Overview
- Homeland Security confirmed a surge of CBP and ICE personnel to Charlotte to remove what it calls public‑safety threats, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin citing victims of crimes by undocumented immigrants.
- Agents were seen making arrests across multiple corridors, and witnesses reported stepped‑up traffic stops, including a U.S. citizen who said officers smashed his car window and detained him before releasing him after he proved his citizenship.
- DHS told CBS News the operation is called "Charlotte’s Web," with internal documents indicating scores of Border Patrol agents could be deployed, potentially with armored vehicles and special operations teams under the leadership of Gregory Bovino.
- Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and county leaders criticized the actions as creating fear, urged peaceful responses, and reiterated that Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police are not involved, as protests formed and some businesses temporarily closed.
- The crackdown mirrors recent federal deployments to Democratic‑led cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles that prompted lawsuits and court limits on tactics, and officials have not disclosed how long the Charlotte operation will last or total arrests.