A Mid‑Shift Knock from Washington
A few minutes after lunch break on June 25, the rhythmic hiss of the fire‑extinguisher assembly at Buckeye Fire Equipment fell silent. Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement converged on the Kings Mountain plant, presenting a federal search warrant tied to “serious allegations of aggravated identity theft.” Thirty workers were handcuffed, loaded onto unmarked buses, and whisked to Georgia detention centers while stunned colleagues watched. WFAE’s detailed timeline wfae.org
What Triggered the Raid?
Homeland Security Investigations says the year‑long probe uncovered extensive document fraud involving stolen Social Security numbers. “Identity fraud fuels a chain of criminal activity,” Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell Morant noted in the official ICE release. ice.gov Federal partners ranged from the IRS to the NC National Guard—so many logos, locals joked the parking lot looked like a law‑enforcement tradeshow.
Inside the Factory: Phone Grabs and Blue Wristbands
Buckeye employee Eric Pinon livestreamed the first commotion until an agent seized his phone and ordered everyone to “turn off your phones now.” Workers were herded into a side room, questioned one by one, and given blue wristbands if their legal status checked out. A shattered door window and rows of confiscated cell phones—captured in an ICE‑produced highlight reel—will likely become Exhibit A in future court filings. Queen City News replay wbtv.com
Families, Protest Signs, and Long Rides South
Outside, teenagers held cardboard pleas—“My Mom Is Not a Crime”—while deputies kept press at bay. Detainees were routed to the Stewart and Folkston ICE facilities in Georgia, nearly 300 miles from Kings Mountain. Families now face the gauntlet of bond hearings, immigration court calendars, and the expensive I‑85 corridor of motel rooms and tank‑emptying gas stops.
The Economic Fallout
Buckeye Fire, a privately held extinguisher giant, has not responded to repeated calls. Local suppliers fear delayed invoices; downtown lunch spots have already noticed lighter traffic. Kings Mountain’s mayor scheduled an emergency council meeting to discuss “workforce stability”—translation: How many shifts can run with 30 skilled technicians missing?
The Politics You Can’t Dodge
North Carolina lawmakers split into predictable camps. Republicans praised HSI for “protecting American jobs.” Democrats argued the raid punishes workers more than management and complicates ongoing immigration‑reform talks. CMS Board Member Gregory Gabriel quipped on social media: “We just lost 30 tuition‑paying parents overnight.”
What Happens Next?
- Federal grand‑jury indictments could land within weeks.
- Labor‑violation probes (EEOC, OSHA) often follow immigration raids—watch that space.
- Buckeye’s ISO‑9001 certification review is scheduled for August; auditors may dig deeper.
- Charlotte‑area advocates plan a vigil outside ICE’s Elizabeth Avenue field office on July 2.
About the Author
Nell Thomas files this dispatch from Einstein Bros. Bagels, Ballantyne (13736 Conlan Circle). The cinnamon‑sugar bagel plus a drip of “Neighborhood Roast” kept her typing, though she swears the new Nitro Cold Brew tastes like rocket fuel—exactly the lift required for ICE paperwork.
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This article, “ICE Raids Kings Mountain Factory: 30 Arrested in Identity‑Theft Investigation,” by Nell Thomas is licensed under CC BY‑ND 4.0.
“ICE Raids Kings Mountain Factory: 30 Arrested in Identity‑Theft Investigation”
by Nell Thomas, Strolling Ballantyne (CC BY‑ND 4.0)
