Mayor Daniel Lurie appealed to the federal government Wednesday for ICE to release Ho Yin Mo, a prominent San Francisco Chinese community organizer and Democratic staffer in the California Legislature. The White House, meanwhile, doubled down in defense of his arrest, calling Mo an “illegal alien.”

A Hong Kong native, Mo was arrested by immigration agents on Thursday and is being held at a Nevada immigration detention center, ICE records show. His arrest comes as President Donald Trump carries out a campaign of mass arrests, detention and deportation of immigrants, including many without deportation orders against them or any criminal histories.

Mo’s arrest has prompted Lurie, who has adopted a reserved approach toward the Trump administration, to directly ask the federal government to reverse its actions.

The White House on Wednesday inaccurately blamed California and San Francisco’s sanctuary city policies for allowing Mo to work as a field representative for California Assembly Member Catherine Stefani. Those policies, which have been upheld by numerous courts, did not play a role in Mo’s arrest or employment.

Stefani, D-San Francisco, said Mo was legally employed by the state. Stefani’s office declined to answer questions about his legal status.

“In his role, he serves the San Francisco community, and he does so with great care and commitment,” Lurie wrote in his letter. He is a positive addition to our city.”

Stefani also called for Mo’s release Tuesday.

Many immigrants with pending applications to obtain a legal immigration status, such as green cards or asylum, are granted work authorization by the federal government, allowing them to work legally while they await a decision on their application.

An unnamed DHS spokesperson said Tuesday that “work authorization or a pending application does NOT confer legal status in the United States.” The spokesperson said Mo was legally admitted to the U.S. in 2020 but overstayed his visa.

Lurie’s letter was addressed to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, also known as immigration court, a Department of Justice agency that oversees removal proceedings and bond hearings to determine whether immigrants should be released from detention.

Generally speaking, the federal government may only detain immigrants if they are deemed to be a flight risk or a danger to society.

“Ho Yin has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for years and has developed a strong network here,” Lurie wrote. “He is a contributing member of society and I do not believe he poses as a danger or threat to anyone.”

Lurie asked the court to consider Mo’s longstanding ties to the Bay Area, his employment with the Assembly, his service to San Francisco and the many people who rely on him when considering his request for release. It’s common for immigration attorneys to collect letters of character and support for detainees seeking bond.

As mayor, Lurie has taken a cautious approach to the Trump administration and managed to fend off an attempt by the president to send National Guards troops to the Bay Area last October for a major immigration enforcement action.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told the Daily Mail Wednesday that “an illegal alien being employed by a California State Assemblyman woman is outrageous.”

“This takes sanctuary city to a whole new level. Radical Democrats continue to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens – even employing illegal aliens to work in their political offices,” Bis said.

The city and state’s sanctuary policies direct local police to abstain from taking part in immigration enforcement activities. Mo was not arrested in California, and local authorities played no part in his apprehension. The policies do not impact employment or hiring.

All 11 members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors sent a letter on Monday to the Executive Office of Immigration Review appealing to the court to grant Mo’s release. District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter wrote on Instagram he has worked closely with Mo for years. He described Mo as someone who works hard and looks out for his neighbors.

“Ho Yin has been an especially important point of contact for San Francisco’s Chinese American communities, including residents who face language or cultural barriers when interacting with the government,” the supervisors wrote.

Subscribe

There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.

This article originally published at In rare challenge to Trump, Mayor Lurie asks feds to release S.F. Assembly staffer.