Pang detained by ICE at airport for overstaying visa, DHS claims

Airport Arrest After Visa Expiration

Pang was detained by ICE at an airport on September 29 while attempting to board a flight to New York. The 21-year-old athlete planned to reunite with a family friend who had acted as his initial sponsor when he first arrived in the United States. According to a DHS spokesperson, Pang entered the country legally on November 17, 2023, and was authorized to stay until September 5, 2024. According to DHS, he overstayed that period.

Marcus Session, Pang’s lawyer, stated that the player was unaware his visa had expired. Mississippi Valley State University confirmed that Pang is a full-time registered student and stated that the institution is monitoring the situation and offering appropriate support.

Defense Seeks Bail While DHS Claims Pang Accepted Departure

Following his arrest at the airport, Pang was transferred to the Richwood Correctional Facility in Richwood, Louisiana. Session stated that his client has grown exhausted by the detention and feels treated like a criminal. The defense attorney has filed an application for an emergency bail hearing to allow Pang to present his case before an immigration judge and work toward reinstating his student visa.

Contrasting the defense’s objectives, a DHS spokesperson stated that Pang has accepted a voluntary departure and will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the country. Session countered that statement by asserting that Pang was forced to sign the voluntary departure paperwork. Legal counsel for the player maintains that the visa expiration stemmed from administrative delays in school document processing, while federal officials emphasize the enforcement of established immigration timelines.

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