Immigrant rights group warns of another wave of ICE enforcement in central NC in coming days

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Immigrant groups in the Triangle are raising concerns over another wave of ICE enforcement in the area. It all comes after hundreds were arrested around the state in the so called "Operation Charlotte's Web".

The Department of Homeland Security tells ABC11, "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations."

But the immigrant rights group Siembra NC says they are seeing similar charter flight bookings as we saw when ICE was in North Carolina, and agents could be in the Triangle by Monday.

With immigration enforcement around the Triangle over the past few weeks, Siembra NC says they are still noticing fear among many in the community.

"We've also experienced from our members a lot of concern about is it safe enough to go to work," says Nikki Marin Baena.

The group is now warning of a potential new round of enforcement in the Triangle - They also explained the most common places people were detained in North Carolina: on job sites, at court hearings, and being pulled over while driving.

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"We've seen particularly in Mecklenburg County, but in other parts of the state as well, early morning traffic stops where ice pulls people over directly. Sometimes they're looking for someone specific who is driving. Sometimes it appears that they're pulling over people who are driving kind of construction worker vans," Baena says.

They also say it impacts everyone regardless of immigration status, as a culture of fear leads businesses to shut their doors if workers don't feel safe on the job.

"How much money has it cost the state of North Carolina in business closure, in completely stalled construction projects, how long will it take for those projects to pick back up given that people are afraid to leave their houses even once the operations slow down," Baena says.

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