RALEIGH, N.C. – The Wake County Sheriff's Office is responding to comments made by a representative of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

• The agency conducted immigration raids this week and took about 200 people into custody in North Carolina
• ICE says the sheriffs in Wake, Durham, Orange and Mecklenburg counties are no longer cooperating with federal agencies
• Sheriffs say it's not their responsibility to enforce immigration laws

An ICE spokesperson says raids in our state will become a more common practice because of the policies by county sheriffs. The agency conducted immigration raids this week and took about 200 people into custody in the state.

"I would say the new normal is you'll see a more visible ICE presence out there in the communities. Is the new normal 200 a week probably not. You will see an increase in enforcement," ICE spokesperson Sean Gallagher said.

ICE says many of the people who were arrested already had either criminal convictions, charges, or had been previously deported.

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At a Friday morning press conference, a spokesman for ICE says the sheriffs in Wake, Durham, Orange and Mecklenburg counties were no longer cooperating with federal agencies.

"The recent actions of ICE agents are making persons in our community afraid of law enforcement," Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said in a statement.          

Officials also say that it is likely we would see an increase in raids like those that happened earlier this week more often. Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker responded to those comments.

"The Wake County Sheriff's Office has no role in immigration enforcement. It is the responsibility of ICE and other related agencies to enforce immigration laws. I understand how sensitive the matter is to families," he said.