An illegal immigrant whose wife – a U.S. soldier – died while serving in Afghanistan, was allowed re-entry into the U.S. on Monday after immigration officials deported him from his Arizona home last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Tuesday.
Jose Gonzalez Carranza, who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in 2004, was arrested on April 8 and deported three days later, according to the agency. Carranza was allowed to re-enter the U.S. Monday "pending adjudication of his immigration proceedings."
An immigration judge from the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review will make the final determination about whether Carranza will be able to remain in the U.S.
Carranza’s wife, Army Pfc. Barbara Vievra, died in 2010 during an attack by insurgents in Afghanistan. Gonzalez was subsequently awarded a "parole in place," which meant he could stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation despite being in the country illegally, his lawyer said.
Last December, a judge ordered Gonzalez deported for reportedly failing to attend a court hearing. Hernandez claimed Carranza was not aware of the court hearing until his arrest last week.
After a report by the Arizona Republic, Customs and Border Protection agents let Gonzales reenter the U.S. Hernandez said he was working out the terms with ICE officials and has filed a motion to reopen the deportation case, the Arizona Republic reported.
The office of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., told the Arizona Republic it had spoken with Hernandez and will “assist the Carranza family in the process.”