Federal Border Patrol to begin operation in Raleigh on Tuesday, mayor confirms
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U.S. Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino and other federal agents patrol in Charlotte on Nov. 17. Photo: Ryan Murphy/Getty Images
The Trump administration will deploy federal Border Patrol agents to Raleigh on Tuesday for its immigration crackdown, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell told Axios Monday night.
- Cowell said in an interview she had been notified of a pending U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation by the Raleigh Police Department and Gov. Josh Stein's office.
Why it matters: The operation, which Cowell said was uncoordinated with the city, comes after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have carried out multiple days of arrests in Charlotte.
Driving the news: The Assembly was first to report that CPB would operate in Raleigh, citing Democratic legislative sources briefed by Stein's office.
- Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, declined to discuss Border Patrol's plans.
- "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations," McLaughlin said in a statement.
The big picture: The Trump administration is targeting immigration enforcement in Democratic-run cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and most recently Charlotte.
- So far, the Triangle has not seen mass immigration enforcement, but nearby Charlotte has seen more than 130 arrests since Saturday.
- In Charlotte, agents have reportedly stopped at construction sites, Home Depot, an international grocery store, a country club and various other locations.
What they're saying: Gov. Stein told Axios in a statement that his office was aware of the reports. He encouraged Raleigh residents to remain peaceful and record and report wrongdoing.
- "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," he wrote in the statement.
Cowell stressed Raleigh is a safe city, and said she was planning to put a statement out about the arrival of immigration agents.
- "Our property crimes are down ... violent crimes are down," she said. "This is a safe and good community, and it is concerning that we have uncoordinated efforts [from DHS]. We will follow the law and we're trying to work with our residents and keep everything under monitor tomorrow."
- The Raleigh Police Department isn't involved in immigration enforcement, the city said in a statement Monday night.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams released a joint statement late Monday on behalf of city, county and school officials, without saying whether the city will also be targeted.
- The statement denounces "any effort that promotes exclusion, incites fear, undermines human rights and compromises safety."
Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.