BURLINGTON, N.C. — A group that fights to protect immigrant rights, Siembra NC, says the Triad has been hit the 'hardest it's ever been hit' by ICE raids in the last four days.
On Friday, Siembra NC said at least 31 men had been detained in the Triad. The group says it has confirmed:
- 5 detained in Greensboro on February 5
- 8 detained in Burlington on February 6
- 8 detained in Asheboro and Randleman on February 7
- 9 detained in Winston-Salem on February 8
Members of Siembra NC protested the ICE raids last night outside a Holiday Inn Express in Burlington. The group says a bus that was transporting ICE detainees was parked in the hotel's parking lot, and made frequent trips to the Alamance County Jail.
In one mobile home park off of N. Church Street in Burlington, three people were detained according to Siembra. People in that community are on edge.
"The people {are} very scared," Michy Bella said. "My daughter says 'mommy, mommy, you OK?' And I say, "Yeah, I'm OK, no problem," she says, 'Mommy but the people coming, ICE coming maybe even for you.'"
An ICE spokesperson did confirm a presence in both Guilford and Alamance Counties Tuesday and Wednesday. But they could not confirm the number of arrests made, because the agency doesn't keep track of those numbers on a daily or even weekly basis.
ICE sent WFMY News 2 the following statement:
As to reports of ICE officers conducting immigration enforcement in North Carolina, ICE conducts targeted immigration arrests everyday as part of its ongoing mission to enforce federal immigration law. ICE has multiple offices in North Carolina, to include Greensboro, and the presence of ICE officers locally is not new. As to how ICE conducts enforcement -- ICE does not conduct any type of random or indiscriminate enforcement; the agency focuses first and foremost on criminal offenders and other public safety threats.
The ICE spokesperson, Bryan Cox, said ICE agents always have a target list in hand. Meaning, ICE agents go to specific places, looking for specific persons.
Siembra NC says some volunteers are going door-to-door to warn people.