City Council reacts to disruptive council meeting over immigration issues

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council got very little done Monday night when dozens of demonstrators flooded council chambers to voice heated concerns over immigration issues.

Demonstrators wanted the city to protect them against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and support the immigrant community. Many shared their fears regarding current immigration laws, which the city has no control over.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts had to call a five-minute break because of the chaos.

City Council had to conduct city business over their loud chants.

Councilwoman Claire Fallon said councilmembers spoke among themselves, and then raised their hands to vote.

Fallon said she was upset by how many people were screaming.

"It was a night that they lost a lot of support because of the way they acted," Fallon said.

Even when council adjourned, many council members stayed behind to hear individual concerns.

Roberts said some were grateful for the one-on-one conversations, while others were still angry.

Roberts said she plans to do more to educate people on what the city has the power to do.

"Knowing that immigration is a federal issue and that we cannot tell the immigration enforcement, that they can’t be in Charlotte," Roberts said.

"When you come to lobby us, you have to know what we are capable of doing," Fallon said.

On Tuesday morning, Roberts and councilmembers Fallon, Vi Lyes and Julie Eiselt attended a Unity Breakfast to hear community concerns over the racial divide in Charlotte. Also in attendance were faith leaders and officials from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.

Roberts said similar conversations need to happen within the immigrant community.

"We feel the anger and the pain as much as heard it back in September during the protests," Roberts said.

Roberts pointed to programs the city has to help immigrants, but believes people need to call on federal officials to make real change.

"I think we got to understand is that what is done in Washington often impacts us on the streets in Charlotte," Lyles said.

"We have to have a solution for this," Fallon said.

Cox Media Group