Daughter (here on an R-2 religious dependent visa) of Anglican priest detained by ICE. Faith leaders are now standing behind her

Yeonsoo Go, a 20-year-old Purdue University student from South Korea and daughter of a prominent Episcopal priest in New York, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week after attending a visa hearing in Manhattan—a development that has drawn widespread criticism from religious and immigrant communities.

Go had reportedly expressed anxiety ahead of the hearing, concerned about heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Her fears were realized when ICE agents arrested her immediately after the appointment. She was initially held in New York before being transferred to a detention center in Louisiana.

Go is now being held at Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, according to ICE records.

Supporters from faith-based and immigrant advocacy groups, including the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the New York Immigration Coalition, have rallied for her release, calling her detention unjust. Many pointed to her active involvement in community service and described her as kind and dedicated.

“She has done so much for others. It’s devastating to see her treated this way,” said Gabriella Lopez, a friend of Go’s, at a rally held in Manhattan’s Federal Plaza, where supporters prayed, sang, and held signs with Go’s photo.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Go had overstayed her visa by more than two years. However, an attorney for the Episcopal Diocese contended that her visa is valid until December and that Thursday’s hearing was related to her application for an extension.

“She thought this was a routine hearing, not a trap,” said attorney Mary Davis, who also described Go as “terrified.”

Go came to the U.S. in 2021 on an R-2 visa as the dependent of her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, a groundbreaking female priest serving in the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the first woman ordained in the Anglican Church of Korea’s Seoul Diocese.

Go’s parents say her detention came as a shock. Her father, Sorg-young Go, told CNN that they only discovered she had been moved to Louisiana through public records online. He spoke of her academic achievements and said he hoped for her prompt release.

“She worked hard to get where she is, and now this. It’s heartbreaking,” he said.

Rev. Dongshin Park, the head of the Anglican Church of Korea, issued a statement calling for Go’s immediate release and urging U.S. authorities to uphold human rights and shared values between the U.S. and South Korea.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is providing consular support and is in communication with U.S. officials.

Go’s arrest also comes amid broader Trump-era crackdowns on “sanctuary cities” like New York, with the Justice Department recently filing a lawsuit against the city over policies that hinder federal immigration enforcement.

Her family is now pleading for both U.S. and South Korean officials to intervene and secure her release.

Source: CNN