Three people from India were detained today in Durham, North Carolina, allegedly by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The raid took place around 10:30 a.m. in a neighborhood on W. Delafield Ave., according to neighbors who witnessed it.
The Siembra NC organization, dedicated to the defense of immigrant rights, confirmed the arrests this afternoon at a press conference and in their social networks.
"When we say it's 'verified' (in reference to the incident), we mean that it's very important to reach out to the source of the affected family and have direct conversations with them to understand what happened. And that's what happened in this case," said Kelly Morales, Co-Director of Siembra NC, at the press conference.
Resource in North Carolina>>> Immigration Guide
Masked officers with guns: Neighbors recount arrests
Local resident Elisa Cullison was the one who alerted her neighbor, Emily Ingebretsen, about an unusual situation in the neighborhood. Both spoke at the press conference about their experience.
“I saw cars circling, stopping in front of houses I didn’t recognize,” Cullison said. Later, one of the vehicles stopped in front of her house, which made her feel uneasy. When contacted, Ingebretsen went to the scene to investigate.
Upon arrival, Ingebretsen said he observed several men being arrested by officers dressed in tactical gear, masks and carrying guns.
“I walked over and asked them what they were doing in the neighborhood. They told me they were conducting an 'investigation,' but when I saw a Customs and Border Protection badge, I realized it was a ICE raid“Ingebretsen explained.
Although the officers did not properly identify themselves, Ingebretsen said he documented the arrest of the men, some of whom were handcuffed and chained.
“I felt like those officers were acting outside the law and using intimidation tactics,” Ingebretsen said. “Which doesn’t seem right or legal.”
Related: What to do if ICE shows up at your workplace?
NC Sowing confirmed the arrests
Nikki Marin Baena, Co-Director of Siembra NC, said that these operations are designed to generate fear and destabilize communities.
“The goal is to create an atmosphere of panic and chaos, in the hope that people will self-deport,” Baena said.
Although authorities did not provide specific details about the arrests, Baena questioned whether ICE had the necessary appropriate court orders.
Related: February 2025 dates to attend free “Know Your Rights” workshops in North Carolina
Training for possible raids
La community response It was swift, with neighbors like Cullison and Ingebretsen taking action to document the situation.
“It is essential that the people know their rights"You should not open the door unless an officer has a court order with your name on it," Baena said.
Siembra NC has called on the community to participate in “ICE Watch” training, where residents are taught how to react to potential raids.
The next training sessions will be held on February 22 in Durham and February 27 in Greensboro.
If you see something suspicious in your neighborhood, you can report it by calling the Siembra NC line: 336-543-0353.
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