Amid recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the area, The Durham Voice seeks to provide information on Durham’s ‘Fourth Amendment Workplace’ distinction. The Voice has reviewed relevant information and resources related to the issue, compiled in this article. 

What Is It? 

On Sept. 2, 2025, the Durham City Council unanimously voted to declare the city a Fourth Amendment Workplace, a move aimed to protect community members from ICE overreach.

The resolution, introduced by Council Member Chelsea Cook and seconded by Council Member Javiera Caballero, passed with votes from Council Members Baker, Caballero, Cook and Rist, along with Mayor Leonardo Williams and former Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton. 

Former City Council Member DeDreanna Freeman was absent from the vote. 

The resolution is based on the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects against “unreasonable searches and seizures” and requires probable cause for searches of a person, home or property.

Durham’s new citywide distinction stems from a larger national campaign encouraging businesses to enforce Fourth Amendment protections for workers and patrons. 

According to the Fourth Amendment Workplaces official website, these workplaces seek to “identify invalid ICE warrants, secure private employee areas, document unconstitutional actions and defend all workers, no matter their immigration status.”

While the campaign targets individual workplaces, cities can also adopt broader protections, as evidenced by Durham’s September resolution.

Durham is the second municipality in North Carolina to adopt a citywide Fourth Amendment Workplace resolution. The Town of Carrboro adopted a similar resolution on May 20, 2025. 

Who Is It For? 

The resolution seeks to protect all Durham residents from unlawful overreach, but places particular emphasis on members of the immigrant community. 

Fourth Amendment Workplaces offer added protections against ICE raids, allowing people to work and/or patronize local businesses with a greater sense of security.

Because of its impact on the immigrant community, the Fourth Amendment Workplace campaign has been championed by Siembra NC, a grassroots organization focused on defending North Carolina’s Latinx community. 

In addition to immigration-related advocacy, the organization also works to support Latinx political interests and promote Latinx workers’ rights. 

The Fourth Amendment Workplaces campaign is a critical piece of Siembra NC’s Defend & Recruit Network, which brings groups together to protect immigrant communities and promote unity through alliances with other social justice organizations.

The organization also operates La Línea de Defensa, a hotline users can call to document ICE sightings. Once these sightings are verified by the organization, Siembra NC alerts its community of the agents’ location. 

Why Does It Matter? 

The September resolution followed heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Durham County, where an estimated 15% of residents are immigrants.

In April, Durham County was labeled a “sanctuary county” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The DHHS granted the county this distinction due to its failure to comply with federal immigration-enforcement policies. 

Concerns escalated on July 23, after four plainclothes ICE agents were seen outside the Durham County Courthouse. The agents intended to detain a Durham man who was due to appear at the courthouse that morning.

The sighting sparked outrage among the Durham community, contributing to the push for a Fourth Amendment distinction. 

More recently, on Nov. 18, sightings of ICE agents were reported in both Durham and Wake counties. Siembra NC stated that at least a dozen people were detained across the Triangle.

In one confirmed sighting, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam posted a video to her social media accounts, showing ICE agents arresting three people on Durham’s Avondale Drive. 

The deployment of federal agents in the Triangle follows a major federal immigration enforcement operation that took place in Charlotte, N.C., known as Operation Charlotte’s Web.

In a statement to the Durham Voice, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson reported an estimated 370 undocumented immigrants were detained as a result of the operation, as of Nov. 28. 

Siembra NC reported in a Nov. 20 BlueSky post that a “caravan” of ICE vehicles had left North Carolina but alleged that border patrol agents “could return at any time.” 

In a subsequent Nov. 28 BlueSky post, Siembra NC stated that the organization has learned 50 ICE agents will be deployed to the Raleigh area for a monthlong operation, beginning Dec. 1. The report also stated that ICE has reserved daily flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Jacksonville International Airport.

This is a developing story.

Resources for Readers: 

Siembra NC Homepage

4th Amendment Workplaces Homepage