Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell (D) on Monday said that federal immigration authorities are soon expected in North Carolina’s capital following targeted enforcement efforts in the city of Charlotte.
“I ask Raleigh to remember our values and maintain peace and respect through any upcoming challenges,” Cowell said in a statement on the matter, according to the Associated Press.
The Department of Homeland Security said more than 130 immigrants in the U.S. illegally have been detained in Charlotte, N.C., after Border Patrol arrived using unmarked cars to follow construction workers, gardeners and restaurant employees.
Charlotte has a racially diverse population of over 900,000, including more than 150,000 who are foreign-born, according to local officials.
“Our office is aware of reports that the Border Patrol is bringing its operation to Raleigh. Once again, I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church, or putting up Christmas decorations. Stop targeting people simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin, as you are doing in Charlotte,” Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said in statement on X, in response to the increase in federal forces throughout the state.
“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,” he added.
The Trump administration’s surge in mass deportation efforts has remained largely focused on Democratic-led states and cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Masked immigration agents have resorted to using measures of force and crowd control tactics to deter protestors or onlookers from recording operations.
“[T]he rights and constitutional protections of every person in Charlotte — regardless of immigration status — must be upheld. Our city has a long-standing commitment to fairness, dignity, and justice,” Mayor Vi Lyles (D) said Monday.
“I urge all agencies operating here to conduct their work with respect for those values. We also recognize the emotional and economic impact these operations can have on families, neighborhoods, and local businesses. Charlotte is a diverse, vibrant city, and when any part of our community feels threatened or destabilized, it affects us all.”