This weekend the U.S. Border Patrol descended on Charlotte with masked agents in paramilitary gear reportedly taking more than 130 of our immigrant neighbors from places like restaurants, grocery stores, Home Depot parking lots, and an east Charlotte church. [1] Agents expanded into Raleigh, Wake County, and surrounding parts of the Triangle beginning Tuesday morning, spreading fear with them amongst families and communities. [2]

Right now, many families in our state are having to prepare for the unthinkable, making contingency plans with relatives and friends to care for their children in case they’re suddenly torn away from their homes. The emotional toll is immense, especially for children who now fear the possibility of immigration raids at school — a place that should feel secure and welcoming. More than 20,000 students were absent from Charlotte/ Mecklenburg schools in response to operations in the city. [3]  Even non-immigrant children are feeling the effects of this fear.

Now is the time to come together across races, locations, and backgrounds to support one another. By joining forces, we can create a brighter future for our children, strengthen our families and communities, and foster a thriving economy for our state.

Below are resources from trusted partners if you and your family are directly impacted or if you want to help our neighbors and communities be safe.

Share concerns about Customs and Border Patrol/ ICE conduct and information about what you are seeing in your community by calling your local Community Defense Hotlines at the numbers below. For more information on what to expect when you call the hotlines, visit Siembra NC La Migra Hotline.

For Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, call Carolina Migrant Network Hotline at 704-740-7737

For Raleigh/ Wake County, call RadarSafe Hotline at 1-800-559-8714

For Durham County, RDU, and other parts of NC, call Siembra NC Hotline at 336-543-0353 

If a loved one has been detained, use this guide to act fast, stay informed, and locate and protect your loved one.   

You can search for detained loved ones using the ICE Online Detainee Locator System. It can take up to 24 hours to locate people. 

Resource guide from the NC Immigrant Rights Collective: This guide includes resources for keeping yourself and your community safe during encounters with law enforcement, resources for employers and “sensitive locations” (e.g. schools, places of worship, hospitals) on preparing for interactions with ICE, family planning guides, and more.  

Charlotte Community Resource Guide: This Charlotte-specific guide includes know your rights materials, resources for businesses, churches, and schools, grocery resources, volunteer opportunities for allies, and more. 

Trump and Republicans in Congress have made extreme cuts to Medicaid, the ACA, SNAP, and public education in order to pay for separating families, human rights abuses, and terrifying hardworking immigrants in our state - people essential to our care workforce, our economy and our future.

When immigrant families are targeted, the harm doesn’t stop with them,  it ripples outward, shattering communities, eroding trust, destabilizing schools, undermining health care and the care workforce, and weakening our economy. 

These are heartbreaking, infuriating times, but we will come together for a NC where all families can thrive.

P.S. Sign on to our petition to tell Congress to pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act – this bill would make it illegal for immigration officials to target places like schools, hospitals, and places of worship—ensuring these spaces are safe for children and families. Add your name now!

[1] “Border Patrol arrests over 130 in 2 days in Charlotte, Homeland Security says,” Charlotte Observer, November 17, 2025.   

[2] “Immigration agents expected in Raleigh on Tuesday, mayor says. Here’s what we know,” News & Observer, November 17, 2025. 

[3] “Immigration operation in Raleigh: Latest impacts and what leaders are saying,” CBS17, November 18, 2025.