The White House has defended ICE’s arrest of Ho-Yin Mo, a Hong Kong national and staff member of California Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, accusing the legislator of employing someone it considers to be in the US illegally. Mo, a former Chinese-language television anchor, was detained at Las Vegas airport and faces deportation, prompting appeals for his release from Stefani and San Francisco officials.

US authorities say Mo entered legally in January 2020 but overstayed after his temporary permission expired in May that year. Stefani describes him as a lawful employee and valued public servant who supports Chinese-American residents with healthcare, childcare and food assistance, while Homeland Security says work authorisation or a pending application does not itself provide legal status; Mo is expected to remain in custody during removal proceedings.