The immigrant who sought sanctuary in a Tempe church for 100 days is going home. Luis Lopez-Acabal temporarily lived in the University Presbyterian Church after he learned of an order for his deportation.
Lopez-Acabal came to the U.S. from Guatemala seven years ago and is now married to a legal permanent resident. His attorney, Ray Ybarra Maldonado is still fighting for a formal stay of removal, but believes the threat of deportation has passed.
“We do believe that Luis qualifies for the DAPA program and also benefits from the stateside waiver that President Obama made available to spouses of legal permanent residents,” said Ybarra Maldonado.
DAPA stands for Deferred Action for Parental Accountability, which is available to qualifying immigrants. It would allow them to temporarily stay in the country. Lopez-Acabal’s wife Mayra Canales said it has been hard for her family to be separated.
“We’re glad that we have arrived and received what we are looking for," she said. "We will continue in the struggle and the fight to help those who are unable to stay with their families to also be able to return home."
New guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security say people who entered the country illegally prior to Jan. 1, 2014, but haven’t been convicted of a serious offense are the lowest priority for deportation.
