Charlotte, NC (AP) — Federal officials have confirmed a spike in immigration enforcement activities in the Queen City, prompting widespread unease as agents start making arrests in various neighborhoods.
In a strong statement, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the need for public safety, declaring, “Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors.” She explained the intention behind the increased presence of DHS law enforcement in Charlotte: to safeguard residents and eliminate threats to public safety.
This approach has sparked criticism from local leaders like Mayor Vi Lyles, who expressed concerns that such resources are inducing unnecessary fear and uncertainty among residents. “We stand with all residents in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County who just want to live their lives peacefully,” her statement proclaimed, drawn up with support from local officials such as Commissioner Mark Jerrell and school board member Stephanie Sneed.
Interestingly, crime rates in Charlotte have reportedly decreased so far this year, with notable drops in homicides, rapes, robberies, and vehicle thefts — a decrease of over 20%, according to AH Datalytics.
Yet, the Trump administration swiftly seized on recent violent incidents, like the tragic stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light-rail train, using it to claim that Democratic-run cities fail to protect their residents. The alleged murderer had a lengthy criminal record.
Crackdown Sparks Fear Amid Speculations
The federal push wasn’t publicly indicated ahead of time. However, County Sheriff Garry McFadden disclosed that he learned from two federal officials that Customs agents would be arriving shortly.
Charlotte is home to diverse groups, with more than 900,000 residents, over 150,000 of whom are foreign-born, according to local census data.
On Saturday, Willy Aceituno, a 46-year-old US citizen originally from Honduras, witnessed a chaotic scene as he drove to work. “I saw so many Latinos running away, pursued by several Border Patrol agents,” he recounted. Unfortunately, he himself was pulled over—twice—by them. During one interaction, agents broke his window and dragged him out onto the pavement.
Despite his claims of being a citizen, the agents were skeptical, demanding proof of his birthright before finally releasing him after he showed the necessary documentation. He walked some distance back to retrieve his damaged car, later filing a report about the incident.
Paola Garcia, a spokesperson for Camino, a nonprofit supporting families in the Charlotte area, remarked that there’s been a notable increase in the number of stops made by US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents since the enforcement began on Friday. “We’re just seeing tons of encounters happening quickly,” Garcia noted.
Greg Asciutto, who heads up community organization CharlotteEast, also noted a marked increase in Border Patrol visibility over the weekend, describing the arrests as “targeted” yet sometimes aggressive.
Disturbing Encounters in the Neighborhood
In an unsettling instance, two men were on Rheba Hamilton’s property placing holiday lights when CBP agents approached them, speaking Spanish. Since the workers didn’t answer, the agents chose to leave without making arrests.
Hamilton said, “This feels really troubling. Here were two hardworking individuals who broke no laws, and that’s what truly worries me,” capturing the incident on her phone. The 73-year-old added, “It’s an abuse of our laws that I never expected to encounter in my lifetime.”
She had recommended delaying the holiday work due to safety concerns, but the contractor pushed ahead, getting directly interrupted by Border Patrol shortly after starting. “They come looking for easy targets—no cameras around, no protests, just two guys working and an old white woman sipping her coffee on the porch,” she described.
Local Businesses Feeling the Heat
JD Mazuera Arias, recently elected to the City Council, took a stand outside a Latin- American bakery along with a group of concerned residents. Alarmingly, some businesses in his east Charlotte district have shut their doors because of the increased federal scrutiny. He remarked, “This is Customs and Border Patrol, not a border city or state. Why are they here, causing harm to our community and economy?”
Many local business owners are unsure how long the raids will last and are brainstorming ways to keep their establishments afloat, as echoed by Asciutto.
The Trump administration has argued that ramped-up operations in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago are necessary measures to combat crime and enforce immigration regulations.
While several individuals appreciated this heightening of federal presence, Kyle Kirby, chairman of the Mecklenburg County Republican Party, criticized the local Democratic officials. He asserted that they’ve failed to uphold law and order and instead turned against federal law enforcement. He proclaimed that the results of the past election emphasized the public’s support for border security, claiming that lawful residents have nothing to fear.
The backlash against immigration enforcement saw hundreds of protestors gather Saturday in a local park as well.
North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Josh Stein stated that the majority of persons detained in such operations have no prior convictions, adding some are actually US citizens. He encouraged citizens to document any instances of “inappropriate behavior” from authorities.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police has publicly stated its non-involvement in immigration law enforcement operations.
