Durham, Wake sheriffs urge calm amid Border Patrol presence in Charlotte

As U.S. Border Patrol agents arrive in Charlotte, Wake and Durham sheriffs released statements Friday to address concerns about potential immigration enforcement activities in their counties.

Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said his office had not received “any official notification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection” of any operation or activity. Rowe urged residents not to confront Border Patrol agents if they were to come to Wake County and allow them to carry out official duties.

“The safety and well-being of our community remains the primary concern of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and we strive to avoid circumstances that may lead to injuries or unnecessary arrests,” Rowe wrote.

Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead also said his office was not aware of any planned or ongoing Border Patrol operations but noted that “we are also not informed prior to any such CBP or ICE operations being initiated in local jurisdictions.”

“My message to you has not changed — Do Not Panic!” Birkhead wrote. “Keep your eyes open. Know your rights.”

Federal officers were spotted in Charlotte Saturday morning, The Charlotte Observer reported. It is unclear why the federal government chose Charlotte or how long it plans to have agents in the Queen City, though CBS News reported the operation may last a week.

Local and state leaders blasted the move Friday, criticizing the lack of transparency — local leaders said they had not been briefed on the operation — and emphasizing that Charlotte did not need Border Patrol to carry out immigration enforcement, The Charlotte Observer reported.

In his statement, Birkhead reiterated that Durham County does not participate in neither the 287(g) program — which allows local officers to perform immigration enforcement under the oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — nor “any CBP or ICE ‘roundup’ operations.” Wake County has not participated in the 287(g) program since 2018.

Birkhead said he had met regularly with Hispanic residents to address their concerns and questions and would continue to stay alert to any changes in immigration enforcement.

“My job is to keep this community safe,” Birkhead wrote. “The many relationships we have across Durham County allow us to do just that.”