Arizona restaurateur’s six-month detention sparks legal debate over deportation rights

A mother, business owner, and community pillar remains locked up—not for a crime, but for a deportation order no country will enforce. What happens when the law has no exit?

, and Administrator

2025 December 13 . 3:26 AM

1 min read

In the image we can see there are bottle in which there is fruit juice on it it's written "Pink... — In the image we can see there are bottle in which there is fruit juice on it it's written "Pink Lady Apple Juice".

Arizona restaurateur’s six-month detention sparks legal debate over deportation rights

Kelly Yu, a prominent restaurateur in Peoria, Arizona, has been held in detention for six months. Despite having no criminal record and strong community ties, she remains in custody under a long-standing deportation order. Supporters argue her detention may violate U.S. law, pointing to a key Supreme Court ruling as a possible path to her release.

Yu was first detained in 2004 after crossing the U.S. border illegally. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security classifies her as an 'illegal alien' and issued a final deportation order in 2005. However, China has not responded to U.S. requests to finalise her passport, leaving her in legal limbo.

Yu’s case remains unresolved, with no immediate legal action taken to secure her freedom. Her family continues to run their restaurants without her, while supporters push for a court review of her detention. The outcome may hinge on whether a habeas petition is filed—and whether China responds to U.S. requests for her travel documents.