By Heidi Perez-Moreno and Ben Rappaport
Executive orders from President Donald Trump calling for increased deportation of immigrants are stoking fears across rural southeastern North Carolina.
Sheriff’s offices in Bladen and Robeson counties say they will cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as required by federal law. Meanwhile, school districts across the Border Belt say they understand concerns among students and staff.
Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker said in a Jan. 28 post on his office’s Facebook page that “several rumors” were circulating about ICE raids in the county. ICE typically asks local law enforcement for help with raids, McVicker said, adding that his office had not heard from federal officials.
“We will assist if asked, when asked to do so,” he said. “These are laws and we must uphold the law.”
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said on Jan. 28 there were seven inmates with ICE detainers being held at the county jail.
“Our office is following state law as written, and all detention center personnel have been trained on the proper procedures and protocols,” Wilkins said in an email. “We will continue to serve and protect our county as best we can while upholding the law.”
The sheriff’s offices in Columbus and Scotland counties did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story.
Trump’s executive orders rescinded previous policies to limit imimgration arrests at churches, medical facilities and schools. Local school districts said they would continue to support students and employees.
Public Schools of Robeson County said in a statement on Wednesday that its goal was to “review and update” protocols with school leaders and “ensure compliance with new regulations while maintaining our commitment to all students.”
The district said it “understands that recent changes to federal immigration law have caused great concern and uncertainty among our families, students, and staff. Rest assured that our district remains dedicated to supporting all students and maintaining a safe, inclusive learning environment.”
Bladen County Schools said the district was consulting legal counsel to develop protocols to help navigate potential interactions with ICE.
“Recent changes to federal immigration enforcement policies have raised concerns within our community,” the district said in a statement on Thursday. “We want to reassure our families and staff that we are proactively working to address these developments.”
Columbus County Schools also said it would comply with law enforcement but stressed the need to protect student safety and privacy.
“Regarding law enforcement activity on school campuses, our guidelines remain unchanged,” the district said in a statement on Wednesday. “Any law enforcement agency, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), must present a judicial warrant before detaining a student on school grounds or accessing student records protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which safeguards the privacy of student education records.”
Undocumented students’ privacy and rights to education are also protected under the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which guaranteed that a state cannot prevent children of undocumented immigrants from attending public school.
Scotland County Schools said it was consulting its school board attorney for guidance. Whiteville City Schools did not respond to requests for comment.
The Hispanic population is growing across the Border Belt. In Bladen, Columbus and Robeson counties, the Hispanic population is the only demographic group to see growth since 2000. In Robeson County, the Hispanic population has nearly doubled since 2000, and the 11,500 Hispanic residents now account for nearly 10% of the county’s total population.
The local rise in Hispanic residents mirrors statewide trends. The demographic has grown by 191% since 2000, and Hispanic residents now make up 10.5% of North Carolina’s population. An estimated 325,000 undocumented immigrants live in the state, according to a study from the Pew Research Center.
As concerns grow across North Carolina, immigrant advocacy groups say there’s been a surge in hotline calls about suspected immigration enforcement actions.
Siembra NC, a Durham-based immigrant rights organization, reported an uptick in calls to its ICE Watch detention hotline. The hotline received nearly 300 calls in two weeks after Trump took office on Jan. 20. Siembra NC said it has not confirmed any ICE raids in North Carolina but has heard plenty of rumors.
“These rumors themselves are not the problem – the administration has put into doubt whether the safest places in our community remain safe for everyone,” said Siembra NC co-director Nikki Marin Baena. “We shouldn’t give in to panic.”
Immigration attorneys in North Carolina say federal law enforcement officials have begun detaining individuals — mostly those with suspended final deportation orders — during routine check-in appointments at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Charlotte. The practice became more common during the first Trump administration.
“They’re going to try and further their bullying power,” Durham-based attorney Yesenia Polanco said of ICE. “The power that they want to put on a show and show they are serious about these removals.”
