PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – One of the firefighters who was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents while working on the Bear Gulch Fire in Washington last month has been released.

Oregon resident Rigoberto Hernandez Hernandez, 23, returned home on Sept. 23 after nearly four weeks in the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, according to a press release from his attorneys.

"I am glad that I am home, and I am excited to see my family," Hernandez said in a statement provided by his lawyer.

"I want to give my thanks to everyone—for their prayers, for the rallies, for sharing about what happened to me and the other firefighter," he said. "So many people stepped up to help, and now I want to help others just like they helped me."

Hernandez was one of two Oregon firefighters detained while wo

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