In Durham, North Carolina, neighbors are protecting neighbors from ICE: We care for each other'

"Before the school bell rang on the morning of 19 November, dozens of parents mostly dads huddled outside schools all around Durham, North Carolina. Bleary-eyed from late-night meetings and dinging group chats, they passed out whistles and gloves before dispersing to stand along school perimeters. The parents had formed ad hoc welcoming committees for students being dropped off for school and to serve as a united group of watchdogs against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)."

"A week before Thanksgiving, federal immigration agents had descended upon the city as part of a massive statewide campaign that included Charlotte and smaller communities. For almost a month, masked agents, often in tactical vests or fatigues and some carrying rifles, patrolled quiet neighborhoods and vibrant shopping centers around North Carolina. ICE doubled its North Carolina arrests in 2025 from the previous year, totaling 3,400 arrests from 20 January through 15 October."

"Norma Portillo, the PTA president at Club Boulevard elementary and an immigrant mother from Honduras, immediately leapt into action, organizing rideshares for families afraid to leave their homes to take their children to school. With the help of local networks, she ramped up the weekly food pantry run by mostly mothers and grandparents. PTAs all across the district did the same, using the rideshare network to make food deliveries to families."

Dozens of parents, mostly fathers, gathered outside Durham schools before classes, distributing whistles and gloves and standing along perimeters as ad hoc welcoming committees and watchdogs against ICE and CBP. A statewide enforcement campaign deployed masked federal agents in tactical gear to patrol neighborhoods and shopping centers across North Carolina. ICE arrests in the state increased to 3,400 between January 20 and October 15, 2025. Durham public schools enroll about 35% Latino students. PTA leaders organized rideshares for fearful families, expanded weekly food pantries, coordinated community networks for deliveries, and pushed school officials for stronger protections.

Read at www.theguardian.com