Nine activists have been released from federal custody in southern Arizona after attempting to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. in protest of American immigration policy.
The National Immigrant Youth Alliance says the Dream 9 were freed Wednesday from the Eloy Detention Center.
They were arrested July 22 in Nogales, Ariz., as they tried to call attention to hundreds of thousands who have been deported during President Barack Obama's administration.
Earlier this week, the Homeland Security Department tentatively approved asylum requests for the nine immigrants. DHS ruled they have a "credible fear" of being persecuted if they are sent back to Mexico.
An immigration judge will have the final say whether they can remain permanently in the U.S., but such a ruling could take years.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.