WRAL: Federal Immigration Agents Plan Raleigh Operations as early as Tuesday (November 18th), Mayor Says
Federal immigration agents are on the ground in Raleigh and plan to conduct operations in the area as soon as Tuesday, according to Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell.
Federal immigration agents are on the ground in Raleigh and plan to conduct operations in the area as soon as Tuesday, according to Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell.
Cowell told WRAL News that agents are “already in Raleigh and will be active tomorrow.” The move comes as Border Patrol agents are conducting operations in Charlotte, about 170 miles away.
"We don't know how many law enforcement officers are here," Cowell said in a phone interview with WRAL News. "We don't know how long they're going to stay.
"But, I mean, my sense is that they believe that there are ... folks [who] are here [who] have committed crimes and are in the country illegally, and they will probably going to parts of town where they feel like they can intercept those individuals."
Cowell said her goal is to keep people safe.
"We didn't ask for this presence," Cowell said. "We feel like the Raleigh police are doing a great job here locally."
Cowell noted that Raleigh's violent crime is down 2% and property crime is down 16% from a year ago.
The Department of Homeland Security last weekend arrested more than 130 immigrants in the Charlotte area who are believed to be in the U.S. illegally, the department said. The department sent agents to Charlotte despite objections from city officials, who claim the deployment is unnecessary.
Likewise, Cowell said city officials didn’t request help from federal immigration agents and aren’t a part of their operations. Federal agents have not informed Raleigh officials who they are targeting or when they expect to complete their operations, Cowell said.
“The police will be doing normal patrols out in the community,” Cowell said. “The biggest message here is that we know some people will be concerned. Some will feel threatened. They can call the police if needed.”
The National Immigrant Justice Center published a list of things people can do to protect themselves and defend their rights if approached by an immigration agent. It includes:
Create a safety plan: Identify emergency contacts and memorize their phone numbers. Protect your child's school or day care with an emergency contact to pick up your child. Provide authorization in writing for your emergency contact to make medical and legal decisions for your child.
Defend your rights: All people in the United States have constitutional protections, including the right to remain silent when questioned or arrested by immigration officers.
Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe provided WRAL News a statement.
"The Wake County Sheriff’s Office has not received any official notification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection," Rowe wrote. "However, if any operation or activity should occur, I kindly ask all residents to refrain from engaging or confronting Border Control personnel and allow them to carry out their official duties.
"The safety and well-being of our community remains the primary concern of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and we strive to avoid circumstances that may lead to injuries or unnecessary arrests."
NC lawmakers, UNC professor react to immigration agents coming to Raleigh
Gov. Josh Stein provided a statement to WRAL News, saying his office is aware of the reports about Border Patrol bringing its operation to Raleigh.
"I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church, or putting up Christmas decorations," Stein said. "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."
NCGOP spokesman Matt Mercer also provided a statement.
“If these reports are accurate, it’s a clear sign of the failures enabled by former Gov. Roy Cooper and radical Democrats will finally be taken seriously," Mercer wrote. "Cooper on three occasions vetoed bills to require local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE detainers.
"President [Donald] Trump promised voters his administration would remove violent illegal criminals from our country and he is following through and enforcing the law."
In November 2024 when Cooper was still governor, North Carolina lawmakers voted to override the veto of House Bill 10. It requires sheriffs to work with federal immigration officials to detain people who are in the U.S. illegally in some circumstances.
Under the law, county sheriffs need to hold in detention anyone who is in the U.S. illegally, if federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests it. Most North Carolina sheriffs already did this, but some — including those in Wake, Durham and Orange counties — have argued it’s unconstitutional to hold someone once they’ve made bail.
