As the first federal immigration agents arrived in Durham to begin an enforcement effort, elected officials joined community and religious leaders to declare that the federal agents were not welcome.
The highly publicized arrival of the federal agents caused ripple effects throughout Durham. Many parents kept their children home from school; Reddit quickly filled with reports and videos about sightings of the agents; some posts on Reddit and neighborhood listservs gave advice about how to document the work of the agents. One even suggested that stores refuse to sell them drinks and snacks.
The size of the initial effort was unclear Tuesday night. Indy Week reported that at least three people were detained by federal officers in Durham.
At a news conference Tuesday evening, officials said they would not be intimidated by the federal agents.
“In Durham, we will not live in fear,” said Durham School Board Member Natalie Beyer. “We will not let outsiders divide us.”
As officials spoke, other community leaders stood behind them holding a sign that read, “Estamos Con Ustedes” which means “We Are With You All.”
The city’s Democratic officials emphasized they opposed the presence of the federal agents.“They are not welcome here,” said State Sen. Sophia Chitlik. “I’m very proud of Durham for not cooperating with ICE.”
She urged Durhamites to “stay calm, do not confront ICE agents directly,” said Chitlik. If confronted, she advises accountability. “Ask agents if they have warrants because if they don’t they are breaking the law.”
The Department of Homeland Security did not identify the agencies involved. Early photos and videos showed agents from Customs and Border Protection. The immigration enforcement began operations on Saturday in Charlotte and moved into the Triangle on Tuesday.
School officials acknowledged a higher than normal absentee rate on Tuesday but said they understood that some parents felt it was necessary to keep students home.
“We know students have a right to an education no matter what your status is,” said Bettina Umstead, Chair of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education. “Families need to do what’s in their best interest,” Umstead said at the news conference. “We are making sure that absences aren’t counted negatively towards students.”
The Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency that oversees immigration enforcement, had not released a statement about the federal presence in the Triangle. On Tuesday night, the latest statement covered their operations in Charlotte, which they’ve called Operation Charlotte’s Web.
“Durham will not be cowed, we will always stand up and defend our neighbors,” said City Councilwoman Javiera Caballero. “We’ve done it before, we will do it again.”
Photo at top: At a news conference, Durham officials spoke out against the federal immigration enforcement action. Photo by Reece MacKinney – The 9th Street Journal
Reece MacKinney
