Senator Shelley B. Mayer Statement on the Release of Yeonsoo Go from ICE Detention

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

August 5, 2025

(White Plains, NY) – State Senator Shelley B. Mayer released the following statement about the release of Yeonsoo Go from ICE detention on Monday, August 4. 

On Thursday, July 31, Yeonsoo “Soo” Go, a 2024 Scarsdale High School graduate and Purdue University student, was detained by ICE after appearing in Court for a routine immigration hearing for her visa, which was valid through December 2025, according to Go’s lawyer. Go was sent to a federal immigration detention center in Louisiana and was detained for five days.

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, "I am deeply relieved that Yeonsoo has been released from ICE custody and has been reunited with her family. While I am grateful for the swift actions of my colleagues Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Congressman George Latimer, Congressman Michael Lawler, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Episcopal Diocese of New York, and the advocacy of so many in our community, we must not forget that Yeonsoo should have never been detained. Based on the information provided by her lawyer, Yeonsoo is a lawful, law abiding resident of the United States and has not been accused nor convicted of any crime.

"ICE’s actions against Yeonsoo, like their actions against thousands of others across this country, were unconstitutional and unacceptable. There is no justification for detaining law abiding individuals who are residing lawfully in the United States and attending immigration hearings as required. 

"While we celebrate Yeonsoo’s release and her safe return home, we cannot forget about the thousands of other individuals, including many of our own community members, who are being held in custody without due process right now. Nor can we stop speaking up about ICE’s inhumane and hyper-agressive actions which are tearing our communities apart in fear and anxiety.  I continue to stand firmly with our immigrant neighbors and will never stop fighting in the New York State Senate to protect their rights and to uphold the premises of our system of democracy."

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