News: Breaking news

Student facing deportation released from jail

A University of Wisconsin pharmacy student who was arrested last week and faces deportation has now been released and is at her parents’ house in Milwaukee, her family told The Badger Herald.

Tope Awe, 22, and her brother Gbenga Awe were arrested last week when the Awe family was summoned to the United States Homeland Security office in Milwaukee. She has lived in the country since she was 3 years old.

Sam Awe, Tope’s father, said Tope and Gbenga had just arrived in their home around 4:30 p.m Tuesday, and the family would like to have some time alone to pray in gratitude for his son and daughter’s release.

“Thank you all the supporters in Madison and God would bless everyone of you,” Sam Awe added.

According to UW School of Pharmacy Dean Jeanette Roberts, the release was made possible through the office of Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., though the “overall resolution remains temporary in nature, pending additional legal steps.”

“This is just what we were hoping to accomplish in the short run to allow Tope to return to school for this semester and, hopefully, beyond,” Roberts said in a statement. “Thanks to all for your wisdom, legal guidance, and plain old positive energy and hard work. It all made a difference.”

Read tomorrow’s Badger Herald news coverage for more details.