CMS Superintendent Raises Concerns About ICE Operations

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – New concerns about fear in Charlotte’s immigrant community after a recent increase in ICE arrests.

CMS Superintendent Dr. Clayton Wilcox is speaking out about the impact teachers are seeing in the classroom.

“All you have to do is look into the eyes of some of our kids and you will see this is a terrifying time for many of them,” Wilcox told school board members Tuesday night.

The superintendent says students are falling asleep in class.

“They’re traumatized wondering which of their neighbors are going to be ripped out of their sleep,” Wilcox said.

Immigrant communities in Charlotte have been on edge after an increase in ICE enforcement over the past week.

The agency arrested more than 200 undocumented immigrants in North Carolina last week.

“Mostly I think it’s a fear tactic, and it’s a racist tactic,” says Southeast Charlotte resident Zhenia Martinez.

Martinez has two kids in CMS and says she understands the fear some parents have.

“If there’s a chance that en route to take your kid to school, that you’ll get arrested by ICE taking your kid to school, it’s not going to be a priority,” Martinez says.

ICE argues half of its arrests last week involved convicted criminals or people with pending charges.

The agency blames added enforcement in part on Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, who ended the 287(g) program when he took office in December.

“I think the public would be shocked at the types of individuals that these Sheriffs are releasing back into the country,” said ICE Field Director Sean Gallaghter at a news conference February 8th.

Martinez says she’s urging people to stay calm.

“I’m going to ask the community to try and not be afraid, I know it’s hard but I think it’s exactly, we’re doing exactly what they want us to do, to be afraid,” Martinez says.