SC Democratic Party, Attorney General react to ongoing ICE raids

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) —  On Tuesday, the Trump Administration sent the first group of migrant detainees to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, which is being used as a large scale immigration detention center.

“There’s a lot of space to accommodate a lot of people, yeah, so we’re going to use it,” says President Trump from the Oval Office.

This, following his executive order on January 20th to crackdown on illegal immigration.

Also on Tuesday, Attorney General Alan Wilson sent a letter to all 46 sheriffs across SC  — encouraging them to apply for ICE’s “Section 287-G Program” — which allows local law enforcement to perform and help in certain immigration efforts.

According to the official website of “Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” only Horry, Lexington, and York counties are currently signed up for the program.

Christale Spain, Chair of the SC Democratic Party,  says there’s a lot of misinformation out there regarding the raids causing fear throughout certain communities.

“You know I just think people are scared, and emotionally feel afraid. We don’t know what’s happening with our country, and I think the way to combat that, as far as the Democratic Party goes, is to put out factual information,” she says.

With recent ICE raids happening as nearby as Goose Creek, SC and Savannah, Georgia, the SC Democratic Party wants legal community members to know their rights — should an ICE agent come to their door.

“To know that they don’t have to open the door for ICE unless they have a signed warrant from a judge, and they do have the right to remain silent, and they are not required to answer questions about their immigration status. And don’t sign anything without legal representation,” says Spain, adding,  if you’re able to record the ICE raid safely, to do so.

“And report those incidents to immigrant rights organizations and legal groups,” she says.

According to Spain, adding to fear mongering regarding ICE raids are impersonators, with three men recently arrested for pretending to be an ICE agent. This includes 33-year-old Sean-Michael Johnson from Charleston County.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace has also taken part in raids, as she posted on X.

“If there aren’t safe guard rails put up on some of this, this craziness, you know, Americans are going to get swept up into this, and that…that should be a concern for everybody,” says Spain.

If you’d like more information, a free discussion regarding ICE raids will be held at the Richland County Public Library on Saturday, February 8th at 2:30 p.m.