Atilio Portillo thought he would end up locked up in an immigration detention center. Although he is a U.S. citizen, he says that was one of his biggest fears when agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) broke the windows of his truck, pointed firearms at him, and forcibly removed him to handcuff him.
“From the moment they put the handcuffs on me, I believed that was going to happen, that they were going to take me away, that they were going to keep me locked up for at least a day or a couple of hours,” Portillo responded to Enlace Latino NC during a virtual press conference organized by Siembra NC on Friday, October 23.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 21, at approximately 7:00 a.m., near the intersection of Idlewild Road and Idlebrook Drive in the city of Charlotte.
Portillo, originally from El Salvador, has lived in the United States since 1988 and owns a construction company. He was on his way to work accompanied by his nephew, also a U.S. citizen, and his brother Ricardo.
“They blocked my way”
Portillo recounted that several vehicles without official identification blocked his truck as he approached a stop sign.
“There was a vehicle in front of me…it put it in reverse, it got right up close to me, and another vehicle got behind me, another one to the left side and well, they cut me off,” he said.
According to his testimony, several agents got out of the car and began demanding that he roll down his window. Portillo responded that he was a U.S. citizen and asked why he was being detained.
“They started yelling at me that they were looking for someone. They never told me who they were looking for, or anything,” she said.
Portillo, owner of a construction company, stated that he requested a court order and initially refused to lower the window while demanding explanations.
“After a long period of discussion for not opening the window for them, they threatened me with a weapon, broke the window, threw my phone out, violently dragged me out and handcuffed me,” he recounted.
He remained handcuffed next to his vehicle for approximately 30 minutes while officers verified his identity.
“They asked me a lot of questions: when I became a citizen, how long I had been in the United States, and how I became a citizen,” he said.
Portillo asserted that the officers used his driver's license to verify his information, but continued to keep him handcuffed.
“I begged them to please take off the handcuffs, that I was not a danger to them,” he said.
Although he claimed he was forcibly removed, he confirmed that he suffered no physical injuries.
Related: What to do if the police or Immigration stops you while driving?
ICE confirms his brother's arrest and reveals criminal record
In a joint statement from WFAE, La Noticia and Enlace Latino NC ICE confirmed that the October 21 operation was directed against Portillo Guzmán, whom they identified as a Salvadoran citizen subject to deportation procedures.
According to the federal agency, Portillo Guzmán has criminal records which include serious offenses related to the sale of amphetamines, carrying prohibited weapons, carrying concealed weapons, and violations related to conservation and cruelty to animals.
ICE indicated that Guzmán entered the United States irregularly on March 1, 1988, through an unidentified location, and subsequently obtained permanent residency.
“Due to his criminal conduct, it was determined that he could be deported from the United States,” the agency said.
ICE added that Guzmán will remain in custody while his deportation proceedings are underway and assured that he will have access to due process.
Although ICE was asked for a specific explanation regarding the use of force against Atilio Portillo, the destruction of his vehicle's windows, or the reasons why he was kept handcuffed despite being a U.S. citizen, it had not responded to this at the time of publication of this article.
He will seek legal action.
During the press conference, Portillo explained that the experience has affected his peace of mind and that he is considering filing a lawsuit for the alleged violation of their rights.
“I am contemplating and seriously considering whether something can be done about it, because they violated my rights,” he stated.
Andreina Malki, defense manager of Siembra NCHe reported that the organization put him in contact with lawyers specializing in civil rights to evaluate his legal options.
The organization also requested explanations from federal authorities regarding the circumstances of the operation and the use of force.
Portillo, meanwhile, is trying to continue with his work activities, although he says the experience changed his sense of security.
“I didn’t really think that was going to happen to me as an American citizen,” he said.
The encounter with ICE affected his life
He also said that the encounter has kept him awake at night and he is worried that the agents will come looking for him again or come to his house.
“It’s been two nights since then and I can’t sleep. I’m worried. I’m driving around looking all over to see if they’re going to stop me again,” he said.
During the conference, she explained that her parents, siblings, and other relatives reside in Charlotte and that they all learned of what happened, and that the circulation of videos on social media has been difficult for her parents, who are elderly.
In response to Enlace Latino NC He revealed that the officers told him he could file a claim to recover the cost of the damage caused to his truck.
“They told me: don’t worry, we’re going to pay you,” he said.
However, he said he has not yet started the process and expressed doubts about the possibility of receiving compensation.
Portillo also said that he had his US passport in his vehicle, but that during the intervention he did not remember that he had it.
He explained that he began uploading that document after the Border Patrol's immigration operations in Charlotte in November 2025.
Questions about immigration operations
During the conference, state representative Jordan Lopez also addressed the measures that could be taken to prevent similar situations.
López noted that state authorities have limited powers to intervene directly in federal government operations, but maintained that North Carolina can review policies that require or permit cooperation with local law enforcement agencies and immigration authorities.
Siembra NC cited that other legislators have already requested answers from ICE, such as Representative Alma Adams, Senator Thom Tillis, who demanded the list of those arrested during Charlotte's Web operationand Representative Deborah Ross, who has accused officers of terrorizing law-abiding citizens.
The federal government faces a class action lawsuit of North Carolina citizens who were detained by immigration agents who used force during the operation.
Republish our stories for free on your website or newspaper. We follow the Creative Commons license. Click the box and follow the instructions.
