North Carolina Jails Repurposed as Federal Immigrant Detention Centers

(NORTH CAROLINA) North Carolina jails are being pressed into federal service as immigration detention centers at a pace not seen in years, with ICE arrest numbers up sharply and new state laws locking in deeper cooperation. From January 20 to June 26, 2025, ICE made 1,822 arrests in the state, a 170% increase over the same period last year. The rise follows President Trump’s second‑term directives to expand detention and deportation, and a push in Raleigh to require sheriffs and police to aid federal agents.

Under the new strategy, the federal government has reopened shuttered sites and leaned on local counties to hold immigration detainees. By late June, ICE reported 432 facilities in use nationwide, up from 315 in January, with dozens in North Carolina. Sheriffs in the Charlotte region account for the largest share of arrests, at 38%, with additional activity in Wake County, Durham County, and Johnston County. Many of these jails had not housed immigration detainees in over a decade.

The shift rests on two pillars. First, the General Assembly advanced SB 153 (2025), which requires every law enforcement agency in North Carolina to sign 287(g) agreements with ICE, deputizing local officers to carry out federal immigration tasks. Second, HB 10 (2024), already in effect, orders sheriffs to check immigration status during bookings and hold people for up to 48 hours for ICE pickup. Together, the measures create a statewide handoff system from local custody to immigration detention, even when charges are minor or dropped.

Money is flowing to keep beds full. In July, President Trump signed a bill adding $45 billion for immigration detention, more than doubling ICE’s annual detention budget and signaling continued growth through at least 2029. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the funding is designed to secure long‑term contracts with counties and private operators, which may increase transfers between facilities and lengthen detention in the United States 🇺🇸.

Policy changes and local impact

The core of SB 153 is a mandate: all agencies must enter 287(g) agreements and work with ICE on detainers—the notices asking local jails to hold a person for pickup. The bill also:

• Allows lawsuits against so‑called sanctuary policies.
• Blocks public benefits and housing aid for undocumented residents.
• Bars universities from interfering with immigration operations on campus.

House Speaker Destin Hall (R) backed the bill, saying, “We need to do all we can to assist with the Trump administration’s immigration policies.” Sen. Buck Newton (R) has pressed to expand HB 10’s reach and standardize cooperation across counties. ICE has not publicly addressed operational details in North Carolina, including which jails it plans to add next.

Arrests now include many people with no criminal convictions. ICE data reviewed by advocates show:

• 46% of those arrested had criminal convictions
• 34% had no criminal convictions
• 20% were charged with immigration violations alone

The detained population is 92% male. Reported nationalities include:

• 46% Mexican
• 17% Honduran
• 10% Guatemalan
• 6% Venezuelan
• 6% Salvadoran
• 3% Nicaraguan
• 2% Colombian
• 1% Peruvian

Defense lawyers say rapid transfers—sometimes across state lines—make it hard to reach clients and gather records in time for bond hearings.

For counties, the policy is now less a choice and more a duty. SB 153 ties cooperation to the risk of lawsuits and possible funding losses. Sheriffs must also plan for the practical load of holding people for 48 hours, including:

• Medical care
• Language access
• Attorney phone calls

University leaders face new limits too: campuses in the UNC system would be blocked from policies seen as obstructing ICE, effectively ending “sanctuary campus” measures some students had pushed for.

This expansion also changes daily life for mixed‑status families. A traffic stop can now lead to booking, a status check, and a same‑day detainer. Defense attorneys warn that sequence leaves little time to call a lawyer or notify relatives, especially in rural counties where jails have fewer interpreter hours. Community groups report “disappearances,” where a person is moved before anyone knows where to look.

Legal pushback and community effects

Civil rights groups are preparing to fight parts of SB 153 in court once the House and Senate reconcile the bill. Key concerns include:

• The ACLU of North Carolina says mandatory 287(g) and broad detainer rules open the door to racial profiling and longer jail time without a judge’s order.
• The NC Justice Center warns that bans on public benefits and housing help could push families into unsafe conditions and increase vulnerability to exploitation.

Defense lawyers describe a system that strains basic due process. When someone booked into a county jail is flagged for ICE, the 48‑hour hold can turn into weeks if ICE transfers them between North Carolina sites or out of state. Consequences include:

• Broken attorney‑client ties
• Delayed bond requests
• Higher legal costs

For people who might qualify for relief—such as asylum seekers or long‑time residents with U.S.‑citizen children—distance and confusion can determine the outcome.

Supporters frame the approach around public safety and rule of law. They point to cases where people with serious records reoffended after release and argue that uniform rules will prevent gaps between counties. They also contend that formal 287(g) training can create clearer standards for officers.

Opponents counter that trust in local police will suffer if routine encounters lead to deportation. They warn:

• Crime reporting may drop as victims and witnesses fear contact with police.
• Faith leaders and school counselors report more anxiety among children whose parents work early shifts or multiple jobs, especially in counties where jails are ICE hubs.

Families and employers are already adjusting. Examples:

• Poultry plants, construction crews, and farms report missed shifts after roadside stops and bookings.
• Small businesses advise workers to plan carpools, keep copies of IDs, and designate emergency contacts.
• In college towns, student groups build text chains to share legal clinics and rapid‑response numbers.

For a current list of North Carolina detention locations, readers can check ICE’s official detention facilities page at https://www.ice.gov/detention-facilities. The list changes as contracts and bed counts shift, especially with the new federal funding.

Key takeaway: North Carolina has moved from a patchwork of county choices to a statewide system closely tied to federal goals. If lawmakers finalize SB 153 this summer, the state’s role in immigration enforcement will expand further, with more beds in local jails and faster transfers into the federal pipeline. Legal challenges are likely, but federal money and state mandates now give ICE wide reach on the ground.

What families and employers should watch

1. Expect more ICE activity tied to county bookings, especially in the Charlotte area and other high‑volume jails.
2. Know the 48‑hour hold rule under HB 10 (2024) and the planned SB 153 (2025) mandates; timing matters for finding counsel and gathering records.
3. Keep key documents handy:
   • Proof of identity
   • Proof of address
   • Any past court papers
   • Share copies with a trusted person
4. Plan for fast movement between facilities:
   • Set up a contact tree so someone checks county jail rosters daily if a family member doesn’t return home
5. Avoid rumors on social media:
   • Rely on attorneys and established community groups for updates

Local readiness and social effects

Sheriffs, city leaders, and school officials are bracing for the social costs. Responses include:

• Hiring more detention staff and translators in some counties
• Weighing how to maintain community policing when immigration arrests rise
• Immigrant families rewriting daily routines to reduce the chance of a jail booking that turns into an ICE handoff

These adjustments show how policy choices in Raleigh and Washington ripple through kitchens, job sites, and classrooms across North Carolina.