'Despite law of the land,' Jose Antonio Vargas released by Border Patrol

Brett T. | 6:42 PM on July 15, 2014

Yahoo News Washington editor Garance Franke-Ruta is reporting that proud “undocumented American” Jose Antonio Vargas is being released by the McAllen, Texas Border Patrol this afternoon.

. @joseiswriting statement: "I want to thank everyone who stands by me & the undocumented immigrants of south Texas & across the country."

— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) July 15, 2014

Vargas was in the Rio Grande Valley to participate in a vigil to honor “unaccompanied Central American refugees” at a shelter there. Writing for Politico Magazine, Vargas wondered if, having no U.S. government-issued ID, he would be allowed back through airport security and immigration checkpoints. That was a question for much of the day, as Vargas was detained by Border Patrol agents this morning.

Jose Antonio Vargas has been released! Yes! #immigrationreform

— Rita #VoteBlue #MomsDemandAction (@rchakras) July 15, 2014

https://twitter.com/DRWHHarwood/status/489173000973844482

https://twitter.com/TLW3/status/489173051632664578

The Washington Post reports that Vargas was deemed not to pose a threat to public safety and national security:

Around the same time that Vargas was being let go, the Department of Homeland Security broke its daylong silence to issue the following statement:

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Agents operating at McAllen-Miller International Airport encountered Mr. Vargas and apprehended him after he stated that he was in the country illegally. Mr. Vargas was transported to the McAllen Border Patrol Station where he was processed and provided with a Notice to Appear before an immigration judge. He was released on his own recognizance after consultation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“Mr. Vargas has not previously been arrested by ICE nor has the agency ever issued a detainer on him or encountered him. ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes the agency’s resources to promote border security and to identify and remove criminal individuals who pose a threat to public safety and national security.”