RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Federal immigration agents have expanded their crackdown in North Carolina, reaching the Raleigh area, where anxiety spread in immigrant communities. This operation has already led to over 130 arrests since it commenced over the weekend in Charlotte, the state's largest city.
Mayor Janet Cowell of Raleigh reported confirmed sightings of Border Patrol officers in Wake County, which includes Raleigh, and neighboring Durham County. Despite the uncertainty regarding the scale and duration of the operation, Mayor Cowell urged residents to prioritize kindness and safety, encouraging them to report any feelings of unease to local police while advising peaceful protests.
Federal officials have claimed that this initiative aims to reduce crime; however, both Charlotte and Raleigh have witnessed a decline in crime rates recently. The officials have also criticized sanctuary policies in various jurisdictions that aim to limit cooperation between local authorities and immigration agents.
Anxiety Spreads Swiftly in Raleigh Suburb
There has been no official word on the extent of enforcement activities in the Raleigh area, yet fear has manifested prominently in Cary, a suburb with a significant immigrant population. Residents noted the presence of a black SUV with Texas license plates, leading to a tense situation where Border Patrol agents were recorded detaining workers at a construction site.
During a midday lull in Cary's normally bustling Chatham Square shopping center, most ethnic restaurants remained closed, and the parking lot of a nearby Indian grocery store was nearly empty. Esmeralda Angel, whose family operates a restaurant, stated they chose to shut down operations to avoid potential confrontations with federal agents, aware that this decision would financially hinder their business.
Congresswoman Calls Deployment ‘Profound Abuse of Power’
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, a Democrat representing Durham and parts of Raleigh, denounced the deployment of federal immigration agents as a "profound abuse of power." She highlighted it as a violation of civil rights, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the local immigrant community. The area's South Asian demographic has surged in recent decades, often drawn by the region’s booming technology sector.
Satish Garimella, mayor pro tempore of Morrisville, located approximately 15 miles from Raleigh, noted the panic resulting from the anticipated arrival of immigration agents, advising residents to carry identity documents in case of questioning.
Reflecting on the national political climate, North Carolina emerged as an unexpected target for immigration crackdowns, especially given its mixed political leadership. The states' Democratic mayors of Charlotte and Raleigh, alongside a Democrat governor, have refrained from deeply engaging in national political conflicts, despite a backdrop of increasing immigration-focused operations from the Trump administration in various U.S. cities.
State Drawn into National Debates
The situation in North Carolina relates to broader national debates surrounding crime and immigration. A notable case that has amplified focus on these issues was the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte train this summer by an individual with a lengthy criminal record. While the Trump administration emphasized the suspect's past, the Department of Homeland Security's scrutiny of North Carolina has been partially attributed to local sanctuary policies, even though many county jails had complied with federal detainer requests until recently.
Amid this climate, Matt Mercer from the North Carolina Republican Party stated that the arrival of immigration agents is a response to the failures of local Democratic leadership. The impact of these developments continues to unfold, revealing significant tensions and uncertainty within North Carolina's diverse communities.
