When Everyone Becomes a Target: ICE, DHS & Why This Moment Should Alarm Us All

I write this as a mother.I write this as a daughter.And now, I write this as a candidate for North Carolina House District 99.

For most of my life, I have lived with a quiet, constant fear that many Black parents know too well; the fear of raising a Black son in America. 

• Worried about traffic stops for taillights that weren’t out.

• Worried about no-knock warrants at the wrong house.

• Worried about him walking home, driving to his grandmother’s house in Kannapolis, canvassing for candidates, or simply existing in spaces where his presence might be seen as a threat.

What I never imagined is that I would now also have to worry about ICE and the Department of Homeland Security; agencies Congress has once again chosen to expand

.

Let me be clear: my son is an honor student. A double major. A former athlete. A college student. An American citizen. But he looks like what ICE has decided is suspicious. To some agents, he could be Somali.To others, “illegal.” To people in the back from Puerto Rico. And that is the danger!

This Is Not Just About Immigration

This moment is not about immigration policy alone, It is about due process. It is about accountability. And it is about what happens when unchecked federal power is deployed in our communities.

We are witnessing federal agents entering homes without warrants, detaining people without clear identification, and using force with limited transparency;even when cameras are present. 

That should alarm everyone. Because when federal authority expands without guardrails, no community is immune. History has shown us that again and again.

This Feels New, But It Isn’t

Black communities learned a hard lesson during the Black Lives Matter movement and again on January 6th. We know we cannot be in the streets the same way. We know protest can be deadly for us.So when White Americans began showing up in the streets again, many of us felt relief and gratitude. But now, even Whiteness is no longer protection against this brutality.

We have always known that not everyone with a badge is there to protect you, and authority does not automatically mean justice. History reminds us that during the Civil Rights Movement, violence did not stop at color lines. White allies marching for freedom were just as disposable to those enforcing oppression.

Freedom Is Not Selective

The March on Washington was not just about civil rights. It was about Jobs and Freedom. Today, standing against unchecked federal power is about ALL Americans. Because when the freedom of one group is reduced, the freedom of everyone is at risk.

As a lifelong activist and as an Aggie from NC A&T,  it is hard not to be in the streets right now. I feel it deeply. I respect protest. I have stood in it before. But my protest, in this moment, is different; it has to be.

My protest is using my voice where it can create lasting change. My protest is pushing for protections, accountability, and legislative action. My protest is running for office.

Why This Matters in District 99

Federal overreach does not stop in Washington. It lands in our neighborhoods. Here in District 99, families are already struggling with rising energy bills, rising grocery costs, and rising housing pressures. Yet we have a representative who sided with Republicans and corporate interests on votes that increased utility costs for working families.

After those votes:

Where was the town hall? Where was the explanation? Where were the constituent services to help families manage the fallout? Where was the leadership when faith leaders and the Hidden Valley neighborhood marched for public safety?

Leadership is not just how you vote. It’s what you do after the vote.

This Is Why I’m Running

I am running to protect all the people of District 99 and communities across North Carolina.

I don’t have to agree with every life choice to stand up for your right to safety, dignity, and opportunity.

I believe:

• Housing must be affordable

• Veterans and their families deserve timely, dignified care and clear access to the benefits they earned

• Students should be able to stay in this district while in school and after graduation

• Working families deserve a living wage; at least $20 an hour

• Healthcare must be accessible and affordable, including protecting Medicaid and Medicare and preserving access to care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and Affordable Care Act subsidies

• Public school funding must stay in public schools

• Teachers should be paid for their education and labor, not forced into second and third jobs

• Families should not be pushed out of their homes by corporate land grabs and rising taxes

• Small developers should be able to rebuild neighborhoods without drowning in red tape

• Our air and water should not be sacrificed for unchecked data centers and corporate profit

And I believe that no family should live in fear of the very systems that claim to protect them.

That is why I’m running.

That is my protest.

And that is my promise.

Register (if you haven’t yet) & Vote for Veleria M Levy during early voting. February 12-28, 2026 at early voting sites all over Mecklenburg County NC! Democratic Primary is March 3rd!

www.checklevy.com