Local organizations respond to reports of ICE activity in area

Press release from CIMA:

Since this past weekend the community of Buncombe, Henderson and surrounding areas have seen a heavy presence from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). This morning CIMA has received various calls from community members that have seen suspicious cars in their neighborhoods. One arrest by ICE agents was witnessed and reported this morning in Candler. These are attacks against the community at large. Through intimidation, targeting and spreading fear, an unstable environment for Buncombe and surrounding counties has been created.

Under this administration there has been a 171 percent increase in people detained without prior criminal convictions — innocent community members have been taken away and continue to be. CIMA, sister organizations and the community at large are against the intrusion of our neighborhoods by ICE and therefore will be protecting and defending all of our people from detainment and deportation.

Current efforts from community members include: fundraising money to financially support those affected, verifying different reports of ICE activity and building a plan to ensure communities know their rights and are able to protect themselves and their families. Since yesterday, organizations and grassroots efforts from Buncombe and Henderson County have been organizing, CIMA-Compañeros Inmigrantes de las Montañas en Accion, True Ridge and El Centro Hendersonville.

There is a pressing need for more capacity to reach all of the people who may be affected and ensure that all of Buncombe and Hendersonville is involved in resisting the rogue agency that is Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They have used fear tactics, militarized equipment and untruthful messaging to proceed with this operation–taking mothers, fathers, workers, community members away and terrorizing their neighborhoods.

CIMA is posting regular updates on its Facebook page of what the group says is ICE activity in the community.