Eric Balderas, a rising Harvard sophomore who was detained last Monday by immigration officials, is no longer facing deportation, according to media reports Saturday.
The 19-year-old biology student was arrested June 7 when he tried to board a plane from San Antonio to Boston using his student ID and Mexican consular card. Balderas, who illegally immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 4, had recently lost his Mexican passport that he previously used for travel.
He was set to appear in court for possible deportation.
But the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency told U.S. Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois late Friday that the agency would not pursue the student’s deportation, The Boston Globe reported Saturday. Durbin had lobbied on behalf of Balderas.
ICE spokesman Brian P. Hale confirmed that Balderas had been granted deferred action, which can be used to stop deportation based on the merits of the case.
He will be allowed to stay in the country for a period of time, continue his studies at Harvard and apply for a work permit.
Following his arrest, Balderas was quoted in The Harvard Crimson saying he contemplated suicide. “I had been so strong before,” Balderas told The Crimson in an interview on Sunday. “And now my spirits were just destroyed.”
The paper also reported that he was encouraged by others in similar situations and those working to pass the DREAM Act, proposed federal legislation allowing immigrant students to apply for legal residency.
“Just hang in there,” Balderas told The Crimson. “Let others know of your problem and try and gain support for the DREAM Act, because that’s ultimately what’s going to save us all.”
Since his arrest, controversy over the case has fueled discussions about immigration, especially for students pursuing higher education. Critics say it’s not fair to allow those who have lived in the country to push ahead of those who have been waiting to enter legally.