Surprise DHS Immigration Sweep Hits Charlotte — Residents Call It a Political Stunt

Federal agents launch unexpected operation in Charlotte, sparking protests and controversy

Dozens of people were detained in Charlotte during a surprise Department of Homeland Security operation that many local leaders and immigrant advocates say felt politically motivated and caused widespread fear.

Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino said agents detained 81 people in the operation—publicly dubbed "Charlotte’s Web"—and described many of those taken into custody as having significant criminal and immigration histories. DHS also said nearly 1,400 immigration detainers across North Carolina have gone unhonored, a claim the agency used to justify the surge.

Local reaction: alarm, criticism and disruption

The announcement and the arrival of federal agents, some in tactical gear and unmarked vehicles according to local advocates, prompted protests, temporary business closures and sharp criticism from Democratic officials. City Council member Dimple Ajmera called the move an effort to "score political points," pointing to the national political calendar and an important U.S. Senate race in North Carolina.

"This administration ran on rhetoric that is anti-immigrant to score political points," said Ajmera.

Immigrant-rights groups, including the Carolina Migrant Network, reported seeing federal agents detain U.S. citizens and question people at restaurants, businesses and places of worship—claims DHS did not directly address when asked but which the nonprofit said have raised alarm and legal concerns in the community.

Who was affected?

The operation included arrests in Charlotte and nearby Pineville. Among those briefly detained was Willy Wender Aceituno Medina, a Honduran man who says he became a U.S. citizen in 2019 and holds a REAL ID; he was released after agents reviewed his paperwork, according to local reporting. Officials did not release a comprehensive list of names or charges for those detained.

Charlotte’s immigrant population has grown in recent years: U.S. Census figures show roughly 18.2% of city residents were foreign-born in 2023, about double the statewide share. The city is home to a major immigration court and an ICE field office, and Mecklenburg County ended its 287(g) cooperation with ICE in 2018—decisions and institutions that some observers say factor into why federal agents were sent to the area.

Political and legal tensions

Local Democratic leaders framed the operation as a distraction ahead of next year’s midterms and criticized the lack of advance coordination with municipal authorities. Sheriff Garry McFadden said federal officials alerted him that agents would arrive but did not share operational details or request local assistance. Some Republican leaders praised the federal action as necessary to remove violent criminal offenders, while others expressed unease about the approach and the lack of local coordination.

"When local leaders release individuals flagged for federal pickup back into the community, it simply forces federal agencies to step in," said a local GOP official.

The operation’s name also drew cultural pushback: Martha White, the granddaughter and literary executor of E.B. White, protested the use of "Charlotte’s Web" as an operation title, saying it was inappropriate to link the children’s book to raids and unmarked vehicles.

What’s next?

Officials and federal sources have said similar operations could be redeployed to other large, Democratic-led cities, with New Orleans mentioned as a possible next stop. The announcement and rapid deployment in Charlotte have renewed debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics, the balance of local and federal authority, and the political timing of high-profile enforcement actions.

Residents and business owners continue to recover from the immediate disruptions—protests, temporary closures and heightened anxiety—while local and state leaders weigh legal and policy responses.