Staffer Arrested by ICE
Former California lawmaker staffer arrested by immigration officials in Las Vegas
Anonymous
Key Points
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Mo previously worked as an anchor and reporter for KTSF Channel 26, a Chinese-language television station based in San Francisco.
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A source told the Daily Mail that Mo was being held at the Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump, west of Las Vegas, and was expected to remain in custody during removal proceedings.
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Frankie Falzon, Stefani’s district director, said the office had been advised by legal counsel that it was not in Mo’s interest to speak publicly and that officials were “trying to work through as many channels as possible.”
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Stefani represents California’s 19th Assembly District, covering western San Francisco and northern San Mateo County; she previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2018 to 2024 and has criticized the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
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DHS said it had reversed a Biden-era policy and would no longer allow people in the country illegally to fly domestically, stating that they could fly only to leave the country or self-deport.
Ho-Yin Mo, a former Chinese-language news anchor and staffer for California Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. DHS said Mo entered the US legally from Hong Kong in January 2020 but overstayed his temporary visa, which expired in May that year. He is now held at Nevada Southern Detention Center while facing removal proceedings.
Stefani, a San Francisco Democrat who has criticized the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, called Mo a valued public servant and is working through legal channels to secure his release. NBC Bay Area reported that Mo previously worked as an anchor and reporter for KTSF Channel 26, a Chinese-language station in San Francisco, before joining Stefani's office in 2025.
From News Anchor to Immigration Detainee
Mo built a career in San Francisco media as an anchor and reporter for KTSF Channel 26. In 2025, he transitioned to politics, joining Assemblywoman Stefani's office as a field representative. His arrest came just months into the new role, marking an abrupt end to his work on behalf of the lawmaker's San Francisco district.
Legal Status Expired Five Years Ago
Mo entered the United States legally in January 2020 from Hong Kong. His temporary stay permit was set to expire in May 2020 — over five years before his arrest. DHS emphasized that holding work authorization or a pending application does not itself grant legal status to remain in the country. Mo's failure to depart when his visa expired put him in violation of immigration law.
Assemblywoman Seeks Release, Legal Counsel Advises Silence
Stefani, who represents California's 19th Assembly District covering western San Francisco and northern San Mateo County, called for Mo's immediate release. Frankie Falzon, her district director, said the office was pursuing "as many channels as possible" to help. However, legal counsel advised Mo not to speak publicly about the case while removal proceedings continue.
Stefani previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and has been vocal in opposing Trump administration immigration policies. Her public defense of Mo signals the political stakes surrounding immigration enforcement in Democratic-held California districts.
Trump Administration Tightens Domestic Flight Rules for Undocumented Immigrants
DHS announced it reversed a Biden-era policy allowing undocumented immigrants to fly domestically. Under the new rule, people in the country illegally can only board flights to leave the country or self-deport. The policy shift may have prevented Mo from traveling undetected, making his airport appearance a critical point of enforcement.
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