The Latest: Judge orders release of pizza worker immigrant

NEW YORK (AP) – The Latest on the fate of an Ecuadorean immigrant detained after delivering pizza to a Brooklyn Army installation. (all times local):

6:25 p.m.

A federal judge has ordered the release of an Ecuadorean immigrant who was held for deportation after he delivered pizza to a Brooklyn Army installation.

Judge Paul Crotty issued an order late Tuesday saying Pablo Villavicencio (vee-uh-vih-SEHN’-see-oh) must be immediately released. The man is being held at a New Jersey lockup.

The judge says the release is necessary because his imminent removal from the United States is no longer reasonably foreseeable.

The judge says Villavicencio can remain in the United States while he exhausts his right to complete an effort to gain legal status. Villavicencio applied to stay in the U.S. after he married a U.S. citizen. They have two young girls.

Crotty ruled after hearing arguments earlier Tuesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Cordaro argued for the case to be transferred to New Jersey.

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12:30 p.m.

A federal judge wants to know if the U.S. government has “any concept of justice” in mind for an Ecuadorean immigrant detained while delivering pizza to a Brooklyn Army installation.

Judge Paul Crotty questioned the government’s handling of the case as he heard legal arguments Tuesday over what court should help decide the fate of Pablo Villavicencio (vee-uh-vih-SEHN’-see-oh).

He did not immediately rule whether the legal case to free Villavicencio should be heard in New Jersey or New York.

Villavicencio was detained June 1 after a routine background check revealed he failed to obey a 2010 order to leave the country. He since married an U.S. citizen and applied to stay in the country.

Another judge already temporarily blocked his deportation. He has remained in ICE custody in New Jersey.

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11 a.m.

Lawyers for an Ecuadorean immigrant who was detained while delivering pizza to a Brooklyn Army installation will ask a federal judge to stop his deportation.

A hearing is scheduled Tuesday afternoon in the case of Pablo Villavicencio (vee-uh-vih-SEHN’-see-oh).

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement saying the federal government has “cruelly” kept Villavicencio from his wife and two young daughters “for no legitimate reason.”

Villavicencio was detained on June 1 after a routine background check revealed an arrest warrant for immigration law violations.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says an immigration judge granted Villavicencio voluntary departure in March 2010 but he failed to leave as ordered.

The U.S. District Court judge already temporarily blocked his deportation but he has remained in ICE custody in New Jersey.

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10:15 a.m.

Lawyers for an Ecuadorean immigrant who was detained while delivering pizza to a Brooklyn Army installation will ask a federal judge to stop his deportation.

A hearing is scheduled Tuesday afternoon in the case of Pablo Villavicencio (vee-uh-vih-SEHN’-see-oh).

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement saying the federal government has “cruelly” kept Villavicencio from his wife and two young daughters “for no legitimate reason.”

Villavicencio was detained on June 1 after a routine background check revealed an arrest warrant for immigration law violations.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says an immigration judge granted Villavicencio voluntary departure in March 2010 but he failed to leave as ordered.

The U.S. District Court judge already temporarily blocked his deportation but he has remained in ICE custody in New Jersey.