Latino Advocacy Groups Create Legal Fund For ICE Arrestees

The arrest of hundreds of undocumented immigrants in North Carolina last week has prompted two Latino advocacy groups to establish a legal fund.

The News & Observer reports Durham's El Hispano Centro and Siler City's The Hispanic Liaison announced Monday that they've created the "Liberation Not Deportation Regional Fund" to pay legal fees for affected families. The groups hope to raise $30,000 in 30 days.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained 200 people in North Carolina last week. Another 25 were detained at an arms manufacturer in Sanford. ICE regional director Sean Gallagher said his officers have been compelled to step up enforcement after local law enforcement agencies recently ended cooperation agreements.

The heads of the advocacy groups condemned what they call ICE's "tactics to intimidate and frighten" Latino communities.