Just a few of the 100+ Durham CAN members who attended the city council meeting to support the CAN Immigration Research and Action Team's proposed 4th Amendment Workplace resolution.

On September 2, Durham City Council voted unanimously to pass the Fourth Amendment Workplace Resolution—a major win for immigrant families and workers in Durham. More than 100 Durham CAN leaders filled the council chambers to support the proposal from CAN’s Immigration Research and Action Team, which passed to a standing ovation.

The resolution directs city staff not to cooperate with federal immigration agents, including ICE, unless presented with a judicial warrant, ensuring constitutional protections for city employees and residents. It also requires departments to train staff on Fourth Amendment rights and report back on any barriers to implementation.

Durham is now the second city in the Triangle, following Carrboro, to adopt this measure. The vote came after ICE agents appeared at the Durham County Courthouse earlier this summer, sparking fear among residents and fueling calls for stronger local protections. Mayor Leo Williams noted, “While local leaders cannot legally override the federal government’s use and weaponization of ICE, we can and must stand in strategic solidarity with our neighbors.”

At the council meeting, immigrants and allies testified about the climate of fear created by immigration enforcement and the need to safeguard the dignity and trust of all Durham residents. Elise Ballan, chair of the Durham Workers’ Rights Commission, reminded the council that “anyone, regardless of papers or immigration status, deserves to live without fear of abuse, abduction, or deportation.”

While critics have described the resolution as a “sanctuary-style gesture,” CAN leaders and allies emphasized that this victory is rooted in constitutional fidelity and local accountability. By securing the resolution, Durham CAN members advanced both safety and equity, affirming that Durham will stand with its immigrant residents against unconstitutional searches and seizures.

This outcome reflects months of organizing by Durham CAN leaders in collaboration with Siembra NC and marks a powerful step forward in protecting immigrant families, workers, and neighbors across the city.