Five months pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy and with two minor daughters, Kimberlin Lemus is devastated after her husband was arrested by ICE agents in the parking lot of a Mecklenburg County Public Health Department (MCPH) building in North Carolina.
Due to her health condition, the 26-year-old mother had been unable to attend her appointments for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) on Beatties Ford Road west of Charlotte.
But on the morning of Monday, March 9, when she had a new appointment, she left her house with her husband Elmer Flores, and after taking her two girls to school, he dropped her off at the entrance of the county building while he looked for a place to park.
Shortly after, while she was checking in at the reception desk, her phone rang and it was Elmer, who said "love..." and then she heard someone ordering her to get out of her car and the call was cut off.
She thought it was the police, but when she tried to go see what was happening, one of the county employees warned her not to go outside because agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were there. they were there.
“They closed the doors and everyone was very scared, then they took about 20 of us to a back room,” Kimberlin told Enlace Latino NC in a telephone interview.
Kimberlin said they hid from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., when employees told them they could come out. Eventually, one of the department employees gave the Latina the car keys.
Family in dire need
Now Kimberlin finds herself alone and with the responsibility of supporting her two daughters, Yaritza, 10, and Camila, 6, while her husband, who has no criminal or immigration record, is arrested at the ICE Folkston Detention Center in Georgia.
“We never imagined that all this would happen when we got there. My girls ask me all the time when their dad is coming back, when he’s getting out of jail,” the young mother said. “I haven’t lost hope that he’ll return,” she added.
The Honduran couple had been living in Charlotte for seven months. Kimberlin arrived in the country six years ago with her daughters, while Elmer emigrated three years ago to join his family. Elmer, 27, worked installing fiber optic cable.
Elmer's arrest has left his family without their only source of income and at risk of losing their home. Although the family has received initial support from the Solidarity Fund of Siembra NCAdditional support is needed.
“Siembra already helped us to pay the rent "From last month, but I don't know what else we're going to do about the rent this month and all the other expenses," the young woman said.
Kimberlin was at a virtual press conference organized by Siembra NC on Thursday, April 2, where she stated that she would like her husband to remain with them, and told us that she has tried to get him legal help.
“I’ve looked for a lawyer, but the thing is…” They charge very much“I contacted a lawyer I was told about, and she told me that just to go and show him some papers and tell him what could happen, she would charge $2,500, and I can’t get that kind of money to give it to him all at once,” the Honduran mother commented.
They condemn the arrest.
Siembra NC also condemned Elmer's arrest. “These cases are deeply concerning because people are being detained in places they go to in order to support their families,” said Andreina Malki, Advocacy Director at Siembra NC, in a statement.
“Our leaders must declare these essential service sites off-limits to the enforcement of immigration law“No one should have to choose between feeding their child or losing their freedom,” he added.
Since last year, ICE agents have been arresting immigrants near schools, churches, and in the Charlotte's cuts.
Siembra NC shared a video showing images of some ICE vehicles, including one of the agents getting out of a black car. Kimberlin also recounts the situation she faced that day.
Related: Misdirections to military bases lead to immigration detentions in North Carolina
County responds
Enlace Latino NC He asked Mecklenburg County if they had been notified of the presence of ICE agents on WIC office premises and whether employees have been trained to handle situations like this.
The county responded as follows:
“Mecklenburg County is aware that law enforcement was present in the parking lot of one of our county facilities. We have no comment on their activities. Our priority remains the health, safety, and overall well-being of our customers, our staff, and the community we serve. At this time, we have no further comment regarding this incident.”
How can we help this family?
Community members who wish to support the Flores family can go to Gofundme, where a fundraising fund has been created.
Siembra NC urges community members who witness any immigration enforcement activity or have a family member detained to contact their state hotline: 336-543-0353.
*News in development
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