As Trump enters office, hundreds try to meet with ICE

CHARLOTTE — For the past several days, hundreds have waited in the cold, sometimes overnight, to try to get an appointment with Immigrations Customs and Enforcement (ICE) in Charlotte. ICE accepts a limited number of walk-ins in addition to people who have appointments.

Many of the people trying to meet with ICE told Channel 9 and Telemundo Charlotte they are worried about a change in immigration laws during the Trump Administration. President-elect Donald Trump has said repeatedly he is going to crack down on illegal immigration but an immigration attorney says there isn’t anything people can do now while Biden is still in office ahead of Trump’s swearing in.

Thursday morning the weather was in the 20s and the line outside was in the hundreds. Robert Barker, who was born in South Africa, arrived at 3 a.m. and was the 60th person in line.

Barker had to submit paperwork. He was originally given an appointment for last week only to be told to come back this week. For the past 3 days, he has been trying and after hours of waiting Thursday, he finally got through.

“People were lined wall to wall,” he said. “I mean it was just people upon people upon people and they moved pretty fast but there’s a system and it is broken.”

Everyone in line has a different reason for wanting to come before ICE. Some are trying to check in with ICE before an immigration hearing or attempt to renew their parole, which is essentially permission to remain in the U.S. for a set period of time. People who entered under the Biden Administration entered under parole. The ICE field office is not immigration court.

Over the past two days, Channel 9 and Telemundo Charlotte have heard a similar thought process from many in line. They are trying to check in with ICE now before Trump returns to office.

“I’m fearful. We are all fearful,” Clara Alonso said. “The news, the gossip that people are going to be deported, one gets very scared. But I have to take a risk.”

Immigration Attorney Jamilah Espinosa says there’s no need to rush to ICE now ahead of Trump taking office.

“Those that are already in proceedings, they’re in proceedings, and so they’re still going to get their opportunity to appear before the judge, because that’s how the law is written,” she said.

She says the Trump Administration will prioritize deporting people with removal orders who haven’t filed an appeal. Still, she says she isn’t surprised at the chaos outside of ICE. She says many people are scared and looking for answers.

(WATCH BELOW: Group reading voter names in Supreme Court lawsuit)

Group reading voter names in Supreme Court lawsuit

©2025 Cox Media Group