Dozens of DHS employees arrested in Charlotte immigration ‘surge’
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown escalated in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend.
An immigration crackdown in Charlotte, North Carolina, has ended after less than a week, the local sheriff announced in a statement.
“Federal authorities have confirmed to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Operation Charlotte’s Web has officially ended,” the statement said. “As a result, there will be no CBP operations in Charlotte on Thursday, November 20, 2025.”
The sheriff said the Border Patrol-led operation has ended, but U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will continue to operate in the area. “ICE maintains full authority to detain, arrest, and detain illegal immigrants in accordance with federal law,” McFadden said.
A brief influx of immigration officials sparked protests, businesses closed and tens of thousands of public school students were reported absent in Charlotte, the state’s largest city. In addition to Charlotte, federal agents also made arrests in Durham and the state capital, Raleigh.
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.”
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, DHS said. USA TODAY cannot independently verify these numbers because it does not publish the names of those arrested or the exact charges.
Border Patrol agents are expected to flood New Orleans in the coming days as the Trump administration expands its crackdown on illegal immigration.
DHS did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on the end of Operation Charlotte.
This story has been updated to add new information.
