ICE Returning to the Triangle, possibly today.
Actions to take and a bonus for you.
SiembraNC has credible informtion that ICE is coming back and will be in Raleigh (and likely Durham) for a month starting as early as today. ICE has chartered flights between Charlotte and Jacksonville, FL, as they did when CBP showed up. Fifty ICE agents are expected in the Triangle.
While we hope this is not the case, it’s better to be prepared in the event it is.
Siembra writes,
“we know that [this information about the upcoming return of ICE] may cause alarm, but we do not have information that suggests ICE is planning the same kinds of arrests as those conducted by CBP last week.”
Rather, the arrests may look like those detailed below.
Siembra continues, “ As we wait to find out more, we do know two things thing for sure: ICE is coming back because they were invited here by our Speaker, Dustin Hall. Speaker Hall and NC Republicans think that families being ripped apart, businesses closing, and entire streets locked in their homes is fine, and that ICE is the best use of our tax dollars. We’ve already showed that so many across our state don’t agree. So we’ll keep fighting, together.”
Right now, volunteers across Durham are covering 5 zones (divided by high school districts) to verify sightings and help immigrants get to school and work safely. There are also groups greeting children at DPS drop off and pick up, creating safety and support in those spaces.
If you’d like to volunteer, you can sign up here. While there is no option on this form to be part of a regular district patrol, I imagine if you wanted to do that Siembra could connect you.
USE THIS @apply -heat Linktr.ee to plug in. Find your local zone and volunteer to monitor or patrol. Or be part of a school based protection team.
Follow SiembraNC on FB and IG for more up to date info.
It’s up to all of us to keep our community safe, as much as possible.
Carry a whistle and blow it to warn others of ICE/CBP presence.
Contact any folks you know personally who may be at risk; ask them what they need, lend support and compassion. Just this weekend I heard of so many who are terrified to leave their homes: friends, relatives, neighbors. If you have any kind of privilege, now is the time to use it.
If you do end up coming across CBP/ICE, record any interactions. Legally you cannot interfere but you have the right to record. Remain present as an observer, stay calm, and get as much information as you can (this is guidance from groups who have been doing this work). Get pictures of the agents’ license plates.
Report any possible sightings to the Siembra Hotline (save the number in your phone now!): (336) 543-0353. Include as much of the above information as you can in the report.
School support training TONIGHT Register here
With the news of ICE returning to our community as soon as Sunday (11/30), we are preparing to do what we will always do - show up with care and protection for all of our neighbors. Join Durham Public School Strong and Durham For All for a School-based Care and Protection Team orientation and training on Sunday, Nov 30, from 8-9pm on Zoom to learn how to plug into a school team, get refreshers on ICE verification, guidance on how to talk to students about what is happening and prepare to show up in strength and coordination for our students and families this week!
Places to help and donate.
Many have written asking where they can donate and/or help families impacted by masked men in tactical gear seeking to kidnap them. Now it seems there will be more weeks of no work, no pay and folks scared to go to the grocery store. Here are some options:
El Centro Hispano NC 💛
Donate hereIf you’d like to support families with rent and utility payments, you can donate here
SiembraNC donate here
Leap is collecting and delivering food for Latino families sign up here
Emmanuel Food Pantry - volunteer and donate
Carolina Migrant Network provides legal services (free and low cost) to individuals in removal proceedings. They accept donations.
Why are they coming to North Carolina?
North Carolina is key to electoral and Congressional maps.
Remember, if we had not lost control of the NC Supreme Court to a corrupt MAGA majority in Nov. 2022, we would have fair Congressional maps in North Carolina and Hakeem Jeffries would be Speaker. The Big Horrid Bill funding ICE to the tune of 170 BILLION over 4 years wouldn’t have passed.
These actions by ICE are about terrorizing people, but also about suppressing the vote and having us use our time and energy (well spent) to protect our neighbors. Caring and protection must be our present priority.
However, they are hoping that a subdued populace doesn’t vote, that activists won’t have the time to get out the vote. Choosing NC isn’t a random act.
So, what now?
Right now, we protect our neighbors and support them as we can with donations of food, supplies and our time, love, compassion and fierce vigilance.
Beginning in the New Year, we each figure out a way to take electoral action, to become poll watchers or poll workers, drive voters to the polls, canvass, phone bank, write postcards, spread the word. Not only do we have a Senate election, but we must re-elect NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls.
That is our path to fair Congressional maps. We also work on State legislative races to take the supermajorities away from Destin Hall and Phil Berger in the NCGA, so they can’t enact their cruel policies upon our neighbors any more.
Durham Dems Action will be here, offering many options for you to be of service, to take action, to embody hope through getting stuff done.
We can do it all. (each of us, a little bit.)
Thursday Dec. 11 Save the Date
C2C+NoC Party with a Purpose. More info here
We’re a volunteer-fueled organization dedicated to helping Democrats take back the state legislature in North Carolina. We do this by partnering with candidates for office, and also by partnering with local county parties to help strengthen critical infrastructure and build coalitions. Join us at venues across the Triangle to express our gratitude to the wonderful NCGA legislators, candidates, and stalwart county party chairs who have connected with us this year. We’ll write thank-you notes over snacks, drinks and chit chat and enjoy the company of special guests.
ICYMI
A critical and intriguing development. Aaron Parnas and The Independent UK are both reporting that Senators Roger Wicker (R) and Jack Reed (D) on the Armed Services Committee have opened a bipartisan inquiry into whether or not Peet Hegseth has committed war crimes related to his directives to “kill them all,” on a strike on a boat in the Southern Carribbean.
This kind of bipartisan cooperation is perhaps a sign that the MAGA hold on the national GOP may be weakening.
CALLS
Senator Budd, who sits on the Armed Services Committee. 202-224-3154
Suggested Script: “This is (name) from (zip). I was glad to see that Senators Wicker and Reed are launching a bipartisan inquiry into possible war crimes committed by Pete Hegseth in the Carribbean. I want the Senator to support this fully; the actions of the United States targeting innocent civilians without due process has to end. I want a full investigation. If we are to be at war, it must happen only with Congressional authorization. Thank you.”
For other calls, use 5calls.org or Jessica Craven’s ChopWood Carry Water.
Re: ICE in NC CALL
Thom Tillis: D.C. (202) 224-6342
Ted Budd: D.C. 202-224-3154
NC House Speaker Destin Hall 919-733-3451
This is (name) from (zip). I want ICE and Border patrol out of North Carolina. They are bringing violence and destruction to innocents, not violent criminals. Kids aren’t going to school. People are going hungry. There was a bipartisan immigration bill last year that then-candidate Trump destroyed. Remember, in most cases, even if people are in the US illegally, it is a civil, not a criminal offense. Being detained by masked men throwing you in the back of an SUV is not due process. Defend all your constituents and call for them to leave immediately.
A Bonus, (well sort of)—you can delete the spam texts/emails asking for $$$. Don’t think twice.
Do you get those spam texts and emails with lots of exclamation marks, panicky tone and mention of a famous person? Like these, or this:
It’s James Carville. I had to reach out.
FIRST, Democrats held Republicans to a TINY three seat House Majority.
THEN, experts reported 29 Republican-held seats are considered “TOSS-UPS” in 2026.
NOW, a new poll showed Democrats surging into a narrow ONE-POINT lead!
So I’m taking action to ensure our Democrats have what it takes to RECLAIM the House Majority and hold Trump accountable for his MAGA agenda!
If you haven’t heard of Adam Bonica, he is a Stanford political scientist who researched these spam texts and emails; writing about them in several articles on Substack.
These are a scam, although not completely. Bonica found that only about 1.6% of the money donated makes it to the intended recipients/organizations. Bonica begins,
The digital deluge is a familiar annoyance for anyone on a Democratic fundraising list. It’s a relentless cacophony of bizarre texts and emails, each one more urgent than the last, promising that your immediate $15 donation is the only thing standing between democracy and the abyss.
The Grassroots Connector has a good summary here.
In a subsequent article, Bonica found that these “churn and burn” missives often target seniors.
Here is a list of the top PACS that send these scam text/emails.
The TL:DR—-DON’T GIVE MONEY in response to those texts or emails.
DELETE AND REPORT SPAM.
That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t give money to Democrats, or to our Democratic candidates. By all means, give money directly to the NCDP, Justice Anita Earls or the Durham Dems, or to the candidates of your choice. But give directly through their website, at a time of YOUR choosing, or at a request from someone you know and trust. Don’t be fooled into panic by those texts and emails.
Oath Vote is an interesting organization that uses data to figure out where small dollar donations will make the biggest impact. You can search by issues, or candidates, and choose where to donate. Even if you don’t donate, it’s a novel, creative and effective way to gather money to support Democrats nationally—worth checking out. Also, “unlike other platforms, we do not sell or share donor contact information and we won’t spam you with annoying texts and emails.”
Wonderful information. It’s so hard - and so essential - to hold both things at once. The bad and the good. And it feels really good to contact our elected officials - thank you for the suggested language.
Is this email available in Spanish?