In the past week, many events have taken place in North Carolina pertaining to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more widely known as ICE, is a federal law enforcement agency that operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While ICE has recently ramped up its efforts, it has been in operation since 2003 after being merged with the United States Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service. Their main mission is to promote and execute national security and public safety. They primarily conduct criminal investigations and handle immigration enforcement.
On November 15th, DHS launched an operation they called “Operation Charlotte’s Web”. This initiative took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, to target immigrants with prior criminal offenses. The following day, ICE agents arrested upwards of 81 people in the Charlotte area. This prompted protests on the 15th and 16th, during which protestors confronted federal agents in Charlotte. Raleigh natives also held a rally to protest the operations in Charlotte.
The operation then went statewide on the 17th, into Wake and Durham counties. It was reported that at least 130 arrests were made in 48 hours once ICE had started a statewide operation. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein released an official statement, in which he said, “Our office is aware of reports that the Border Patrol is bringing its operation to Raleigh. Once again, I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church, or putting up Christmas decorations. Stop targeting people simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin, as you are doing in Charlotte. To the people of Raleigh: remain peaceful, and if you see something wrong, record it and report it to local law enforcement. Let’s keep each other safe.”
After the chaos that unfolded on the 17th, peaceful protests were held across the state. In Raleigh, protestors gathered in Moore Square, and from there they marched through downtown. Many were chanting things such as “No ICE in our state,” which became a main slogan of the day. In downtown Asheville, an “ICE out” protest also took place.
Over the following days on the 18th and 19th, ICE carried out 250 arrests statewide. During this time, high schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area reported major absences due to fear being spread through immigrant communities. Monday, over 30,399 students were absent, which decreased to 25,697 the next day. The same phenomenon occurred in Wake County Public Schools, where on Tuesday, 19,471 absences were recorded. This came after many local officials in the Triangle reported federal agent sightings.
Protests continued over these two days, as Moore Square was again occupied after federal agents were confirmed to be in Wake and Durham County Schools. On the 19th, similar protests occurred as hundreds marched in Cary and Durham, as the CBP returned to Charlotte after inciting fear in demonstrations in the Triangle.
By the 20th, DHS reported that 370 arrests had been made in Charlotte and its surrounding areas alone since the beginning of Charlotte’s Web. In addition, they stated that the operation was still ongoing, contradicting officials in Mecklenburg County. On the 21st, walkouts were held by hundreds of high school and college students in the Triangle, including one at Millbrook High School. Many of these protestors met in downtown Durham for a further demonstration. Along with this, over 30,000 students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools had a “sickout” to show their support in ICE’s departure from our state.
