A man arrested after leaving the Durham Sanctuary to meet with immigration officers

MORRISVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) –

More than 20 people were arrested during a protest in support of Samuel Oliver-Bruno, an undocumented immigrant who had been arrested by ICE when he was appointed to the immigration office in Morrisville on Friday.

According to supporters, Oliver-Bruno, a 47-year-old Mexican, went to the immigration office on Friday morning for an appointment in the field of biometrics and was arrested.

According to a press release issued by Alerta Migratoria, the USCIS has asked Oliver-Bruno to appear in person to provide his fingerprints, a necessary step in his deferred deportation application, an advocacy organization for immigrants in Carolina. North.

"In plain clothes CIE officials surrounded Samuel and arrested him," the statement said. "In plainclothes plainclothes plainclothes forced Samuel to ride in a van at the back of the office, where supporters waiting outside the office rushed to block the vehicle. "

The protesters blocked Oliver-Bruno's vehicle and refused to move after the police ordered them to leave.

The Morrisville police said they attempted to communicate a peaceful resolution to identified leaders of the group. After about 30 minutes, the agents gave the order to disperse, otherwise the crowd would be stopped.

Arrests then took place, the crowd having refused to move.

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Oliver-Bruno lived in the basement of the CityWell United Methodist Church in Durham, considered a sanctuary, for 11 months.

"His wife is very, very, very sick," said Viridiana Martinez, of Alerta Migratoria NC. "He was coming because his wife was undergoing open heart surgery."

Oliver-Bruno's son, Daniel Oliver-Perez, aged 19, was also arrested and faces charges of assaulting a government official.

Oliver-Perez was trying to prevent the police from taking his father, told ABC11 witnesses.

ICE announced that Oliver-Bruno would be taken to a detention center.

"Mr. Oliver-Bruno is a convicted felon who has benefited from all the judicial procedures provided for by federal law, has no pending appeals and has no legal basis to stay in the United States" ICE said in a statement. Mr. Oliver-Bruno was first arrested by the US Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas in May 2014 while he was attempting to illegally enter the United States using documents. fraudulent identity. "

Oliver-Bruno does not have any other criminal background, said a spokesman for ICE.

The protesters went to an ICE office and Cary and Wake County Detention Center in Raleigh to show their support for Oliver-Bruno and those arrested.

The Morrisville officers did not participate in Oliver-Bruno's active arrest.