Last month, two women from a local chapter of Indivisible spoke at the Board of Commissioners meeting, concerned about ICE activity in North Carolina. However, some of their points were factually inaccurate, so I spoke this month to provide context. I submitted a slideshow presentation of government documents and statistics to back up my points, and it played while I spoke.

Here is what I said:

"Madam Mayor and Commissioners, good evening.

Last month, we heard a group’s concerns about ICE activity in North Carolina. I come before you now to hopefully cast illumination on the issues.

One concern is that ICE regularly violates the Fourth and Fifth Amendments; the unlawful seizure of persons and property, and due process in the courts. However, foreign visitors are here by the allowance of the US federal government. If immigrants conduct themselves unlawfully the federal government can revoke their visa. send them through the courts, and deport them. Under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, expedited removal for undocumented immigrants means they legally don’t have to see a courtroom before deportation.

Another concern is that the United States is deporting illegal immigrants to countries not their origin. This is partially true, because some countries refuse to accept their citizens. Uganda is one nation accepting the immigrants in their home countries’ steads.

The third concern is that illegal immigrants are being held in inhumane conditions. Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz has been accused of such because the lights are on 24/7, illegal immigrants sleep on bare mattresses, and they do not have access to the internet, books, or TV. This is boring and uncomfortable, but not inhumane by definition or law. It is also meant to be a brief stay, as Alligator Alcatraz is designed to be a temporary holding location while the United States arranges their deportations.

The next concern is that ICE of deporting American children. That is not the entire truth, because these children’s undocumented parents want their children to come with them.

The fifth concern is that, since January this year, 25 thousand children have been separated from their parents. According to US Border Patrol, these children were encountered at the border without their parents present. Also, this is rather good news because 25 thousand unaccompanied children in 2025 is a 77% decrease from 110 thousand unaccompanied children in 2024.

Another concern is that American citizens and legal residents are being detained by ICE. Instances where these sort of detainments have taken place usually are the result of mistaken identity, as in the case of Hugo Montiero.

Next, Wake Forest residents are afraid of ICE profiling, especially non-Caucasian residents. This may be legitimate concern, but if someone is here legally ICE shouldn’t be a concern. Also, humans of ALL nationalities can choose to be illegal immigrants.

The final concern is that ICE agents are unaccountable because their faces are concealed. The agents are masked because some people are very quick to attach faces to names to families to home addresses to children’s schools and maliciously post such information online, an action called doxxing. ICE agents wear masks to protect their loved ones.

Lastly, the group wishes for the Town to plan with Wake Forest police if ICE operates in our area. I think this is a great idea because Wake Forest police should have a strategy in place if ICE needs them, and the police will shortly be required by law to verify with ICE that unidentifiable individuals in our jails are legally in the country.

To conclude, we are all concerned about overreach regarding American liberties. Therefor, I agree with the group that the Town of Wake Forest should issue a proclamation affirming that all Americans have Constitutional rights that should be protected.

Thank you for your time."

Representatives from the local chapter spoke again shortly after me. They said they had to change what they wanted to say due to comments given earlier in the meeting. They reiterated concern about possible ICE overreach, then focused on town transparency for the remainder of their time.