Charlotte faces DHS crackdown as agents target ‘criminal illegal aliens’
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said federal agents attacked Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of US President Donald Trump’s expanding crackdown on illegal immigration.
He announced “Operation Charlotte’s Web” on Saturday, saying “criminal illegal aliens” would be targeted in the Democrat-run city.
Local officials, including Charlotte Mayor Li Vyles, issued a joint statement criticizing the operation and saying it caused “unnecessary fear and uncertainty” in the community.
Since Trump’s return to office Deployed troops to Washington DC, Los Angeles and Chicago Fulfilling the promise of the “largest deportation program” in US history.
“We are sending DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are eliminated,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Armored vehicles and SWAT teams may have participated in the raid in North Charlotte, according to internal government documents seen by police. CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Several church members doing yard work at an East Charlotte church fled into the woods when agents arrived and detained a man. Charlotte Observer he reported, quoting the church’s pastor.
“The church is safe and nothing will happen.” [was] A 15-year-old witness told the newspaper:
Officials said there are “a number of organizations ready to assist individuals seeking legal guidance on immigration matters.”
DHS said they conducted the operation because North Carolina failed to honor nearly 1,400 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees; which means they were released due to “sanctuary policies.”
Charlotte is not a sanctuary city; cities with policies limiting aid to federal immigration authorities – but a “certified welcoming city”. This is an official definition for cities committed to the inclusion of immigration.
“President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] “Noem will take action to protect Americans while sanctuary politicians will not,” DHS said.
Charlotte is an ethnically diverse city, with approximately 17% of its residents born abroad. Data USA.
DHS did not say how long the raids would last. The crackdown, which started in Chicago in September, is still continuing.
Earlier in the week, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat, said she had been briefed on the operation and was “extremely concerned” about Border Patrol and ICE agents coming to North Carolina.
According to CBS, the next city on Trump’s list will be New Orleans, and as many as 200 agents could be assigned to the city.
Operations in previous cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles had come under fire over concerns of excessive use of force.
