Durham City Council Adopts “Fourth Revised Workplace” Resolution

On Tuesday, the Durham City Council reached a unanimous decision to designate the city as a “fourth revised workplace.” This move aims to protect city employees from any U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that lack a valid warrant.

The resolution instructs city staff to uphold the Fourth Amendment across workplaces and city agencies. It also calls for reporting any obstacles in effectively training staff regarding the Fourth Amendment, as reported.

Durham now joins Carrboro, which implemented similar protective measures in May, making it the second city in the region to take this step. The decision follows an incident in July when ICE agents entered the Durham County Courthouse in an attempt to detain an undocumented individual facing felony charges. Although no arrests were made, their presence sparked protests within the community.

“Residents have seen ICE agents in our neighborhoods, which has led to significant fear and uncertainty,” remarked Mayor Leo Williams. “While local leaders can’t legally prevent ICE actions, we can show solidarity with our community.”

Councillor Javiera Caballero brought the resolution forward, receiving backing from Ciembra NC, a group that aids Latino migrant workers statewide.

During the public comment session, residents voiced their worries about immigration enforcement. One individual, Melanie, shared her experience, saying, “I’ve noticed children in our community struggling with fear, unable to sleep or wanting to go to school. It’s unbearable to live with that kind of anxiety.”

This past April, the Department of Homeland Security designated Durham as a “sanctuary county.” Officials in the county had previously declined to classify the designation as having any legal or practical standing, allegedly not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.