The daughter of South Korea’s first female Anglican priest has been detained by US immigration officials over an alleged visa issue.
Yeonsoo Go, 20, was arrested in New York on the 31st July, after a routine immigration appointment, as reported by Daily Mail.
She had arrived in 2021 on a religious visa with her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, and claims it was extended to the end of 2025.
Her arrest has sparked protests from faith leaders and advocacy groups, who say the detention was unjust and the conditions in which she's held are unacceptable.
Rev. Kim called the situation “incomprehensible” and said she never expected her own daughter to be targeted after years of advocating for immigrant rights.
Advocacy groups say Go was arrested by plainclothes officers without a warrant and denied further consultation with her legal counsel.
She is being held in a Manhattan ICE facility described by Episcopal leaders as unfit for human confinement.
“These detentions are not only illegal, they're immoral,” said Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.
Protests and prayer vigils have been held outside ICE offices, with faith leaders from across denominations calling for Go’s release and condemning what they describe as a growing pattern of harsh immigration enforcement against Korean nationals.
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is offering consular support and has raised the matter with US authorities.
Supporters have launched a GoFundMe to assist the family with legal expenses and continue to demand federal oversight into the case.