The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted an immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, targeting individuals believed to be undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. This operation, dubbed "Charlotte's Web," resulted in 81 arrests.
The city's residents and leaders, many of whom are Democrats, expressed surprise and concern, questioning why Charlotte, a Democrat-led city far from the border, was chosen for this enhanced enforcement. Local Democratic leaders, including City Council member Dimple Ajmera and state Sen.
Caleb Theodros, characterized the operation as a politically motivated distraction by the Trump administration to gain support ahead of the upcoming US Senate race and to shift attention from domestic policy failures. They argued the administration uses anti-immigrant rhetoric and fear-mongering for political gain.
The DHS stated the operation targeted "criminal illegal aliens" who they claimed were drawn to North Carolina due to sanctuary policies, alleging that nearly 1,400 detainers had not been honored, leading to the release of criminal undocumented immigrants into communities. Charlotte is not a sanctuary city but is designated as a city committed to immigrant inclusion.
The operation has caused fear and anxiety in Charlotte. Some businesses temporarily closed their doors, citing safety concerns for customers and staff, while a local advocacy group reported witnessing escalating hostile actions by federal agents, including potential arrests of US citizens and disruptions to community spaces.
A US citizen, Willy Wender Aceituno Medina, reported having his car window smashed by agents before being detained and released. The lack of prior notification to local officials about the operation led to frustration, with City Council member Malcolm Graham stating he learned about it through media reports.
Charlotte's Sheriff Garry McFadden confirmed he was contacted by federal officials but was not given details or asked to assist. Conversely, some Republicans in North Carolina welcomed the surge, praising federal law enforcement for fulfilling President Trump's promise to remove undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
They suggested Charlotte's large immigration court and the sheriff's decision to end cooperation with ICE were reasons for the city's targeting. Despite support from some Republicans, one local Republican, incoming City Council member Ed Driggs, expressed mixed feelings, supporting the deportation of criminal undocumented immigrants but questioning the method of operation and the lack of local coordination, which he felt contributed to residents' fear.
Following Charlotte, New Orleans is reportedly the next planned stop for these DHS immigration enforcement operations, continuing a pattern of targeting Democrat-led cities amidst ongoing debates about immigration policy and border security.
