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North Carolina News You Can Use

Video: NC pastor says ICE took a community member and denied visitation

By Staff Reports, Dylan Rhoney

December 17, 2025

A NC pastor talks to Cardinal & Pine about ICE’s arrest of a Raleigh man who later suffered a medical emergency. ICE reportedly denied his family visitation afterward.

NC resident David Cardenas was detained by ICE this month in Charlotte at his annual check-in appointment with immigration officials. After being detained, Cardenas, who suffers from serious health issues, was taken to Atrium Healthcare in Pineville.

At the request of Cardenas’ wife, Rev. Joel Simpson tried to visit him, but says he was denied access by ICE and Atrium.

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“David is a strong Christian with strong faith, and his wife wanted clergy to come and be with him,” Simpson told Cardinal & Pine at a press conference outside of Atrium Health on Thursday.

At the press conference, it was announced that Cardenas would be allowed visitation, and would hopefully soon be released by ICE due to impending heart surgery. Cardenas has lived in Raleigh with his family since 2022 after escaping political persecution in his home country of Nicaragua.

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CATEGORIES: LOCAL VIDEO
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