Unlikely Allies: A GOP Chair and Progressive Activist Unite to Fight for Detained Restaurateur
Despite deep political divides, an Arizona republican and Democrat have found common ground advocating for the release of a chinese immigrant detained by ICE, highlighting the human face of a complex immigration debate.
The story of Kelly Yu, a long-time Arizona resident, business owner, and mother, has unexpectedly brought together Lisa Everett, a GOP district chair, and Brent Peak, leader of a local progressive advocacy group. Their collaboration underscores a rare instance of bipartisan concern over immigration enforcement and its impact on communities.
The unlikely alliance began this past spring during dueling protests outside the local offices of the U.S. representative for Arizona’s 8th congressional District. While Peak’s group protested cuts by the Department of government Efficiency, Everett joined a counterprotest, a visible supporter of former President trump. A conversation about maintaining peace during the demonstrations sparked a continuing dialogue over breakfast, ultimately leading them to focus on Yu’s case.
Yu, also known as Lai Kuen Yu, has lived in Arizona for over two decades and is a member of a family with U.S. citizens. Activists argue she doesn’t fit the Trump governance’s definition of “the worst of the worst” requiring priority deportation.Everett describes Yu as “everything we want in an American,” emphasizing that she is “the exact opposite of a drain on our system” and actively “employing Americans.” Peak adds that Yu “checks a lot of boxes that you would think more Republicans would be in favor of,” noting her status as a family-supported business owner who fled communist China.
yu’s journey to the U.S. began in 2004 when she illegally crossed the border from Mexico into Arizona while pregnant, according to the Department of homeland Security.She was released two days later by the George W. Bush administration.She initially sought asylum, but her request was denied, and she received a deportation order in 2005. Despite this, she remained in the country, eventually launching two successful Asian eateries in Maricopa County – Kawaii Sushi and Asian Cuisine – and becoming a valued member of her community, donating to local baseball teams and a police department’s K-9 unit.
Her case took a dramatic turn during the Biden administration when she was detained and, after a brief release, arrested again in May.Her husband, Aldo Urquiza, describes the situation as “playing release and catch, release and catch,” expressing his anguish over her continued detention. “You’re not an animal,” he recalls telling his wife. the couple married in January while Yu was in ICE detention in Texas.
The Board of Immigration Appeals granted Yu a temporary stay of removal in June while considering her motion to reopen her case, but she remains in detention at the Eloy Detention Center. A DHS spokesperson stated that ICE does not publicize removal schedules “for operational security and to ensure the safety of our personnel,” and declined to provide further details regarding Yu’s detention history.
Yu’s case highlights the complexities of U.S. immigration law. While a U.S. citizen spouse can possibly pave the way for legal status, individuals who entered the country illegally often must leave to pursue that path, triggering a 10-year reentry ban.This creates a important hurdle for individuals like Yu seeking to regularize their status.
The situation has garnered local attention,with customers at Kawaii Sushi frequently asking about Yu and offering support. Peak and Everett, despite their political differences, have continued to advocate for her release, both individually and “systemically,” as peak puts it. They aim to advocate for both strong border security and a compassionate immigration policy. Everett even received a censure from her local party in September for supporting Yu and collaborating with a Democrat, which she dismisses as a “slap on the wrist.”
Urquiza acknowledges that only the president could potentially intervene to stop his wife’s deportation. He, like a majority of Maricopa County voters, cast his ballot for Trump in the previous election.
As of this fall, six months have passed as Yu entered detention.Her daughter is attending college and assisting at the restaurant. The couple hopes to reunite, potentially opening a sushi restaurant in Mexico if deportation becomes final. From within the Eloy Detention Center, Yu expresses her anxiety about returning to China after so long, stating, “Everything is going to be new to me.”
Urquiza has begun to accept the possibility of his wife’s deportation, stating he will “celebrate as soon as she doesn’t call” from detention, signifying her freedom. The wait, however, continues to weigh heavily on the family, and Peak laments that their voices “seem to be ineffective.” Despite the challenges, the unlikely alliance between a Republican and a Democrat continues, fueled by a shared belief in Yu’s contributions to the community and a desire for a more humane immigration system.
