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Immigration protesters disrupt City Council with 'No more ICE' chants

By Elsa Gillis and Brittney Johnson, wsoctv.com
By Elsa Gillis and Brittney Johnson, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Protesters interrupted Charlotte leaders at Monday night's City Council meeting, demanding more action to protect local immigrants.

Intense fear over President Donald Trump’s immigration policy and pleas for the city to do more for the immigrant community drove people to the streets of Charlotte in a march that eventually ended at the meeting.

Organizers said the goal was to share what they said is really going on in the immigrant community.

Per law, 10 speakers are allowed to address the council during each citizens’ forum. But there were more people who wanted to speak, and they demanded the leaders let them.

City leaders were forced to finish their city business over the chants.

They finally adjourned, but the crowd still wanted to be heard so Mayor Jennifer Roberts invited the crowd to speak with council members in the lobby.

She told demonstrators that many of their concerns go beyond city council and need to be taken up by state and federal officials, but she also told them she would personally stand up for the immigrant community.

Roberts said she would make sure “our federal officials know the fear and the anxiety and the real anguish they’re bringing to our communities.”

"We really want them to say something very, very strong about what's going on," Stefania Arteaga said before the meeting.

Arteaga is with a grassroots group pushing leaders to take a stronger stance against actions by Immigrants and Customs Enforcement.

After thousands recently marched during "A Day Without Immigrants" the city released a statement to ease concerns, saying it attributes its growth to many immigrants and welcomes a diverse population.

It also cited ICE, saying despite the president's executive order, the agency said its actions are consistent with previous activity.

Arteaga said that doesn't match up with what she's seen.

“People are getting picked up. That’s what's happening. Moms and dads are not coming home to their children,” she said. “I think that our city has the right to protect its citizens.”

She said that also includes more from police.

This week, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said it doesn't enforce federal immigration. But Arteaga said the immigrant community needs to hear more.

ICE told Channel 9 that the same number of fugitive operations teams are in place in Charlotte Sunday as a few months ago, and any reports of an increase or big change in activity are false.

ICE officials said they target criminals and if people who are not criminals, but illegal themselves, are there when agents arrive, they can now be arrested too, although that's a small percentage.

A spokesman sent Channel 9 the following statement:

“Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create mass panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support.

As Secretary Kelly has stated, ICE will continue to enforce our nation’s laws to protect public safety, national security, and to preserve the integrity of our immigration system.”

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