NORTH CAROLINA (MARCH 5, 2026) — Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) demanding transparency on the federal immigration crackdown that has escalated across North Carolina.
Over 40 Charlotte-based faith leaders, business owners, and public interest groups joined Charlotte-Mecklenburg elected officials and statewide allied organizations in sending a letter of support for this request to ICE, CBP, the Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Field Office, and North Carolina’s congressional delegation.
The request seeks all records from September 1, 2025 to the present concerning the planning, authorization, internal and public communications, execution, coordination, detention practices, arrests (including of U.S. citizens), and evaluations related to immigration enforcement in North Carolina. North Carolinians have the right to request this information and it can only be withheld in specific circumstances.
On November 15, 2025, North Carolinians across the state experienced a surge of federal immigration agents in their communities without notice to state or local officials. In Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, and other communities, agents conducted warrantless arrests and detentions, often without legal justification.
The crackdown has resulted in serious civil rights and civil liberties violations. On February 24, ACLU-NC filed a class action lawsuit challenging unlawful warrantless immigration arrests and, on March 3, Willy Aceituno, a U.S. citizen, submitted federal damages claims after being violently arrested by agents in Charlotte late last year. These cases represent only a fraction of those impacted, including U.S. citizens and North Carolinians of varying immigration statuses whose rights have been violated.
Bipartisan calls for accountability are growing. During Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis criticized DHS’s failure to produce records similar to those sought in ACLU-NC’s request and stated he would disrupt Senate business until he received answers.
This coalition letter builds on mounting legal and political pressure demanding transparency and accountability from DHS. The constitutional rights of North Carolinians must be protected — and any violations must be addressed.
View the full letter and FOIA request below.
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