GWINNETT COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) - An undocumented student from Georgia walking across America for the DREAM Act is fighting to help his father avoid deportation.

Story/Video

Campaign for an American DREAM walker Jonatan Martinez flew home after walking more than 1,800 miles.

“Right now my team is currently in Missouri. I left my team in order to come down here (Atlanta) because my dad was pulled over,” said Martinez.

On March 10, Martinez and four others started walking from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and they planned to keep walking six days per week until they reach Washington, DC, on Nov. 2.

His walk was cut short when he started a petition to demand Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release his father from custody.

He found out his father, Antonio Martinez, was arrested for driving without a license and is now being deported despite being a low-priority case, according to Jonatan Martinez.

“Instead of giving him a citation, ticket or arresting him for not having a license, then bringing him here (Gwinnett County Jail) and then letting him go on the bond we paid, immigration decided to put a hold on him, an ICE hold,” said Jonatan Martinez.

Jonatan Martinez delivered the signed petition with more than 500 people to the Gwinnett County Detention Center in Lawrenceville and Atlanta’s ICE office.

“They should focus on high risk individuals. My father has been here (USA) for 24 years. He’s 50, that’s half his life. He has no criminal record what so ever,” said Jonatan Martinez.

ICE transferred Antonio Martinez to a holding facility. A spokeswoman for the agency said they are looking into his case.

Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.