White House Condemns ICE Arrest of Former News Anchor

The White House has come out hard against an ICE arrest involving a former news anchor who worked for a California state legislator. Officials called the hiring decision by a state lawmaker outrageous. They argue this action takes sanctuary city policies to a whole new level.

Ho-Yin Mo is a field representative for Democratic assemblywoman Catherine Stefani. He also served as a TV anchor at a Chinese-language station in San Francisco. Law Enforcement agents took him into custody last week during an operation at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Now he faces deportation.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told the Daily Mail on Wednesday about the situation. She stated that employing illegal aliens in political offices shows radical Democrats put foreign nationals over American citizens. The statement was sharp and clear.

Until Tuesday, Stefani's office and Mo's lawyer worked quietly through back channels to get him released. Then the Daily Mail broke the story of his arrest. This move put the case into the national spotlight immediately.

Stefani is known for criticizing ICE. She represents the 19th district which covers parts of San Francisco and San Mateo County. Her approach changed fast after the news broke. She issued a respectful appeal asking for mercy right away. My message today is simple, she said in a statement. I am respectfully calling for Ho Yin Mo's release as soon as possible.

She described him as a selfless public servant. She also called him a valued legal employee of the California State Legislature serving our San Francisco and Bay Area communities. The entire San Francisco Board of Supervisors followed up with its own letter demanding his release. They noted he has been an especially important point of contact for San Francisco's Chinese American communities.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to the Daily Mail early Tuesday that ICE arrested Ho-Yin Mo during a targeted enforcement operation. He is from Hong Kong and entered the US lawfully on January 13, 2020. However he illegally overstayed his welcome by failing to depart by May 15, 2020.

The agency said work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States. DHS reversed what it called a horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country. Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this. This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.

Frankie Falzon is a district director for Stefani. He declined to comment early Tuesday morning when first contacted by the Daily Mail. They had been advised by legal counsel that it would not be in his interest to talk at this time. We're trying to work through as many channels as possible now, he said. Mo's lawyer was meeting him for the first time at the Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump west of Las Vegas.

The numbers are stark: Mo has worked for Stefani since January 2025. He is a former news anchor and reporter for KTSF Channel 26 in San Francisco. Now, he faces detention while his removal proceedings play out. But the story shifted quickly after Stefani stepped forward with a personal plea.

"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," she stated. "And his work goes far beyond presence." Her words were clear and direct. She explained that Ho Yin helps people access affordable health care coverage, child care, and food support. The community waits eagerly for his return to the job where he is loved and adored.

This isn't just about one person. Mo also served on London Breed's failed mayoral re-election campaign in 2024 as an Asian American and Pacific Islander outreach organizer. Why hire him? Because his profile on KTSF really resonates with a lot of individuals, according to Breed spokesperson Joe Arellano at the time. We know that his background and experience matter. When we heard he was available, we jumped at the opportunity.

Stefani has been an outspoken critic of ICE's crackdown on illegal immigration. She stands firm against these actions. In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle last October, the Democrat gave a statement ridiculing an ICE crackdown in the Bay Area, calling it an abuse of power and direct threat to the community. "It is about fear and control," Stefani was quoted as saying. The administration wants chaos. We will answer with strength, solidarity and resolve.

He is expected to remain in custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings. That reality hangs heavy over a man who helped neighbors find food and care. And yet, voices are rising now. She issued an appeal for support. Her stance on ICE's crackdown remains unchanged. The community demands his release. Will they get it? Only time will tell. But for now, the wait continues.