Bernard Pastor released

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Authorities released Bernard Pastor from the Morrow County Jail in Mount Gilead Friday afternoon.

"We're all very relieved that this has happened," said Jason Riveiro State Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Friday's move by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement comes after weeks of activism by Pastor's classmates, Senator Sherrod Brown and Rep. Steve Driehaus.

"I think the public pressure really was taken into consideration and ICE realized that this was not an important reason to deport someone," said Riveiro.

On Nov. 17 the 18-year-old Reading High School graduate was held in custody by the Springdale Police Department when he was unable to produce a drivers license after a fender-bender.

Pastor's family came to the US when he was 3 years old to escape from religious persecution in Guatemala.  Pastor's uncle received asylum in the US, but his father and mother did not. However, they chose to stay.

"Sometimes we need to use some common sense in how we make decisions and this is certainly a situation where common sense and compassion would indicate that this young man should be released and I'm happy this is happening," said Ohio's governor Ted Strickland.

Pastor and his Cleveland immigration attorney, David Leopold, along with a few others, are headed to Washington D.C. in hopes they can persuade members of the Senate to vote in favor of the Dream Act.

The Dream Act, which passed in the House of Representatives, would make it possible for immigrants brought to this country illegally by their parents to naturalize through avenues like military service or higher education.