A staff member for a Democratic state lawmaker from California has reportedly been arrested by federal immigration officials in Las Vegas.
Ho-Yin Mo, who previously worked as a news anchor at a Chinese-language station in San Francisco, was taken into custody while at Harry Reid International Airport on Thursday. He had transitioned to serving as a legislative aide for California Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani.
The Department of Homeland Security explained that Mo entered the United States legally on January 13, 2020, but overstayed his temporary visa by not leaving by May 15, 2020. They clarified that having work authorization or an application pending does not provide legal status.
Mo served as a field representative for Stefani, who represents areas of San Francisco and San Mateo County. She has previously held a position on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
According to his LinkedIn, Mo began working for Stefani’s office in January 2025. Bill Essayli, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, commented on social media that no one is above the law, including state legislature members and their staff.
In response to Mo’s arrest, Stefani expressed her support in a statement, calling him a dedicated public servant and a legal employee. She emphasized how he connects with the Chinese-American community and underscored his importance to their work together.
Stefani added that the community looks forward to Mo’s safe return to his home and his job, where he is well-regarded. Mo had also previously worked for former San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s campaign, focusing on outreach in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Mo will remain in the custody of ICE as his removal proceedings are set to proceed. The DHS remarked that the previous administration’s policy allowed individuals in the country illegally to travel within the U.S., but this attitude has shifted. Now, they emphasize that steps are being taken to limit such movements, focusing on removal instead.
