Charlotte,โฃ N.C. – Homeland Securityโฃ officers โbegan targeted immigration โขenforcement operations in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, resulting in โmultiple detentions and sparking both support and protest. The operations,โฃ part of aโค broader federal effort, are focused on individuals โคwithโ outstanding deportation orders andโฃ those who pose a threat to public โขsafety, according to officials.
The enforcement actions come as the โTrump management continues to โprioritize immigration enforcementโค across the country, including in cities and counties โthat have policies limiting cooperation with federalโข authorities.โฃ The operations are intended to โขaddress concerns about rising crime and โฃto enforce existing immigration laws, but have also raised fears among immigrant communitiesโ and drawn โcriticism from local leaders.
Mecklenburg County Republican Party โคChairman Kyle Kirby praised theโ federal actions,stating that โคDemocratic officials “have abandoned their duty to uphold law and order” and are “demonizing the brave men and womenโค of โfederal lawโ enforcement.”โ He added, “Let us be clear: President Trump was given a mandate in the 2024 election to secureโข our borders. โขIndividuals who are in this โcountry legally have nothing to fear.”
Though,โข democratic Gov.โ Josh Stein expressed concernโฃ thatโ the majority of those detained in similar operations have โnoโฃ criminal convictions, and โคsome are U.S. citizens.โ He โurged residents โขto document anyโ “inappropriate behavior” by officers and โreport it โขto local law enforcement.The Charlotte-Mecklenburgโค Police Department has stated it is not involved in federal immigration enforcement.
Several hundred people gathered โSaturday in a Charlotte parkโฃ to protest the operations. The increased federalโฃ presence is raising questions about the impact โฃon localโข communities and the resources neededโค to support those affected, as advocates seek ways to provide legal assistance and other support “to keep โthem afloat, as we don’t โknow how long this isโข going to last.”