Raleigh protesters plan to rally against proposed immigration enforcement bill

As immigration-related demonstrations intensify across the country, organizers are planning their own protest in North Carolina’s capital city.

A protest and march are planned for Tuesday evening to take a stand against deportations. 

Members with Democracy Out Loud plan to hold a silent protest in front of the Legislative Building as state lawmakers prepare to vote on Senate Bill 153.

Also known as the North Carolina Border Protection Act, it aims to crack down on undocumented immigrants in North Carolina. 

“This is an anti-immigration bill so we are going to be out here with signs and trying to let the public known about this bill and why we oppose it,” shared Maddie Segal, a member of Democracy Out Loud. 

Another member, Mark Swallow, argued such deportations would having a crippling effect on the state’s economy. 

“They pick out food, they pack up our meats, they clean our homes, they build our homes, it’s a significant number,” Swallow said. 

Senate Bill 153, a Republican-backed bill, aims to strengthen coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), charge sanctuary cities with crimes, and prevent undocumented immigrants from collecting state benefits. 

Similar protests have taken place across the U.S., including in Los Angeles, where violent clashes erupted for four days straight. 

In Raleigh, demonstrators stood in solidarity, but not all agree with their message.

Ira Mehlman with the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) supports enforcing SB 153. 

“We’ve seen countless examples over the past few years of horrific crimes that could have been avoided if we kept them out in the first place or if local law enforcement cooperated with federal law enforcement to get the person out of the country,” he said.

FAIR argues illegal immigration is a fiscal burden in North Carolina. 

“This is money that can be used for other price tags in North Carolina,” Mehlman said, attributing costs to public education, health care, and policing.

As debate over the legislation heats up, attention now turns to lawmakers, whose decision could shape the future of immigration enforcement in North Carolina.