsh since her family is in the US, she broke the law and should have to pay the consequences. However, if I were the judge and had the authority to show leniency, I would be tempted to do so, but I also think it would probably be a waste of time since she is probably a drug addict and would probably break the law again in the future.
Brendon,
It looks like you added that last sentence about taking her case after your initial post. Are you able to edit your comments on others’ posts?
She should be getting treatment while in custody… but, she had over 25 years to apply for citizenship and didn’t; ROKs problem.
#8, no, Pawi, it is a disgraceful situation. At the very least she deserves the medical care she needs. Stop using this forum as therapy for your inadequacies and go back to asiasfinest.
Wasn’t there a Ghanan immigrant who received a head injury and died from it due to lack of adequate medical treatment provided few weeks back?
I have many amazing powers. Did I mention I’m rich and handsome yet? Some people (my mom, mostly) also would say smart.
Some people (my mom, mostly) also would say smart.
Hey, I think we have the same mother!
“Must be liberating to be entirely divorced from truth and fact.”
Must be liberating to be entirely divorced from the capacity to feel compassion for others. Seriously, nobody here has argued she hasn’t made mistakes - she sure has - but only that her case may merit additional consideration.
“You would not believe how many heartbreaking phone calls I get from Americans, married to Koreans or born and raised here in Korea and often of Korean descent themselves, being put into the deportation cycle for simple drug possession. One strike and you’re out!”
I believe it, but I know of at least one case - drug related - where this did not occur, so exceptions may be made in certain cases.
gvi - slim was making the case that pawi is clueless.
#26,
It’s not that simple…
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05.....etain.html
Twice already in two days. You’re also married. Boohoo.
‘Like I said, my observation on certain immigration related policies are probably skewed to the extreme because I live in Arizona. But at the point where the local sheriff literally have ‘posses’ (apparently that’s the official terminology) going around and rounding up Hispanics like livestocks… can’t help but think that way.’
i don’t support the idea of rounding up 12 million mexicans and sending them back to mexico. i want to go after the companies that hire them. that’s how you can stem the tide of illegal immigration.
btw, believe it or not, i read in the nyt today about a filipino couple who are going to be deported because of some violation in their applications to become citizens. the man is a doctor and the woman is an rn. they’ve been here for over 20 years. their crime is something techinical and not something criminal. yet, their case doesn’t look good. they are going to be deported.
it’s interesting how the expat turns the subject around to sk immigration policy. these are the same folks who howl about any korean doing the same. that’s when they bring out their little linus blankets wrapped in straw, man!
question: what does korean immigration policy have to do with the issue at hand?
answer: not a damn thing.
I strongly encourage commenters to check out the extensive documents link that accompanies the Washington Post story. As I mentioned, neglect and mistreatment of deportee detainees has gotten front page attention in the WaPo, NYT, and other newspapers. Complaints from former health care workers and documents detailing cost savings by denying treatment are disturbing.
I don’t know what you think gives you the right to keep posing these thought tests to “The expat”.
But FWIW, I think none of us has the right to judge this woman. She should be let out of jail and given the medical care she needs.
@21: “livestock”, used in that sense, is an uncountable noun. For awhile, you almost had me fooled, your English was so good.
His parents beat him until he got perfect scores on the GRE, TOEFL and MCAT.
Nah, because then he wouldn’t be going to college in Arizona.
“Nah, because then he wouldn’t be going to college in Arizona.”
Hey! We’re not that bad.
For a lot of people here, it was the only financially feasible path towards higher education.
Financial benefits of beating Korean children?
“Financial benefits of beating Korean children?”
What in the good God’s green earth are you talking about?
Flip side is, find out you are sick, commit a(n other) crime and get some free health care ????. Gee what to do?
And the beat goes on.
“Financial benefits of beating Korean children?” ink
‘What in the good God’s green earth are you talking about?’ bum
‘i doubt many expats will show any compassion since they’ll see this as yet another opportunity to promote their grievances.’ pawikirogi
I think Linkd is talking about how some parents beat their children for good grades.
I dont know of anyone like that personally but i know it happens.
Deny it all you want. I’m not a supporter of linkd, but he is right.
Some people in Korea are just not fit to be parents.
‘i doubt many expats will show any compassion since they’ll see this as yet another opportunity to promote their grievances.’ pawikirogi
You do realize that the VERY FIRST PERSON to promote their grievances on this thread was YOU, right Pawi?
Now, why don’t you stick to the topic instead of promoting your grievances?
Don’t let that be a stumbling block. My wife and I have an open relationship: Any girl I can get with my mad skillz is fair game, so long as I don’t spend more than the seven bucks a day (weekdays only) allowance from my wife.
Withdrawn. Bad joke, sorry, just kidding. Beating kids is bad. Studying hard is good. Sonagi likes Asian men (sorry counsellor), stacked is still annoying, and Carr really needs some action, since the subset of ‘any girl I can get’ is pitifully small. Please send your actionable donations to…
Linkd you’re so cool, i wanna be my friend?
Grow up and stop whining.
@40: Just yanking your chain. Of course, there are some good schools there.
As the article mentions, many of those in detention are there for months. The process needs to be streamlined so folks like her can either be deported or allowed to stay quickly.
Brendon, I am soon gonna have to start liking you ( publically ) if you continue to be so funny
How’s the sock soup these days ?
Linkd — Don’t worry about me — handsome as I am, it’s no problem. And seven bucks a day? I’m rich, bitch! Who’s the Croesus now?
hitest — I don’t know what this means. If you believe that I use “sock puppet” alter egos as make-believe interlocutors, I confess you’ve caught me. But I swear — pawikirogi’s my only sock puppet.
@49 we all like Linkd, Stackd.
This guy has 158 criminal convictions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jovicic
Wish the Australian government would follow the example of the US and Koorean governments instead of being such pussies
#53 Brendon…actually it was an obscure reference to a funny posting you made a while back about your wife ruining your underwear/socks by boiling them to get them clean.
I prefer your interpretation though ! Cheers.
Thanks, cmm. Hey counsellor, if you need any love, looks like I’ve got some to spare! And stacked, I find myself emboldened to say that I hope you have a perfectly awful day. May you find yourself stuck in an elevator with a dozen Chinese nationalists.
its a start!
deport the illegal aliens and prisoners and stop supporting them on the tax payers dime
We know you’re the new Hardyntiny, too. The string of profanities is a dead giveaway.
It’s amazing how many otherwise mature people get together behind a serious post for so much serial auto-eroticism and electronic fondling.
gvi - slim was making the case that pawi is clueless.
Yes, gvi, I was counting your statement as one of the many examples of expat compassion expressed before the clueless one told us to expect no expat compassion.
There are hundreds of thousands permanent resident card holders who have been in the States far longer, and with far many more, far more serious convictions than Mrs. Harvill.
On another line of thought, wonder what happened to her husband?
When she was busted for marijuana and methamphetamines she was in her late forties. C’mon. Ought not she have known better?
She’s already been a recipient of mercy when the judge suspended her receiving stolen goods sentence.
Let’s look on the bright side. The sooner she returns home…to Korea…the sooner her treatment will begin. And she just might open a fine soul food restaurant. The Korean public have never been as receptive to foreign cuisine as they are today.
A win-win for all concerned.
#32 and #60 - I see what you mean. Slow on the uptake today I guess. Good luck with getting through to the hater under the bridge…
Jesus, reading the atrocious record of human rights abuses in foreigner held detentions in US jails… it makes the Yeosu immigration detention fire that killed a dozen people, a mere walk in the park. Americans should be the last ones to criticize Korean immigration centers. Compared to the US, it looks like Korea is far more humane.
Welcome to the land of the big PX.
Previous felony convictions can cause problems for naturalization applicants. The US naturalization process requires its applicants to have “good moral character,” and felony convictions (even lame ones) can tend to indicate a relative lack thereof. Still, she probably had a good number of years between becoming eligible for citizenship and her first conviction, which sort of raises the question of why not back then… My guess is it just didn’t seem important at the time, since if you stay out of trouble, the main difference between a citizen and a long-term legal permanent resident is the ability to vote and hold an American passport.
whether she had intentions to return one day or not we don’t know. however, it is increasingly the case that korean citizens in america retain their korean citizenship and just renew legal permanency status. the only case i can think of wherein this may cause a difficulty is if a permanent status person is in a crisis situation with citizens. in that case, citizens get priority help. are there other tangible benefits that citizenship provide?
Citizens also get to stand in the quicker line when returning to the United States… But yeah, in day-to-day life, the benefits of citizenship over permanent resident status are relatively minor and non-obvious.
Benefits of citizenship? Oh, that’s a tough one so I’ll have to think. Ummmmmmmm.
How about having a say in American public life: voting, holding public office and jury duty?*
If perminant residents don’t feel it in their guts that they want to be Americans, then I think it is best that they don’t apply. A citizen is not just a passport holder.
(*OK, I can’t do the later two from here but I vote in every general election.)
She decided not to be naturalized and maintained her Korean citizenship. Send this parasite back to Korea in economy or a box. America needs to stop catering to the world’s filth.
I hope I live long enough to see a lot of ICE, DEA, and other such agency employees incarcerated or in work camps. I admit that it will require a reality nearly completely opposite from today’s, but one can dream…
I tend to agree with you, Mr. Jackson. What she did was wrong but make up your mind. Keep her in the States or send her packing. I don’t believe what she did was so bad that her sentence should be to slowly watch a tumor consume an appendage and eventually their life. Even murderers are granted more compassion.
Well, atleast now I wont feel guilty about unfair treatment and deportation of Americans in Korea.
Wait…she DID serve the 13 months for the drug charges, right? Because then there would be almost no justification for the sudden deportation on old charges. She already got the punishment, so why detain and isolate a mortally diseased person? Isn’t keeping her instead of releasing her for independent/foreign treatment kind of….redundant?
Just ran across this related article from last year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....01890.html