Federal agents have arrested one hundred and thirty people in Charlotte, North Carolina, during a two day immigration operation that marks the latest phase of President Donald Trump’s ongoing enforcement campaign. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said some of those detained were criminals or gang members, while others were wanted for offences that included assault on law enforcement, intoxicated driving, theft and tampering with official documents. Authorities also reported that a United States citizen injured an officer by crashing into a law enforcement vehicle during the operation. Charlotte, though far smaller than cities like Los Angeles or Chicago, has now become a major target in the administration’s sweeping approach to immigration enforcement.
Greg Bovino, a senior border official previously known for leading the Chicago effort, stated that eighty one arrests were made within a five hour span on Saturday alone. He has been publicly promoting the mission referred to as Operation Charlottes Web, a name drawn from the famous children’s story about a spider who rescues a pig. While federal authorities framed the arrests as a necessary action to remove dangerous individuals, many local residents reacted with alarm and anger. Protesters marched through the city expressing fear and frustration, and community leaders argued that the operation created more instability than safety. Charlotte’s Democratic mayor Vi Lyles said many residents now feel threatened, and the governor of North Carolina accused federal agents of racial profiling and intimidating behaviour, saying such actions do not make communities safer.
The atmosphere in the city has become tense, with many migrants choosing to remain indoors due to fear of being targeted, mirroring reactions seen in other cities during aggressive immigration sweeps. Homeland Security shared footage of a white van fleeing from officers and striking police vehicles before the driver was apprehended, further inflaming concern among residents. Officials have not disclosed when the operation will end, noting that a similar effort in Chicago has continued for months. The nationwide crackdown has expanded beyond major cities into suburbs and smaller communities and has contributed to a significant decrease in illegal border crossings observed along the United States Mexico boundary.
