Yeonsoo Go, a South Korean graduate of Scarsdale High School and the daughter of a beloved Episcopal Priest in New York, was arrested and placed in federal detention close to her home before being transferred, like many other recent ICE prisoners, to a facility in Louisiana. She was held at the Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana, according to a federal immigration database. The engineering major at Purdue University was released on her own recognizance, Monday night.
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.”
Yeonsoo Go – whose mother, the Rev. Kyrie Kim, is a priest in the diocese – went to a routine visa hearing on July 31 at Federal Plaza in Manhattan as part of the process to renew her visa, which is set to expire in December. An immigration judge scheduled Go’s next hearing for October. After Go left the hearing, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested her outside the building and placed her in federal detention, accusing her of “overstaying her visa.”
She had been placed in expedited deportation proceedings, according to Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security.
“Yeonsoo Go, an illegal alien from South Korea, overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago,” McLaughlin stated, adding that the Trump Administration is “committed to restoring integrity to the visa program” so immigrants cannot use it as a “permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S.”
“[Go’s] detention represents a disturbing and unacceptable escalation of enforcement against individuals in good standing with pending immigration cases,” the Diocese of New York said in a Facebook post promoting an Aug. 2 interfaith vigil “calling for Yeonsoo’s immediate release and for broader accountability in how ICE is targeting immigrants, students, and family members.” The diocese hosted the public vigil in collaboration with the Interfaith Center of New York and the New York Immigration Coalition.
The Diocese of New York called for prayers and shared news stories, statements, and advocacy efforts on social media in response to the arrest and detainment of the 20-year-old daughter of an Episcopal priest, who is from South Korea.
Yeonsoo Go’s detention last week sparked outrage and rallies across the five boroughs and Westchester County.
The Episcopal Diocese of New York, the Interfaith Center of New York, and the New York Immigration Coalition hosted a public vigil and prayer gathering on Saturday, August 2nd, at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City, calling for the immediate release of Yeonsoo Go. Thousands of Faith leaders and people of moral conscience gathered to offer prayers, bear witness, and call for justice and compassion in the face of unjust detention practices. Faith leaders across New York called for Yeonsoo’s immediate release and for broader accountability in how ICE is targeting immigrants, students, and family members.
New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who represents Westchester, had organized a prayer vigil and rally on Thursday, August 7th, at Chase Park in Scarsdale that had been cancelled due to Yeonsoo’s release. According to Paulin, Go has been in the U.S. on a religious visa for the last five years because her mother is a pastor, and her hearing was an appointment to extend it.
Paulin released a statement on X, Monday night, after speaking to Go following her release.
“I spoke with Yeonsoo Go tonight, and hearing her voice-happy, relieved, and finally free-filled me with emotion I can hardly put into words. She is home, she is safe, and she is grateful for the incredible outpouring of love and support from this incredible community. I am overjoyed, moved to tears, and filled with pride in everyone who stood up for Yeonsoo. The pain, fear, and uncertainty she and her family endured over the past five days should never have happened-but tonight we celebrate her freedom and the strength of a community that refused to stay silent.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman George Latimer, Congresswoman Grace Meng, and Congressman Mike Lawler for their swift efforts to help secure Yoensoo’s release. Because of this joyous outcome, the vigil and rally planned for Thursday at 5 pm is now canceled. But the spirit behind it-unity, justice, and compassion-lives on. Let this moment remind us of the power we have when we come together, and of the work we must continue to ensure that no one is unjustly detained in this country,” Assemblywoman Paulin shared.
Go, known as Soo to her friends and family, was all smiles as she walked out of the ICE detention facility in Lower Manhattan.
“I always had faith that [I’d] be out soon,” Go said. “I wish for everyone to be safe, everyone that supports me to be safe, and have hopes to be told and heard.”
Ashley Gonzalez-Grissom, a lawyer with the Episcopal Diocese of New York, refuted that, saying Go’s visa was valid through December 2025.
“We are so grateful that after five long days, Soo gets to sleep at home in bed and gets to hug her mother. We were all so worried about her,” Gonzalez-Grissom said.
DHS did not say why Go was released. Gonzalez-Grissom said some questions need to be answered, but for now, she’s just happy Go was able to go home.
“No one, regardless of their status, should have to experience what she experienced. We are grateful to God that Soo was returned home to her family,” Gonzalez-Grissom said.
Paulin says Go is confined to her home while all of this gets worked out. There’s no timeline yet on how long that could take.
