A Filipino detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for being an alleged illegal immigrant has been released.

But the fate of Mark Farrales, a 31-year Harvard graduate, remains far from certain. The ICE granted him a deferred action for one year so he can find ways to remedy his situation.

Farrales has lived in the United States since he was 10. His father Jaime filed for political asylum after he was nearly killed due to his political activities in the Philippines, abs-cbnnews.com reported.

He was an honor student, and graduated with top honors from Harvard University. But when his father passed away, his future in the United States turned uncertain, the report said.

Mark Farrales

Students from the University of California San Diego – where Farrales is taking his doctorate degree – launched an online petition to protest his impending deportation.

Now, Filipino organizations in LA's historic Filipino town are taking up the fight to keep Farrales from getting deported, abs-cbnnews.com said.

"From a purely legal standpoint, my journey is far from over. My release from detention – as wonderful as it is – is but the first step. I face many months, probably years, of legal struggle. But at least I am out. And I am with my family on Christmas Day. And I have your love and support," the report quoted Farrales as writing on Face book.

"He has gone though so much and has come from nothing and been able to make a lot for himself," Mark Ramos, a youth leader who supported Farrales, said in the news report.

"Every day they work so hard to try to battle and get good grades and go to college. That's what they came here for. They try so hard and all of sudden, everything can be taken away," he added.

The report said that Farrales and the Fil-Am community are now turning their sights to Washington for a reprieve.

Last December 22, President Barack Obama signed legislative bills that granted legal status to two Japanese nationals. It was the first private immigration bill approved in five years.