Appalachia's Unexpected Rebellion: Class Solidarity Takes On Trump's Deportation Regime
A chilly evening in mid-November saw about 135 people gather along a highway in Boone, North Carolina, a small Appalachian college town not known for leftist protests. They held signs reading “Nazis were just following orders too” and “Time to melt the ICE,” and chanted profane rebukes at Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents rumored to be in the area.
Operation Charlotte’s Web, an ongoing immigration enforcement surge across the Charlotte region, made sweeping arrests in and around Charlotte and into the state's rural mountain counties. But the numbers told a different story: over 370 people were arrested, only 44 of whom had any prior criminal record. The vast majority were ordinary undocumented residents.
The crackdown was billed as targeting the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens, but it underscores that the effort is less about public safety than meeting political quotas. Trump campaigned on conducting the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, vowing to round up 15 to 20 million people and pressuring ICE to triple its arrest rates.
However, the administration is facing widespread resistance to its policy of indiscriminate arrests and mass deportations, not as the exception but as the rule. In predominantly white, working-class communities, activists are implementing a broad early-warning network to track federal agents, mobilizing thousands of local volunteers, and patrolling neighborhoods to follow unmarked vehicles.
Residents in Boone have taken to the streets, using tactics borrowed from Chicago's immigrant rights movement, setting up rapid-response networks and legal support. Organizers in North Carolina are sharing resistance blueprints with communities in Louisiana and Mississippi ahead of "Swamp Sweep," the next phase of Trump's crackdown, slated to deploy 250 agents to the Gulf South.
This unexpected rebellion is not noise but a signal that America's political fault lines are shifting beneath our feet. The coming deportation raids were supposed to be a mop-up operation executed in the heart of "real America." Instead, they are turning into a slog, met with small-town rebellions.
The message to Washington is clear: if you thought Appalachia would applaud or simply acquiesce while you turn their hometowns into staging grounds for mass round-ups, bless your heart. This unexpected resistance suggests that class solidarity is beginning to trouble traditional partisan lines. The old playbook of stoking rural white fears about immigrants is losing its potency when those same immigrants have become neighbors, co-workers, or fellow parishioners.
As the enforcement regime trickles out into broader white America, it is encountering the same unruly spirit that has long defined its deepest hills, valleys, and backwoods. The Intercept will continue to cover this story, providing in-depth analysis and investigative reporting on the evolving landscape of resistance against Trump's deportation regime.
A chilly evening in mid-November saw about 135 people gather along a highway in Boone, North Carolina, a small Appalachian college town not known for leftist protests. They held signs reading “Nazis were just following orders too” and “Time to melt the ICE,” and chanted profane rebukes at Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents rumored to be in the area.
Operation Charlotte’s Web, an ongoing immigration enforcement surge across the Charlotte region, made sweeping arrests in and around Charlotte and into the state's rural mountain counties. But the numbers told a different story: over 370 people were arrested, only 44 of whom had any prior criminal record. The vast majority were ordinary undocumented residents.
The crackdown was billed as targeting the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens, but it underscores that the effort is less about public safety than meeting political quotas. Trump campaigned on conducting the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, vowing to round up 15 to 20 million people and pressuring ICE to triple its arrest rates.
However, the administration is facing widespread resistance to its policy of indiscriminate arrests and mass deportations, not as the exception but as the rule. In predominantly white, working-class communities, activists are implementing a broad early-warning network to track federal agents, mobilizing thousands of local volunteers, and patrolling neighborhoods to follow unmarked vehicles.
Residents in Boone have taken to the streets, using tactics borrowed from Chicago's immigrant rights movement, setting up rapid-response networks and legal support. Organizers in North Carolina are sharing resistance blueprints with communities in Louisiana and Mississippi ahead of "Swamp Sweep," the next phase of Trump's crackdown, slated to deploy 250 agents to the Gulf South.
This unexpected rebellion is not noise but a signal that America's political fault lines are shifting beneath our feet. The coming deportation raids were supposed to be a mop-up operation executed in the heart of "real America." Instead, they are turning into a slog, met with small-town rebellions.
The message to Washington is clear: if you thought Appalachia would applaud or simply acquiesce while you turn their hometowns into staging grounds for mass round-ups, bless your heart. This unexpected resistance suggests that class solidarity is beginning to trouble traditional partisan lines. The old playbook of stoking rural white fears about immigrants is losing its potency when those same immigrants have become neighbors, co-workers, or fellow parishioners.
As the enforcement regime trickles out into broader white America, it is encountering the same unruly spirit that has long defined its deepest hills, valleys, and backwoods. The Intercept will continue to cover this story, providing in-depth analysis and investigative reporting on the evolving landscape of resistance against Trump's deportation regime.
. It's not just about the undocumented folks being arrested, it's about the communities coming together to resist and support each other 
. I mean, who would've thought that Appalachian towns like Boone would be at the forefront of this resistance movement? 
It's actually really inspiring to see people from different walks of life uniting against a common enemy 
. The fact that these local volunteers are sharing their resistance strategies with communities in other states is just amazing 
. It shows that class solidarity can cross party lines and borders, and that's something we should all be rooting for 
.
they r just tryna fill quotas & make the dems look bad meanwhile these ppl r gettin arrested b4 they even do anythin wrong 2 
like wut r we even talkin bout here? 
. It's been clear for a while that Trump's hardline immigration policies are gonna stir up some trouble 
. The fact that these ordinary people are standing up against ICE and demanding their rights is amazing 
. And let's be real, Trump's deportation regime is a recipe for disaster 
.
. It's a reminder that we need more nuanced conversations around issues like immigration 
.
. The old guard in Washington is gonna have to get used to the fact that their policies are being challenged by folks from all walks of life 
. So, here's hoping we can find a way forward that balances security with compassion and common sense 
.
! Who would've thought they'd be all about that #ImmigrationJustice life? It's like they're taking a page from The Wire, ya know? 
Class solidarity is the real MVP here - it's not just about left-right politics; it's about recognizing our shared humanity and refusing to let borders become walls. I'm rooting for these folks all the way! 
And can we talk about how Trump's deportation regime is basically a mid-season finale for his presidency? 
This rebellion might be the game-changer he didn't see coming...
people r losin it out here rn ... these deportations & detention centers r human rights abuses plain n simple 
ICE agents ar treatin ppl like they dont hv dignity or rights... 370 ppl arrested nd only 44 had prior record thats a whole lotta innocent ppl gettin hurt nd deported back to a country dey never knew 
nycs gonna be the next to rise up 
ICE agents just got a memo from HQ: "When you're dealing with 99% undocumented residents, can't we just offer them all free tacos instead?" 
. I mean, Trump says he's trying to protect America, but it feels like he's just trying to make himself look good 
!
The more I think about it, the more I'm like "yaaas, Appalachia is rebelling" 
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. These communities have been fighting for their rights, their livelihoods, and their dignity for a long time 
.
. It'll be fascinating to see how Washington responds (or doesn't respond) to this growing resistance 
370 arrested in Operation Charlotte's Web, but 44 have priors? Like what, shoplifting a pack of Doritos 
? Meanwhile, Trump wants to deport 15-20 million people? No wonder America's at an inflection point – the demographics are shifting faster than your aunt's Facebook relationships 
44 people with priors vs 326 without
72% of those arrested are US-born citizens (don't @ me)
The median income for Appalachian families is around $40k/year, so who exactly does Trump think he's deporting? 
I'm not surprised to see people getting all worked up about this Trump thingy... I mean, come on, folks! We gotta keep things in perspective here. The idea that a bunch of undocumented folks are just going to magically get deported without any repercussions is kinda harsh, don't you think?