Overview
- Federal agents from Border Patrol and ICE made arrests across Charlotte on Saturday as the operation began.
- DHS says the effort targets violent criminal noncitizens, and internal documents describe scores of agents and specialized gear, including armored vehicles and special teams.
- Eyewitness accounts and video report aggressive stops, including a U.S. citizen detained after agents broke his car window before releasing him once he proved his status.
- City and county officials urged calm and legal vigilance, criticized the crackdown, and emphasized that local police are not involved in federal immigration enforcement.
- DHS has not disclosed arrest totals or staffing numbers, protests drew hundreds and some businesses closed, and the scope and duration of the deployment remain unclear.