A South Korean woman, Youngshin Nam, also known as Yejin Nam, has pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry into the United States and has been sentenced to time served. Following her sentencing by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., she was handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson reported that Nam attempted to enter the United States via an airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2024. She was denied entry and sent back to South Korea with a five-year ban from traveling under the Visa Waiver Program. In July 2024, Nam was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas and subsequently removed from the country in September.
On May 4, 2025, Nam tried to enter the United States again at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry in Niagara Falls, NY. She presented a South Korean passport under the name Yejin Nam. Her vehicle was referred for secondary inspection after which she initially resisted routine electronic fingerprinting but later complied. The fingerprinting revealed an immigration fingerprint identification number linked to Youngshin Nam, assigned following her previous arrest in Texas.
Investigations further disclosed that Nam had submitted a falsified application for the Visa Waiver Program where she falsely answered “NO” to questions regarding her use of aliases and prior refusals of admission into the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at curbing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while safeguarding communities from violent crime.
The investigation leading to this plea and sentencing was conducted by Customs and Border Protection under Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
