ICE Detains Korean Student after Visa Hearing, Sparking Protests
The detention of a 20-year-old South Korean student by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sparked outrage and protests from faith leaders and immigrant advocates. Yeonsoo Go, a student of Korean descent, was detained by ICE moments after a routine visa hearing in New York, leaving her family and community reeling.
According to reports, Go’s legal team claims that her visa extension was valid, but ICE authorities insist that she overstayed her initial visa. This discrepancy has raised questions about the fairness and efficiency of the US immigration system.
Go, the daughter of an Episcopal priest, was attending Columbia University as an international student. She had been living in the United States for several years, studying and working towards her academic goals. Her visa was set to expire on August 15th, but she had filed for an extension, which was pending at the time of her detention.
On August 12th, Go attended a routine visa hearing at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Manhattan. After the hearing, she was taken into custody by ICE agents and transferred to a detention center in New Jersey.
The news of Go’s detention quickly spread, sparking outrage and concern among her family, friends, and community. Her father, Rev. Sung Jae Cho, issued a statement expressing his shock and dismay at the sudden turn of events. “We were told that Yeonsoo’s visa extension was valid, and that she was free to leave,” he said. “But then, without warning, ICE agents took her away. It’s like they were trying to break our family’s trust in the system.”
Faith leaders and immigrant advocates have rallied around Go’s family, demanding justice and calling for an end to the “inhumane” treatment of immigrants. “This is not just about Yeonsoo’s case, but about the countless individuals who have been detained and deported without due process,” said Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. “We urge ICE to release Yeonsoo and all others being held under similar circumstances.”
Go’s detention has also drawn attention to the harsh conditions faced by immigrants in ICE custody. Detainees are often held in overcrowded and unsanitary facilities, with limited access to medical care and legal representation. “The conditions in these detention centers are inhumane and unconstitutional,” said Dr. Amy Cohen, a physician who has worked with detained immigrants. “We urge ICE to prioritize the health and well-being of all individuals in their custody, regardless of their immigration status.”
As the controversy surrounding Go’s detention continues to unfold, her family and community remain hopeful that she will be released and allowed to continue her studies. “We are grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from across the country,” said Rev. Cho. “We will continue to fight for Yeonsoo’s freedom and for the rights of all immigrants to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Source:
https://www.breezyscroll.com/world/ice-detention-of-korean-woman-after-visa-hearing/
