Hundreds gathered Wednesday at Moore Square Park in downtown Raleigh to protest new immigration enforcement laws. Demonstrators voiced strong opposition to two bills recently passed in the North Carolina General Assembly, Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 318.
Local outrage over new immigration legislation
Both bills have stirred controversy statewide. Tuesday, crowds rallied at the state legislature as lawmakers finalized the legislation. Both bills passed and were sent to NC Gov. Josh Stein Tuesday. SB 153 requires local law enforcement to comply with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests. HB318 bans sanctuary city policies and limits the use of community issued IDs for undocumented immigrants.
This isn’t the first time such policies have sparked pushback. In 2024, former Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a similar bill, HB10. That bill required sheriffs’ offices to notify ICE at least 48 hours before releasing illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes. Despite the veto, lawmakers overrode it, making the bill law in November with votes of 30-19 in the Senate and 72-44 in the House.
Organizers condemn new laws as divisive
The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), which organized Wednesday’s protest, strongly criticized the new laws. In a press release, the group called the legislation an effort to “dehumanize, criminalize, and terrorize immigrant communities.”
“We must understand that these attacks are not simply about immigration,” said PSL spokesperson Victor Urquiza. “They’re a calculated effort to divide working class people and protect the interests of the wealthy elite.”
Raleigh protest mirrors national movement
Protestors in Raleigh echoed the energy and urgency of similar demonstrations happening in Los Angeles. While the Raleigh protest remained peaceful, many participants wore gas masks, preparing in case tensions escalated.
Meanwhile, during a visit to Ft. Bragg to honor the 250th anniversary of the US Army, President Donald Trump referred to the ongoing riots in Los Angeles, saying “this anarchy will not stand.”
“If we know anything from history, we know that the enemy will try to divide us,” Urquiza told the crowd. “That’s exactly what they [the Trump administration] are trying to do.”
Public reaction to ICE crackdown in NC
Protesters chanted “ICE out of NC!” and “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here!” before they took to the streets of downtown Raleigh. The group marched for about an hour before returning to Moore Square park.
One demonstrator, who wished to remain anonymous, called these policies “unacceptable behavior in our democracy.”
“The only way that we can stop this slow-roll coup is if we all get out in the streets,” she told Carolina Journal.
Protests continue to spread across the country as tensions grow over immigration enforcement policy. Rallies tied to the national ‘No Kings’ Movement are set for Saturday, June 14 – President Trump’s birthday and the Army’s 250th anniversary parade.
The demonstrations will take place in Charlotte, Monroe, Concord, Waxhaw and Rock Hill.