Juan Carlos Alonzo Vasquez, the Kingston chef detained by ICE for five months, has been granted voluntary departure by an immigration judge.

He appeared in immigration court in New York City via teleconference from Orange County Correctional where he is being held. His former employer, Brandy Walters — owner of the Anchor Restaurant and Bar — was at the hearing.

She says the judge granted him voluntary departure, and he must leave within the next 120 days. Walters tells Spectrum News she will try to get him a plane ticket for next week.

Five months is an unusually long time for someone who is requesting voluntary departure, according to politicians and legal professionals, including Vasquez's attorney. Spectrum News is told the whole process usually takes a few weeks.

There is still no stated reason to Spectrum News for why Vasquez was detained for 22 weeks, before he could get in front of a judge. Vasquez was detained on July 18, at the Ulster Co Probation Office in Kingston.

"You took someone who was paying taxes, and you've detained them in jail for five months. So why are we spending money on this?" Walters said previously on in this case.

Vasquez said previously if granted voluntary departure, he planned to begin the paperwork to return legally to the United States, as soon as he gets back to Mexico.