Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Federal agents have raided Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
At least 81 people were arrested in the city on Saturday, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said in a post on X.
Local officials, including Mayor Charlotte V. Lyles, issued a joint statement criticizing the operation, saying it created “unnecessary fear and uncertainty” in the community.
Since Trump returned to office He has deployed troops to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago Fulfilling his promise of the “largest deportation program” in American history.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Operation Charlotte’s Web on Saturday, saying “illegal immigrant criminals” would be targeted in the Democratic-run city.
“We are sending DHS law enforcement personnel to Charlotte to keep Americans safe and neutralize public safety threats,” said Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin.
Armored vehicles and special operations teams may be involved in crackdown in North Charlotte, according to internal government document CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Several church members doing yard work at an east Charlotte church fled into the woods as agents arrived and detained a man. charlotte observer The report quoted the church pastor as saying.
A 15-year-old witness told the newspaper: “We thought the church was safe and nothing would happen.”
“Many organizations stand ready to assist individuals seeking legal guidance on immigration matters,” officials said.
The Department of Homeland Security said it launched the operation because North Carolina was not admitting nearly 1,400 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees, meaning they were being released due to “sanctuary policies.”
Charlotte is not a sanctuary city – a city with policies Limit aid to federal immigration authorities – but it is a “certified welcoming city”. This is a formal designation given to cities committed to being inclusive of immigrants.
“President Trump and Secretary (Christie) Noem will step up to protect Americans, while sanctuary politicians will not,” the Department of Homeland Security said.
According to statistics, Charlotte is a racially diverse city, with about 17% of residents born abroad. Data America.
The Department of Homeland Security did not say how long the raids would last. A crackdown in Chicago that began in September continues.
Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat, said she had been informed of the operation and was “extremely concerned” about Border Patrol and ICE agents coming to North Carolina.
According to CBS, the next city on Trump’s list will be New Orleans, and up to 200 agents may be deployed to the city.
Actions by previous cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles have been criticized over concerns about the use of excessive force.
