Protesters at legislature call to keep ICE out of NC
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Dozens of protesters gathered outside the North Carolina Legislative Building on Wednesday to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) practices, call for an end to the expansion of ICE detention facilities and offices, and remember people who have died in ICE detention or during ICE operations.
Organizers concluded the gathering by reading the names of 60 people from across the country who have died in ICE detention or in the course of ICE operations. The event came after the deaths of two people in Texas and Maine earlier this month.
Jessica Burroughs of The Workers Circle said the demonstration was intended to send a message to state and federal leaders.
"We are gathered here today to send a clear message to the Trump administration and state legislators: North Carolina opposes mass detention," Burroughs said.
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Sandra Lawson of Carolina Jews for Justice also addressed the crowd.
"Dignity is not earned by citizenship; it is not determined by where someone is born; it is not dependent on immigration status; it is inherent," Lawson said.
Demonstrators called on North Carolina lawmakers to oppose the expansion of ICE detention centers and offices and to prevent any from being established in the state. They also urged lawmakers not to cooperate with ICE agents in North Carolina.
"We will not stand for any ICE detention facilities in our state. We have a moral responsibility to resist this, and we will speak out for those unjustly trapped, raped inside these detention centers," Burroughs added.
ABC11 contacted legislative leaders from both parties for comment. In a statement, a spokesperson for House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said:
"Democrats' open-border policies and refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement created avoidable risks to public safety and left North Carolinians vulnerable. Thankfully, the General Assembly has enacted three measures strengthening local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It is simply common sense that law-enforcement agencies should work together to identify and remove individuals who are in this country illegally and commit crimes. Thanks to these efforts, dangerous offenders are being taken off our streets, and North Carolina communities are safer as a result."
Currently, ICE has several field offices in North Carolina but no long-term detention facilities in the state.
