The musical community in Utah has been shocked after violinist John Shin was detained by ICE (the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Shin's wife, Danae Snow, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the retainer for his legal defense. "My husband, John Shin, has been detained by ICE, and our family is facing an urgent and frightening situation," she writes. "John has always worked hard to support our family and his mother, and he is deeply loved by our music community." "John’s sudden detention has left us scared and overwhelmed. We rely on him every day, and his absence has created a void that is felt by everyone who knows him. The legal process is expensive, and we need help to pay the retainer for his legal defense so that he has a fair chance to come home." You can contribute to the campaign here. Shin graduated with a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Utah, where he played as concertmaster in the school's symphony. He has since played with the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, Utah Philharmonia, Salt Lake Symphony, and Sinfonia Salt Lake. "Your support will help us fight for John’s release and bring him back to the life and community he cherishes," his wife continued. "If John is able to return home, we can continue our loving, beautiful life together and finally find relief from the fear and stress that has taken over our days. Every contribution brings us closer to reuniting our family and restoring hope. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time." A rush of social media posts has called for help from Shin's community and beyond. Shin's former teacher, Robert Baldwin, who is also the conductor and director at Sinfonia Salt Lake Music and the Salt Lake Symphony, wrote a heartfelt post on social media. "I'm so scared, I'm enraged, and I'm reaching out to our community for help. John is not a criminal, he is an amazing husband, father, and person, and I will do whatever it takes to bring him back home." Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider shared on Facebook, "The former concertmaster of the Utah Philharmonia, John Shin — here nearly his entire life and married to a US citizen — has been detained by ICE. His lawyer says letters attesting to his character and achievements can help, along with donations to his legal fund. Info to do either is listed below. I will be writing a letter and hope that if you know or collaborated with him, or simply care about classical music, you will, too." Eugene Dyson, principal violist of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, wrote, "I am calling upon all string players in Salt Lake City to unite in support of our fellow musician John Shin, who has been detained by ICE. The time has come for us to rally together and fight for our own with unwavering solidarity." Jordan Hess, a violin maker in Utah, shared, "Two days ago John Shin was taken and detained by ICE. Danae and John have been a vital part of keeping Sugarhouse Violins alive and helped us grow and better serve the community. I can honestly say I think John is the only person in the Salt Lake music community who is universally liked! He’s an incredible role model to students and professionals alike and has played a key role in the Salt Lake Chamber society, played with the Utah Symphony, Ballet West and is a regular in local recording studios." Details of why Shin has been detained have not been released. This is an ongoing story.