Governor Responds to NC Raids Over ICE Detainees at New Hanover

(WILMINGTON, NC) North Carolina Governor Josh Stein sharply criticized federal immigration raids this month after several ICE detainees held at New Hanover County Jail in Wilmington, NC were moved to undisclosed locations, leaving families and local officials unsure where they had been taken. His comments came as federal agencies reported more than 250 arrests statewide by November 18, 2025, in a wide enforcement surge focused on major cities.

Governor Stein’s concerns and public safety argument

Stein said he was deeply troubled by reports that Border Patrol agents were “arresting people indiscriminately,” adding that many residents now felt scared to leave their homes or go to work. He argued that such tactics harmed not only undocumented immigrants but also U.S. citizens who share their neighborhoods, schools, and churches.

He warned that when people fear any encounter with law enforcement, they stop reporting crimes and cooperating with investigations. That, he said, makes everyone less safe, regardless of their immigration status.

“When people fear any encounter with law enforcement, they stop reporting crimes and cooperating with investigations,” Stein said, stressing the broader public-safety consequences.

Scope and aims of the federal operation

The dispute centers on a large, coordinated operation carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) across North Carolina, especially in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Federal officials say the raids are aimed at gang members and people with serious criminal histories who pose a threat to public safety. State officials and advocacy groups, however, cite data showing many people with no criminal record were caught up in arrests. That contrast has made cities and detention sites, including New Hanover County Jail, flashpoints in a wider political fight over federal enforcement strategy.

Impact on detainees, families, and local officials

Among those affected was Fatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio, who, along with others arrested in Raleigh and Charlotte, was initially held at the New Hanover facility before being transferred out. Families say they were not told where their relatives were taken, and local law enforcement in Wilmington, NC reported they also lacked information about the detainees’ final destinations.

Relatives described desperate calls to lawyers, jails, and federal hotlines, trying to locate loved ones who appeared to vanish overnight from the county lockup. Advocates argue that transfers without clear notice deepen fear and fuel rumors in already anxious communities.

Key family concerns

• Lack of timely information about detainee locations
• Difficulty contacting legal counsel or preparing defenses
• Missed deadlines or hearings in immigration proceedings
• Sudden breaks in household income and disrupted schooling

Federal response and rationale for transfers

Federal officials acknowledge that some detainees were moved from New Hanover County Jail but insist that such transfers are standard procedure in large operations. They say people may be moved for:
– court hearings
– space needs
– security reasons across the enforcement network

Still, the absence of timely information for families has raised fresh questions about transparency in how ICE detainees are handled in county facilities. Community groups in the Wilmington area report a sharp rise in calls from worried residents since the surge began.

National context and statistics

Nationwide numbers offer context for the clash in North Carolina. As of September 21, federal data shows that about 72% of people arrested in similar operations across the country had no criminal record.

While officials point to the remaining group as proof the raids are justified, critics say the figures show that far more than violent offenders are being swept up. For families in states like North Carolina, those numbers translate into empty desks at school, missing workers at job sites, and sudden breaks in household income.

Federal officials’ defense

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has firmly defended the raids, calling claims of racial profiling “absurd.” She argues that agents are targeting specific individuals based on prior records, intelligence, and ongoing investigations.

McLaughlin emphasized that gang members and violent offenders are among those arrested in North Carolina and elsewhere, and she urged critics not to ignore the danger those people pose.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection commander Greg Bovino went further, publicly blaming Governor Stein’s rhetoric for what he described as growing hostility toward federal agents. According to Bovino, some ICE and Border Patrol officers have faced verbal harassment and even physical attacks while carrying out arrests linked to the surge.

He suggested that political leaders should temper their criticism and instead support the safety of enforcement teams, arguing intense public statements encourage confrontations that put officers and bystanders at risk.

Stein’s rebuttal and local policing concerns

Stein rejected those accusations, saying his focus is on community safety and trust. He argued that when Border Patrol and ICE detainees are perceived as being treated unfairly, immigrant communities pull back from all contact with the justice system.

Local police chiefs have long warned that this dynamic makes it harder to solve crimes, especially in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. The governor said he wants violent offenders off the streets but believes current raids are too broad, with “indiscriminate” arrests damaging long-term safety.

Local societal impacts

In cities like Charlotte and Raleigh, school officials and business owners reported sudden drops in attendance and staffing as raids intensified.

• Some parents kept children at home out of fear of checkpoints or officers on routes to school.
• Workers skipped shifts or quit jobs, fearing they might be targeted leaving parking lots.
• Community leaders say these reactions show how quickly enforcement pushes can ripple through classrooms, offices, and places of worship.

Role and limits of county jails

The role of local facilities such as New Hanover County Jail has come under closer review. Sheriffs and county officials typically have limited control once ICE detainees are placed under federal authority inside their jails.

Nevertheless, when detainees disappear from rosters overnight, local leaders are often the first to face questions from families. That tension has led some counties in other states to reconsider cooperation agreements with immigration authorities, though no such formal move has been announced in Wilmington, NC.

Legal and policy analysis

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, disputes like the one in North Carolina often hinge on:
– how federal agencies define “public safety threats”
– how much room states have to push back

While governors cannot stop federal immigration enforcement, they can shape local policing priorities and public messaging. Stein’s criticism, and the strong responses from Bovino and McLaughlin, show how strained that relationship has become during this latest surge. Each side insists it is defending public safety but sharply disagrees on what that means day to day.

Immediate needs of families and legal advocates

Families of those taken from New Hanover County Jail say their immediate concern is simply finding out where their relatives are. Lawyers point out that basic information about a detainee’s location can be essential for:
– preparing legal defenses
– requesting bond
– ensuring attendance at hearings

Without location details, people can miss deadlines or hearings in already complex immigration proceedings. Advocates argue that even those facing deportation have a right to be located and contacted by loved ones and counsel.

Where to find official information

For readers seeking official federal information about immigration enforcement policies, the Department of Homeland Security directs the public to resources on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.

There, people can find general explanations of detention, transfers, and enforcement priorities, though specific details about the North Carolina operations remain limited.

Takeaway

As the raids continue and the political debate deepens, families in Wilmington, NC and across the state are left balancing fear, hope, and unanswered questions about what will happen next.