Cases & Concerns
Wake Interfaith Immigration Network advocates for both long-term changes to our immigration system and right-now, tangible support for our immigrant neighbors. Selected timely cases and concerns are listed below, along with suggested ways to support these members of our community.
Current Concerns
Help Gabriel Johnson and His Family
Support the Dream and Promise Act
| Prayers & Letters/Calls: Help Gabriel Johnson and His Family |
| Gabriel came to the United States as a teenager in 1987 and was ultimately granted withholding of removal, protecting him from being returned to Liberia (due to a civil war and political circumstances which lead to his father’s death). His family reports that he complied with his required immigration check-ins for more than two decades. On July 15, ICE unexpectedly arrested him at his home and is now seeking to remove him to a third country. While in ICE custody, Gabriel repeatedly told his family that he was not consistently receiving his normal medications. On July 30, he was hospitalized after suffering a stroke, has since experienced significant paralysis on the left side of his body, and is in need of immediate rehabilitation to mitigate long term effects of the stroke. His family is urgently seeking help regarding his continued detention, medical care, access to family, and potential removal. For more detail, read this News & Observer article. How You Can Help: Call or Email your senators: Thom Tillis Call Raleigh office: 919-856-4630 Call DC office: 202-224-6342 Tedd Budd Call Raleigh office: 984-349-5061 Call DC office: 202-224-3154 Suggested language for your message: “I am a friend of the Johnson family and I am deeply concerned about the health of Gabriel Johnson. Gabriel is a resident of Cary, NC. He is currently in the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. He was arrested by ICE on July 15 and unexpectedly taken from his home in Cary. While in ICE detention in Texas he suffered a stroke and is in need of urgent medical attention. Please investigate this matter and get back to me ASAP.” |
| Support the Dream and Promise Act |
| Since 2012, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) has provided access to work authorization and protection from deportation for individuals who were brought to the US as children. The initiative has provided critical protections for hundreds of thousands of its beneficiaries while receiving overwhelming public support. However, since 2025, the administration has detained and deported over 260 DACA recipients, in addition to pursuing several strategies to dismantle the long-standing policy through the federal courts. A recently introduced bill, the Dream and Promise Act, would protect Dreamers and ensure the continuation of DACA. More information is can be found here. WIIN member Ann Robertson notes that the bill has been supported by Representatives Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee, and Alma Adams and suggests that people contact Congressman Don Davis to urge him to also support the bill. |