U.S. marine heading home after release from Mexico

The U.S. marine veteran who spent the past eight months in a Mexican jail is back in America and on his way home to Florida, according to reports early Saturday.

Retired Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi was released Friday after an order from a Mexican judge, according to The Associated Press. Mexican authorities detained him earlier this year when he crossed into the country with loaded guns.

Following the judge's decision, the 26-year-old man was taken across the U.S.-Mexico border to a San Diego airport. There, the Afghanistan veteran met his mother Jill, Republican Rep. Ed Royce of California and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, according to tweets from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Also present were TV personality Montel Williams and Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Arizona).

Tahmooressi then boarded a private plane to head home to Florida, according to the U-T San Diego newspaper and the local CBS affiliate.

In March, Tahmooressi crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with loaded guns. He has said he took a wrong turn on a freeway that took him to a Tijuana port of entry.

His detention for having the weapons has drawn national attention, resulting in social media campaigns, politicians and veterans groups calling for his freedom.