Press Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Over 25 directly impacted individuals, business owners, community leaders, and legal experts testified on the harm that federal immigration operations caused and continues to cause in communities throughout North Carolina
Watch the full hearing here / the launch press event here / Select Photos here
Charlotte, NC – Today, civil rights leaders, public officials, and community advocates gathered for the People’s Hearing on Immigration Enforcement: Charlotte. The six-hour event included testimony from more than 25 local residents. Testimony included a wide range of voices who have been directly impacted by federal immigration enforcement, including local business owners, community leaders, and legal experts from across North Carolina.
The hearing took place a little less than a year after federal agents descended on Charlotte communities and as the current administration continues to ignore ongoing calls for accountability and guardrails, opting instead on shade practices that instill fear in communities and endanger lives. The People’s Hearings are creating a public record of how immigration enforcement has and continues to harm communities across the country. Charlotte is the sixth stop in the series, following hearings in Saint Paul, MN; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; San Antonio and Dallas, TX. More than 135 people have testified so far about the toll immigration enforcement has taken on families, children, workers, schools, small businesses, faith communities, local governments, public institutions, and U.S. citizens.
“Behind every headline, behind every statistic, there is a human story. There is a child waiting for a parent to come home. There is a worker who helped build our communities now afraid to leave for work. There is a family that has contributed, sacrificed, paid taxes, worshipped, volunteered, and dreamed here — suddenly treated as if they do not belong. Tragically, the stories we are hearing in North Carolina echo the painful stories we have heard in the other hearings we have organized across the country. This moment is the beginning of a renewed fight for justice and accountability, a fight to make sure that the voices of our communities are heard, that their stories are honored, and that their rights are protected,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO, Hispanic Federation.
“Through the People’s Hearings, I have listened to parents, workers, faith leaders, educators, attorneys, and directly impacted individuals describe how immigration enforcement has upended their lives. Families have been torn apart, businesses have been targeted, and neighborhoods have been disrupted — but community members in Charlotte continue to show up for one another. An accurate record of the long-lasting damage must be preserved, and those directly impacted should be the ones to tell that story,” said Rochelle Garza, Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
“For one dark week, DHS and ICE in Charlotte unleashed an operation of terror that separated families, terrorized neighborhoods, and harmed the local economy. Charlotte’s Web was another reminder of the fragility of our safety and constitutional rights, including the right to due process. The People’s Hearing on Immigration Enforcement held today recorded the testimonies of dozens of witnesses who lived through that terror, including community leaders, families, and small business owners. Each testimony will help to hold those responsible for harm accountable, push for transparency in ICE operations, and help rein in abuses of power that we’ve seen far too rampant throughout our country. We are here to stand with the people of North Carolina—their bravery and resilience in the face of oppression are the hallmarks of a true democracy,” said Katherine Pichardo, President & CEO of Latino Victory.
“During Operation Charlotte’s Web, we saw firsthand how Charlotte residents were assaulted and denied their constitutional rights. Businesses lost tens of thousands of dollars, with some still struggling to recover. The aftereffects have been just as bad, as people are afraid to leave their homes and operations continue in Charlotte. Most recently, Action NC member, Manolo Betancur and his Bakery were the victims of intimidation tactics by ex-commander of CBP, Gregory Bovino. The community response during Charlotte’s Web and Manolo’s recent actions remind us that together, we can push back and prevail,” said Héctor Vaca, Immigrant Justice Director, Action NC.
“In November, Charlotte’s Web didn’t just detain people — it detained trust. It sent a message to every immigrant family in this city that safety is conditional. But the words of testimony have power. When our neighbors stand up and share what enforcement actually looked like — their fear, the separation and the silence that followed — that’s history being recorded in real time, in their own words. If you weren’t there when it happened, then be there when it’s told. Watch the stream. Listen all the way through. Because the people who lived through it are the ones who should be believed and understood,” said Federico Rios, Interim Director, Latin American Coalition.
“At ourBRIDGE for KIDS, we see every day how children carry the weight of immigration enforcement, even when they do not fully understand what is happening. The People’s Hearing gives impacted community members and those of us working with kids and families the opportunity to share how fear and separation are affecting our community, our children’s sense of safety, their education, and their ability to simply be kids. We cannot turn away from what is happening to our neighbors; we must stand up for the most vulnerable amongst us,” said Salma Villarreal, Executive Director, ourBRIDGE for KIDS.
“During Charlotte’s Web, community members were disappeared, families were destroyed, and our community has been forever bonded by the shared trauma of witnessing federal agents raid our home. The People’s forum will memorialize the lived experiences of witnesses who lived and worked through a dark week in Charlotte’s history,” said Stefania Arteaga, Co-Executive Director, Carolina Migrant Network.
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About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
