Executive Summary
- ICE enforcement operations, which resulted in over 100 arrests in Charlotte, have reportedly expanded toward Raleigh, causing concern in North Carolina’s Triad region.
- Governor Josh Stein has criticized federal agencies for a lack of communication regarding the purpose and duration of the operations.
- Law enforcement leaders in several Triad counties, including Forsyth, have stated they are not participating in the federal immigration enforcement actions.
North Carolina officials and community leaders are responding to public concern following a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that began in Charlotte and have reportedly moved toward the Research Triangle. The federal enforcement actions have prompted calls for clarity from state and local authorities, including those in the Triad region who are monitoring the situation.
Over the weekend, Border Patrol officials confirmed that a targeted operation led to more than 100 arrests in the Charlotte area. Since then, reported sightings of ICE agents in Raleigh have heightened anxiety across the state. Governor Josh Stein stated that federal authorities have provided little information about their objectives. “They haven’t sat down and explained to us why they’re here…how long they’re going to be here,” Stein said, urging federal agencies to focus on violent criminals rather than law-abiding residents.
In the Triad, law enforcement agencies are reassuring their communities. Officials in Randolph County, Alamance County, Mebane, and Greensboro confirmed they have had no contact from ICE and have not observed any related activity. In Forsyth County, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough stated his office is not participating in operations targeting non-criminal individuals. “If you are a law-abiding citizen, I’m not out there looking for you,” Kimbrough said during a press conference. “If you break the law—you should be concerned.”
The full scope of the recent operations, including the total number of individuals detained in the Raleigh area, remains unclear. Local law enforcement agencies across the Triad have committed to providing public updates as more information becomes available. It is important to note that all individuals arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.