Martha White, granddaughter and literary executor of E.B. White, criticized the Department of Homeland Security for naming a Charlotte immigration sweep "Operation Charlotte’s Web," saying her grandfather would not have supported the tactics used. DHS said the action led to more than 130 arrests over two days and noted nearly 1,400 ICE detainers have not been honored by local authorities. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino quoted lines from Charlotte’s Web as the operation began. Local officials and Governor Josh Stein condemned the raids, calling them divisive and frightening for the community.
E.B. White’s Granddaughter Condemns DHS Use of 'Charlotte’s Web' Name for Charlotte Immigration Sweep
Martha White, granddaughter and literary executor of E.B. White, criticized the Department of Homeland Security for naming a Charlotte immigration sweep "Operation Charlotte’s Web," saying her grandfather would not have supported the tactics used. DHS said the action led to more than 130 arrests over two days and noted nearly 1,400 ICE detainers have not been honored by local authorities. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino quoted lines from Charlotte’s Web as the operation began. Local officials and Governor Josh Stein condemned the raids, calling them divisive and frightening for the community.
06:07 PM, 11/18/2025Politics
E.B. White’s family objects to Operation "Charlotte’s Web"
Martha White, granddaughter and literary executor of Charlotte’s Web author E.B. White, on Monday publicly criticized the Department of Homeland Security for invoking the title of the beloved 1952 children’s book to describe a weekend immigration enforcement action in Charlotte, North Carolina, dubbed "Operation Charlotte’s Web."
In a statement, Martha White said her grandfather — who died in 1985 — would not have supported the tactics used by federal agents. "He believed in the rule of law and due process," she said. "He certainly didn’t believe in masked men, in unmarked cars, raiding people’s homes and workplaces without IDs or summons." She noted that in Charlotte’s Web, the spider sacrifices herself to protect Wilbur the pig and to secure his freedom.
Officials and law enforcement responses
Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who is leading the Charlotte operation and previously led similar efforts in Los Angeles and Chicago, quoted lines from Charlotte’s Web on social media as the sweep began:
"Wherever the wind takes us. High, low. Near, far. East, west. North, south. We take to the breeze, we go as we please."
He added, "This time, the breeze hit Charlotte like a storm. From border towns to the Queen City, our agents go where the mission calls."
Arrests, detainers and local reaction
DHS reported that the operation resulted in more than 130 arrests over two days. The agency also said nearly 1,400 ICE detainers have not been honored by local authorities, complicating enforcement efforts.
The enforcement activity sparked protests and sharp criticism from local leaders. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Chair Stephanie Sneed issued a joint statement calling the raids "causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community," and expressing concern that some people detained in similar operations elsewhere had no criminal records.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein also condemned the operation, saying it is "stoking fear and dividing our community." In a video posted to X, he described witnessing "masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars" and accused agents of racial profiling.
Broader context
The administration has used attention-grabbing names for several enforcement operations and, according to critics, has targeted Democrat-led cities as part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy. Earlier this year the administration reversed a prior Biden-era policy that limited raids in so-called "sensitive" locations such as schools, churches and hospitals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.