The Latin American Coalition held an event Wednesday evening to explain to Charlotte's Latino community the role of local law enforcement and to build trust at a time of increased anxiety about raids and deportations.
Representatives from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden spoke at the Coalition’s east Charlotte office.
CMPD shared that officers do not collaborate with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, except when an arrest warrant is being fulfilled. McFadden said that the Mecklenburg County jail follows the law, and the sheriff's department is not legally required to cooperate with ICE. Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy shared information about immigrants' rights if ICE approaches them.
McFadden said Wednesday’s event is important because Latinos should trust law enforcement.
“Our Hispanic and Latino communities are victims of crimes, they are witnesses of crimes, and we want to make sure that they understand that they can report crimes and don’t feel helpless,” McFadden said.
According to a national survey published by the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2013, Latinos said they were 45% less likely to report a crime because they were afraid to be asked about their immigration status.
