WILMINGTON — The former Rite Aid at the intersection of Market Street and Gordon Road is currently a FEMA processing center, not — as some have speculated on social media — an ICE facility.
For at least a week, posts of social media – including Facebook and Nextdoor – have inquired about the former Rite Aid at 6930 Market St. There are multiple vehicles with U.S. government plates in the parking lot, along with many other out-of-state tags, and the building’s front door is staffed by two armed guards wearing tactical vests.
Much of the speculation revolved around the possibility that the building may have been a temporary facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE). President Donald Trump announced several weeks ago that ICE would ramp up enforcement operations against illegal immigrants, in particular, those who have already “been ordered to be deported.”
I want to give the Democrats every last chance to quickly negotiate simple changes to Asylum and Loopholes. This will fix the Southern Border, together with the help that Mexico is now giving us. Probably won’t happen, but worth a try. Two weeks and big Deportation begins!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2019
Other residents shared concerns that armed guards were posted in such a public area with no explanation.
Initially, the guards told a reporter for Port City Daily only that they were contracted security, not law enforcement, and that the facility was a call center for tech support and customer service; one guard stated that, due to a non-disclosure agreement, he couldn’t comment on the presence of government vehicles in the parking lot.
Both the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and State Representative Deborah Butler inquired into the situation and learned that the former Rite Aid has been occupied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), not ICE. Both agencies are organized under the Department of Homeland Security.
According to FEMA External Affairs spokesman Ron Roth, “FEMA has rented the former Rite Aid building located at 6930 Market St. in Wilmington, NC. FEMA staff working from this location continue to support disaster survivors living in FEMA-provided temporary housing units. Staff at this location are also working with local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations to help them receive reimbursement for Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Michael related expenses.”
Roth added that “FEMA facilities are protected by contracted security. This location is an administrative office and not open to the public. Individuals with questions regarding their registrations, should contact 800-621-3362 (FEMA).
More information about FEMA assistance can be found here.
Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at [email protected], @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001
