A Democratic state lawmaker in California confirmed on Sept. 22 the arrest of one of her staff members by federal immigration officers the previous week at a Las Vegas airport.

Ho-Yin Mo is a field representative at the district office of San Francisco Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, according to the statement provided to The Epoch Times.

“My message today is simple: I am respectfully calling for Ho Yin Mo’s release as soon as possible,” Stefani said in the statement. “Mo is a selfless public servant and a valued, legal employee of the California State Legislature serving our San Francisco and Bay Area communities.”

A Hong Kong native, Mo earned a degree in film and media at the University of California–Berkeley, in 2020 and attended El Camino College in Torrance, California, before that, according to his education history on LinkedIn.

Mo worked at KTSF Channel 26, a Chinese language television station based in San Francisco, before becoming involved in politics. He then worked as a field organizer for former San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s unsuccessful reelection campaign, among other jobs, before joining Stefani’s office in 2025.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mo on Sept. 17, according to an ICE spokesperson.

“Mo legally entered the U.S. through Los Angeles International Airport in 2020 and overstayed his welcome,” an ICE spokesperson told The Epoch Times in a statement. “All illegal aliens receive due process through immigration proceedings. To be clear: a pending application or work authorization does NOT confer legal status in the United States.”

Stefani praised her employee for his work with Chinese-speaking constituents in her district on the west side of San Francisco.

“When Mo and I meet our Chinese-American constituents, he brings a unique sense of belonging to so many who watched him as a TV reporter,” Stefani said. “And his work goes far beyond presence. Mo helps people access affordable health care coverage, child care, and food support. Our whole community eagerly awaits Mo’s return to his home and his job where he is loved and adored.”

California Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani's staff member Ho-Yin Mo was detained by federal immigration agents in Las Vegas on Sept. 17, 2026. (California Legislature)

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California commented on the arrest.

“No one is above the law, not even the California legislature and its staff,” Essayli said in an X post.

Attempts to reach Mo for comment were not successful.