Wake Forest Indivisible urges preparation for ICE activity and asks board to consider "Fourth Amendment workplace" endorsement

Representatives of Wake Forest Indivisible asked the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners on Aug. 1 to prepare the town for potential increased federal immigration enforcement activity and to consider endorsing a nonbinding statement supporting Fourth Amendment workplace protections.

Jennifer Amicks, who identified herself as a lead organizer, said the group has held local information sessions and distributed educational materials describing Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights ahead of possible ICE operations. "It's important to us that members of our community understand their rights and responsibilities in advance of interactions with ICE agents," Amicks said.

Janae Bulat (also speaking as Janae Fermin in the same presentation) told the board the group is concerned about ICE conduct and cited instances the speakers described as unlawful or inhumane. "We're concerned about the illegality of what ICE is doing in some instances," Bulat/Fermin said. The group proposed canvassing local businesses with information packets and asked the board to consider discussions with the Wake Forest Police Department about how it would coordinate with ICE and whether the town would endorse a statement similar to Carrboro's "Fourth Amendment workplace" declaration.

The board received the presentation; commissioners did not take immediate action during the meeting. Wake Forest Indivisible said it would leave informational packets with the town clerk and continue outreach.