Protests Erupt Over Proposed Immigration Detention Center in North Carolina
In a demonstration of solidarity, over 60 immigrant rights advocates gathered at the Charles R. Jones Federal Building in Charlotte to voice their opposition to a proposed federal detention center in North Carolina.
Planned Facilities and Community Concerns
The proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility is slated to be located in Winton, a small town in Hertford County, approximately 300 miles northeast of major urban centers like Concord, Greensboro, and Charlotte. GEO Group, a for-profit correctional services company with a regional office in Charlotte, plans to manage the facility, which could house as many as 1,500 detainees. Among the facilities under consideration is the Rivers Correctional Facility, a 1,320-bed private prison that has remained closed since 2021. GEO Group is reportedly negotiating with the Trump administration to reopen it as an ICE detention center.
Current Detention Landscape
Nationwide, nearly 70,000 individuals are currently detained across about 270 ICE-managed facilities, according to the American Immigration Council. Remarkably, around one-third of these detainees are housed in facilities run by GEO Group. Adding to the controversy, former company executive David Venturella has recently taken the helm as ICE’s acting director.
Community Voices Against Detention
Marian Lewis, the community organizing coordinator for the Carolina Immigration Network, which organized the rally in collaboration with Indivisible CLT and North Carolina Stop Detention Centers, stated, “We don’t want detention centers to open here in our state.” The call to action reflects a broader concern within local communities about the impacts of such institutions.
Impact of Federal Immigration Policies
The current administration’s immigration control efforts, marked by military-style operations executed by ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents, have fueled public outcry. These agents have conducted nationwide crackdowns, resulting in the detention of immigrants, including U.S. citizens. Alarmingly, over 40 fatalities have been recorded in immigration detention facilities since the start of the second Trump administration.
Advocates Highlight Human Costs
In light of these developments, state Representative Julia Greenfield, a Democrat from Charlotte, expressed deep concern about the human cost of detention: “One person dies every week while in ICE custody. It’s not just a statistic; it’s a human being—someone’s mother, father, or child.” Alongside her, Rev. Glencie Redrick, co-chair of Charlotte Clergy for Justice, emphasized the inherent dignity of all individuals, urging the community to reflect on the kind of society being cultivated if families are torn apart and fear takes root.
Economics of Detention and Calls for Legislative Action
The surge in federal enforcement has led to a lucrative market for private prison companies like GEO Group, which reportedly derives nearly half of its revenue from contracts with ICE. The company’s profits skyrocketed from $32 million in 2024 to an impressive $254 million in 2025. Tina Schall, an immigration enforcement historian and professor at UNC Charlotte, noted that over 60,000 immigrants are currently detained, with more than 1,000 engaging in hunger strikes across various facilities in the U.S. Protests have also emerged at the GEO Group detention center in Newark, exacerbated by allegations of poor living conditions.
Legislators Urged to Take Action
During the Charlotte rally, protesters called on North Carolina lawmakers to intervene and ban the establishment of immigrant detention centers, citing the negative consequences of these facilities on community relations and safety. “We urge our legislators to implement policies that prevent ICE from entering our communities and to safeguard against their violent tactics,” stated Cristiano Mendez, a criminal and immigration attorney. Representative Jordan Lopez, North Carolina’s first Afro-Latino lawmaker, reiterated that while laws must be upheld in a democratic society, the manner in which they are enforced is crucial.
