A Raleigh woman is pleading for help after she says her dad was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement more than two weeks ago in Cary.

In a social media post, Gabri Johnson detailed what happened in July with her father Gabriel Lasanda Johnson. Her video has been shared more than 100,000 times on Instagram and TikTok.

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She said her father was born in Liberia but has lived in the United States with legal status since he was 15 years old. He never became a U.S. citizen.

The 55-year-old was taken into custody by ICE in mid-July for what the family was told was a “misunderstanding around a missed immigration appointment,” Gabri Johnson said in an interview with The Grio. The family was later told officials were pursuing Gabriel’s removal under a broader change in federal immigration policy, she said.

While in custody in Texas, Gabriel Johnson has been continually treated poorly, resulting in him suffering a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body, Gabri Johnson said

“For 16 days they have refused to give him food and water consistently,” she said. “He has begged for his stroke medication. I got a call from the hospital in Texas, saying my father was rushed there after having a stroke.”

ICE did not immediately respond to WRAL requests for comment.

The office of U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., told WRAL News that Foushee is aware of the situation with Gabriel Johnson and is working with the family on what happened. In a story post on Instagram, Foushee said her office is in contact with Johnson's family and "actively working to have him released from ICE custody."

"I am also collaborating with my congressional colleagues in Texas to secure Mr. Johnson's release, and ICE headquarters is aware of our demands," Foushee said.

The family filed an emergency stay of removal with hopes of keeping Gabriel in the United States for three to six months to get his health in order, but Gabri said that was denied.

“This is not love, this is not care, this is not America,” Gabri Johnson said. “It’s torture,  and they’re trying to not only take people out of their homes and break up families. They’re trying to kill them on the way there. ICE is fully responsible for this. He can not stay in their custody any longer.”

WRAL has contacted ICE media contacts with questions about Gabriel Johnson’s case including:

·       Why was Gabriel Johnson taken into custody?

·       Why wasn’t he given his medications?

·       Why isn’t he allowed to talk to his family directly?

·       What statement does ICE have about the Johnson family’s accusations that Gabriel has received inadequate treatment including a lack of food, water and his medications?