Border Patrol to Deploy Scores of Agents — Including Armored 'BearCats' — to Charlotte and New Orleans

Border Patrol to Expand Operations in Charlotte and New Orleans

The Trump administration plans to send scores of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents to Charlotte and New Orleans to lead immigration enforcement efforts that could include armored vehicles and special operations teams, according to internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents and U.S. officials.

Internal DHS planning papers reviewed by CBS News identify Charlotte and New Orleans as the next locations in the administration’s large-scale immigration enforcement initiative. As in Chicago and Los Angeles — where recent federal arrests drew widespread attention and controversy — agents in Border Patrol uniforms are expected to play a prominent role.

An operations center is being established in Charlotte, and two sources familiar with the plans told CBS News that deployments could begin imminently, possibly as early as next week. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said he was contacted by federal officials who confirmed CBP personnel could arrive in the Charlotte area this weekend or early next week.

After the Charlotte operation, attention is expected to shift to New Orleans, where internal documents and sources indicate as many as 200 CBP agents could be deployed. The planning documents request armored vehicles — including so-called "BearCats" — and special operations agents for both cities. Officials have internally labeled the initiatives "Charlotte Web" and "Catahoula Crunch."

Many of the Border Patrol personnel who were deployed to the Chicago region earlier this fall, including commander Gregory Bovino, are expected to participate in the upcoming missions in Charlotte and New Orleans, according to U.S. officials. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the department "does not discuss future or potential operations," adding that "every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country."

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein voiced concern about the emphasis and tactics of recent federal operations. He said public safety should prioritize arresting violent offenders and drug traffickers rather than tactics that risk stoking fear or division, and noted that a majority of those detained in some recent operations had no criminal convictions. The governor urged residents to remain peaceful, follow the law, and record and report any inappropriate behavior by officers.

How Border Patrol and ICE Operations Differ

Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the federal agency typically responsible for interior immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has repeatedly deployed Border Patrol agents to cities far from the U.S.–Mexico border. While ICE operations are often targeted and intelligence-driven — focusing on individuals suspected of additional crimes — Border Patrol has carried out "roving" operations in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles that critics describe as more indiscriminate, stopping people in public places such as parking lots and worksites.

The agency’s tactics have prompted protests and legal scrutiny. In Chicago, a federal judge imposed limits on Border Patrol’s use of tear gas and certain crowd-control methods after concerns about force used against protesters. Administration officials maintain that agents have used only the force necessary when faced with interference or violence during operations. "The use of force that I’ve seen has been exemplary — the least amount of force necessary to accomplish the mission," Bovino told CBS News last month.

What to watch: Watch for official DHS announcements, local law enforcement coordination, and community reaction as deployments begin. Residents are encouraged to document any interactions they believe are inappropriate and report them to local authorities.