A Venezuelan man who fled his native country but was detained in Miami-Dade while seeking political asylum was released Thursday.
Marco Coello was taken into custody by immigration officials Wednesday after they say he overstayed his visa.
Coello was released from the Krome Detention Center Thursday.
"I'm excited, confused," Coello said after his release. "I never imagined this day inside jail."
Sen. Marco Rubio praised the release of Coello on Twitter Thursday.
A day earlier, Rubio had tweeted that he hoped Coello being detained was just a "misunderstanding."
Coello, known as a vocal protester in Venezuela, passionately resisted the Nicolas Maduro regime and was even arrested during a student march in 2014. Fearing for his rights, Coello fled Venezuela to avoid a prison sentence and took refuge in South Florida.
Local
“Marco Coello has one misdemeanor criminal conviction and did not depart the country in accordance with his visa. As a result, he violated the terms of his non immigrant status in the United States. As Secretary Kelly has stated, ICE will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.”
