Yeonsoo Go, a 20-year-old South Korean native, was detained by ICE shortly after a visa hearing where she sought to extend her current visa. Her visa is claimed by ICE to have expired over two years ago, while her lawyer argues the opposite. Protests erupted outside the Federal Plaza Immigration Court expressing support for Go, who was reportedly distressed after the detention. She remains in a facility lacking basic necessities, sparking criticism of the immigration detention process and highlighting the increasing frequency of such detentions.
"She was with her mother. She was heartbroken. And when she called me at night, later that day, she was breaking down," said Go's boyfriend, Leo Chu.
"Her mother gets regular calls from Yeonsoo and she's staying at 26 Federal Plaza, which, as we know, is not actually a facility that has showers or beds or hot food. And so the detentions here are not only illegal, but they're immoral," said Rev. Matthew Heyd of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, claims instead that Go 'overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago' and said that 'ICE arrested her on July 31 and placed her in expedited removal proceedings.'
The Immigration Coalition said that these incidents are increasing in frequency and is offering advice to individuals with upcoming hearings.
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