Pizza delivery man reunited with US family

NEW YORK: An Ecuadoran father of two has been reunited with his US family, nearly two months after he was arrested and earmarked for deportation while delivering pizza to a New York military base.

A federal judge ordered his immediate release late on Tuesday and for him to stay in the United States to exhaust an application for permanent residency, which he had already begun.

Pablo Villavicencio, 35, an undocumented migrant, was detained on June 1 at the Fort Hamilton Army Base in Brooklyn, after a military policeman was not satisfied with his New York identity card and a background check confirmed that he was not a legal resident.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement were called and moved to deport him. He remained in custody until Tuesday when activists said he was back home with his family. "Although he stayed in the United States unlawfully and is currently subject to a final order or removal, he has otherwise been a model citizen," Judge Paul Crotty wrote in the order.

"He now has two children, both of whom are United States citizens. He has no criminal history. He has paid his taxes. And he has worked diligently to provide for his family," he added. The case sparked outrage among pro-immigration groups and Democrats, widening the gulf between the city and the federal government’s determination to crack down on illegal immigration. "The Villavicencio family has finally received a crucial measure of relief from their 53-day nightmare," said Adriene Holder of The Legal Aid Society.

"We will continue to fight alongside them to protect their right to remain in the community they call home," she added.