Woman in NC among those detained by ICE while at work in Raleigh: 'Distraught'

WENDELL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in North Carolina, the exact number of ICE detentions in the Triangle has not been disclosed.

But ABC11 does know one of them is a woman from Wendell who was on the job when she was detained in Raleigh on Tuesday. Now, her family is desperate for answers.

Gene Smith said his family is living a nightmare. His girlfriend was frantically looking for her niece, Fatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio.

"She's upset. She's very upset. She's distraught. She didn't get any sleep last night," said Smith, who lives in Wilson. "The whole family is, you know, is really concerned when they don't know where she's at."

A video from TikTok showed Velasquez-Antonio on the job at a Raleigh-area HVAC job site when ICE agents approached her and then arrested her.

"She didn't resist arrest. It shows the ICE walking up to her and asking her for her ID and her information, if you will, and they put handcuffs on her, put her in a car," Smith said.

Velasquez-Antonio, 23, graduated from Corinth Holders High School in Johnston County. According to her family, she had been working, paying taxes, and doing everything right. According to our newsgathering partners at the News & Observer, Fatima had no arrests or convictions beyond two traffic violations.

"I can see if she's a criminal element or, you know, but she's a kid that she's 22 and she bought a home. That's a feat right there at that age. You know, that's commendable. She has a job. She's got work papers and that. And she's out there trying to make a living. And she wanted to build a family, and now she doesn't know what her future is," Smith said.

Especially considering she has nothing to return to. She fled from violence in Honduras at age 14. She had sought asylum, and it's unclear what her status was.

"Her mom died of cancer when she was really, really young. Her father was murdered by gang members. She came to the United States to seek asylum. She came to live with family. She has nothing to turn back on other than what's here and what she's built," Smith said.

They've been making phone calls and were able to confirm she was detained in New Hanover County, but it's unclear what happens next.

Her family said they won't give up.

"Her family loves her, and they would love to see her home, you know, and just, you know, stay strong, keep your head up. And she's got people fighting for her," Smith said.

The News and Observer confirmed that nine people were transferred from Cary to the jail in New Hanover County. Fatima apparently was one of them. It remains unclear where they will be taken next.