The story of the ICE operation last Sunday at Wilson Creek did not end when officers left the area. Since then, community leaders across western North Carolina have been working to locate those who were detained, support their families, and demand answers from local authorities.
“We are organizing, planning, and we are going to continue fighting and demanding answers. We are not going to stop putting pressure on the sheriff because we will not remain silent, and we are not afraid of them,” said Ginny Romero, executive director of the Latino Center in Hickory. Following the operation, Romero spoke about the actions the community is taking and the next steps to demand greater transparency.
Romero first learned about the operation on Sunday from another community leader as reports began to emerge about what was happening at the popular recreation area along Wilson Creek. By the time she arrived, the operation had already ended. Since then, she has focused on locating those who were detained, supporting their families, and seeking information from authorities. The Latino Center primarily serves Catawba, Caldwell, Burke, and Alexander counties, while also informally assisting families in Lincoln County.
Several days after the operation on Sunday, July 26, the community still lacks access to basic information. Neither ICE nor the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office has released the names or ages of those detained, how many had prior criminal records, or the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
The Latino Center is operating with limited resources. So far, the organization has only been able to make contact with three of the affected families, Romero said. Meanwhile, an immigrant support organization in western North Carolina confirmed it has been in communication with several families, though those cases have already been referred for legal assistance. Siembra NC also said it is working alongside local organizations, churches, and impacted families while continuing to organize a broader community response. Most of the information available has come directly from the families themselves.
“We know that one couple was detained, and we are trying to support their children,” Romero explained. She also mentioned a family from Greensboro that had been visiting the river when the operation took place, although she said many details remain unclear.
This is not the first time that immigration enforcement has resulted in family separation. Among the documented cases is that of a man who was detained while spending the day with his partner and their two children, ages 4 and 10. Romero believes the lack of information from authorities is intentional.
During a public meeting, Romero placed several unanswered questions on the record. She wants to know how many of those detained had criminal records, whether any had outstanding warrants, how many children were affected, and how many families were separated during the operation.
Caldwell County maintains a partnership with ICE through the federal 287(g) program, leading community members to demand greater transparency about how that agreement is being implemented.
Sandra Salazar, a community leader from Morganton who was at Wilson Creek with her family on Sunday, also addressed local officials.
“I’m here as a concerned citizen, not only for myself and my family, but for the entire immigrant community,” she said.
Salazar explained that she has visited Wilson Creek for more than 25 years and had always considered it a safe place. “I’ve been coming to Wilson Creek for over 25 years, and I always felt safe—until yesterday,” she said.
She added that the operation not only spread fear among immigrant families but also limited access to a public space that has served as a gathering and recreation area for families from across the region for decades. In a location with steep trails and fast-moving water, she warned, panic can quickly become dangerous. “We gave the sheriff the opportunity to face us and speak with us. He refused. That’s why we’re here to file a formal complaint.”
The Latino Center plans to attend every County Board of Commissioners and municipal council meeting to continue pressing for answers.
“We will be there. And if we can’t attend ourselves, we will make sure people are there to represent our community,” Romero said.
The organization is also exploring legal action to obtain information through public records requests. In the meantime, community leaders say they remain committed to demanding accountability, and they will not remain silent.
