Pastor facing deportation might get to see his family

PITTSBORO -- A Siler City pastor arrested last month on a 16-year-old green-card violation might be able to return to his wife and six children as he awaits a deportation hearing.

A federal immigration judge granted Hector Villanueva temporary release Thursday if he can post a $15,000 bond.

"If his family and friends can raise the money and can put it up as a bond, he can get out of jail," said Randall Stroud, whose law partner Jorgelina Araneda is representing Villanueva.

Born in Mexico, Villanueva, 40, has lived in the United States since he was a toddler and been a legal permanent resident since 1988. In 1994, he was convicted for trying to cash someone else's check, in violation of his residency conditions.

But federal immigration officials never tried to remove him from the country until after discovering that felony in processing his citizenship application last year.

Villanueva and his wife Martha spent most of their lives in California, coming to North Carolina four years ago. With support from their home church out west, they planned to start a Spanish-speaking congregation here.

They struggled to attract worshippers in the first two years in Siler City, and Villanueva started Prestige Home Repairs and Painting to pay the bills and support their four children, ages 20, 11, 8, 4. They also care for two foster daughters, 10 and 13, whom they hope to adopt.

In the spring of 2009, Villanueva took over as pastor of La Iglesia Bautista La Roca in Raleigh. He led that church for a year before starting another church of the same name in Siler City this summer.

His wife said there are about 30 church members now. The church has financial support from a larger congregation, Emmaus Baptist Church. Several members of that church traveled to Gainesville, Ga., this week for Villanueva's bond hearing.