A Personal Guide to Help Protect Your People and Business

By Jonathan Munsell

I live in Cary, North Carolina. It’s one of those places that always makes the “safest cities in America” lists. Tidy sidewalks, good schools, and families who’ve called this area home for decades. We sit right between Raleigh and Durham – the heart of the Triangle.

But even here, something's shifted. The fear is real. I’ve had clients — restaurant owners, bar managers, brewery folks — who are scrambling. Not because of some new law, but because ICE has been raiding nearby businesses. People are scared, even those with legal status or citizenship. One client wasn’t sure if they could even open that day. Shift schedules got flipped, staff didn’t show. And now the fear is costing us — not just in morale, but in money.

We talk a lot about growing the economy, right? But you can’t grow anything when people are too afraid to show up.

What You Can Do Right Now to Prepare

✅ Get Your Paperwork in Order

• Audit your I-9 files. Make sure every employee has a completed I-9. Fix anything missing or incorrect.

• Keep I-9s separate. Store them in a dedicated binder or folder so you’re not handing over extra personal info if ICE audits you.

• Don’t panic about E-Verify. Unless you’re legally required to use it, don’t start now without proper guidance.

🚪 Label Your Space Clearly

• Post “Employees Only” signs on all non-customer areas like kitchens, offices, and storerooms.

• Lock private areas when possible. ICE can’t legally enter them without a judge’s warrant.

🧠 Train Your Staff

• Designate a point person for each shift who handles any ICE contact.

• Teach staff to say: “Let me get the manager” and nothing else.

• Emphasize: Do not run. Do not lie. Do not volunteer info.

🛑 Know What to Do if ICE Shows Up

• Ask to see a warrant. Only a warrant signed by a judge gives ICE the right to enter non-public areas.

• No warrant = no entry. Stay calm and say, “You cannot enter the back without a warrant signed by a judge.”

• Don’t sign anything. Say you’ll review with your lawyer.

• Don’t reveal anyone’s immigration status. Even if asked directly.

🎥 Record Everything (Legally)

• North Carolina allows you to record ICE agents in your business, especially if you’re the owner.

• Use cameras or phones to document the interaction without interfering.

• Save notes or footage about what happened, who was there, what was said.

📞 If Someone Gets Taken

• Try to get the A-number (alien ID number) from ICE.

• Call their emergency contact immediately.

• Connect their family with an immigration lawyer or local advocacy group.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

This isn’t just a border-state issue anymore. When workers are scared to come in, when businesses lose staff overnight, it hurts everyone. It slows down service, closes kitchens, and drains morale.

The message we need to send — to our teams and our communities — is simple:

We’re ready. We know our rights. And we’ve got your back.