San Francisco Mayor Urges ICE to Release Detained California Assembly Staffer
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is adding his voice to a growing local push to free a California Assembly staffer who was recently taken into federal immigration custody.
Lurie sent a letter to an immigration judge this week asking for the release of Ho Yin Mo, 28, a field representative for Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, who represents California’s 19th Assembly District. Mo has held the job since January 2025 and previously worked as a reporter for KTSF, a major Chinese-language news station in the Bay Area.
According to the San Francisco Standard, Mo was detained Sept. 17 by immigration enforcement agents while passing through Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Public records show he is being held at the Nevada Southern District Detention Center in Pahrump, Nev.
In his letter, Lurie described Mo as a longtime Bay Area resident with deep community ties and no indication he poses a threat.
“Ho Yin has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for years and has developed a strong network here. He is a contributing member of society, and I do not believe he poses a danger or threat to anyone,” Lurie wrote.
Lurie asked the court to weigh Mo’s ties to the region, his employment with the California State Assembly, and his service to San Francisco residents when considering release. “I respectfully ask the Court to consider Ho Yin’s longstanding ties to the Bay Area, his employment with the California State Assembly, his service to San Francisco and the many people who rely on him,” the letter said.
Stefani and the entire San Francisco Board of Supervisors also called for Mo’s release on Tuesday. In her own letter to the immigration judge, Stefani said Mo was legally permitted to work in the United States and in her office.
Mo, who is originally from Hong Kong, has spent nearly a decade in the Bay Area. He attended UC Berkeley before joining KTSF as a news reporter, then moved into public service in 2025 as a member of Stefani’s team.
The Trump administration disputes that account. The Department of Homeland Security says Mo overstayed his temporary visa by failing to leave by May 15, 2020. White House spokesperson Lauren Bis called him “an illegal alien” and criticized San Francisco leaders for backing his release.
“This takes sanctuary city to a whole new level. Radical Democrats continue to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens — even employing illegal aliens to work in their political offices,” Bis said.
The dispute has renewed scrutiny of San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy, which bars city employees and local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement. Supporters say the policy protects due process and community trust; critics argue it obstructs federal immigration law. The case also highlights the political fault lines over immigration that have intensified as cities and states clash with federal authorities over detention and deportation.
It remains unclear when Mo will appear in immigration court or whether he will be deported. Local officials say his absence is already being felt in the district.
“Ho Yin’s absence is deeply felt by the residents, organizations, and public servants who rely on him. San Francisco needs dedicated public servants like Ho Yin back in the community, continuing the important work of helping residents and strengthening connections between government and the people it serves,” the Board of Supervisors wrote.
Noe Padilla is a Northern California reporter for USA Today. Contact him at [email protected], follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Francisco Mayor calls on feds to release CA assemblymember staffer.