Mecklenburg Commissioners Affirm Support for Immigrant Community and Highlight Resources

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 18 adopted a resolution affirming the constitutional protections and expressing support for the immigrant community during recent operations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Board affirmed its responsibility—consistent with the First Amendment—to voice the concerns and needs of the community it represents.  

The resolution reaffirms that Mecklenburg County complies with all state and federal laws; supports legitimate, targeted law-enforcement efforts aimed at dismantling criminal organizations while insisting that such actions respect constitutional rights; and remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the safety, dignity, and constitutional protections of all County residents.  

The Board urged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office to collaborate, to the extent permitted by law, on approaches that protect public safety while safeguarding the well-being and humanity of families and children.

Stefania Arteaga and Becca O’Neill from the Carolina Migrant Network accepted the resolution with several other residents addressing the Board in support of the immigrant community.  

The resolution was adopted following the release on Nov. 15 of a joint statement from County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell, City of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Chair Stephanie Sneed in response to recent activities of the federal government.

The Board also highlighted examples of the resources available to the immigrant community in Mecklenburg County, both documented and undocumented:

Mecklenburg County is one of the largest and most diverse counties in North Carolina, home to foreign-born residents from more than 187 countries who collectively speak over 205 languages. Mecklenburg County is home to about 190,000 immigrants, according to the Migration Policy Institute.