NY Federal Judge Stops Pizza Delivery Man's Deportation

You know that prank when you send a pizza to someone who didn't order one?

Well, it was no joke to Pablo Villavicencio when he went to deliver a pizza and got nabbed for deportation. It's not exactly the same as the pizza prank, but it definitely messed up his day.

Fortunately for the Long Island resident, his story caught the attention of the media, lawmakers, and a judge who stayed his case. Everybody pretty much said, "Are you friggin' kidding me?"

No Identification

Villavicencio, an undocumented alien from Ecuador, was delivering a pizza to an Army base in Brooklyn. A guard asked him for proper identification, and after this, that, the other, he's in custody.

His lawyer argued that officials detained him after an apparent ethnic profiling. Judge Alison Nathan said he will stay in the United States at least until a hearing on July 20.

It was just in time. Villavicencio said agents were coming to deport him when he got the news. His wife and two children hope he will be home soon.

The pizza man is a long way from home, however. He remains in a New Jersey detention center, and the President hasn't pardoned any immigrants lately.

Thanks, America

In interviews with the Daily News, Villavicencio and his wife thanked everyone who supported him. "I'm happy that I will be able to have that right, like any other person in this country, to have a hearing and be able to see a judge," he said.

Sandra Chica, an American citizen, said it has been difficult for their family. They have two daughters, ages 3 and 2.

"This really has been hard on them, but today they are happy," she said. "They just want to see their dad."

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