Fatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio was detained by on November 19 while working at a site in Raleigh.
She's being held at a detention center in Georgia and was just denied bond by a judge this week.
Family, neighbors, and elected leaders filled Wendell Town Square Saturday to echo one message, bring Fatima home.
Gene Smith says he and the rest of Velasquez-Antonio's family feel hopeful after Saturday's rally.
"After just seeing all these people today, it made me feel good about the community," he said.
Bryan Sanchez, Velasquez-Antonio's boyfriend, also says he's extremely grateful for the outpouring of support for his girlfriend by people who didn't even know her.
"I am so thankful for everyone who came out today, for all the incredible, kindhearted people. This is what America is," he said.
Velasquez-Antonio came to the United States at 14 as an unaccompanied minor, after losing her mother to cancer and her father to gang violence in Honduras.
Her lawyer says she has no criminal record, aside from some speeding tickets, and says she was allowed to stay in the U.S. as her asylum case was pending.
"She's honest, noble, loving. She likes helping someone whenever they need something. She's hardworking. Whenever she sets her mind on something, she achieves it," said Sanchez.
Sanchez says he planned on proposing to Velasquez-Antonio this year, but says the money he had saved for the ring had to be used to retain her attorney.
He says he just wants to be able to start their life together.
"My dream with her is to create our family together, to live in the home we just bought, and start our family in this community," he said.
Several elected leaders at Saturday's rally, including Rep. Deborah Ross, called for greater transparency surrounding Border Patrol and ICE operations and detentions.
Rep. Ross says it's a call coming from both sides of the aisle.
"Senator Tillis is demanding this accountability. I am demanding this accountability. Congresswoman Adams and Foushee have also been demanding this accountability in Charlotte and in Durham," she said.
Velasquez-Antonio's family says they're just waiting to see if and when she can have her next bond hearing, and be one step closer to hopefully coming home.