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In the News

Montgomery County student, family win reprieve from deportation

Jorge Steven Acuna, a senior at Montgomery College, and his parents were detained on March 8 and scheduled to be deported, prompting much protest in favor of the student, who came to the United States from Colombia in 2000. On Tuesday night, the family was granted a one-year reprieve from deportation.

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Friends and classmates of Jorge Steven Acuna hold up signs supporting his family during a rally organized by Casa de Maryland at Rockville Town Center on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. The Acuna family, who are from Colombia, are facing deportation and were just released from detention.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Natalie Weill, 19, a friend of Jorge Steven Acuna, joins others along Hungerford Drive during the rally and march. The rally became a celebration after the Acuna family's release. Nicole Navas, a spokeswoman for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcementagency, said immigration officials in Baltimore had decided to exercise special discretion in the case, allowing the family to go home and Jorge Steven to finish out his final year in college.

Natalie Weill, 19, a friend of Jorge Steven Acuna, joins others along Hungerford Drive during the rally and march. The rally became a celebration after the Acuna family's release. Nicole Navas, a spokeswoman for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcementagency, said immigration officials in Baltimore had decided to exercise special discretion in the case, allowing the family to go home and Jorge Steven to finish out his final year in college.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

A commuter waves to show her support of the marchers along Hungerford Road in Rockville on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. To the immigrant advocates and student groups that supported Acuna, the government's reprieve was a small but dramatic victory for two causes: halting deportations of longtime, otherwise law-abiding immigrants who are not in the country legally and promoting 'Dream Act' legislation that would allow talented students such as Jorge Steven to receive government tuition discounts, even if they do not have legal immigrant status.

A commuter waves to show her support of the marchers along Hungerford Road in Rockville on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. To the immigrant advocates and student groups that supported Acuna, the government's reprieve was a small but dramatic victory for two causes: halting deportations of longtime, otherwise law-abiding immigrants who are not in the country legally and promoting "Dream Act" legislation that would allow talented students such as Jorge Steven to receive government tuition discounts, even if they do not have legal immigrant status.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

'This young man is a poster child, a role model for the potential of our youth,' Nancy Navarro (D-Eastern County), a member of the Montgomery County Council, said at the rally about Jorge Steven Acuna, seen in the photos.

"This young man is a poster child, a role model for the potential of our youth," Nancy Navarro (D-Eastern County), a member of the Montgomery County Council, said at the rally about Jorge Steven Acuna, seen in the photos.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Friends and classmates of Jorge Steven Acuna walk to the Montgomery County Judicial Center during a rally and march organized by Casa de Maryland on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. The Acunas came to the United States in 2000, fleeing from endemic violence in their native Colombia, and applied for political asylum. Their petition was denied in 2005, appealed and denied again in 2006.

Friends and classmates of Jorge Steven Acuna walk to the Montgomery County Judicial Center during a rally and march organized by Casa de Maryland on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. The Acunas came to the United States in 2000, fleeing from endemic violence in their native Colombia, and applied for political asylum. Their petition was denied in 2005, appealed and denied again in 2006.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Friends and classmates of Jorge Steven Acuna walk past the Montgomery County Judicial Center during the rally and march. Supporters organized by the immigrant rights group Casa de Maryland also launched an online petition drive last week calling for Jorge Steven Acuna's release, gathering more than 4,000 signatures in several days.

Friends and classmates of Jorge Steven Acuna walk past the Montgomery County Judicial Center during the rally and march. Supporters organized by the immigrant rights group Casa de Maryland also launched an online petition drive last week calling for Jorge Steven Acuna's release, gathering more than 4,000 signatures in several days.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

About 100 people showed up at a rally organized by Casa de Maryland to support the Acuna family, who are facing deportation to Colombia, at Rockville Town Center on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

About 100 people showed up at a rally organized by Casa de Maryland to support the Acuna family, who are facing deportation to Colombia, at Rockville Town Center on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Jorge Steven Acuna, left, stands with his parents, Jorge Acuna and Blanca, during a rally organized by Casa de Maryland at Rockville Town Center on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. 'I would not wish on anyone what we went through,' Jorge Acuna, trembling and tearful, told supporters and journalists in Spanish at the rally. 'I saw my own son manacled by the hands and feet, for no crime other than wanting to be in this country and study.'

Jorge Steven Acuna, left, stands with his parents, Jorge Acuna and Blanca, during a rally organized by Casa de Maryland at Rockville Town Center on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. "I would not wish on anyone what we went through," Jorge Acuna, trembling and tearful, told supporters and journalists in Spanish at the rally. "I saw my own son manacled by the hands and feet, for no crime other than wanting to be in this country and study."

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Jorge Steven Acuna, facing camera, hugs Diego Pneda, 20, one of his best friends, during the rally Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Jorge Steven Acuna said he hoped his family's ordeal would draw attention to the plight of others in similar situations. 'There are many people who are hidden and voiceless, but who still have dreams,' he said in Spanish.

Jorge Steven Acuna, facing camera, hugs Diego Pneda, 20, one of his best friends, during the rally Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Jorge Steven Acuna said he hoped his family's ordeal would draw attention to the plight of others in similar situations. "There are many people who are hidden and voiceless, but who still have dreams," he said in Spanish.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

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