California Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani is pushing for the release of aide Ho-Yin Mo after immigration agents arrested the former television anchor at a Las Vegas airport, with federal officials saying he overstayed his authorized visit by years.
Mo, a field representative for the Democratic lawmaker, was taken into custody Thursday at Harry Reid International Airport. He is expected to remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending removal proceedings.
Stefani defended her staffer in a statement to Fox News, pointing to his work with Bay Area constituents.
“Ho Yin is a selfless public servant and a valued, legal employee of the California State Legislature serving our San Francisco and Bay Area communities,” she said. “When Ho Yin and I meet our Chinese-American constituents, he brings a unique sense of belonging to so many who watched him as a TV reporter. And his work goes far beyond presence.”
The Department of Homeland Security said Mo’s employment does not establish lawful immigration status.
“On January 13, 2020, Mo lawfully entered the U.S. on a temporary basis but illegally overstayed his welcome by failing to depart by May 15, 2020,” the department told Fox News Digital. “Work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, of California’s Central District, also weighed in on the arrest.
“No one is above the law, not even the California legislature and its staff,” Essayli wrote on X.
Before entering politics, Ho-Yin Mo was a familiar face to viewers of KTSF, a Chinese-language television station in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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He put that recognition to work on then-San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s unsuccessful 2024 reelection campaign, serving as an outreach organizer for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, according to the New York Post.
“When we learned that Mo was available, we immediately saw an opportunity to bring him on board,” Breed spokesperson Joe Arellano said at the time of Mo’s hiring. “His visibility through KTSF connects with a broad audience, and his professional background and experience made him a strong fit.”
Mo joined Stefani’s staff in January 2025, according to his LinkedIn profile. Her district covers parts of San Francisco and San Mateo County. She previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2018 to 2024.
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“Our whole community eagerly awaits Ho Yin’s return to his home and his job where he is loved and adored,” Stefani said.
DHS linked the arrest to the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement and domestic air travel.
“DHS reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country,” the department said. “Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this. This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.”
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
