Charlotte Immigrant Mother Detained After Checking In With ICE

CHARLOTTE, NC– “What they’re saying is basically for 20 years I won’t have my mom around,” said Joel Portillo Junior.

Twenty-one-year-old Joel Portillo Senior says his family is in shock their mother Norma Portillo is being held in Steward Detention Center in Georgia. Three weeks ago she went in for her usual check-in appointment with ICE.

“She went like every other time she’s gone she’s never missed a check-up, an appointment, she went, she thought she would go in come out like every other time, but that wasn’t the case,” said Portillo.

Joel Senior says he and his wife sought asylum from the violence in Honduras 17 years ago with their two older children.  Norma went back for a family matter and was caught re-entering back in 2012.

“She got detained when she came back in but she had a case and she fought it and she won the case they let her out, gave her permit and told her to go to checkups and that’s what she was doing,” said Portillo.

The Portillos both commute every week to serve as pastors at Ebenezor Church of God in Greensboro where they’ve been honored for their work.

“Always has a smile on her face always seeing the positive in everything,” said Portillo.

Norma’s two younger children are American citizens, both told me they were too upset to talk, but Joel Jr and Senior say they’re relying on their faith for a miracle.

“Our congregation, we stay praying we haven’t stopped praying and we believe that God will do something,” said Portillo.