President Trump’s next immigration crackdown will be in North Carolina
The city most alarmed by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is Charlotte, North Carolina, which could see an influx of federal agents as early as this weekend, the county sheriff announced Thursday.
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Homeland Security officials were “rushing” to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 15, to “ensure the safety of the American public and eliminate any public safety threats,” according to Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.
“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent, criminal illegal aliens who harm them, their families, and their neighbors,” McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY on Nov. 15.
“We are rushing DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure the safety of Americans and eliminate any public safety threats,” McLaughlin said. “There are too many victims of criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem will stand up to protect Americans even when sanctuary politicians won’t.”
The federal agents’ arrival comes as President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown expands to more Democratic-run cities, including Charlotte, led by Democratic Mayor Vi Lyles.
In response to the DHS effort, Charlotte’s city government issued a statement on November 15 saying, “The anticipated U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations are causing unnecessary fear and anxiety in our communities, as recent operations in other cities have resulted in the detention of people with no criminal records and violent protests as a result of these unjust actions.”
Additionally, the city government said in a statement: “If you need police, please do not hesitate to call 911. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department does not participate in the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection, nor is it involved in the planning or execution of federal immigration enforcement operations.”
The city also asked local residents who want to make their voices heard to “act peacefully” as local authorities “don’t want to see the kind of violence that has been witnessed in so many other cities.”
What is DHS doing in Charlotte?
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden said on Nov. 13 that prior to the announced deployment, federal officials had not released any specific details about DHS operations, such as the number of employees sent to the city or the nature of their duties. The sheriff added that his agency “does not participate in any enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and CBP.”
Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city, is a Democratic stronghold in the state that Trump won in last year’s presidential election. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris won 66% of the vote in Mecklenburg County, giving Trump a 4-point lead in the state.
In a Nov. 13 X post, Lyles said local officials don’t know what immigration officials are planning to do in Charlotte, but asked residents to remain calm.
“I understand that this news brings uncertainty and fear to many in our community. Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe, and I am committed to keeping our community informed and doing everything we can to make sure everyone feels safe and knows their rights,” Lyles said on the X show.
According to the Charlotte Observer, “masked federal agents” made their presence known at churches and other locations in east Charlotte on Saturday, November 15th.
“Everyone is scared right now. Everyone,” said the church’s pastor, who did not want to give his name to reporters. “One of the immigration officers said he was going to arrest another officer in the church. He pushed him away.”
What other cities are federal employees located in?
McLaughlin did not provide further details about DHS operations, but the “surge” in Charlotte comes after federal agents were deployed to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Memphis, Chicago and Portland. The deployment of federal officers and the National Guard has been challenged in court and has drawn criticism over the police’s use of force and what they see as increasingly aggressive tactics by the Trump administration.
Late last month, President Trump threatened to send “more than the National Guard” to “troubled” American cities. At the time, he did not say which cities he intended to send troops to.
“We’re sending in the National Guard, but if we need more than the National Guard, we’ll send in more than the National Guard, because we can have safe cities,” President Trump said on Oct. 28 at the U.S. Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan, during a week-long tour of Asia. “We’re not going to kill people in our city. Whether people like it or not, that’s what we’re doing.”
While Lyles and other city officials oppose the DHS action, Republican Rep. Tim Moore, who represents a suburban Charlotte district, said in a statement that he has “full confidence in our federal law enforcement partners and appreciate their continued efforts to uphold the rule of law and protect North Carolinians.”
