Trump-Era Immigration Enforcement Returns to Durham, Sparks Resistance

(DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA) A renewed push in immigration enforcement is reshaping daily life in Durham, where a marked rise in ICE activity since January has stirred fear, protests, and new local policies. Federal data indicate that from January 20 to July 28, 2025, ICE agents arrested nearly 700 more people than in all of 2024, a 42% jump. Statewide, North Carolina has seen arrests climb by 162% over the previous year, with more than 1,580 people detained by mid-July. In the Triangle region, which includes Durham, at least 440 arrests have been reported this year.

City leaders say the numbers confirm what families and workers already feel: immigration enforcement is no longer a distant concern but a daily reality in streets, workplaces, and even courthouses.

Recent incidents and community response

The flashpoint came on July 23, when a plainclothes ICE agent detained a convicted felon at the Durham Courthouse. The incident drew fast protests and triggered urgent warnings from local officials, who said the operation fueled confusion and fear for anyone who must appear at court, report for probation, or sort out civil matters.

Advocacy group Siembra NC, which runs a hotline for families, recorded nearly 300 calls in the first two weeks after President Trump took office in 2025. Many callers described ICE sightings or arrests near homes and job sites. Volunteers say callers now include asylum seekers and student visa holders — people who believed they had complied with immigration rules.

Durham’s response has been both political and practical. On September 5, 2025, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution declaring Durham a “Fourth Amendment Workplace.” The measure directs training on constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures for city departments and staff and asks staff to report barriers to effective training. It does not limit federal operations, but council members call it a stand against “unconstitutional, warrantless workplace searches.”

Mayor Leo Williams publicly condemned the climate of fear and stressed solidarity with residents while acknowledging legal limits on local authority. He said: “Our residents witnessed ICE agents in our community, instilling widespread fear and uncertainty. While local leaders cannot legally override the federal government use and weaponization of ICE, we can and must stand in strategic solidarity with our neighbors.”

The mayor’s remarks were echoed by parents, students, and faith leaders worried that routine activities—driving to work, seeing a doctor, going to worship—could now put families at risk.

Scope of enforcement and federal posture

Advocacy groups describe the current push as wider and faster than most expected. Organizers report arrests of people with no criminal history and of people with lawful status, including students. Siembra NC says hundreds of college students have had their visas revoked this year, including more than a dozen at University of North Carolina system schools.

The federal government has offered limited public explanation for operations in Durham. ICE officials have not responded to local requests for comment. Still, the administration has emphasized tougher enforcement on several fronts. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the government is focusing on student visa holders connected to political activism.

Meanwhile, the ICE Atlanta field office—which covers North Carolina—has reported more than 1,600 arrests and over 1,700 detentions for criminality in this fiscal year. In North Carolina, the trend also intersects with a state law, House Bill 10, which took effect in December 2024 and requires local jails to cooperate with ICE. Advocates say that change has increased arrests from local facilities.

Policy moves and local measures

Durham’s “Fourth Amendment Workplace” resolution is legally binding only on city staff and agencies. It cannot stop ICE operations in the city. Still, legal and immigrant-rights groups view it as an important tool for training public workers and tracking how searches occur in city-connected spaces, such as job sites tied to city contracts.

City officials say the resolution will help ensure workers are trained to:

• Ask for judicial warrants when federal officers enter non-public areas of workplaces.
• Document incidents that may raise constitutional questions.
• Report barriers to effective training.

Local leaders are also managing tension between residents and public institutions. After the courthouse arrest, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam warned the public about ICE presence in and around the building. State Republican leaders criticized the warning, while many residents praised it and said they want clear information about risks.

The dispute highlights a deeper divide over how far local governments should go to alert the public about federal operations. Durham leaders insist they cannot block ICE, but they can inform people of their rights and set expectations for how local services will treat residents—citizens and non-citizens alike.

Grassroots organizers have stepped up public training. Know Your Rights events now run weekly in parts of Durham and the Triangle, with volunteer lawyers explaining the difference between administrative ICE warrants and judicial warrants signed by a judge. Trainings focus on practical steps that can make a major difference in tense moments:

1. Keep doors closed unless agents show a judge’s warrant.
2. Ask for a lawyer.
3. Refuse to sign documents without counsel.
4. Document and report the encounter afterward.

Organizers stress the goal is not to fight officers in the field, but to help people make safe choices.

Human impact and practical guidance

Beyond statistics, the effect of rising enforcement is deeply personal. Parents say they are keeping kids home from school. Workers are skipping shifts and losing pay. Some families plan medical visits only in emergencies. Pastors report empty pews on days when ICE activity is rumored.

Legal service groups say confusion is highest among students and asylum seekers who thought they were protected. Lawyers caution that outcomes vary: some may qualify for relief before an immigration judge, while others may face fast-track removal. Outcomes depend on a person’s status, criminal history, past orders, and encounter details.

Practical steps for residents who fear contact with ICE:

• If you see ICE or agents approach your home or workplace:
  • Call a trusted hotline for help and legal referrals, such as Siembra NC’s.
  • Keep the door closed. Ask agents to slide any warrant under the door.
  • Check if the warrant is signed by a judge. If it is not, you don’t have to let them in.
  • If safe, record the encounter with your phone and take notes.
• If a loved one is detained:
  • Ask for a lawyer immediately.
  • Do not sign papers before speaking to an attorney.
  • Family members can try to locate the person through the official ICE Detainee Locator: https://locator.ice.gov
  • Share the person’s full name, date of birth, and country of birth with the lawyer or hotline.
• For community support:
  • Attend Know Your Rights trainings offered by local groups.
  • Stay updated through city announcements and trusted nonprofit channels.
  • Keep key documents in a safe, accessible place, and make a family plan for emergencies.

Legal and community outlook

The policy debate in Durham mirrors a national fight over immigration enforcement. Supporters of tougher action argue arresting people with criminal records improves safety and upholds the law. Opponents say current methods sweep too broadly, damage trust with police and schools, and push people into the shadows.

City officials, caught between federal power and neighborhood fear, are trying to manage practical needs within legal limits. They note the city cannot tell federal agents where to go, but it can:

• Teach frontline staff how to protect residents’ rights.
• Inform people about their rights and expectations for local services.
• Push for documentation and training around federal workplace interactions.

City leaders warn that wider cooperation mandates at local jails, combined with stepped-up street operations, will likely keep arrest numbers high through the fall. Advocates expect more protests and push for clear rules inside courthouses, schools, and hospitals — calling for ICE to avoid actions in sensitive places.

Organizers say they are prepared to test claims of “warrantless workplace searches” in court, arguing federal officers must respect the Fourth Amendment when entering non-public areas.

What’s next for Durham

For Durham residents, pressing questions remain:

• Can I go to court without risking arrest on the steps?
• Will ICE show up at my child’s school?
• What happens if agents ask for my documents on the street?

Lawyers advise people to carry proof of identity and, if they are in status, proof of lawful presence — but to speak carefully and ask for counsel if questioned. Employers are urged to:

• Ask for identification from federal officers.
• Request a judicial warrant for non-public areas.
• Document the visit.

The city’s new resolution pushes that approach among its staff and contractors.

Analysis by VisaVerge.com attributes the surge in arrests across North Carolina to both federal priorities and state-level cooperation rules that took effect late last year. The site recommends that people with open immigration cases — especially those with old removal orders — speak to a lawyer now rather than waiting for an arrest. Local groups echo that advice, noting early legal planning can change outcomes if officers make contact.

In Durham, the coming weeks will likely bring more protests, more training, and more questions. While the City Council’s action doesn’t bind federal agents, it has given residents a rallying point and a tool for rights education. For families, students, and workers, the message from city hall and advocates is steady: know your rights, plan ahead, and seek help fast if trouble comes. For federal agencies, the numbers suggest the current course will continue. For a city that has lived through earlier waves of immigration enforcement, the challenge now is to protect people’s rights while preparing for a long season of hard choices.

Key takeaway: Durham cannot stop federal operations, but local measures—training, documentation, and public education—aim to reduce fear, protect constitutional rights, and give residents practical tools to respond.