North Carolina man’s ‘Deport Them All’ sign targets legal U.S. neighbor

A neighborhood dispute over a yard sign reading “Deport Them All” has become a statewide flashpoint after the target of the message turned out to be a legal U.S. citizen. The incident, shared widely on social media and picked up by local outlets, comes as North Carolina’s new immigration enforcement law, House Bill 318, took effect after lawmakers overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto in July 2025. The law orders county sheriffs to work more closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to hold people for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released if ICE issues a detainer.

Supporters in the Republican-led General Assembly say the policy boosts public safety and ensures cooperation with federal agents. Governor Stein, civil rights groups, and several sheriffs argue the law will lead to unlawful detentions, harm community trust, and could violate the Fourth Amendment. They point to a Fourth Circuit ruling that bars local officers from holding someone solely on suspected immigration violations.

The override succeeded with one Democratic vote, from Rep. Carla Cunningham of Mecklenburg County, whose support proved decisive. She has since faced sharp criticism from members of her own party and from constituents.

The Department of Homeland Security has recently labeled several North Carolina counties “noncompliant sanctuary jurisdictions,” putting a spotlight on local jails and their policies. VisaVerge.com reports that federal pressure on counties flagged as noncompliant has increased, intensifying state-level debate over how far local agencies should go in supporting federal removals.

What the law requires

Under the new law, sheriffs must follow a specific sequence when a person is booked on a covered offense:

1. Booking on a covered offense.
2. Check immigration status for people booked on those offenses.
3. If ICE issues a detainer, the jail must hold the person for up to 48 hours past their normal release time so ICE can begin removal steps.

Key points about covered offenses and detainers:

• The statute expands triggers for detainers to include certain misdemeanors, including impaired driving, not just felonies.
• The 48-hour hold is mandatory once ICE issues the request.
• Defense attorneys can challenge detentions; legal analysts expect fresh federal court challenges.

Legal and constitutional concerns

• Civil rights advocates and Governor Stein argue the law risks unconstitutional seizures, citing the Fourth Circuit’s guidance that local officers cannot detain a person solely due to suspected civil immigration issues (which are handled under federal law).
• Opponents warn of unlawful detentions, harm to community trust, and violations of constitutional protections.
• Supporters say the law restores cooperation after local releases undermined federal efforts and potentially endangered the public.

“Local jails were releasing people wanted by ICE, weakening federal efforts,” say Republican leaders who favor uniform rules across counties.

Practical effects across communities

Sheriffs, immigrant communities, and local officials face different operational and social impacts:

• For jails and sheriffs:
  • Need to adjust staffing to handle detainer holds.
  • Document who is held and why.
  • Increased training and potential legal-defense costs.
  • Some sheriffs worry about exposure to lawsuits if holds clash with federal court rulings.
• For immigrant and minority communities:
  • Greater risk of detentions that may include people with no convictions.
  • More opportunities for mistakes, such as holding citizens or legal residents due to database errors or misidentification.
  • Reported declines in cooperation with police, making crime-solving and victim protection harder.
• For families and workers:
  • Heightened fear of being swept into suspicion based on appearance or accent.
  • Reports that people avoid contact with police—even to report crimes—out of fear of enforcement or misidentification.

The yard sign as a symbol

The “Deport Them All” sign has become shorthand for the larger climate of fear and suspicion. Community groups, police leaders, and civil rights organizations say the case shows how quickly residents—whether immigrants, legal residents, or U.S. citizens—can be treated as suspects based on perceived status rather than facts.

• The man targeted by the sign is reported to be a U.S. citizen.
• The episode has fueled debate about free speech, harassment, and racial profiling.
• Even without major arrests or lawsuits tied directly to the sign, the incident illustrates how a neighbor’s action can spark fear and escalate into broader policy fights.

“When the rules tighten, the line between lawful enforcement and harassment can feel thin for people who are simply going to work, school, or church,” community leaders warn.

Political and legal fallout

• The override’s narrow margin—one Democratic vote—has intensified partisan criticism and constituent backlash.
• Civil rights organizations and immigrant legal centers are preparing lawsuits challenging the law’s constitutionality.
• Legal experts expect courts to decide whether the state can require sheriffs to hold people for ICE when federal courts have raised concerns about such detentions.

What residents can do and where to find information

• For official legislative information, visit the North Carolina General Assembly: https://www.ncleg.gov/
• Community members who believe they’ve been targeted, harassed, or wrongly held can contact:
  • ACLU of North Carolina
  • Their local sheriff’s office for guidance on complaint procedures

Attorneys expect more litigation as counties balance the state mandate with federal constitutional limits and as DHS continues to track compliance with federal requests.

Looking ahead

As North Carolina implements House Bill 318, the debate will likely deepen across three arenas:

• Jails — operational and legal strains as detainer holds are implemented.
• Courts — expected challenges testing whether mandatory holds violate the Fourth Amendment.
• Neighborhoods — continued social strain as messages like “Deport Them All” highlight tensions about enforcement, identity, and community safety.

What happens next will test how far the state can require cooperation with ICE, and how communities respond when a contentious message moves from a yard sign into everyday life.