DURHAM, N.C. (Diya TV) — A recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Durham, North Carolina has aroused anxiety among the Triangle’s Indian American community during ongoing immigration enforcement activity.
On Thursday, ICE agents raided a north Durham neighborhood in a targeted operation, detaining three men who are suspected to be of Indian origin. Neighbors took video footage of the agents, some of whom were masked and in tactical attire, detaining the men and entering a home. A total of 11 people were arrested in several raids in the neighborhood.
Residents were alarmed at the tactics of the operation. Alisa Cullison, who saw strange cars driving around the neighborhood, reported, “We were all shaken up; we couldn’t believe what we had just seen.” Another neighbor, Emily Ingebretsen, described seeing agents swarm a house and a car, saying, “It’s insane to watch your neighbors get plucked out of thin air during the middle of the day; that’s not normal.”
Community leaders stressed that companies should ensure employees’ legal status. Morrisville Councilmember Steve Rao added that a visa that has expired or an overstay can rapidly change one’s legal status, making them subject to deportation. He urged companies to perform comprehensive background checks and check legal documents before hiring.
The raid has also been criticized for the wider implications for community trust and safety. Kelly Morales of Siembra NC, an immigrant rights organization, commended neighbors for recording the event and called for community solidarity. “They interrupted their workday, decided to show up for their neighbors, called the hotline, and were able to record and serve as witnesses to what was going on,” Morales said.
Durham Mayor Leo Williams said he wasn’t alerted to the raid until contacted by local media and is now asking for more details on the incident.
This comes on the heels of a recent hoax in which a fake ICE raid at a Durham supermarket already had the community in a state of heightened tension.
As events unfold, community organizations continue to provide assistance and resources to impacted families, hoping to create a sense of security and cohesion in the community.
