A 20-year-old Purdue University student was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New York City last week, sparking protests and raising concerns among immigrant advocacy groups. Yeonsoo Go, the daughter of an Episcopal priest, was taken into custody on Thursday, July 31, immediately after what her lawyer described as a routine procedural hearing at the Federal Plaza Immigration Court.
Go, a South Korean national and a graduate of Scarsdale High School, is studying to become a pharmacist. According to her family and legal representatives, she immigrated to the U.S. with her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, approximately four years ago on a valid R-2 religious visa. They maintain her stay was legally extended in 2023 and remains valid through the end of 2025. Go was reportedly in the process of transitioning to a student visa. After a judge granted her a continuance and scheduled her next hearing for October, she was detained by ICE agents upon exiting the building.
However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) presents a conflicting account. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that Go “overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago” and was placed in expedited removal proceedings following her arrest. “President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S.,” McLaughlin said in a statement reported by Newsweek.
The detention has drawn sharp criticism from community leaders. On the same day, a 59-year-old Peruvian asylum seeker named Ketty was also detained under similar circumstances. Both women are being held at 26 Federal Plaza, a facility that advocates say lacks basic amenities like showers, beds, or hot food. Bishop Matthew Heyd of the Episcopal Diocese of New York told reporters that the detentions are “not only illegal, but they’re immoral.”
In response, approximately 75 faith leaders and advocates gathered outside the federal building on Saturday to demand the women’s release. Murad Awawdeh, President of the New York Immigration Coalition, criticized the practice of detaining individuals who are actively complying with legal proceedings. “They are showing up, following the rules of the letter of the law,” he told the New York Daily News. “This is not a system of justice. This is a system of injustice.”
The incident occurs within a climate of heightened immigration enforcement and scrutiny of the visa system. In June, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing titled “Restoring Integrity and Security to the Visa Process,” where concerns about visa fraud and overstays were prominent topics. A summary of the hearing noted that some members raised alarms about fraud in the student visa system and supported reviewing social media profiles of applicants.
The DHS has reiterated its stance, with McLaughlin noting, “Those who are in our country illegally have a choice—they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported.” She also highlighted a program offering flights and $1,000 to those who self-deport. Meanwhile, immigration advocates are advising individuals with upcoming court dates to consult with lawyers about the possibility of virtual hearings and to create family preparedness plans.
Go’s case has resonated within the Korean community, following a similar incident last month where a Ph.D. student from Texas A&M University was detained. As community members continue to rally for her release, Go’s situation underscores the anxieties and uncertainties faced by many navigating the U.S. immigration system.
