Here’s what to do if Border Patrol comes to your home or workplace in Charlotte

As Border Patrol operations continue in Charlotte, employers and workers should know their rights if agents show up at their workplaces or homes.

According to the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), immigration agents can show up at workplaces for one of three reasons: a Form I-9 audit, a raid or to detain a specific person.

A Form I-9 audit is when ICE visits a business to check that all new employees’ I-9 forms, which verify identity and work authorization, are completed and properly retained. If the audit finds violations, employers can face fines, penalties, or restrictions on hiring, while raids may also involve questioning or detaining specific workers on site.

Border Patrol have also reportedly questioned employees directly, including one instance where agents questioned landscapers who were decorating a Christmas tree at a home in east Charlotte, The Charlotte Observer reported. For this reason, it’s important to understand your rights.

Here’s what you need to know.

How employers can prepare for Border Patrol

Employers can use these steps from the NILC to prepare for Border Patrol visits:

• Create a written response plan: Coordinate with other businesses or local networks, make a plan that works for you and practice it like a drill. Connect with immigration response networks for legal, family, financial and media support.
• Train staff not to talk to agents: Teach employees to deny entry and avoid interacting with agents, directing them to speak only with management.
• Know your rights: Employers and staff have rights during immigration visits. For more information, check out The Charlotte Observer’s guide on rights you have during encounters with immigration agents.

Can Border Patrol enter my business without a warrant?

It depends, according to the NILC:

• Public areas: ICE can enter areas open to the public (lobby, dining area, parking lot) without permission, but being in a public area does not give them the authority to stop, question or arrest anyone.
• Private areas require a warrant: Immigration agents can only enter private areas if they have a warrant signed by a judge. Otherwise, they need your permission.
• Verify warrants: If immigration agents claim to have a warrant, ask to see it and read it carefully.
• Mark private spaces: Use signs, locked doors and policies to clearly identify areas as private to prevent unauthorized entry.

How employees can prepare for Border Patrol

According to Legal Aid at Work, employees can prepare for Border Patrol raids:

• Consult an immigration attorney: Find local attorneys through resources like the Immigration Advocates Network or American Immigration Lawyer Association’s Immigration Lawyer Search.
• Carry identification and legal proof: Bring a Red Card and copies of any lawful immigration documents; avoid carrying foreign IDs or any false documents.
• Have legal contacts ready: Keep the phone number of an attorney or rapid response organization memorized or accessible. If represented, carry signed Form G-28 copies.
• Prepare emergency contacts: Know the phone numbers of your children’s contacts and local rapid response networks.
• Organize Your Workplace: Share information with coworkers, designate someone to alert management if agents arrive and support each other to remain calm and avoid answering questions.

What to do after a workplace raid

If you are able, you should report the raid to your local rapid response network and provide them a detailed account of all that occurred. Here are a couple networks you can contact:

• Carolina Migrant Network: They run a hotline for immigration activity in Charlotte. People can call 704‑740‑7737 to report immigration presence.
• Siembra NC: This statewide group runs a verified immigration alert system. Their hotline can be reached at 336-543-0353.

What to do if Border Patrol agents show up at your home

If immigration agents show up at your home, the American Civil Liberties Union says you should:

• Ask if they’re immigration agents and what they’re there for.
• Request to see their badge or ID through a window or peephole.
• Ask if they have a judge-signed warrant and have them show it under the door or against the window.
• Don’t open the door unless they show a warrant with your name or address. Say: “I don’t consent to your entry.”
• If they force entry, don’t resist. Say you’re exercising your right to remain silent and want to speak to a lawyer.
• Don’t lie, show false documents or sign anything before talking to a lawyer.

If you’re on probation with a search condition, officers may legally enter your home.

What if Border Patrol asks me about someone else?

If Border Patrol asks you about someone you know, such as a neighbor, you have rights, according to the ACLU:

• You can choose to stay silent, and if you want to use that right, clearly state it out loud.
• You do not have to agree to any search of your body, vehicle or home.
• If you haven’t been placed under arrest, you’re allowed to walk away calmly.
• If you are arrested, you are entitled to an attorney.

It’s also important to remember these constitutional rights apply to you no matter your immigration or citizenship status, the ACLU says.

This story was originally published November 17, 2025 at 1:27 PM.

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.