Amnesty International held a Know Your Rights event on Dec. 1 in the media center to teach people what to do if ICE shows up. ICE was asked to come to Charlotte by politicians in operation “Charlotte’s Web.” This resulted in 250 arrests according to CNN while leaving many communities in fear. ICE has also been deployed to New Orleans in operation “Swamp Sweep” and “Catahoula Crunch.” ICE aims to arrest 5,000 people there according to WDSU, a local news station in New Orleans. They also have 50 additional agents who have been deployed to stay in Raleigh for the month of December.
Amnesty International went over what to do if ICE comes to your door, how you can help neighbors, and the rights to remain silent, record evidence and ask for a lawyer. President Ipsitha Karnam explained that the Supreme Court has made it easier for ICE agents to arrest people. She gave hope saying students should not worry because even if someone is detained, it doesn’t mean they will be deported.
Junior Caroline Kruger believed that learning your rights and protesting is necessary.
Kruger said, “Due process is very important. It’s your right to a court. To my knowledge, ICE is not doing that. I think what they do is legally defined as kidnapping.”
The information is not black and white about ICE. Some people, like Kruger, believe that ICE is being too aggressive. However, others believe that it is not doing enough against illegal immigrants. The facts are also not clear because rumors are spread when people are scared.
ESL teacher Shelby Cole said, “Wake County did send out an email saying by law they would give an education to everyone, immigrant or not.”
Cole received an email from Wake County explaining that all children have the right to an education and they will continue to educate kids. Wake County Schools does not ask or record information about immigrant status. Cole explained that since she doesn’t ask if her students are documented or not, ICE will not be able to question her too much because she doesn’t have the correct information.
“No one here at school knows if they are documented or not. I don’t ask and my students don’t tell unless they feel comfortable. I feel like ignorance is bliss. I have some students who have identified themselves with the courts that have the papers with them,” said Cole.
People have protested in the Raleigh-Durham area against the allegations that ICE officers arrested citizens and used unnecessary violence. People are also concerned about the conditions of immigration facilities.
Kruger said, “I don’t know these people, but I still feel bad. These people are parents, these are daughters, these are sons, these are uncles, these are aunts. I know I’d feel sad if my mom got taken away from me.”
Immigration rights groups have warned people of possible ICE operations in the Triangle Area according to Siembra NC. Many people report that ICE uses controversial and aggressive tactics to take people into custody. It led to many families being scared whether they were naturalized citizens, legal immigrants, or illegal.
