Wake County woman denied bond in Georgia after immigration detention

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Wake County woman, detained by immigration officials last week, was denied bond at a hearing in Georgia on Tuesday.

Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio is being held in Lumpkin after being arrested at a job site in Raleigh on Nov. 18.

Gene Smith, the boyfriend of Velazquez-Antonio's aunt, says 23-year-old came to the U.S. from Honduras as an unaccompanied minor at 14. The Corinth Holders High School graduate came to the U.S. after losing her mom to cancer and her father to gang violence.

Her family is not sure why she was detained because she has a pending asylum case.

"She's a good kid. She works hard. She loves her family. She loves her nieces and nephews without having kids of her own," Smith said.

Ashley Lively is representing Velazquez-Antonio. Lively says Velazquez-Antonio has no criminal history aside from minor traffic violations and had no warrant out for her arrest prior to being detained.

Lively also says Velazquez-Antonio has a valid working permit, a social security number, and has not missed any prior interviews or hearings with the Department of Homeland Security.

"She had the right to remain in the United States while her case was being adjudicated. She did not have any sort of legal, permanent immigration status," said Lively. "She had done everything right and was just waiting for her case to be adjudicated."

Velazquez-Antonio's case is now catching the attention of local elected leaders, including those in Washington, D.C.