According to Assemblymember Catherine Stefani’s office, Ho-Yin Mo was headed to Louisville to visit the Muhammad Ali Center, connecting through Las Vegas.

He never made it.

On September 17, ICE detained him at Harry Reid International Airport.

Ho is a former KTSF journalist who now serves as a field representative for Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, helping constituents across San Francisco and the Bay Area. He was recently seen at a Richmond District street festival for celebrating the Autumn Moon Festival.

He remains in federal immigration custody in Nevada while his case moves forward. Stefani’s office has helped him with a Nevada attorney.

There are two very different descriptions of Ho’s situation.
DHS says Ho lawfully entered the U.S. in 2020 but “illegally overstayed his welcome” by failing to leave by May 15, 2020.

Stefani says: “I am respectfully calling for Ho Yin Mo’s release as soon as possible.”

She describes him as a selfless public servant and a legal employee of the California State Legislature. Multiple prominent community members and a tech leader tell me they have written letters to the Executive Office for Immigration Review in hopes it’ll sway the judge in releasing Ho.

Ho’s case is one of tens of thousands playing out across the country.

As of July 11, more than 65,000 people were being held in ICE detention. According to TRAC’s analysis of ICE data, 70.6% had no criminal conviction.

That statistic does not tell us the circumstances of every individual case. But it does show how broad today’s immigration detention system has become.

If someone you know is detained, locating them quickly and contacting a qualified immigration attorney can be critical. Keep in mind, in Ho’s case the letters to the judge vouching for his character require a legal ID to be submitted.