DETROIT, MI - Yousef Ajin will be allowed to stay in the United States, a federal immigration judge has decided.

Friends, family and other supporters of the Ann Arbor father of four shed tears of joy, hugged and cheered inside and outside the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit after Judge David Paruch issued a ruling following a two-hour hearing in immigration court Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 28.

The U.S. Department of Justice does not plan to challenge the decision, meaning Ajin, who is a citizen of Jordan, can keep his green card and stay in the U.S. as a legal permanent resident with his wife and children who are U.S. citizens.

"Mr. Ajin greatly appreciates the community's support today and all of the various letters of support," said attorney Christopher Vreeland, who represented Ajin.

"We're very pleased with the outcome and Yousef is very grateful for the opportunity to resume his life in Ann Arbor where he has lived for the past 18 years as a legal permanent resident of the United States."

Ajin and his wife, Siham Omar, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen and has been married to Ajin since 1999, both separately testified during the hearing, taking turns answering questions from attorneys and the judge.

Ajin, who is still detained at the Calhoun County Jail in Battle Creek, testified via video feed.

He has been detained since Jan. 30 after being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He's now expected to go home to his wife and children in Ann Arbor in the next day or two.

ICE indicated a final order to remove Ajin from the country was issued by an immigration judge in 2012 and Ajin was arrested on Jan. 30 for alleged non-compliance with the requirements of his previous release. Other than that, ICE has not released many details about why Ajin was facing deportation.

It was revealed during the hearing that Ajin, who was born in Kuwait, legally came to the U.S. from Jordan in 1999.

One of Ajin's daughters, 15-year-old Betoul, a Community High student who waited with School Dean Marci Tuzinsky and others in a lobby outside the courtroom, recalled the moment she realized her father was going to stay. Her mother immediately left the courtroom to relay the news.

"We heard the clapping from inside, and then we just knew that he was going to come home, and my mom came out crying, and it was like the best feeling ever," she said, describing her father as a nice man who would never hurt anyone.

Much of Tuesday's hearing focused on Ajin's past criminal record, which includes a felony conviction stemming from when he found a wallet in 2000 and used a credit card inside it to purchase items at a store, and a misdemeanor shoplifting conviction from 2003. Ajin served probation for those offenses and paid fines.

Ajin told the judge they were stupid mistakes, he hasn't repeated them since then, and he doesn't plan to steal ever again.

Given that the crimes occurred so long ago, and because it seemed evident Ajin's family would face extreme hardship if he was deported, Paruch said he was granting a deportation waiver the court doesn't give out regularly. He told Ajin not to do anything to land in court again or things could go differently next time.

"I hope I never see you again," the judge said politely.

"Thank you," Ajin said, assuring the judge he'd only see him again if he's back in court seeking U.S. citizenship.

Ajin and his wife have three daughters who were born in the U.S. and attend Ann Arbor schools, including Betoul at Community High, Yara at Pioneer High and Mariam at Tappan Middle School. They also have a 15-year-old son, Badar, who is developmentally disabled and is in a special education program.

Ajin and his wife both testified about the challenges they face caring for their son, who cannot read, write or talk and requires constant supervision, as well as someone to feed him and help him shower and go to the bathroom. They said he has the mentality of a 5-year-old and probably will require assistance for the rest of his life, and it's important that they both be here to care for him.

A crowd of hundreds of people, including many Ann Arbor community members, were on hand for a rally outside the federal building in Detroit. The crowd erupted with cheers as news of the verdict was announced.

Tappan Middle School social studies teacher Brit Satchwell was one of a number of Ann Arbor Public Schools employees, including some from Community High, who marched in support of Ajin, along with some students. Satchwell said one of Ajin's daughters, Mariam, is a 7th-grade student of his.

"The entire school community is trying to support her as best we can," he said, adding the fact that her father was facing deportation really affected her and her entire family. "So I'm here to stand up for one of my students and I do not want to see her become one of those relegated to the rung of at-risk student.

"I think if you take the breadwinner out of a family and force the adolescent kids to take care of the younger children, you've got a bad situation, and I see it every day. And it's not a situation that breeds success."

Omar, who for many years has been a stay-at-home mom caring for her developmentally disabled son, said she had to go back to work after her husband was detained, and her daughters have had to step up more to help take care of their brother. Omar said her son was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome at birth and her husband is very good with him.

The judge took note of Ajin's work ethic, recognizing that he has regularly worked most of the time he's been in the U.S., except for a period where he struggled to find employment after his criminal convictions. Ajin said he has held various jobs, and now makes a living as an Uber driver.

He said he's ashamed that he ever stole before and even if he found $1 million now he wouldn't take it.

Ann Arbor resident Kristen Roupenian, who carried a "keep families together" sign on Tuesday, said she heard about Ajin's story in recent days and was compelled to march in support of him in Detroit.

"I just felt it was heartbreaking," she said, adding she's against mass deportations and is concerned about the way immigrants are being treated.

Ann Arbor resident H.R. Webster also joined in Tuesday's rally as a member of the Michigan Peoples Defense Network.

"A lot of us are out here today supporting this family and supporting all of the folks who are being deported for no reason who are good members of the community, and Detroit is stronger and Ann Arbor is stronger with people like this man here and this family here," she said. "So we're here, and we're not going to let them take members of our community away."