Joel and Jessica Guerrero (file)
NEW PALTZ – After some 12 weeks in federal detention in New Jersey, New Paltz resident Joel Guerrero has been released.
The native of the Dominican Republic, who legally immigrated to the United States with his family 20 years ago, was taken into custody for failing to appear at a court date on a 10-year-old misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.
His wife of over a year, Jessica, is expecting their first child any day and she has been traveling down to see him on several weekends while he was being held. The couple was hoping against all hope that he wouldn’t be deported.
The entire New Paltz community rallied behind the couple with signs displayed across the community and several people, from neighbors to public officials, writing to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, asking that he be released.
On Wednesday, Jessica sent a message with four words to Mid-Hudson News:
“Joel has been released.”
