Cary residents protest possible ICE office during State of Town address

More than 200 community members peacefully protested the potential opening of an ICE office in Cary, North Carolina.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Cary residents protested the possible opening of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in the town during the State of Cary address by Mayor Harold Weinbrecht Jr. on March 5, 2026. The demonstration, organized by Wake County Indivisible, took place before and during the mayor's speech. Protesters hope the town will speak out against the office and find ways to prevent it from being established.

Why it matters

The potential ICE office in Cary has raised concerns among the local immigrant community about increased enforcement and deportation efforts. Residents are calling on the town to defend their community and find solutions to protect residents.

The details

An article published by Wired raised concerns about a possible ICE expansion in the Cary area. The building in question, located at 11000 Regency Parkway, has enough space to house 80 to 200 people, which protesters say indicates it could be used for immigration and deportation efforts. Attorneys from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), who litigate in removal cases, could be hired to staff the office.

  • The protest took place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, before and during the State of Cary address.
  • The next Cary Town Council meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2026.

The players

Wake County Indivisible

The organization that organized the protest against the potential ICE office in Cary.

Harold Weinbrecht Jr.

The mayor of Cary, who said during the State of Cary address that the town likely has no authority to stop a federal agency expansion.

Ana Lepe Vick

A Cary resident who hopes the town will speak out against the ICE office and find creative solutions to protect the community.

Dade

A UNC law student and member of Siembra NC, who spoke about her experience helping families who fear leaving their homes due to ICE's presence.

Michelle Craig

A Cary Town Council member who was observing the protest and said she supports the community's concerns.

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What they’re saying

“I hope the town of Cary will speak out in defense of the community and do everything possible to prevent an ICE facility from being established here. We believe they should look for creative solutions to protect residents.”

— Ana Lepe Vick (Enlace Latino NC)

“Cary, specifically that building over there, 11000 Regency Parkway, has enough space to house 80 to 200 people, and what they're saying is, 'Oh, no, it's just office employees, it's just OPLA, just their attorneys.' Hiring between 80 and 200 OPLA attorneys is building an immigration and deportation system in the Triangle. And we don't have enough deportation defense attorneys to counter that.”

— Dade, UNC law student and member of Siembra NC (Enlace Latino NC)

“I'm a teacher here in a town with multilingual students, and regardless of how we feel, I think we should support our community. What I want for our community is for everyone to feel safe, regardless of the color of their skin or their immigration status, and I'm supporting the community for showing concern for their neighbors.”

— Michelle Craig, Cary Town Council member (Enlace Latino NC)

What’s next

The next Cary Town Council meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2026. Wake County Indivisible invited residents to sign up to deliver public comments, and the group also said residents could submit written statements before noon regarding the proposed ICE facility in Cary.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the concerns of Cary's immigrant community about the potential opening of an ICE office in their town. Residents are calling on local officials to speak out against the office and find ways to protect their neighbors, regardless of immigration status. The issue has sparked a debate about the role of federal immigration enforcement in local communities.