After a series of immigration operations by Federal Border Patrol agents in Durham, workers and activists are taking a stand, demanding local institutions like Duke University to safeguard their communities. A video obtained by CBS 17 showed several people being detained around noon on Tuesday, igniting protests and calls for better protection from employers.
The demands center on the concept of a Fourth Amendment Workplace pledge, which assumes to require federal immigration agents to present a judicial warrant prior to entering private areas, and for staff at places like Duke University and local schools to receive training to assert their constitutional rights. "Duke must stand with the community and take action to keep ICE out of hospitals," Duke nurse Andrea Cazales told CBS 17.
In response to the heightened concerns, Durham Public Schools has communicated that they do not share student information with immigration enforcement and require a judicial warrant before federal officers can enter school buildings, as reported by CBS 17.
Furthermore, following the press conference outside Duke Regional Hospital, Durham community groups pressured Duke and other organizations to ramp up measures for protecting immigrant workers, as ABC11 details.
Duke University, for its part, appears to be taking the community's worries seriously. "We understand the fear and uncertainty that ongoing immigration-related activity has created in our community," a Duke official stated, according to CBS 17. The university emphasized compliance with federal and state privacy laws, and their lack of collection of immigration status as part of patient care.
Meanwhile, the Duke Chronicle outlines additional steps the university has urged, instructing international students and faculty to carry travel documentation and advising employees to contact Duke University Police first if agents request access to non-public areas.
These responses come amidst a wider, sustained concern over immigration enforcement's presence in Durham, which isn't a new occurrence. An appearance by ICE agents at the Durham County Courthouse in July had previously sparked protest, and a state bill requiring more stringent cooperation with ICE was recently passed, as highlighted by the Duke Chronicle.
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