Federal immigration crackdown launches in Charlotte, North Carolina

Federal agents launched a massive immigration raid in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday.

U.S. Border Patrol agents were seen making arrests in the city of more than 900,000 residents, the Associated Press reported.

The operation is part of a federal initiative to ensure “Americans are safe and public safety threats are eliminated,” according to Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Tricia McLaughlin.

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“Americans should be able to live without fear that violent, illegal aliens will harm them, their families or their neighbors,” McLaughlin said in a statement.

But some local leaders quickly condemned the raids.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a joint statement with Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed that the actions “cause unnecessary fear and uncertainty.”

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A sign reading Spanish at the top: “Know Your Rights” is displayed outside a restaurant store Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know that we stand with all residents who simply want to move on with their lives,” the statement said.

The operation comes months after 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte light rail train.

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Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs (dhs.gov)

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This also follows similar recent immigration enforcement raids in California, Illinois, Oregon and New York.

DHS and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.