The Department of Homeland Security said it was aimed at “targeting criminal illegal aliens who have flocked to the Tar Heel State.” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein criticized the operation.
Dozens of DHS employees arrested in Charlotte immigration ‘surge’
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown escalated in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, federal agents were seen on video breaking the window of a U.S. citizen’s truck and dragging him to the ground. Tens of thousands of public school students reportedly stayed home from school on Monday, November 17th. Businesses in immigrant communities also closed as Border Patrol agents patrolled the streets.
North Carolina is the latest focus of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, with federal agents flocking to Charlotte and spreading to other Democratic-led cities in the notorious battleground state, including Durham and Raleigh.
Hundreds of miles from the border, North Carolina has not received much national attention for immigration-related issues, and residents and local officials have questioned why a state that voted for Donald Trump in the past three presidential elections would be targeted.
The Department of Homeland Security said it launched Operation Charlotte Web to “target criminal illegal aliens who flocked to the Tar Heel State because they knew sanctuary politicians would protect them and allow them to roam freely on America’s streets.”
But experts say Charlotte is not considered a sanctuary city, and the state has some of the strictest immigration rules in the country, including an order passed last year that requires immigrants arrested by federal authorities to be held in local jails for a period of time so they can be arrested.
“No city in the state has a sanctuary policy, and if they did, they would be violating state law,” said Rick Hsu, a law professor at the University of North Carolina who specializes in immigration and local government.
Hsu also pointed out that the state’s cities were not included in the Department of Justice’s August list of cities “identified as having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration law.”
Over the weekend, federal agents arrested more than 130 illegal immigrants in Charlotte, including dozens on previous charges ranging from drunk driving to aggravated assault, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. USA TODAY cannot independently verify these numbers because it does not publish the names of those arrested or the exact charges.
After the weekend raid, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein criticized the operation for provoking “widespread fear” and said it was “not about public safety.”
“They’re wearing paramilitary uniforms and masks, driving around Charlotte in unmarked cars, randomly stopping people on the street based on the color of their skin,” Stein said. “This does not promote the safety of our community. North Carolinians deserve to be safe.”
Charlotte state shaken by immigration sweep-up as crackdown expands
Federal agents began moving into Charlotte neighborhoods on Saturday, Nov. 15, spurring business closures across immigrant communities as protesters took to the streets to denounce the operation.
Homeland Security officials did not say how many officers were sent to the state or how long the increased enforcement would last.
The operation is being led by Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol agent who coordinated the immigration raid in Chicago that sparked lawsuits and intense backlash for what many described as highly aggressive tactics.
A federal judge said Bovino, a native of western North Carolina, admitted to lying about a rock-throwing incident that was used to justify the use of tear gas against protesters.
Since enforcement began in Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District announced that more than 30,000 students, or about 20% of the student body, were absent on Monday, Nov. 17, according to preliminary data. Officials have not directly linked the low attendance numbers to immigration authorities. According to district data, 31% of the student population identifies as Hispanic.
Video of Border Patrol arrests has garnered attention, showing one masked agent breaking a window of a U.S. citizen and dragging him to the ground. The man, Willy Acetuno, told The Associated Press that he was taken to a Border Patrol vehicle and released after showing documents proving his citizenship to officials.
Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement regarding X that he was “deeply concerned about the many videos I have seen,” adding that his office is considering “what more we can do to support our community while operating within complex legal boundaries.”
At a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said immigration officials were seen in Wake and Durham counties. She urged people to call the Raleigh Police Department if they feel unsafe or see anything illegal.
In Durham, local officials held a press conference to voice opposition to federal intervention. Durham County Commission Chair Nida Alam said Border Patrol agents were in the city to incite fear, not to fight crime.
“Durham is over 2,300 miles from the border,” Alam said. “This was not about border security, this was not about enforcing the law. This was a show of force intended to scare people.”
Charlotte, the latest flashpoint in the debate over crime in US cities
This isn’t the first time Charlotte has been at the center of a national debate over public safety.
In August, the stabbing death of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Irina Zalutka on a public train in Charlotte made national headlines and drew the attention of the White House. President Trump cited the incident as an example of rampant violent crime in the Democratic-led city and pointed to the suspect’s long criminal history.
Charlotte has seen a sharp drop in violent crime rates this year, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The agency announced that violent crimes, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, were down 20% in Charlotte during the first nine months of 2025.
So far this year, violent crime rates in Durham and Raleigh have remained flat or decreased compared to 2024, according to their respective police departments.
In a recent statement, the Department of Homeland Security sought to link immigration enforcement in North Carolina to public safety and policies that it says allow criminals to roam the streets.
Research shows that, on average, immigrants commit fewer crimes than mainland-born Americans. Additionally, under U.S. law, immigration violations, such as entering the country without proper documentation, are civil rather than criminal.
“Americans should be able to live without fear that violent, criminal illegal aliens will harm them, their families, and their neighbors,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of homeland security, said in a statement. “We are rushing DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure the safety of Americans and eliminate public safety threats.”
In a statement posted on its website, DHS accused local police in North Carolina of refusing to comply with immigration authorities’ requests to detain about 1,400 people to hold apprehended suspects for 48 hours.
It is true that Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, did not respect such detainees for years. But that changed last year when the majority-Republican Legislature overrode Stein’s veto and passed a bill that would force sheriff’s offices to temporarily detain immigrants arrested on behalf of federal authorities.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden, a Democrat who has been in public conflict with immigration authorities over enforcement, insists his office complies with detainer requirements.
He said he has worked in recent months to improve communication with federal immigration authorities. In late October, Mr. McFadden convened a meeting with regional leaders of U.S. Customs and Immigration Services.
“I’ve made it clear that I don’t want to stop ICE’s work, but I want ICE to do its work safely, responsibly, with appropriate coordination, and with prior notification to authorities,” McFadden said after the meeting, according to local media reports.
McFadden publicly announced last week that he was told by two federal agents that Border Patrol agents would be arriving in Charlotte soon. He added that “specific details regarding the federal operation have not been disclosed.”
