Jose Antonio Vargas of “Documented,” a documentary he directed and wrote about his immigration story, was detained by Border Patrol in Texas for most of the day Tuesday and then released with a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

The detention of Mr. Vargas, whom the New York Times describe as probably the most high-profile leader of the immigrant rights movement, presented an awkward situation for the Obama administration.

The sudden increase of Central Americans, many of whom are children, crossing the border illegally claiming that they’re fleeing violence from their home countries, has made all decisions about immigration politically undesirable. Administration officials would be very much aware that the backdrop to their decision to release Mr. Vargas was a border where thousands of migrants are being held, the NY Times notes.

The activist and Pulitzer Prize-wining journalist was detained at a Border Patrol checkpoint in the airport of this city in the Rio Grande Valley before he was to board a flight to Houston, en route to Los Angeles. In a short statement, the Department of Homeland Security said that they released the 33-year-old writer because he had no prior immigration or criminal record. The government agency said that their focus was on deporting immigrants who posed security threats.

The event that transpired Tuesday marked the first time that Mr. Vargas, who has been living in the U.S. without papers since 1993, had been arrested by immigration authorities. Lawyers representing the immigration advocate said that they would seek to have the action against him suspended, noting that it was unlikely he’ll be deported.

The social filmmaker said that he never intended to be detained when he came to South Texas. The New York Times notes though that Mr. Vargas and his supporters wasted no time to turning his arrest into a day of high drama, using the events of the day to publicize the cause on social media and at a news conference in front of the Border Patrol station where he was held.

In a statement he gave over the telephone, shortly after his release, Mr. Vargas said the following (as posted on the New York Times):

“I was released today because I am a low priority and not considered a threat. I would argue that the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country are not a threat either.”