INS allows Texas A&M student to finish studies. The student is a senior at A&M and will graduate with a degree in engineering technology in December 2008.

The Texas A&M student who was subject to deportation will be allowed to stay until he graduates. His family, however, was requested to leave the United States.

The student was picked up by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, INS, Wednesday and was in a holding facility waiting to be deported.

Students and friends, including senior Catherine Christensen, petitioned for signatures Friday when she received a call that her friend was released.

The student came to the U.S. from Guatemala with his family when he was 5 years old. They entered the U.S. legally with a visa.

Once the visa expired, the family signed a form saying they had 20 days to leave the country. The family tried to obtain citizenship during that time.

The student's father will be deported soon, but his mother received an extension to stay until the end of the school calendar because his sister was born in the U.S. and is considered a citizen.

Christensen said that her friend would most likely leave the country after he graduates. "We're thankful that he gets to graduate and we're happy to have him back," Christensen said.

After being released by the INS, Christensen said she asked her friend what he would be doing during the weekend, and he said he had to go to work because now he has a mother and sister to support.

The student is a senior at A&M and will graduate with a degree in engineering technology in December 2008.