NEW YORK — Yeonsoo Go, a 20-year-old woman who was taken into ICE custody after a routine visa hearing on Thursday in New York, was released Monday night.
Her release comes five days after federal agents grabbed Go moments after she wrapped up a hearing in Manhattan last week.
Go was sent to federal immigration detention in Louisiana. Her lawyer says ICE has not explained why.
Go’s mother is an Episcopal church pastor and New York’s Episcopal bishop was among those demanding her release.
“So grateful that Yeonsoo gets to sleep in her own bed tonight that she was returned to her mother after five days of tirelessly waiting to see what was going on, being transferred to detention centers,” said Ashley Gonzalez-Grissom.
Go is an engineering student at Purdue University and a graduate of Scarsdale High School. Her mom works at a church in Scarsdale, New York.
“She had a religious visa which both she and Yeonsoo are using, and although that Visa doesn’t even expire until December, she was detained,” said Assembly member Amy Paulin.
The incident, and the harsh reality of ICE detention and immigrant deportation sent shock waves through the affluent village of Scarsdale.
“I am passionate about ending this juggernaut, stopping this juggernaut in its tracks and now it has hit our community,” said Scarsdale resident Jeanne Rosenthal. “So, we really need to step up for this girl and everyone else.”
On Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement calling Go an illegal alien from South Korea “…who overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago,” adding, “ICE arrested her on July 31 and placed her in expedited removal proceedings.”
Go’s lawyer tells our sister station WABC that her status was lawful and her visa was valid through December, and they don’t understand why DHS claimed she overstayed.
“We’re just so grateful to God and so grateful to all the folks who have worked on this case and have worked to bring this 20 year old girl home that should be returning to college in the fall,” Gonzalez-Grissom aded.
Go’s lawyer also says this is an ongoing case and that they are cooperating with federal authorities.
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