Additional Coverage:
- Immigration arrests reported in Raleigh-Durham area, though large-scale operation hasn’t materialized (nbcnews.com)
Immigration Enforcement Activity Sparks Concern and Confusion in Raleigh-Durham
RALEIGH, N.C. – A visible presence of uniformed officers, identified by local officials and advocacy groups as federal immigration agents, caused a stir in the Raleigh-Durham area on Tuesday. While an escalated operation mirroring the recent activities in Charlotte did not appear to fully materialize, multiple confirmed sightings and detentions have fueled community concern and conflicting reports.
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell had indicated late Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials were already in Raleigh. However, a senior administration official told NBC News on Tuesday that CBP did not have immediate plans for an operation in Raleigh.
The official also stated that Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol commander overseeing the Charlotte operation, would remain there.
When asked about these discrepancies, Mayor Cowell’s spokeswoman referred to the Mayor’s comments at a Raleigh City Council meeting on Tuesday.
“Our law enforcement partners have confirmed that Border Patrol is in Wake County – there have been several confirmed sightings – and Durham County,” Cowell stated, reminding residents to prioritize safety, report any illegal activity, protest peacefully, and “just be kind to your neighbors today.” Wake County encompasses Raleigh.
These developments follow several days of intensified immigration enforcement in Charlotte, an operation dubbed “Charlotte’s Web,” which had resulted in 207 arrests as of Monday night, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Charlotte operation has drawn criticism from residents and advocacy groups, who allege heavy-handed tactics and racial profiling, leading to widespread fear and business closures.
DHS has yet to respond to inquiries regarding Border Patrol’s presence in Raleigh or videos shared by an immigrant advocacy group.
Siembra NC, an immigrant advocacy organization, posted videos and photos purportedly showing Border Patrol arrests in Cary, Raleigh, and Durham. The agents in these visuals are seen wearing masks, green uniforms, and vests, with at least one photo clearly displaying a U.S. Border Patrol patch.
Siembra NC reported confirmed detentions of landscaping workers in Raleigh, construction workers at the Lightbridge Academy in Cary, individuals walking on a sidewalk in Raleigh, and others at apartment complexes.
In Durham, Elisha Muhammad, a staff member at All My Children day care, recounted a temporary facility lockdown due to the presence of immigration officers outside. “This is not fair that our innocent kids and parents suddenly have to hide, this shouldn’t be this way,” she said in a statement released by Siembra.
Durham County Board of Commissioners Chair Nida Allam informed NBC News that she witnessed the detention of three men behind a business. Allam, a naturalized citizen, stated that the officers, whom she believed to be Border Patrol agents, were already placing the individuals in cars when she arrived. She said when she inquired about a warrant, she was told none was needed, and that the men were being detained for being in the country illegally and being flight risks.
Allam described feeling nervous as she recorded video of the incident, which she later posted on social media. “I’m a naturalized citizen.
I was shaking to see Border Patrol. … It’s terrorizing all our communities,” she expressed.
Faith and community leaders, alongside elected officials, condemned the enforcement activities at a news conference late Tuesday, commending residents who participated in virtual training to become observers and documenters of arrests.
In Charlotte, students staged a school-wide walkout on Tuesday, with some holding signs and others dressed in black, as reported by NBC affiliate WCNC. Student absenteeism was notably high on Monday as CBP agents continued arrests across the city.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools reported an unofficial count of 30,399 student absences on Monday, representing approximately 21% of the district’s 141,166-student population. This contrasts sharply with the average three-year absence rate of 7.85%, according to WFAE public radio.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein reiterated his call on Monday for federal officers to “target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street going to church or putting up Christmas decorations.” The Democratic governor urged Raleigh residents to remain peaceful and to record and report any perceived wrongdoing to local law enforcement.
“Stop targeting people simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin as you are doing in Charlotte,” Stein asserted.
DHS has stated that all individuals arrested in Charlotte had violated immigration laws, with some possessing serious criminal records, including gang membership, aggravated assault, possession of dangerous weapons, felony larceny, assault, and drunk driving.
“We will not stop enforcing the laws of our nation until every criminal illegal alien is arrested and removed from our country,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
During the Charlotte operations, agents reportedly smashed the car window of U.S. citizen Willy Aceituno, who had not opened his door. Aceituno told Noticias Telemundo that he had previously shown proof of citizenship to a separate group of immigration agents minutes before the window incident. DHS, via social media, accused Aceituno of “trying to distract officers so others could evade the law.”
Aceituno and advocacy groups contend that the arrests and questioning of Charlotte residents’ immigration statuses appear to be based on skin color and race. Aceituno recounted being the only Hispanic individual in a group asked to show identification, despite the presence of other individuals of various backgrounds.
NBC News has reached out to DHS for comment regarding allegations of racial profiling and complaints about federal agents’ use of force.