Jessica Colotl, now 22, was arrested on charges of driving without a license following a traffic stop last spring. She was turned over to immigration authorities and nearly deported. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a year ago deferred action on her case for a year to allow her to finish her studies at Kennesaw State University. That delay was to expire Thursday, but ICE has once again deferred action on her case.
"ICE uses discretion on a case-by-case basis, as appropriate, and has the authority to grant a deferral of removal action based on the merits of an individual's case and a review of specific facts," an agency spokeswoman said in an email.
Colotl's lawyer Charles Kuck recently filed for an extension of her deferred status and said he was pleasantly surprised that ICE acted so quickly.
"We so much appreciate ICE's professionalism and compassion in this matter," Kuck said. "They have been exemplary to deal with."
Colotl is set to graduate next week from Kennesaw State University and hopes to work for a year before applying to law school.
Prompted in part by outcry over Colotl's case, the Georgia university system last fall adopted a policy that bars its schools from accepting illegal immigrants if they've rejected academically qualified applicants in the prior two years.
Jessica Colotl (photo courtesy Fox 5)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/5/229388