Quick Read
- 20-year-old Yeonsoo Go, a South Korean student, was detained by ICE after a visa hearing.
- Go’s family and legal team argue her visa remains valid, while ICE claims she overstayed it.
- The case has sparked protests from faith leaders, community members, and elected officials.
- Go is currently detained in Louisiana, with calls for her immediate release growing louder.
The detention of 20-year-old Yeonsoo Go, a South Korean student at Purdue University, has sparked widespread outrage and mobilized faith leaders, community members, and elected officials across the United States. Go was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on July 31, 2025, following a routine visa hearing at the Federal Plaza Immigration Court in Manhattan. Her case has since become a rallying point in the ongoing debate over U.S. immigration policies.
Background of the Case
Yeonsoo Go and her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, moved to the United States in 2021 on a religious worker’s dependent visa (R-2). Go, a graduate of Scarsdale High School in New York, was preparing to begin her sophomore year at Purdue University’s School of Pharmacy. Her hearing on July 31 was intended to extend her visa, which her attorney argues remains valid until December 2025. However, ICE officials claim that Go overstayed her visa, which they allege expired over two years ago.
According to Gothamist, ICE agents detained Go as she exited the immigration court. She was initially held at a local facility but was later transferred to the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, a move that her family only discovered through online records. This practice of detaining individuals immediately after visa hearings has been criticized by community leaders as both “unconstitutional” and “immoral.”
Community and Faith Leaders Rally for Go’s Release
The detention has galvanized support from faith leaders, including the Episcopal Diocese of New York, where Rev. Kim serves in the Asian ministry. On August 2, supporters gathered at Manhattan’s Federal Plaza, where they prayed, sang, and marched with signs demanding Go’s release. The Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, emphasized the importance of respecting human dignity, calling the detention “heartbreaking” and “unjust.”
Gabriella Lopez, one of Go’s friends, spoke at the rally, describing Go as a compassionate and supportive individual who has volunteered to help the homeless. “She was nervous about the hearing, given the climate, and now her fears have come true,” Lopez said, according to CNN. The rally was also attended by members of the New York Immigration Coalition and other advocacy groups.
Legal Dispute and Government Response
Go’s legal representatives argue that her detention was unwarranted, as her visa extension application was still under review. Mary Davis, an attorney affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese, stated that the family believed they were attending a routine procedural hearing. “They thought they had come for due process and instead fell into a black hole of unknown,” Davis told CNN.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, has defended its actions. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, described Go as an “illegal alien” and reiterated the administration’s commitment to enforcing visa regulations. “The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choice – they can leave voluntarily or be arrested and deported,” McLaughlin said in a statement reported by Hoodline.
Go’s family and supporters have appealed to the South Korean government for assistance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in South Korea confirmed that it is in communication with U.S. officials and providing necessary consular support. “We urge the prompt release of Ms. Go and a fair review of her immigration status,” said the Rev. Dongshin Park, Primate of the Anglican Church of Korea.
Broader Implications
Go’s case comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has prioritized crackdowns on so-called “sanctuary cities” like New York. In July 2025, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against New York City for policies allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement. Advocacy groups argue that these policies disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including students like Go.
Faith leaders and community organizations have also highlighted the inhumane conditions of detention facilities. Rev. Heyd noted that detainees at Federal Plaza lack access to basic amenities like showers and beds, calling the situation both “illegal” and “immoral.” The New York Immigration Coalition has urged individuals with pending hearings to seek legal counsel and prepare contingency plans to avoid similar outcomes.
A Family’s Plea
For Go’s parents, the ordeal has been devastating. Her father, Sorg-young, described his daughter as a hardworking and bright young woman who excelled in high school and was looking forward to her future in pharmacy. “It’s heartbreaking that this happened just as she was preparing for her second year. We hope for her immediate release,” he told ABC7NY.
Go’s mother, Rev. Kim, has been receiving regular calls from her daughter but remains deeply worried about her well-being. “Her mother is heartbroken and frightened for her daughter,” attorney Davis told CNN.
As the family awaits updates, they continue to rely on the support of their community and the broader network of faith and advocacy groups rallying for Go’s release.
Yeonsoo Go’s case highlights the complexities and human costs of immigration enforcement policies, raising urgent questions about due process, human dignity, and the treatment of vulnerable individuals within the system.