DHS Launches New Immigration Crackdown In North Carolina City
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Saturday that the federal government has launched targeted immigration enforcement operations in Charlotte, N.C., a move officials say is part of President Donald J. Trump’s broader effort to restore public safety and combat the surge of criminal activity tied to illegal immigration.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the deployment, underscoring the administration’s obligation to protect American citizens.
“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” McLaughlin said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.
“We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”
While the operation was welcomed by law enforcement leaders looking for clearer coordination with federal authorities, Charlotte’s Democratic political leadership reacted with predictable hostility. Mayor Vi Lyles, joined by County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and school board member Stephanie Sneed, issued a joint statement claiming the federal presence “are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty.”
“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives,” the officials said — a message critics say prioritizes political narratives over the safety of law-abiding citizens.
Though federal agencies had not publicly announced the operation, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden confirmed he had been briefed by federal officials earlier in the week. He expressed appreciation for renewed communication following years of strained relations under the Biden administration.
“We value and welcome the renewed collaboration and open communication with our federal partners,” McFadden said. “It allows us to stay informed and be proactive in keeping Mecklenburg County safe and to maintain the level of trust our community deserves.”
Despite the sheriff’s support, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said it is not participating in the federal effort.
Charlotte — now a city of more than 900,000 — is home to over 150,000 foreign-born residents, according to local officials. The significant demographic shift has heightened concerns about illegal immigration, especially as the Trump administration moves aggressively to remove criminal offenders who entered the country unlawfully.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) attempted to cast doubt on the operation Friday, claiming that “most of the people detained” in recent actions lacked criminal convictions and suggesting that “some are U.S. citizens.” Stein encouraged residents to document any “inappropriate behavior” and report it to law enforcement — rhetoric conservatives say is designed to delegitimize federal enforcement rather than address the underlying criminal threat.
The Trump administration, now firmly in its second term, has escalated its campaign to crack down on violent crime and illegal immigration nationwide. National Guard troops have been deployed to major Democrat-led cities including Chicago, Washington, D.C., Memphis, and Los Angeles. Immigration authorities have expanded enforcement operations despite legal pushback from activist groups and sympathetic courts, including blocked deployments in Portland.
In Illinois, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently rejected Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s request to halt ICE operations during Halloween weekend. Pritzker implied that children were at risk, prompting swift clarification from Noem during a Fox News interview.
“No, we’re going to be out on the streets in full force and increase our activities to make sure kids are safe,” she said.
“Every day in Chicago, we’re arresting murderers, child pedophiles, those who have perpetuated assault and pornography against children.”
She added that enforcement protects families from criminals “because of these illegal aliens that are in our country victimizing them.”
Even in deep-blue Chicago, some Democrats are bucking the party line. Ray Lopez, alderman for the city’s 15th Ward, defended President Trump’s decision to increase the number of federal personnel deployed to the city — a stark contrast to Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. Pritzker, who accused the administration of “declaring war” on Chicago.
Lopez told Fox News that his constituents understand the stakes:
“Absolutely not. There are many people in the city of Chicago who completely support having the additional resources to keep both ICE agents and community protesters safe.”
The growing divide between Democratic officials and the communities they represent underscores a national debate: whether political posturing should outweigh the federal government’s duty to secure the nation and remove violent offenders who entered the United States illegally.