There was a prayer vigil Thursday night at a church in Cary to support a man detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Gabri Johnson organized the vigil at Christ the King Lutheran Church for her father, 55-year-old Gabriel Johnson, who she said is hospitalized after suffering a stroke while in ICE custody.
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Gabriel Johnson, who was born in Liberia, is a pastor who previously served at Elm Grove Church of Christ in Pikeville and Patricia Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh.
Gabri Johnson said ICE is blocking her father from entering the rehabilitation care he needs to relearn how to walk.
“What we've been hearing through the phone calls over the past few weeks is my father's mental health is going up and down,” said Gabri Johnson. “He's getting a little bit of occupational therapy every now and then, but was restrained to his hospital bed for the first two weeks.”
WRAL reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement today. A spokesperson provided us with a statement that reads in part:
"ICE categorically rejects the allegation that Johnson is being denied medical care. Johnson was transported to the Texas Health Harris Hospital on July 30 after exhibiting stroke-like symptoms and remains under the care of licensed medical professionals.
Any suggestion that ICE is preventing Johnson from receiving necessary treatment is false. ICE does not make clinical decisions, direct treatment, or interfere with the medical judgement of doctors, nurses or hospital staff. Johnson is being treated in a civilian hospital by medical professionals who are responsible for his care. Claims that he is not receiving appropriate treatment disregard the work of the physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel providing care in accordance with their professional judgement."
ICE said Gabriel Johnson will remain in their custody pending removal from the United States.