Story perspectives

ICE Arrests Catherine Stefani Staffer Ho-Yin Mo

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 3:10 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

ICE Arrests Ho-Yin Mo

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Ho-Yin Mo, staffer for Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, at Harry Reid International Airport.
Ho-Yin Mo entered the United States in 2020 on a temporary visa and did not depart by May 15, 2020.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said no one, including California legislators and staff, is above the law.
Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani called for Ho-Yin Mo’s immediate release, calling him a selfless public servant.

Summary

Mo’s Detention Impacts Seniors

Mo's detention creates a service gap for Chinese-American seniors who depended on his outreach.
He previously helped residents obtain affordable health care, child care, and food assistance.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors signed a letter demanding Mo’s immediate release.
He is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, enabling him to bridge cultural barriers with government agencies.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in 1996, effective April 1 1997, creating Immigration and Customs Enforcement and expanding removal authority. Deportations climbed from about 50,000 to over 200,000 by the 2000s, and the 287(g) program tied local police to ICE. ICE’s 2024 arrest of Ho-Yin Mo, staffer for Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, reflects that legacy, prompting California officials such as Bill Essayli to demand his release.

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ICE Arrests Ho-Yin Mo

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Ho-Yin Mo, staffer for Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, at Harry Reid International Airport.
Ho-Yin Mo entered the United States in 2020 on a temporary visa and did not depart by May 15, 2020.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said no one, including California legislators and staff, is above the law.
Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani called for Ho-Yin Mo’s immediate release, calling him a selfless public servant.

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