The Carolina Migrant Network (CMN) is a left-of-center legal aid and immigration advocacy organization that provides no-cost legal services to immigrants seeking asylum status and illegal immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The group was founded in 2019 by Stefania Arteaga and Becca O’Neill to offer legal services as well as advocacy programs mostly focused on pushing local governments to cease coordination with ICE. The group receives funding from left-of-center foundations including the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the Four Freedoms Fund, and the Hispanic Federation. ^{1 2}

Background

The Carolina Migrant Network was formed in 2019 by Stefania Arteaga, an immigration activist, and Becca O’Neill, an immigration attorney, who met working in the left-of-center immigration nonprofit community in Charlotte. The group states that it is the “is the only organization across the Carolinas that is bridging the gap between immigration legal services and pro-immigrant community organizing.” ²

One of the first projects executed by O’Neill and Arteaga was lobbying for a policy limiting Immigration Customs Enforcement access to the Mecklenburg County Jail in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group’s goal is to “mobilize the resources and talent that exists in the Carolinas to combat Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in our state.”  It further stated that “CMN was founded to combat the systemic targeting of undocumented immigrants in the state of North Carolina.” ³

The group states that it uses “tactics to limit the number of people being arrested and placed into deportation proceedings.” ³

Activity

The Carolina Migrant Network has hosted several mostly virtual events and continuing legal education courses, some of which have been sponsored by Bank of America, that focus on defending individuals in immigration hearings. The group also started a the Monarca Fellowship program that teaches individuals how to conduct immigration activist organizing activities. ⁴

The group also weighs in on pending legislation, opposing HB 10 in the North Carolina Legislature during the 2024 session, that would force collaboration between local sheriff departments and federal immigration officials. CMN stated that “If passed, this bill would harm community safety, create fear far beyond the walls of a local jail, harm local and state economies, and leave counties liable for potential civil rights violations.” ⁵

Funding

Listed funders of the Carolina Migrant Network Include Bank of America, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the Four Freedoms Fund, the Hispanic Federation, and the United Way of Greater Charlotte. ¹

Leadership

Stefania Arteaga and Becca O’Neill are co-directors of the Carolina Migrant Network. Arteaga is also the co-founder of Comunidad Colectiva, another immigration advocacy group, and is a left-of-center organizer and activist on immigration issues, mostly focused on opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement collaboration with local law enforcement. O’Neill is an immigration law attorney with experience in a variety of immigration law hearings and proceedings,. She was previously the special counsel on immigration issues to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden (D). ²

1. “Home.” Carolina Migrant Network. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://carolinamigrantnetwork.org/
2. “About.” Carolina Migrant Network. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://carolinamigrantnetwork.org/about-us/
3. “Our Story.” Carolina Migrant Network. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://carolinamigrantnetwork.org/about-us/
4. “Monarca Fellowship 2024-2025.” Carolina Migrant Network. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://carolinamigrantnetwork.org/2024/07/17/monarca-2024-2025/
5. “Proposed House Bill 10.” Carolina Migrant Network. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://carolinamigrantnetwork.org/2024/04/26/proposed-house-bill-10-hb-10/