The daughter of a New York Episcopal priest who was detained by ICE despite having a valid visa has been released — but a fellow believer arrested on the same day remains in detention.
Yeonsoo Go’s mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of New York. The Diocese had been actively campaigning for Go’s release and held a vigil outside Federal Plaza.
Go was held for five days after being arrested at what was supposed to be a routine immigration hearing. The student maintains her visa is valid until December.
The Bishop of New York, the Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, said: “We call for the end of weaponisation in our courts. We stand up for a New York and a country that respects the dignity of every person.”
Also arrested on July 31 was Episcopal Christian Elizabeth “Ketty” De Los Santos, a 59-year-old grandmother from Peru, who had gone to a routine asylum hearing. Ketty has not yet been released.
Upon being reunited with her daughter Yeonsoo, Rev. Kyrie Kim said she was “happy” to have Yeonsoo free, but will keep fighting for Ketty: “It’s not just Soo who’s in this situation. …There’s more who need the support.”