SF assemblymember's aide, former Bay Area news reporter detained by ICE, officials say
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A Democratic staffer of a California Assemblymember is currently in ICE custody, officials said on Tuesday.
Ho-Yin Mo, a field representative for Assemblymember Catherine Stefani who represents California's 19th District in San Francisco, was detained by federal immigration authorities during an enforcement operation on October 17 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to our media partner, The San Francisco Standard.
Mo is facing deportation to Hong Kong.
"My message today is simple: I am respectfully calling for Ho Yin Mo's release as soon as possible," said Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani's office, in a statement to ABC7 Eyewitness News on Tuesday.
Mo is a former news reporter at KTSF, a Chinese-language television station in the Bay Area. According to his LinkedIn, he graduated from UC Berkeley in 2020, and also worked as an AAPI field organizer for former San Francisco Mayor London Breed in 2024. Mo has been employed with Stefani since January 2025.
"Ho Yin is a selfless public servant and a valued, legal employee of the California State Legislature serving our San Francisco and Bay Area communities," Stefani's office said.
"When Ho Yin and I meet our Chinese-American constituents, he brings a unique sense of belonging to so many who watched him as a TV reporter. And his work goes far beyond presence. Ho Yin helps people access affordable health care coverage, child care, and food support. Our whole community eagerly awaits Ho Yin's return to his home and his job where he is loved and adored."
It's still unclear why Mo was detained. ABC7 Eyewitness News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and we are waiting to hear back.
