Yeonsoo Go, the 20-year-old Scarsdale High School graduate who has been attending Purdue University has been released from ICE detention. “Soo,” as she is known, was arrested by ICE agents on July 31 after an immigration court hearing in New York City. It was believed she was spirited away to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana, although ICE never officially disclosed her whereabouts.
Soo has been reported to have been in the U.S. legally, even though ICE contended her visa had expired. She is in the U.S. as a family member of an Episcopal priest who is in the U.S. on a religious visa. Her mother is Rev. Kyrie Kim, an Episcopal priest. They are natives of South Korea.
Soo’s detention received wide national press coverage and a rally was planned for Thursday in Scarsdale to protest what the Trump Administration had done in her case. A rally that attracted religious leaders was held on Aug. 2 at Federal Plaza in Manhattan.
As of Aug. 4, ICE had not answered a number of questions from the Business Journal asking for details of her detention, including ICE’s reason for taking her into custody. However, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the Business Journal in a statement that Soo’s visa expired and she was in the U.S illegally. Soo’s attorney, family members and supporters strongly disputed ICE’s contention about her visa status.
Soo was released at about 8 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the federal building at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. She apparently was flown back to New York from Louisiana. She said that everything felt surreal. She was then driven home to Scarsdale. Her mother expressed concern for the many others being detained by ICE who need support.
Yeonsoo Go is in the U.S. on a visa that is valid through this coming December, according to New York State Assembly Member Amy Paulin who was vocal in protesting Soo’s detention. Paulin said that she had spoken to various members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, along with other officials, in an effort to obtain the student’s release from ICE custody. Paulin had been involved in planning Thursday’s event in Scarsdale, which was canceled following Soo’s release.
Paulin said, “I spoke with Yeonsoo Go tonight and hearing her voice, happy, relieved and finally free, filled me with emotion I can hardly put into words. She is home, she is safe, and she is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this incredible community.”
Paul said that what happened should never have happened and that the strength of the community that refused to stay silent should be celebrated.
“Let this moment remind us of the power we have when we come together, and of the work we must continue to do to ensure that no one is unjustly detained in this country,” Paulin said.
Congressman Mike Lawler who represents New York’s 17th Congressional District said, “My office worked closely with federal officials to assist in securing her release. Yeonsoo’s case is yet another example of why we must fix our broken immigration system and make it easier for folks to come here and stay, the right way.”
According to New York State Sen. Shelley Mayer, “ICE’s actions against Yeonsoo, like their actions against thousands of others across this country, were unconstitutional and unacceptable. There is no justification for detaining law abiding individuals who are residing lawfully in the United States and attending immigration hearings as required. While we celebrate Yeonsoo’s release and her safe return home, we cannot forget about the thousands of other individuals, including many of our own community members, who are being held in custody without due process right now.”
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner was another local official who expressed concern about the detention.
“The arrest by ICE of Scarsdale High School graduate Yeonsoo Go is another example of how President Trump is using masked federal law enforcement officials and agencies under his control to erode democracy and violate our constitution,” Feiner said. “Nationally, elected officials and civic leaders have been arrested or confronted by law enforcement officials while protesting President Trump’s immigration policies and for exercising their First Amendment right to free speech.”
White Plains Common Council Member Jennifer Puja, who is a candidate for the Westchester County Legislature, had said she was “saddened to learn about the detention of Yeonsoo ‘Soo’ Go. Praying for justice for Soo and strength for her and her family.”
