Key Takeaways
• Commissioner Rodriguez-McDowell condemns aggressive ICE tactics in Mecklenburg County during May 20, 2025 meeting.
• Over 130 ICE activity reports surfaced near schools, homes, and traffic stops in Charlotte and nearby cities.
• Rodriguez-McDowell demands respect for sensitive locations, ends racial profiling, and calls for immigration reform.
Mecklenburg County commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell has recently raised her voice against what she describes as harsh and aggressive actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Charlotte. During the May 20, 2025, Board of County Commissioners meeting, Rodriguez-McDowell addressed the public and fellow board members, making clear her strong concern for immigrants living in Mecklenburg County. This statement came after a week in which many immigration advocates have reported an uptick in ICE detentions and visible activity throughout the Charlotte area.
Rodriguez-McDowell’s comments came at a time when families and community groups across the region were already feeling anxious. Many in Mecklenburg County have watched these events with concern, feeling the effects of not only ICE’s presence but also the uncertainty surrounding how federal immigration policies are carried out in local communities.
ICE Operations in Charlotte: Community Reports
Over the past week, calls have flooded the Carolina Migrant Network’s ICE hotline—over 130 reports in a matter of days. These calls claimed to have seen or experienced ICE actions not just in Charlotte, but also in Kannapolis, Concord, and Monroe. According to people who called the hotline, ICE officers have been seen making detentions during traffic stops, outside homes, and even close to schools.
Perhaps most worrying for some was an incident Rodriguez-McDowell described, in which ICE vehicles reportedly surrounded a church preschool on Central Avenue. As she addressed this firsthand account, she stressed that “being an immigrant does not make someone suspect,” and called what happened “egregious and un-American at its core.”
ICE has publicly confirmed that a “larger immigration enforcement operation” is underway in Charlotte, but has offered very few details about what is actually happening. They have not released data on how many people have been detained in Charlotte or North Carolina during this time. Without these numbers, it is hard for county officials or the public to know if there has truly been an increase, or by how much.
Commissioner’s Demands to ICE
Rodriguez-McDowell’s statement was not only a criticism; it was also a list of clear demands for how ICE should act in Mecklenburg County and elsewhere. During her remarks, she called on ICE to make several key changes in their approach:
- Respect Sensitive Locations: Rodriguez-McDowell asked ICE not to carry out enforcement actions at schools, courthouses, workplaces, hospitals, or places of worship. These are spaces where families feel safest and where disruptions can have lasting effects.
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End Racial Profiling: She urged ICE not to target workers in trucks or vans based on appearance, race, or background. Racial profiling—when law enforcement singles people out because of how they look or where they come from—undermines trust and can cause harm to entire communities.
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Stop Aggressive Tactics: The commissioner demanded that ICE stop using aggressive actions against those who are not suspected of violent crimes. Many people detained have been parents and workers, not dangerous criminals.
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Focus on Actual Threats: She reminded ICE that their resources should be used to stop criminals who truly threaten public safety, not parents trying to make a living and care for their families.
Looking wider, Rodriguez-McDowell argued for big changes at the federal level. She pushed for a “fully reformed and functioning Immigration System whereby all people are treated with dignity, respect and due process.” By this, she means a system that is fair and gives everyone a chance to have their case heard, no matter where they came from.
How ICE Actions Affect Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
When ICE operates in the open—especially around sensitive places like schools or places of worship—it sends waves of fear through the community. Children may be left with the fear that their parents could be taken away at any moment. People may worry about sending their kids to school or even going to the doctor.
The reports from the Carolina Migrant Network’s hotline point to this feeling directly. Over 130 calls in just a few days show how many people are affected. These raids and traffic stops are not just numbers. Each one represents a family, a job, a community member. That’s why Rodriguez-McDowell and many others in Mecklenburg County have stepped forward to express concern.
Sometimes, ICE detentions happen during traffic stops, which might seem routine but are deeply unsettling. For the person involved—and their families—these events can mean losing a breadwinner or a parent, often without warning. This uncertainty can ripple out, causing fear among other immigrant families even if they have done nothing wrong.
Ongoing Tension Between Local Leaders and ICE
Rodriguez-McDowell’s public comments are the latest chapter in a long story of tension between Mecklenburg County officials and ICE over how immigration laws should be enforced. Since 2018, after Sheriff Garry McFadden chose to end the county’s part in ICE’s 287(g) program, the relationship has been especially strained. The 287(g) program made it easier for jail officials to inform ICE about people in custody who might be in the United States 🇺🇸 without legal permission.
The issue grew more complicated last year, when North Carolina passed House Bill 10. This new state law forced sheriffs to cooperate more fully with ICE, requiring them to hold people with ICE “detainers”—a request to keep someone in jail so ICE agents can come pick them up—for up to 48 hours.
But even with this law in place, there are disagreements. ICE says that Sheriff McFadden often ignores their requests. McFadden, however, insists the real problem is that ICE sometimes fails to pick up detainees within the required time window. These kinds of disputes mean that there is still a lot of confusion about what is expected, and how these policies affect real people’s lives.
Commissioner’s Unique Role
As one of the few Latino elected officials in Mecklenburg County, Rodriguez-McDowell brings a deeply personal and community-centered perspective. She has said that immigration policies affect “thousands of real people in our community.” For her, speaking out is not just about policy—it’s about neighbors, friends, and families in Charlotte who feel the impact every day.
Her remarks also highlight the pressure local leaders feel to protect their most vulnerable residents. Rodriguez-McDowell believes strongly that all people deserve to be treated fairly. Her view is that when federal agencies don’t work closely with local officials or listen to the community’s needs, it makes it harder for everyone—residents, officials, and law enforcement alike.
The Broader Impact: Community Reactions and Concerns
Community groups and advocates for immigrants in Charlotte and beyond have echoed many of Rodriguez-McDowell’s calls. For years, they have pushed for ICE to adopt a policy of avoiding sensitive places, like schools and churches, where children and families should feel unworried. Many argue that aggressive tactics do not make neighborhoods safer, but instead drive people away from the services and help they need.
Parents say their children are anxious. People worry about simple tasks, like dropping kids off at school or running errands, for fear of being stopped or questioned. For some, even seeing an ICE vehicle in the neighborhood is enough to cause panic.
Others in Mecklenburg County support the idea of law enforcement focusing on real public safety. They believe that chasing people who are working hard to support their families doesn’t serve anyone. Some local employers have also weighed in, worried that these raids could scare away workers who are vital to their businesses.
Still, there are other voices. Some in the wider public believe that strong enforcement is needed to uphold national immigration laws. They see ICE’s job as crucial, even if it means taking hard actions in local communities. This mixed reaction shows just how complex and divisive the immigration debate has become in Mecklenburg County and in Charlotte specifically.
Gaps in Information and the Need for Transparency
One clear issue is the lack of basic information about what ICE is doing in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. ICE has refused to share details on how many people have been detained recently or exactly where operations have taken place. Without real numbers, it is easy for rumors and fear to spread. This secrecy also makes it hard for local officials to respond properly to community needs.
Rodriguez-McDowell and others have asked ICE to provide clearer information and ensure every person taken into custody gets due process—that is, a fair hearing and chance to make their case. As reported by VisaVerge.com, these requests are not only about fairness but about keeping the public informed and safe.
Legislative and Policy Background
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County’s relationship with federal immigration enforcement has shifted over the years. When Sheriff McFadden ended participation in the 287(g) program in 2018, it signaled a shift towards a more limited role for local jails in helping with federal immigration actions. This move was cheered by immigrant advocates, who felt the program led to too many people being held for minor offenses.
The passage of House Bill 10 in North Carolina last year forced a partial reversal of this policy. Now, sheriffs must hold people with certain ICE detainers, even if they would otherwise have to release them. This has not stopped disagreements, though, as shown by the continued back-and-forth between ICE and Mecklenburg County jail officials.
These ongoing policy changes add confusion. Families, local officials, and even law enforcement sometimes struggle to keep up or understand what is required. This uncertainty is part of what drives Rodriguez-McDowell’s call for comprehensive reform—a system that is fair, transparent, and workable for all involved.
What Comes Next for Mecklenburg County?
For the people of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, the future remains unclear. As long as there are reports of aggressive detentions and uncertainty about ICE’s exact plans, many will continue to feel anxious. At the same time, the debate over how local and federal governments should share responsibility for immigration enforcement is unlikely to end soon.
Rodriguez-McDowell’s statement adds another voice to a long national discussion. Will ICE change its methods and focus? Will local officials gain more say in how operations are done? Or will tensions continue, leaving families in fear and communities divided?
Meanwhile, those living in Mecklenburg County can stay informed by checking reliable sources, such as the county Board of Commissioners website. For official information on ICE and its policies, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website is another helpful resource.
In summary, Rodriguez-McDowell’s statement shines a light on the struggles and stress faced by many in Charlotte and surrounding areas as ICE continues its operations. She urges policy changes, respect for basic rights, and better cooperation between federal and local officials. Whether these calls will lead to new policies or changes in behavior remains to be seen, but the issues at the center of this debate are not going away.
For further details on ICE’s stated policies and responsibilities, you can visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official website. As the discussion continues, Mecklenburg County’s experience may serve as an example for other communities across the United States 🇺🇸 facing similar challenges.
Learn Today
ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement responsible for immigration law enforcement and deportations.
287(g) Program → A federal-state partnership allowing local jail officials to identify immigration status of detainees.
Detainers → Requests from ICE to local authorities to hold individuals for up to 48 hours before transfer.
Due Process → Legal right ensuring fair treatment through judicial system before deprivation of rights or liberty.
Racial Profiling → Targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on race or ethnicity rather than behavior.
This Article in a Nutshell
Mecklenburg commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell criticized recent aggressive ICE actions in Charlotte, highlighting fears in immigrant communities and demanding respectful enforcement near sensitive locations and greater transparency from federal immigration authorities.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• UK government plans to shorten Graduate Route in new Immigration White Paper
• Canadian immigration policy shift removes job offer boost in Express Entry
• Danish Conservatives back stricter work permit and immigration policies
• Friedrich Merz’s immigration policies face criticism in new global report
• Supreme Court focuses on process in key immigration cases this year
