The Department of Homeland Security began its federal immigration operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, in what is the Trump administration‘s latest crackdown on illegal immigration in major U.S. cities.
In a press release, DHS announced the “surging” of federal law enforcement to the city as part of what is being called “Operation Charlotte’s Web.”
“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed. There have been too many victims of criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.”
The immigration enforcement in Charlotte was expected for the last week, with federal officials confirming the plan with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
The operation will see hundreds of Border Patrol agents descend on the city, the largest in the Tar Heel State and run by Democrat Mayor Vi Lyles.
In a statement earlier on Saturday, Lyles said the immigration enforcement was “causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty,” but urged residents to protest peacefully.
Unlike in other raids across the U.S., the agents, who are coming from Chicago, will be staying at privately owned hotels, according to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden.
WHAT TO EXPECT AS BORDER PATROL ARRIVES IN CHARLOTTE: ‘THEY’RE HERE’
They will be led by Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol’s chief of the El Centro, California, region and commander of ICE operations in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Agents could be stationed in Charlotte for at least a few weeks, though Lyles previously said they would only be “conducting operations as early as this weekend and potentially into next week.”
