Family works to get woman home after she was detained by ICE at work, sent to another state

WENDELL, N.C. (WTVD) — This Thanksgiving, one Wendell family is not able to celebrate this year, after 23 year old Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio was detained by immigration officials, and is now being held hundreds of miles away in Georgia.

“I feel terrible, I feel broken inside honestly,” says Velazquez’s boyfriend Bryan Sanchez.

“Without her, the house, feels alone without her, I feel alone without her home, I just want her back with me with the family,” he says.

Fatima was on the job last week in Raleigh when she was detained by immigration enforcement.

As she was taken away, her friend asks Fatima if she remembers Bryan’s phone number in case her phone is taken away.

Her family wouldn’t be able to track her down for days.

“Honestly, I was crying for her, I was praying to see if she was alright I was so afraid, I didn’t even know nothing for 2 days, that felt terrible,” Sanchez says.

They finally learned she had been taken to a facility in Georgia, where she was denied bond this week.

Her family was blindsided. After losing both of her parents, she came to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor at age from Honduras at age 14, graduated high school in Johnston County, and had work authorization while her asylum case was pending.

She had just bought a house, and Bryan says he was ring shopping to propose to Fatima. Instead he had to spend that money on an attorney to fight to get her home.

“I told her baby everything will be fine, just keep your mind at peace, your heart at peace don’t get frustrated I know it’s a tough situation but I will do my best to get her back home, you know,” he says.

It’s why although this has been the toughest Thanksgiving, seeing support from the community, is still giving them a reason to be thankful.

“They know her they know she is a good woman she works hard for her dreams and so I feel thankful to have people who care about me, and care about her.,” he says.

The case has gained the attention of local and federal leaders including Congresswoman Deborah Ross’ office. They’re planning on holding a rally to call for her release Saturday in Wendell.

ABC11 has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for answers as to why Fatima was detained, they have not responded.