1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned resident of North Carolina to formally oppose the proposed acquisition of the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro by the Department of Homeland Security for use as an ICE detention facility. The American Hebrew Academy has long been part of Greensboro’s physical and cultural landscape. Repurposing this site into an immigration detention center raises serious concerns about community safety, transparency, local consent, and the moral implications of expanding detention infrastructure within a residential area. ICE detention facilities, even when framed as temporary or administrative, have a documented history of inadequate medical care, family separation, prolonged confinement, and significant mental health harm to detainees. Placing such a facility in Greensboro risks entangling our community in practices that conflict with our shared values of human dignity, due process, and compassion. Additionally, this proposal appears to have moved forward without meaningful community engagement or consent from local residents. Decisions of this magnitude should not be made without transparent communication, public hearings, and serious consideration of alternative uses that would benefit the community rather than cause harm. Greensboro and Guilford County have worked hard to foster a reputation as welcoming, inclusive, and community-oriented. Transforming a former educational institution into a detention center undermines that identity and may create long-term social and economic consequences for the surrounding area. I respectfully urge you to oppose any effort to acquire or repurpose the American Hebrew Academy as an ICE detention facility and to advocate instead for immigration policies that prioritize humane treatment, community-based alternatives to detention, and accountability. Thank you for your time and for your service to our community. I look forward to your response and to learning what steps you will take to represent the concerns of your constituents on this issue.