Federal immigration authorities are expanding their enforcement in North Carolina, with Border Patrol agents expected to arrive in Raleigh as soon as Tuesday, according to CBS News. The expansion comes after immigration agents made 130 arrests in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend.
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell told CBS News that she didn’t know how large the immigration operation would be or how long agents would be in the city. The Department of Homeland Security has not shared any details.
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Cowell’s comments
In a statement, Cowell noted that crime in Raleigh was lower this year compared to last year. She added that public safety was a priority for her and the city council.
While the Raleigh Police Department is not involved in immigration enforcement, she said, “we are committed to protecting our residents and to following the law. I can confirm that the Raleigh Police Department has not participated in any immigration planning activities.”
Governor responds
As rumors spread that immigration officials were heading to Raleigh, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein weighed in.
In a statement on X, Stein, a Democrat, asked officials not to target people “simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin, as you are doing in Charlotte.”
“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,” Stein said. “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.”
Immigration efforts in Charlotte
The expanded efforts in Raleigh come after the Trump administration made Charlotte its latest focus for immigration enforcement.
Residents reported encounters with immigration agents near churches, apartment complexes and stores, according to CBS News.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said since arriving in Charlotte, Border Patrol officers had arrested more than 130 individuals. She said all have broken federal immigration laws.
Customs and Border Protection said those arrested had criminal records related to gang membership, aggravated assault, shoplifting and other offenses, according to CBS News.
The Department of Homeland Security said it’s targeting the city due to its sanctuary policies.
Border Patrol’s authority
What’s different about the North Carolina immigration efforts is the absence of officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Instead, the federal agents who make arrests are with Border Patrol, which typically operates near U.S. and foreign borders.
Charlotte is about 170 miles from the nearest coastline, which is outside the Border Patrol 100-mile perimeter set by federal law.
That federal law, however, does not prohibit Border Patrol agents from operating outside the 100-mile limit. It just imposes restrictions on what those agents can do farther from a foreign border.
A Department of Homeland Security official confirmed to The New York Times that the agency’s authority is not confined to border regions.
Under federal law, when within the 100-mile perimeter, Border Patrol agents can board and search vehicles, aircraft and trains without a warrant. Those actions are not allowed outside the zone, however.
The law also states that Border Patrol can make warrantless arrests if it has reason to believe someone is in the country illegally, but only within 100 miles of the border. Outside that perimeter, agents can still make arrests for immigration violations, but they are more restricted in their ability to stop and search without a warrant.
