Local immigrant no longer in church sanctuary, will stay in U.S.

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - A big break for a local immigrant who took sanctuary in a southside Tucson church to avoid getting deported.

Daniel Neyoy Ruiz will get to stay in the United States for at least another year. Immigration officials granted him a work permit.

Ruiz said he is very happy right now after taking sanctuary for almost a month inside Southside Presbyterian Church. He said he knew the government would decide on a course of action that would be good for him and his family.

Translating through his son, Ruiz told Tucson News Now that he feels "Happy, excited and free."

There was a big celebration at the church early Tuesday afternoon. There were prayers and members of the community praised the government's decision.

"I feel great that the government did what was right. I just want to say thank you to everybody who helped my dad stay here," said Daniel's son Carlos.

Karla Neyoy, Daniel's wife, said they got the call from his lawyer last night about the stay of deportation. It will last for one year, then he'll have to reapply.

"And then they apply for a renewal. The government generally renews those until the time at which their case might be closed," said Reverend Alison Harrington.

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