Security camera captures ICE detainment at North Charleston home

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — A ring camera captured a scary moment for one North Charleston family Wednesday morning.

Several federal immigration officers detained their loved one, Franklin Arce, in their front yard while he was heading out the door to work. At least four officers are seen on the security camera footage.

“Right when he jumped, got off the van, he put his hands up and that’s when they all came out, pointed the guns at him and was speaking to him in a very violent way,” said Celeste Hernandez, Arce’s long-time partner. “They just grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him down.”

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The footage shows Arce putting his hands up as officers yell, “show me your f—ing hands.” He’s seemingly not resisting as he’s thrown on the ground.

Hernandez was also captured on camera running outside to make sure her significant other was okay.

One of the armed officers shoves Hernandez multiple times, yelling at her to “get the f—away” from him. He’s also seen pointing his gun at her, pushing her back inside the home and then slamming the door.

During all of this, Arce’s 16-year-old son Damian was watching from their window.

“He dragged him [Arce], pushed my stepmother, and she was unarmed. There’s no point of using force if they didn’t have anything to be threatened with,” the teen said. “It was just scary; my sister was in a room watching too traumatizing.”

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The family claims officers never showed proof of a warrant and refused to give their names and badge numbers.

“It’s not right with the way they treat us, our type of race,” Hernandez said. “It’s a shame because we’re no different.”

Many questions regarding the reason for detainment are still going unanswered, while Arce sits in custody in a federal detention center in Georgia.

Hernandez finally heard from him Thursday morning.

“They didn’t even have a warrant, that’s why they took me to the truck, because they didn’t even have a warrant,” Arce told her over the phone from the detention center.

Arce has been working toward legal citizenship with an upcoming court hearing scheduled for December, according to Hernandez.

“He wanted to do it the right way because he’s a family man. He cares for his children. His children are his priority,” she told News 4.

The father of four grew up in South Carolina and now owns a North Charleston construction company. Arce’s family is currently working with lawyers to fight the detainment.

Hernandez said he has an attorney and they’re hoping to secure bond so he can be released.

“Being deported it’s sad for him because he is just a hardworking person. He doesn’t deserve that,” she said. “We’re trying to be strong and fight for this because we all deserve justice.”

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Arce’s teenage son hopes their efforts to speak out will bring change.

“I hope this helps other people, not just us, but other people in general,” Damian Arce said.

News 4 has reached out to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) but has not heard back.

Officials with both the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and the North Charleston Police Department said they weren’t aware of the detainment.