Emilio Gutiérrez Soto and his son came to the United States seeking help after he was threatened for his reporting work in Mexico.
They sought asylum in this country but they were instead detained nearly eight months ago. A number of journalism organizations and lawyers worked to free them.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement acquiesced to their demand shortly before it had to meet a deadline explaining to a judge why they were jailed.
Kathy Kiely, the Lee Hills Chair in Free Press Studies at the Missouri Journalism School and is a Press Freedom Fellow, an organization Gutiérrez joined this year.
"We think it establishes that the rule of law still matters. You can’t be disappeared into the United States of America, cell locked and the key thrown away when you’ve done nothing wrong."
Next up for Gutiérrez: finish seeking asylum.