California legislative aide detained by ICE despite Hong Kong deportation protection
Ho-Yin Mo, a field representative for California Assemblymember Catherine Stefani and former KTSF journalist, was detained by ICE on September 17, 2026, during an enforcement operation at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas while traveling to Louisville. Mo, from Hong Kong, lawfully entered the U.S. in January 2020, and DHS says he overstayed after failing to depart in May 2020. Attorneys and friends say he is likely protected from deportation under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), a directive shielding eligible Hong Kong residents through February 2027, and immigration attorney Samuel Bickett said courts have repeatedly found such detentions of DED-covered Hong Kongers unlawful. Stefani described Mo as 'a selfless public servant and a valued, legal employee of the California state Legislature' who helps Chinese American constituents access healthcare, childcare, and food support. Nearly every San Francisco City Hall politician and many state legislators have called for his release, and community members have written letters of support while some Hong Kong immigrants have canceled domestic travel out of fear. Mo is being held at Nevada Southern Detention Center awaiting a hearing on September 30.
