This is a developing story and will be updated.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will be deployed in the Raleigh area on Tuesday, Democratic legislative sources briefed by Gov. Josh Stein’s office told The Assembly and INDY on Monday.
“It is the city of Raleigh’s understanding that the Border Patrol and ICE are already in Raleigh and that they will be active tomorrow,” Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell told The Assembly and INDY on Monday night. “We have not been informed of nor are we coordinating or helping plan any of this, so we don’t know what activities they’ll be undertaking tomorrow, or really a lot of other details.”
“Our office is aware of reports that the Border Patrol is bringing its operation to Raleigh,” Stein said in a statement on Monday night. “Once again, I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church, or putting up Christmas decorations. Stop targeting people simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin, as you are doing in Charlotte.
“To the people of Raleigh: remain peaceful, and if you see something wrong, record it and report it to local law enforcement,” Stein added. “Let’s keep each other safe.”
In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, said the department does not “discuss future or potential operations.”
“We will not stop enforcing the laws of our nation until every criminal illegal alien is arrested and removed from our country,” McLaughlin said.
Like Cowell, the legislative sources said they were short on details.
“I do know that they are bringing people here,” said one state senator, who agreed to speak only on background. “We don’t know how long they plan to be here. But they certainly are making their presence known tomorrow.”
The sources also did not know how many agents CBP would send, or whether their intended target—“Raleigh”—meant the city, Wake County, or the entire Triangle. Durham officials said on Monday that they are planning a press conference on Tuesday morning.
The Durham County Sheriff’s Office responded to an inquiry by re-sending a statement it originally provided last week that said it was unaware of CBP’s plans, and has not responded to follow-up inquiries.
A Durham Police Department spokesperson said he had not heard of immigration officials conducting an operation “like they are in Charlotte.” Federal agencies are not required to notify local law enforcement about their plans, the spokesperson said.
About 200 CBP agents were deployed to Charlotte on Saturday as part of what the Department of Homeland Security is calling “Operation Charlotte’s Web.” Greg Bovino, the North Carolina-born head of CBP, vowed to “hit Charlotte like a storm.” At least 130 people were arrested in the first 48 hours, according to CBP.
ABC News has reported that CBP agents stationed in Charlotte will be sent to New Orleans this Friday.
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