Federal Immigration Sweep in Charlotte Sparks Fear and Temporary Business Closures as Local Leaders Push Back

Federal immigration sweep begins in Charlotte, prompting fear, protests and some business closures

Federal authorities confirmed on Saturday that they have launched an intensified immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents observed making arrests at multiple locations.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the surge, saying the operation seeks to protect residents from dangerous individuals. In a statement she said the increased DHS law enforcement presence in Charlotte is intended to "ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed."

"Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors." — Tricia McLaughlin

Local leaders criticized the federal activity. Mayor Vi Lyles and other officials issued a joint statement saying the raids are creating "unnecessary fear and uncertainty" and emphasized their support for residents who simply want to go about their daily lives without intimidation. The joint statement was also signed by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed.

City data show crime is down this year through August compared with the same period in 2024; AH Datalytics reported declines of more than 20% in homicides, rapes, robberies and motor vehicle thefts. Still, the Trump administration has pointed to the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light-rail train — a killing that drew national attention — to argue that stronger federal enforcement is needed. A man with a substantial criminal record has been charged in that homicide.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said federal officials had not publicly announced the operation in advance, although he was told by two federal officials that Customs agents were expected to arrive.

Charlotte is a diverse city of more than 900,000 residents, including over 150,000 foreign-born residents, according to local officials.

Accounts from the community

Willy Aceituno, a 46-year-old Honduran-born U.S. citizen, said he was on his way to work Saturday when he saw many Latinos running and Border Patrol agents in pursuit. He told The Associated Press that agents stopped him twice; during the second stop they broke his vehicle window, pulled him from the car and threw him to the ground. He said he repeatedly told agents he was a U.S. citizen and was ultimately released after producing documents proving his citizenship. Aceituno later filed a police report about his damaged vehicle.

Paola Garcia, a spokesperson for Camino, a bilingual nonprofit serving Charlotte families, said staff have observed a rise in stops by CBP and ICE beginning Friday. "Basically what we're seeing is that there have been lots of people being pulled over," she said.

Greg Asciutto, executive director of community group CharlotteEast, described the activity as "significant Border Patrol activity." He said most encounters appeared to be quick, targeted arrests while some seemed like broader "fishing" stops.

In east Charlotte, resident Rheba Hamilton recorded two CBP agents who approached workers hanging Christmas lights in her front yard; after speaking briefly in Spanish the agents left without making arrests. "This is really disconcerting," the 73-year-old said, adding that the workers "had broken no laws" and were simply trying to earn a living.

Councilmember JD Mazuera Arias, elected in September, stood with neighbors outside a Latin American bakery in his district. He said another nearby bakery closed for the day out of fear, illustrating how the enforcement activity has immediate economic effects. "We are not a border city, nor are we a border state. So why are they here?" he asked, calling the operations a violation of constitutional rights for immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.

Asciutto added that many small businesses in his area closed and community groups were "brainstorming ways to keep them afloat," uncertain how long the federal activity would continue.

Political reaction and public response

The Trump administration has defended large federal enforcement actions in cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago as necessary to fight crime and enforce immigration laws. Mecklenburg County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Kirby criticized local Democrats, saying they had "abandoned their duty to uphold law and order" and that law-abiding residents need not fear federal enforcement.

Meanwhile, several hundred people gathered in a Charlotte park on Saturday to protest the raids. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said the day before that most people detained in similar operations have no criminal convictions and that some detainees have been U.S. citizens; he encouraged residents to record any "inappropriate behavior" and report it to local law enforcement.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department emphasized it is not participating in federal immigration enforcement operations.

The situation remains fluid. Community leaders urged calm while calling for transparency and clear limits on federal actions within the city. Local nonprofits and legal aid groups began mobilizing to assist residents who may need help documenting encounters or seeking legal support.