Charlotte organizers launched “Project Red Card” to ease anxiety over immigration enforcement across the country.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ In Charlotte’s Latino neighborhoods, small red cards are making a big difference as community organizers work to combat growing fears surrounding immigration enforcement operations.
The initiative, known as Project Red Card, provides residents with information about their constitutional rights when approached by immigration authorities. The project comes at a crucial time for Charlotte’s Latino community, which has more than 100,000 residents.
“It’s a project designed to help individuals, both documented as well as undocumented, know their rights of approach to immigration authorities,” Maria Fernanda Garcia Castillo, the project’s organizer, said.
The cards, which outline Fourth Amendment protections, are being distributed throughout Latino neighborhoods where concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations have intensified in recent weeks.
Garcia Castillo launched the project after witnessing mounting anxiety within the community.ย
“Some people are also not choosing to go to work because they work in these predominant Latinx communities that are being targeted, as well as construction workers,” she explained.
The impact of these fears on the local economy and community well-being has been significant, with some residents choosing to stay home from work, particularly in construction and service industries where Latino workers comprise a substantial portion of the workforce.
The project has gained momentum quickly, with requests for the cards expanding beyond Charlotte’s city limits. Organizations across North Carolina have expressed interest in implementing similar programs in their communities.
“I really hope to expand to other cities and our states, so that more and more people know their rights,” Garcia Castillo said.
Her vision extends beyond just providing information. It’s about building community resilience and solidarity. Despite the challenging circumstances, Garcia Castillo remains optimistic about the project’s impact.ย
“The message behind this is that I know that it is scary times, and I know that a lot of people are being forced to be silent because they’re scared, but just knowing that we’re all in this together and we will all fight for the rights of our people,” she said.ย
The Red Card Project represents a grassroots response to immigration concerns, focusing on education and empowerment rather than fear. As the initiative continues to grow, it serves as a model for how communities can organize to support and inform their most vulnerable members.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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