UC Berkeley student detained by immigration officials in Southern California

East Bay Times – By Bay City News Service

A student at the University of California at Berkeley is being held by immigration authorities in the San Diego area for violating the conditions of his visa, according to federal officials.

Luis Angel Mora Villota, a 20-year-old pre-law student who goes by Luis Mora, made a wrong turn and ended up at a border checkpoint, according to his lawyer.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol confirmed that Mora was apprehended Dec. 30 in the Jamul area of unincorporated San Diego County. She could not comment on the specific circumstances of his arrest, but did confirm the presence of a checkpoint in that area.

Prerna Lal, a staff attorney at the East Bay Community Law Center providing legal services for Mora through UC Berkeley’s Undocumented Student Program, said on Twitter that her client is currently behind held at the Otay Mesa Detention Facility in San Diego County.

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