Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained a Korean university student, who is also the daughter of a priest. Local faith leaders have mobilized, advocating for her release from custody.
Yeonsoo Go, a South Korean student studying at Purdue University, was released from federal immigration detention on Monday following a five-day stint in custody. The detainment, which took place after a routine visa hearing in New York, had sparked an outpouring of support from faith leaders, community members, and advocates.
Go, who is a dependent visa holder, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and transferred to a federal detention center in Louisiana. Her visa does not expire until December, according to her lawyers. Despite this, ICE placed her in expedited removal proceedings, citing allegations of visa overstay.
The arrest and subsequent detention drew criticism from church communities in New York and South Korea, who took to the streets and social media to condemn her treatment by US immigration authorities. The Anglican Church of Korea called for a fair and transparent review of Go's immigration status, citing shared values with the US. The Episcopal Diocese of New York, where her mother serves as a priest, also expressed their support.
After her arrest, Go's mother received regular calls from her daughter, but on Monday, Go's father learned about her transfer to Louisiana from online records. Her release came without bail, but her family and lawyers have not received an official explanation from ICE for either the arrest or the sudden release.
Go's friends and community have been rallying for her release. A gathering in Manhattan's Federal Plaza on Saturday called for her release, with supporters from the Episcopal Diocese of New York, the Interfaith Center of New York, and the New York Immigration Coalition in attendance. Drew Patrick, the Superintendent of Scarsdale Schools, where Go previously attended high school, issued a statement attesting to her good character and contributions to the school community.
Purdue University has also expressed their concern and has reached out to Go's family. Go's hard work in high school in Scarsdale helped her get into Purdue University's College of Pharmacy. Her friends have shared that she was concerned before her visa hearing.
The South Korean government has been in communication with US officials over Go's detention and is providing necessary consular assistance. Go's lawyers dispute claims from the Department of Homeland Security that she overstayed her visa. While Go has been released from detention, she remains under expedited removal proceedings due to the visa overstay issue. The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that individuals in the country illegally have the option to leave voluntarily or face deportation, but no further information on future legal developments in her case has been provided.
Politics surrounding Yeonsoo Go's case have intensified, with general-news outlets reporting on the controversy sparked by her arrest and detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Advocates and faith leaders alike are calling for a fair review of her immigration status, citing shared values with the US, as well as her contributions to the community and her future academic aspirations at Purdue University.
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