(Los Angeles, CA) — A Los Angeles-area girl who had asked Pope Francis to help her father stay in the country is having her wish granted. Immigration officials say Mario Vargas-Lopez was released from a federal ICE facility in New Orleans Friday, two days after his daughter spoke to the Pope about reuniting with her father. Jersey Vargas, a ten-year-old from Panorama City, was able to speak to Francis during a trip to the Vatican Wednesday as he greeted visitors. She had told the Pope that her father was facing deportation, and Francis had told her he would speak to President Obama about the issue. Pope Francis and Obama met one day later at the Vatican, with immigration among the topics they discussed. The White House hasn’t commented on Vargas-Lopez’s release.
