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Home My WebLink AboutNHCHLC January 2026 Minutes NEW HANOVER COUNTY HISPANIC/LATINO COMMISSION Location: Government Center, Room 136 January 27, 2026 – 5:00pm Commissioners in attendance: Andres Afanador, Amanda Boomershine, Loreanne Jacob, Natalie Picazo, Maria Rodriguez, Wiyie Sang, Edelmira Segovia, Rafael Toro, Maria van de Bovenkamp Staff in attendance: Linda Thompson Commissioners absent: Janeth Howard, Gustavo Rodea I) Call to Order and Agenda II) Approve Minutes  Minutes approved unanimously III) Acting Chair comments and welcome to new members IV) Guest speaker: Wilmington Police Chief, Ryan Zuidema & Deputy Chief Kelvin Hargrove  Two goals: Partner & protect  Q1: Can you discuss this statement and how it relates to what we are seeing in MN? o Local police officers in North Carolina have statutory authority to enforce local ordinances and state law. They do not have the authority to enforce federal law, including immigration law. As part of our practice and procedure, the Wilmington Police Department does not check immigration status of individuals taken into our custody or those we interact with. North Carolina General Statute 162-62 enumerates how immigration inquiries must be handled, which are mandated under specific circumstances outlined in this statute that only apply locally to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office at their jail. The Wilmington Police Department does assist all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies when requested to ensure the safety of the officers and that of our community members. We have no plans to be proactively involved in immigration enforcement. However, if federal law enforcement requests assistance to maintain order, we will provide aid in reestablishing order. As with all that we do, our focus remains on maintaining public safety, building trust within our community, and ensuring that all individuals are treated with fairness and respect.  Q2: Should ICE use excessive force when a warrant is not presented? o Not aware of any ICE presence in Wilmington. o Needs to be perceived threat or legal action taken against person before the agent uses excessive force. o Encourages people to keep a distance when they are witnessing / documenting law enforcement activity.  Q3: How should we report use of excessive force of ICE? o Chief would want to know if there were excessive force being used in WPD or another agency.  Q4: Officer training in deescalation o WPD officers are trained in deescalation; force was used in less than .5% of cases in last year  Q5: Given the constant state of fear in the community and the language barrier, what could be done to convey the message of partnership and protecting / serving the community? o We need to share the message with our friends, families, coworkers, etc. o Mid to late spring – intentional focus on community engagement o Hire to better represent our community o Working on refocusing efforts o Build relationships through building partnerships  Q6: What is the relationship with local enforcement and ICE? Is there anyone in WPD who has a relationship with ICE locally? o Local chiefs and sheriffs meet monthly (NHC, Brunswick, WPD, Leland PD, CBPD, KBPD, UNCW PD, WBPD – and state and federal partners are invited (NCHP, NCSBI, local HSI often attend) o Local HSI office are not in the loop – seems to be run from top-down  Q7: Are there any efforts to educate and train our community on their rights, how to protest safely, etc? o Nothing like that being done here locally that he’s aware of o WPD teaches women’s self-defense classes and offers Citizens Policy Academy o Interested in this but through partnership with other organizations, happy to come speak at such events to help community understand how to interact safely  Q8: How can we follow up with additional questions? o Please reach out, maybe FB live V) Introduction of members VI) New Business  Approved letter to NHC Commissioners o Andrés shared notes from meeting with 2 commissioners; don’t give demands, but rather inform and offer to help  Guest speaker for February 2026 meeting o Take a break o Red Cross guest speaker on Restoring Family Links program o Panel of people running for office o We can have a special meeting o Need to start meetings alerting public that they cannot speak until public comment section & remind folks of acceptable terminology  Election of HLC Chair and Secretary o Nomination of Andrés as Chair, approved unanimously o Nomination of Loreanne as Secretary, approved unanimously  Discussion of Protocols o Send out bylaws to everyone as a refresher > Linda will do this o Only include commission members in emails, plus Linda; Linda says she needs to be included in all emails where county business is discussed o When are we presenting to the NHC commissioners?  No date set in stone, need to let Linda know our preferred date o We need to set aside time in each meeting to hear from the public; have people sign in at the beginning of the meeting so we know how many want to speak; make sure we stop our business with plenty of time to hear from the public VII) Old Business  Project Updates o Reviewed membership, welcomed new members to join o Committees should provide updates via email for this month  Health and Wellness  Chair: Andres, Whiyie  Economic Development  Chair: Gustavo, Edel, Janeth  Education  Chair: Natalie, Rafael, Andres  Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness  Chair: Amanda, Maria, Rafael VIII) Public Comments  Marimer McKenzie: NC Governor’s Council of Hispanic & Latino Affairs: Feb 18 (in Wayne County or virtual)  Dr LeShonda Wallace: running for NHC Commissioner IX) Adjourn: 6:30pm NEXT MEETING – February 24, 2026