NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – A North Charleston family is speaking out after federal immigration officers detained a local father, Franklin Arce, outside his home in a dramatic and forceful arrest that was caught on a Ring doorbell camera.
The incident happened Wednesday morning as Arce was heading out for work. The video shows at least four armed officers approaching him in the front yard, yelling and holding him at gunpoint before forcing him to the ground.
“They Pointed Guns and Slammed the Door”
According to Celeste Hernandez, Arce’s long-time partner, the officers didn’t explain why they were there or show a warrant. She said Arce immediately put his hands up, yet they treated him as a threat.
“Right when he jumped out of the van, he put his hands up. That’s when they all came out, pointed guns at him, and spoke violently,” she said.
The footage also shows Hernandez running outside to check on him. An officer is seen shoving her multiple times, shouting and pointing a gun at her, before pushing her back into the house and slamming the door shut.
Inside the home, Arce’s children witnessed the frightening scene, including his 16-year-old son, Damian, who watched from the window.
“It was just scary,” Damian said. “He dragged my dad and pushed my stepmother, and she didn’t even have a weapon. There was no need for that much force.”
Family: No Warrant, No Names, No Answers
Hernandez and the family say the officers never showed a warrant, refused to give their names or badge numbers, and left them shocked and scared.
“It’s not right. We’re treated differently because of our race,” Hernandez said. “We’re no different than anyone else.”
On Thursday morning, Arce called Hernandez from a federal detention center in Georgia. He told her that the officers didn’t even have a warrant when they took him into custody.
“That’s why they took me straight to the truck – because they didn’t have a warrant,” Arce told her.
Arce Was Working Toward Legal Citizenship
According to his family, Franklin Arce is a father of four who grew up in South Carolina and owns a construction company in North Charleston. He had been working toward legal citizenship and had a court hearing scheduled for December.
“He wanted to do everything the right way,” Hernandez said. “He cares for his children. He doesn’t deserve this.”
The family has hired an attorney and is working to get Arce released on bond.
A Plea for Justice and Change
The family hopes that by speaking out, they can raise awareness and prevent others from going through similar experiences.
“Being deported would break him,” said Hernandez. “He’s a hardworking person. We just want justice.”
Arce’s teenage son Damian added:
“I hope this helps not just our family, but others too.”
The arrest of Franklin Arce has raised serious questions about how immigration raids are conducted. With no warrant shown and excessive force used, the family is calling for answers, justice, and change. As Arce remains in detention, his loved ones are fighting to bring him home — and to shine a light on what they call an unfair and traumatizing experience.
