Above photo: People protest against federal immigration enforcement Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Charlotte. AP Photo/Erik Verduzco.
The following statement was issued on Nov. 18, 2025, by UE Local 150, North Carolina Public Service Workers Union, which represents thousands of public-sector city and state workers. Go to ue150.org
UE150 condemns the Trump administration’s plan to deploy Border Patrol units to North Carolina. This decision is an alarming escalation and a direct threat to working people across our state. We denounce this action because we know exactly what it represents: a deliberate attempt to intimidate immigrant workers, silence community voices, and turn our communities into political props.
North Carolina is not a border state. There is no emergency here that justifies a militarized federal presence. This move is nothing more than a manufactured crisis — a cynical performance meant to score political points while undermining the safety and dignity of the very communities that keep this state running.
As public service workers, we know what real crises look like. We face staffing shortages, rising living costs, underfunded public services, and wages that fail to meet the needs of our families. Yet instead of investing in schools, clinics, sanitation, transit, and essential workers, the federal government is preparing to send armed agents into our communities. That tells us everything about its priorities.
And let’s be clear: This deployment is designed to send a message of fear, especially to immigrant workers who power our hospitals, maintain our public spaces, care for our children, and contribute every day to North Carolina’s economy. The threat of the Border Patrol entering our state isn’t about safety— it’s about intimidation.
UE150 members know that immigrant workers and native-born workers share the same struggles — low wages, understaffed departments, unsafe working conditions, and a constant fight for dignity on the job. We stand together because our power comes from unity, not division. When immigrant workers are targeted, all workers are weakened; when they are protected and respected, every UE150 member is stronger. Our union is built on the understanding that an injury to one worker — regardless of birthplace, documentation status, or background — is an injury to us all!
UE150 stands firmly with all workers — documented or undocumented — who are now forced to worry about harassment instead of being allowed to live and work in peace. We reject any attempt to divide the working class or pit neighbors against one another. Workers deserve investment, respect, and democratic accountability — not federal agents patrolling our communities for political theater.
UE150 continues to advocate loudly and collectively for the rights, safety, and dignity of every worker in North Carolina. We will not be intimidated, and we will not allow fear to silence the voices of working people.
Action NC, Carolina Migrant Network and UE150 requests that the Charlotte City Council:
- Immediately issues instructions to the city manager to deny access to city parking lots, parking decks, garages, buildings and all real property for the purposes of immigration operations. We further ask that you coordinate similar instructions with the county manager for all similar county property.
- Produces official signage free of charge that landlords and businesses can post on their property that clearly state that no law enforcement officials may enter non-public areas of their property for the purposes of civil immigration enforcement. Participation is voluntary but encouraged.
- Funds direct support organizations that are educating the public on their rights, providing crisis assistance services, counseling and legal aid.
- Passes an ordinance that prevents Border Patrol, ICE and any other federal agency from entering city properties without a judicial warrant.
