THE LATEST KELLY YU INFORMATION
THERE IS HOPE FOR KELLY YU
There is finally hope for Kelly Yu, a beloved Peoria business owner who has been detained at the Eloy ICE Detention Center for nearly six months.
Kelly came to America 21 years ago, at just 18 years old and pregnant with a girl, fleeing China after learning she would be forced to have an abortion under the country’s restrictive population policies. She entered the United States seeking safety and freedom for herself and her unborn daughter. Although she did not come through an official port of entry, she immediately applied for asylum—but her application was denied. She has been in the immigration court system for most of the past 21 years.
Since then, Kelly has lived and worked in Arizona while continuing to navigate the legal system, trying every available path toward lawful residency and citizenship.
A Business Owner and Community Supporter
Today, Kelly Yu is the proud owner of two restaurants in Peoria, employing about 30 people. She has faithfully paid both personal and business taxes and has been a visible supporter of the community—sponsoring her local high school baseball team and frequently opening her restaurants for public safety fundraisers.
Kelly’s daughter, born shortly after she arrived in the U.S., is now a citizen and a student at Arizona State University—a testament to the American dream that drew Kelly here in the first place.
Detention and a Glimmer of Hope
In a heartbreaking turn, Kelly was detained by ICE earlier this year during a routine monthly immigration check-in. She has been held at Eloy Detention Center since, while her American husband manages their businesses in her absence.
But last week brought hopeful news. Because Kelly has no criminal history and is approaching 180 days in detention, her case now falls under legal precedents that could require her release.
Her new attorney is pursuing relief through two potential legal avenues:
- The Supreme Court decision Zadvydas v. Davis (2001), which limits the time non-citizens can be held in detention without deportation, and
- An additional request for relief under Section 42B, which could allow her to remain in the United States with her family.
If these efforts are successful, Kelly may be home by Thanksgiving—a reunion her family, employees, and community have been praying for.
Working Together for What's Right
As many know, I was censured for working with Democrat Brent Peak to advocate for Kelly Yu’s release. I stand by that decision. Some things are not partisan they are about humanity. This is on of those things.
Sometimes doing the right thing means reaching across political lines to help a neighbor in need. We are all Americans. If our two parties can’t communicate and cooperate, we will never move forward as a nation. Even at this moment we are hoping Democrats will cross party lines and stand with Republicans to open the government. I find it odd we want Democrats to be like John Fetterman and stand with us yet it is "wrong" for me to stand with a Democrat to help a mother stay in our Country with her daughter.
Charlie Kirk has spoken with Democrats. Others have, too. But when I reached out for help in this case, I was criticized. Still, I believe that principle should outweigh politics.
Kelly’s story reminds us what America stands for—freedom, compassion, and second chances. It’s our duty to uphold those values for everyone who believes in the promise of this country.
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My Story from August 2025
Standing Up for Justice: Why I am helping Kelly Yu
Kelly fled China 21 years ago, seeking asylum from the country’s oppressive one-child policy. At the time, she was just 18 years old and six months pregnant with her daughter.
Her asylum request was denied, and she has appealed many times over the years. Today, she is married to an American citizen and is in the process of applying for citizenship through that path. Despite her ongoing efforts to follow the legal process, she was unexpectedly taken into custody by ICE during a routine monthly immigration meeting and is now facing deportation. I find this shocking, she was following the directions from Immigration and ICE took her from her family to a detention center.
Kelly is the very definition of a contributing member of our society. She owns two successful restaurants that employ 30 people, sponsors the local high school baseball team, and hosts fundraisers for the police and fire departments. She pays both personal and business taxes, supports local causes, and has been fully cooperative with immigration authorities since arriving in the U.S. She is exactly the kind of person we want as an American citizen.
I have been speaking with multiple media outlets to shine a light on her story. I understand that this is controversial. Yes, I voted for Donald Trump. Yes, I believe in border security and I want the wall. But I also remember the promise that we would deport “the worst of the worst.” Kelly is not one of them—she is, in many ways, a better American than many born here.
I have reached out to her Congressman and both of her Senators. I encourage you to do the same, as well as leave a comment for the White House. Some of you will disagree with my stance, and that is okay. Others may say she should have become a citizen long ago—and you’re right that it has taken far too long. But she has actively been trying. And let’s not forget the cost involved in becoming a citizen.
Yes, she crossed the border illegally as a scared, pregnant teenager with no resources and no life experience. That does not excuse her decision, but are we truly willing to hold that moment against her forever, at the cost of tearing her away from her daughter and husband when she has been actively trying to fix her mistake?
Some have expressed concern that in advocating for Kelly, I worked with a Democrat. My answer is simple: Are you kidding me? We should reach across the aisle as often as we can—we are Americans first. It’s a sad reality that we live in a country Republicans and Democrats be seen working together. That division doesn’t serve our communities, and it certainly won’t help in a case like Kelly’s. America first means all Americans not just Republicans.
We all heard President Trump say he would go after “the worst of the worst.” We want that—and so does the Democrat I am working with to help Kelly, Brent Peak. In every interview we did together, Brent has made it clear he wants violent criminals deported and our border secured. Oddly enough, so do I. That’s a great starting point, and it’s where we should build common ground. Unfortunately, it appears the leadership of ICE are taking the easy way out by going after low-hanging fruit, when we were promised the focus would be on criminals. I don’t want us to keep taking the easy path at the expense of real safety. And I certainly don’t want President Trump remembered as the one who promised to deport criminals but instead deported women, children, and grandmothers. We must hold all politicians accountable—not just the ones we don’t like.
If we allow ICE to continue targeting nonviolent immigrants rather than going after the worst of the worst, are we any safer under Trump than under Biden? By pushing this story to the forefront, maybe ICE will get back to do what Trump originally stated ICE would be doing - going after the illegal violent criminals. We voted for that.
As a Christian, a mother, and an American, I feel compelled to help. If you don’t agree with my decision, I respect that. I only ask that you join me in praying for justice. When I don’t know the right answer, that is my prayer.
God, please let justice prevail.
