Last week, Boone became one of the epicenters of the fear that swept through the western North Carolina.
The confirmation that federal agents were staying in hotels in the city intensified concerns among Latino families, at a time marked by violent arrests of the Border Patrol in Charlotte and by a widespread climate of fear in the community.
Amid that tension, the mayor-elect, Dalton George, spoke with Enlace Latino NC to reconstruct what happened, describe the community's reaction, and explain how he plans to address the concerns that affect both Latino families and the rest of the population.
George came to Boone as a student at Appalachian State University, grew up in Midway in a working-class family, and was first elected to public office at age 22. Today, at 26, he is about to become the youngest mayor in North Carolina.
ELNC: What motivated you to start participating in politics and to run as a candidate?
Dalton George: I didn't grow up in a politically active family. It was mostly just my dad and me, and for us, the idea was that things just "happen to you." Over time, I started reading about social movements—the civil rights movement, the labor movements—and that showed me that collective action could change lives. I volunteered for campaigns and felt like I could contribute.
En Appalachian State I organized a tenants' rights group, presented proposals to the city council, and we got some policies approved. The people I worked with encouraged me to run for office. I never thought about holding elected office, but it's been very rewarding trying to build a healthier community.
ELNC: What are your priorities for when you take office as mayor of Boone?
DG: Housing is an urgent issue. El The cost is extremely high and it affects practically everyone: working families, students, immigrants. It's not just about building more homes, but about protecting tenants in a market that doesn't always favor them.
I also want to continue leading on environmental issues: clean water, stream restoration, sustainable infrastructure, and biodiversity. And a central focus for me is communication with the community. Many people reject politics because of what they see in the federal government, and I want to show them that local government is different: someone who shares Boone with them and has as much at stake as any resident.
ELNC: Your experience combines environmental conservation and advocacy affordable housing. After Helene, what is your view on the relationship between protecting rivers and limiting development? Is there an urgent need for more housing in Boone?
DG: They are completely linked. The waterways were severely affected by runoff, pollution, and debris moved by HeleneThis affects water quality. Being strategic about where we grow and allowing development near streams protects people from future flooding.
The stream restoration projects we've done worked very well during Helene: they helped contain the water and prevent damage. When you let waterways return to their natural course, you reduce flooding and erosion. There's also damage to ecosystems and wildlife. We need to think about the recovery of human communities and wildlife in the Appalachians.
Boone and the Latino community
Although Boone is a small, predominantly white town, the Latino community represents 9,3% of its population, according to the 2020 Census, and is the fastest-growing group in recent years. In Watauga County, it reaches 6,5%, also showing steady growth.
“We have an active and united Latino community, with strong leadership.” George said in this conversation. For him, organizations like Immigrant Justice Coalition They play a key role because they "help build relationships at a time when many immigrants feel they are under attack."
Last week, George was one of the first people to confirm, through his social media, that federal agents were staying in hotels in the town.
ELNC: How did you find out that federal agents were staying at hotels in Boone last week?
DG: For many of us, it was the first time anything like this had happened. I was out of town for work that weekend. I received a message from someone saying they had booked hotel rooms for federal agents and wanted to let me know. I didn't want to contribute to the rumors, so I tried to confirm what was going on.
By Tuesday night, several immigrant rights organizations here in Boone had already verified the presence of agents at hotels, and our local staff later confirmed the information as well. So far, there are no reports of operations in Boone. As I understand it, the agents were only staying here while preparing for operations in another area.
ELNC: How did the community react when it became known that you were in the city?
DG: The community was very upset. It was unexpected and frightening. Boone is one of the safest towns in the state; people look out for each other, and there are organizations that do great work. For federal agents to show up out of the blue is unsettling.
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The university reacted quickly, there were protests, and organizations like the Immigrant Justice Coalition were key in informing and supporting the community during those days.
ELNC: Did they try to contact federal authorities to understand what was happening and to prevent such a situation from happening again without prior notice?
DG: Yes. That communication came through the mayor's public statement. Basically, he said that we have to respect the autonomy of our local communities and see local leaders as partners. And when they aren't notified that there will be a significant presence of federal agents, it's not a positive situation for anyone.
That position was made clear in the statement. Furthermore, both the local police and municipal staff expressed their desire that, in the future, local authorities be informed so that we can communicate to the community what is happening. We are the voices people trust; we are the ones who maintain relationships. And I don't believe this is the proper way to conduct this type of operation.
(Editor's note: The statement published by Watauga Democrat can be read in English here.)
ELNC: After the presence of federal agents in Boone, have you noticed that some Latino families are still afraid or have changed their routines?
DG: I've heard reports, though fewer than in Charlotte, where there were actual arrests. But I think there's still fear, because this showed that something like this can happen overnight, with confusion and very little information. That damaged some people's trust in institutions. The community is returning to its routine, but After an incident like that, things don't completely go back to how they were before. .
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ELNC: What message do you want to share with Latino families who are still worried about what happened?
DG: I want to be accessible and available to the residents of our town. I would like people to build a relationship with me, to tell me what they need. I'm just one person and I don't have all the answers, but I can work with the community to make sure we're as safe and healthy as possible. I want to continue extending that hand, as I have before, and continue working with local organizations. And despite all the confusion at the federal level, the local government really wants to listen to and advocate for the people of Boone.
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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