Local leaders and organizations are working to stop the spread of misinformation and rumors regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting raids across the Triangle.
The number of unverified reports of raids by ICE agents on social media is spiking and is now creating a ripple effect of fear.
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Siembra NC is among several different immigrant rights organizations that have created hotlines for people to call or text with concerns. Only days into the new administration, the organization is fielding hundreds of calls on the tip line, mostly related to reports of possible federal agents spotted in the community.
“The impact has been devastating. The impact has been that there are viral videos, there are viral posts of people who see a car or see a local police car, who then they mistake to be a federal agent or a federal Homeland Security Agent. And that doesn't keep anybody safe when this fear is heightened,” said Kelly Morales, the Co-Director of Siembra NC.
The Trump Administration has a sweeping agenda, from declaring an invasion at the border to ending birthright citizenship and launching mass deportations. On Sunday, ICE and other government agencies began conducting "enhanced targeted operations" in Chicago.
Migrant communities are on high alert and community leaders believe false social media posts about possible ICE sightings are getting out of control.
“How we're responding to it is that we're training folks, and we're inviting folks to kind of talk to each other and be able to ask who saw it, where did you see it? When did you see it? And then ask people that can go, that have a license that is able to verify, just to be like a neighborhood watch,” added Morales.
The organization began statewide ‘ICE Watch” training sessions this weekend. Their goal is to provide accurate information and respond to verified ICE sightings — a system they believe will push facts and not fear.
“And so just by having trained observers, we've been able to actually dispel a lot of rumors so that people can understand and make a real risk assessment so that they can keep their family safe and not live in fear, which none of us deserve to do,” said Morales.
Durham businesses are feeling the impact of the heightened fear.
La Superior Meat Market is dispelling posts circulating online suggesting ICE agents have been seen at their locations. The business made a post acknowledging that is false.
Super Compare Foods is now planning to take legal action after an ICE raid hoax at its business.
A post on Facebook and Instagram describes the hoax carried out by people in uniforms and a pickup truck that resembles a border patrol truck.
The truck is not associated with border patrol, but rather a 2021 parody. Management says they've filed a police report.
“First and foremost, Durham will always follow the law. However, let it be known that Durham will also always take care of one another. There are several -know your rights- clinics happening throughout the city weekly,” said Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams in a statement.
“This is a Democracy and as Mayor, I’ll do my part to ensure that our government is acting with integrity. In Durham, our number one priority is that our law enforcement operates within their scope of work and nothing more.
For those who are capitalizing on this moment of fear and division, please note that even hatred has an expiration date,” he added.
Hundreds of people attended Siembra NC’s training sessions on Saturday. Both events in Raleigh and Durham reached capacity, showing the demand for engagement and assistance from the community as there’s much uncertainty about the future.
“I'm feeling furious. I think that what's going on is, in a way, it's not new, but I think it's an acceleration of many of the attacks that the people power have directed towards many people in this society,” said Jason Williams, who attended a training session in Raleigh.
“In the context of immigration, you have really extreme policies. This administration is trying to end birthright citizenship. So we are talking about people in our communities, our friends, our family members who are getting threatened,” Williams added.
WRAL asked the Wake County Sheriff’s office about its protocol for enforcement and if it will be cooperating with detainer requests.
In a statement the WCSO said,
“As we are in the early days of the new Trump administration, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office is now conducting meetings with federal officials regarding immigration enforcement.
State law, HB10, requires our office to notify ICE if we are unable to determine the residence status of a person charged with certain felony offenses and certain A1 misdemeanors and honor detainers that have an administrative warrant signed by a magistrate or judge.”
The sheriff’s office also acknowledged the spread of rumors and the issues that it presents.
“Sharing misinformation online can cause unnecessary fear and make our immigrant community hesitant to call for law enforcement assistance, thus increasing the likelihood that they may be subjected to victimization.
The agency plans to continue to maintain a good working relationship with all federal, state, and local agencies while focusing on the safety and well-being of Wake County residents.”
ICE is also working to reign in rumors by posting several messages on social media with the headline "For the record."
“What we know is there's 1.2 million Latinos in the state of North Carolina, and while they may be trying to get us to hide and feel fear at this moment, what we are doing is building bridges and building community together,” said Morales.
Their goal is to provide accurate information and respond to verified ICE sightings — a system they believe will push facts and not fear.
“We're not going to hide in the shadows. This is what this training was about. It was about talking about how to show up for each other, how to be observers, how to be witnesses to whatever is going to come our way,” she said.
Siembra NC now plans to hold upcoming virtual sessions on Zoom to accommodate more people in need of assistance.