BC-NC–Immigrants-Lost Children,125

NC judge: Deported man can take children to Mexico

SPARTA, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina judge says a man deported two years ago to Mexico can take his three sons home with him.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported (http://bit.ly/W2e4KySPARTA) that Alleghany County District Court Judge Michael Duncan on Tuesday awarded permanent custody of the children to 33-year-old Felipe Montes.

Montes was deported because he had numerous ticket violations, and his wife lost custody of them. The children were placed in state custody.

Foster families had sought to adopt the children, who are 5, 3, and 2 years old. But Duncan ruled in November to give Montes temporary custody of the children.

Montes can stay in the United States until March 23, when his humanitarian visa expires. Montes says he’s making arrangements to take his children back to Mexico.