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Julio and Luz Zambrano had no reason to suspect that anything would go wrong when they arrived at the Charlotte Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on January 29.
As asylum seekers from Venezuela who’d entered the U.S. in November 2023, their check-in was routine. They were in the country legally, awaiting immigration court dates that were still likely years off. They had valid work permits, state identification cards, and no criminal convictions. Their toddler, Danna, was with them, and Luz was just weeks away from delivering their second.
But President Donald Trump had taken office nine days earlier, heralding a renewed crackdown on immigration. At the appointment, an ICE agent asked Julio about a small, five-pointed crown tattooed between his left wrist and thumb. The agent believed it was a gang mark and took him into custody.
He was sent first to Georgia, then to Texas. Then he disappeared from the government’s detainee locator system. Luz later learned that he’d been sent to a brutal prison in El Salvador along with 237 other Venezuelans.
Jeffrey Billman and Ren Larson tell the story of a North Carolina family swept up in the maw of a ravenous deportation machine.
The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano
Julio Zambrano, a Venezuelan asylum-seeker living in Davidson, was here legally. So why did the Trump administration send him to El Salvador?
“All day long, my mind is preoccupied with what happened,” said Luz. “It’s something that torments a person. I fear that this isn’t going to be over tomorrow, that they’re going to put me away and take my girls from me.”
Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.
What’s Next in the State Supreme Court Race
Jefferson Griffin’s gambit for a state Supreme Court seat has worked, for now.
In a 2-1 ruling last Friday, the N.C. Court of Appeals stopped short of giving Griffin everything he wanted, which is to throw out more than 65,000 legally cast ballots in hopes of ensuring his victory. But the court rejected more than 200 ballots and put the onus on other voters Griffin has challenged to quickly “cure” their ballots or risk having them tossed.
And though this legal battle has already dragged on for nearly five months, the latest decision does not mark the end. Anne Blythe and Michael Hewlett report on what happens now.
Jefferson Griffin’s Gambit Scores a Win
The Court of Appeals gave Jefferson Griffin a victory in his quest for a state Supreme Court seat. Now Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs and state elections officials are appealing.
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Smooth Criminal
Last week, Assembly contributing writer Barry Yeoman was on the podcast Criminal—hosted by North Carolina’s own Phoebe Judge—talking about his story on Jolene Strickland.
Strickland, as you may recall, was a fake candidate for governor meant to send a very real message about most people’s dissatisfaction with their political options. And in the nearly three decades since the Independent Weekly‘s stunt, she still has something to show us.
Listen to Yeoman talk about the Pride of Pine Hill here.
What We’re Reading
I Wish You Well: “Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong?” Sen. Thom Tillis asked U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, expressing frustration with President Trump’s tariffs, per The Hill.
Let Him Play: Two Democratic lawmakers asked the Trump administration to reconsider its decision to revoke visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, The N&O writes. The move could affect Duke basketball player Khaman Maluach.
Dive In, Dave: Members of a state Senate committee want the auditor to investigate how money intended to stop human trafficking was spent, ProPublica reports, after the outlet found the funds were sent to a tiny commission in the Republican-helmed state court system.
Our Recent Stories
The Herring Party is Over
For 75 years, Jamesville hosted the North Carolina Herring Festival every Easter. Now it appears to be a thing of the past.
A Charlotte Regulator Gets DOGE’d
A lifelong Republican with decades of blue-chip legal experience decided to move into consumer protection. Then Elon Musk took a chainsaw to his agency.
How Low Can You Go? N.C. Colleges Try Free-Tuition Programs
Many small colleges are trying to get more students in the door, while others want to be accessible to low-income applicants.
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