A federal judge on Saturday blocked the deportation of a pizza delivery man, Pablo Villavicencio, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents when he brought a pizza to the Fort Hamilton military base in Brooklyn.
Villavicencio filed for his green card earlier this year but has yet to obtain it. He was unable to produce the identification papers required to enter the base for the delivery, and a background check turned up an active deportation warrant. Villavicencio's wife and two young children are American citizens.
Following the judge's order, Villavicencio will remain in ICE detention but cannot be moved out of the New York City area while he pursues "a meritorious form of relief from removal ... to remain with his family," his attorneys said. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has written letters supporting Villavicencio's release.