Kelly Yu, the owner of three well-known sushi restaurants in the Phoenix area, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for eight months, according to reporting by NPR. The case has drawn attention to the intersection of immigration enforcement and small-business ownership in the region.
During Yu's detention, members of the local community organized in support of her, rallying around the restaurateur while her businesses continued to operate. The details of that community response were documented by NPR's Ayesha Rascoe, who visited Yu at one of her restaurants following her release.
The story was reported on September 27, 2026, by NPR. Audio from the segment was not yet available at the time of publication.
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