On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the immediate release of a New York pizza delivery man from immigration custody, challenging the US government’s determination to deport the undocumented Ecuadoran immigrant immediately, and described him as a model citizen.
Father of two, Pablo Villavicencio was arrested on 1 June while delivering pasta to a military base in Brooklyn, where Army security officers questioned him about his immigration status. They then alerted immigration authorities. When arrested, Villavicencio was already seeking legal status in the US, but the government’s determination to have him quickly deported resulted in outrage among public officials and activists.
Villavicencio’s removal has been stayed by the decision made on Tuesday by US District Judge, Paul Crotty, allowing him to continue to pursue permanent residence in the US, with Crotty saying that to deny him that chance would be a violation of his rights. Crotty wrote that while Villavicencio may be an undocumented immigrant, he has married a US citizen, produced two children who are US citizens, been a diligent worker and provider, paid his taxes, and otherwise been a model citizen.
The decision from Crotty came a few hours after arguments had been heard on Tuesday afternoon, with the Manhattan federal courthouse attracting scores of protestors. Crotty questioned the purpose of enforcing the deportation order, saying Villavicencio’s case made no difference to the bigger issues faced by the US.