ICE said the operation centered around allegations of identity theft to hire people who aren’t authorized to work in the United States.
KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. — Over two dozen people are in custody after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at a business in Kings Mountain on Wednesday afternoon.
ICE confirmed to WCNC Charlotte it was executing a criminal search warrant at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company, which is just off North Carolina Highway 161. An ICE spokesperson said the operation was linked to allegations of identity theft to hire people who aren’t authorized to work in the U.S.
“These are allegations that the employer, or somebody in their charge, used fraudulent or incorrect documents to allow people who aren’t authorized to work in this country to work,” ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said. “These are allegations of identity theft, which we should take seriously. It’s a federal crime.”
Several people appeared to be protesting from across the road. Julieth Perez said her cousin was inside the building.
“She had called me when she came back from lunch to tell me that immigration had blocked off the roads and she was really scared,” Perez said. “Not for herself, but for everyone else in the building. That was around 1 p.m. I haven’t heard from her. She told me that when she got into the building, they told everyone to go to the conference room, and then they were told to turn their phones off. That was the last I heard from her.”
The raid sparked confusion and concern among workers, many of whom said they were unaware of what was happening or who the agents were. A worker, who asked not to be identified due to safety concerns, described the chaotic scene as agents moved in.
“It would be nice to hear what is going on before they start processing you,” one employee said. “They were pretty aggressive at first, not pushing anyone but just the way they were talking, the way they were holding their guns.”
He said agents separated workers into groups and questioned them about their legal work status.
“When you go outside, there were tents and a lot of cars set up, and they were asking questions about people with legal permits to work and stuff.”
He told WCNC Charlotte that he always carries his green card with him, even when he isn’t traveling.
“I have a social, a driver’s license, and I carry that with me out of precaution,” he said.
Some people waited hours before they were finally allowed to leave.
“They made us take everything out of our pockets, they patted us down, searched us, they made us put all of our portables in a plastic bag,” Josephin Bjurstrom said. “They taped the bags shut and wouldn’t let us get to our personal belongings.”
Protesters near the facility were chanting for ICE to leave, while others believe the agency is violating human rights.
“My biggest fear is my family being ripped apart,” Perez said. “The community here supports the Hispanic community.”
Employees who were cleared to leave were escorted by officers and asked more questions.
“Where we were born and asked us questions about whether we know if any illegals are working at Buckeye or any illegals are using someone’s Social Security number,” Bjurstrom said.
The Carolina Migrant Network responded with outrage over the raid. The organization received numerous calls from loved ones and caregivers trying to locate missing family members.
“Messages and calls from loved ones who are worried about what was going on, who were trying to leave their homes, to childcare providers who knew parents within the facility that were being detained,” said Stefania Arteaga, a representative for the network.
Arteaga also raised concerns about the long-term economic effects of the raid.
“There’s ample data that shows that immigration enforcement absolutely destroys local economies, and so we know that by doing so, ecosystems right that lived in this community, that are expecting workers to pay for gas, buy food, pay into whatever system are now going to be harmed because of this type of operations.”
ICE told WCNC Charlotte that 30 individuals are now in custody as the investigation is ongoing. It’s still to be determined if anyone at the company will face charges.
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