Advocates concerned as immigration operations set to expand across NC

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- There are feelings of anxiousness among some Latinos as U.S. immigration agents arrested nearly 150 people in Charlotte during the weekend. Activists said they were concerned that the Department of Homeland Security operations that started in North Carolina's largest city could expand across the Tar Heel State.

"The damage is done in all 100 counties of North Carolina. I live in Raleigh. I have folks in Sanford, Chatham County, and Wilson. We're talking about families who are not leaving their homes and children who are not going to school," said Iliana Santillan with Brava NC. "We have elderly folks who are not getting medical help they need because they are afraid,"

On Monday evening, Sen. Graig Meyer, a Democrat who represents Caswell, Person, and Orange counties, told ABC11 that federal agents will be in Raleigh as early as Tuesday this week.

Grassroots advocacy organizations such as Brava NC are partnering up, as they believe the effects of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Charlotte are already being felt across the state.

Santillan recommended that people who are concerned seek legal advice.

"I'm a naturalized citizen myself, and I have considered carrying my passport with me as a precautionary measure because right now we know they have questioned and harassed American citizens. So, nobody is really safe," she said.

This comes as the DHS launched Operation Charlotte's Web, an effort aimed at targeting people with criminal records who are in the country illegally. DHS said it is surging law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.

"We're seeing an increase in street stops and workplace stops," said Eisha Jain, the Henry P. Brandis Distinguished Professor of Law at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Jain said these efforts are similar to those in Chicago and Los Angeles. Though immigration enforcement efforts are in Charlotte now, she wouldn't rule out ICE's presence in other parts of the state, such as the Triangle, later.

"In terms of how areas are chosen, I think there's a lot of discretion on the part of the government in terms of where to concentrate immigration enforcement actions," she said.

Jaine told ABC11 that there's a lot of uncertainty as to why people are stopped and what happens during that interaction.

"One of the most important rights I think all people have, citizens and noncitizens alike, is the right to be left alone by the government when they're walking down the street. That's an important right. The government is not supposed to arrest you without probable cause," she said.