CBP and ICE Agents Deploy Across Charlotte for Immigration Enforcement

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	CBP and ICE Agents Deploy Across Charlotte for Immigration Enforcement Li Haung - National-Politics Tell Us USA News Network CHARLOTTE, NC - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have begun immigration enforcement operations across Charlotte this weekend, marking the latest expansion of the Trump administration's aggressive federal immigration crackdown into Democratic-led cities. The operation, internally dubbed "Charlotte Web," commenced Saturday as agents were spotted making arrests at multiple locations throughout the city. The deployment came with little advance notice to local officials and has sparked immediate pushback from city leaders and concerns among the city's immigrant communities. Operation Details According to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, federal officials provided advance notice only on Wednesday, November 12, stating that CBP personnel would arrive by Saturday, November 15, or early the following week. The operation is being led by Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol official overseeing similar enforcement actions in other Democratic-led cities. Internal Department of Homeland Security documents reveal that the operation will utilize armored vehicles, including so-called "BearCats," alongside special operations agents. After Charlotte, the federal government plans to deploy comparable forces to New Orleans in an operation dubbed "Catahoula Crunch." Federal Justification Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated in an official announcement that the federal surge aims to "ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed." The DHS framed the operation as necessary to combat what it characterizes as a crisis of violent criminal undocumented immigrants, citing President Trump's promise to protect Americans when local leadership does not. Local Response and Concerns Charlotte's local officials expressed frustration over the lack of coordination with federal authorities. Mayor Vi Lyles stated that the operations were "causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty," emphasizing that the city stands with all residents. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police stated they do not participate in immigration enforcement with CBP or ICE agencies, maintaining a clear separation between local and federal enforcement activities. Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, criticized the focus of federal enforcement operations, arguing that the vast majority of people detained in similar operations in other cities had no criminal convictions, and some were American citizens. He urged residents to record any inappropriate behavior and contact local law enforcement if they witness misconduct. Community Impact Reports from the weekend indicate widespread fear and disruption across Charlotte's immigrant communities. A resident documented CBP agents approaching workers hanging Christmas lights in east Charlotte, with one agent attempting to communicate in Spanish before departing without making arrests. Several businesses, particularly Latin American establishments, have closed voluntarily due to concerns about the operations. Community organizations have launched educational initiatives to help residents understand their rights during encounters with federal agents. Groups including Indivisible Charlotte and the Carolina Migrant Network conducted volunteer trainings to teach residents how to recognize legitimate ICE agents and understand their constitutional rights. Context Within the City Charlotte is home to more than 150,000 foreign-born residents, constituting a significant portion of the city's population of over 900,000. Data indicates that ICE arrests in Mecklenburg County tripled during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, suggesting an increased focus on immigration enforcement even before this weekend's deployment. The federal operation represents the first instance in which Border Patrol is leading an enforcement action independently without coordination from ICE, marking an expansion of federal immigration enforcement methodology into interior American cities far from international borders. Charlotte joins Los Angeles and Chicago as Democratic-led cities where intensive federal immigration enforcement operations have been deployed under the Trump administration's immigration enforcement agenda.