Nearly 21,000 Students Missed School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg After ICE 'Operation Charlotte’s Web'

Nearly 21,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Students Absent After ICE Raids

Nearly 21,000 students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) did not attend classes on Monday, Nov. 17, local reporting shows — a decline that represents roughly 15% of the district’s enrollment. The drop in attendance followed an announcement by the Department of Homeland Security that it would carry out an operation in the area, called “Operation Charlotte’s Web.”

Local outlets reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained more than 130 people during enforcement actions that took place in public spaces, including restaurants, grocery stores, Home Depot parking lots and at an east Charlotte church, according to The Charlotte Observer. DHS said the operation targeted what it described as "criminal illegal aliens who flocked to the Tar Heel State." Several businesses temporarily closed during the enforcement activity.

CMS officials told families on Sunday, Nov. 16 that schools would remain open for in-person learning the next day while district leaders monitored the situation. In a Facebook video, CMS Assistant Communications Officer Tom Miner said, “There has been no immigration enforcement activity on CMS property, and we have not received any notice that such actions are planned.”

“If there was an emergency situation at any of our campuses, we would reconsider remote instruction at that time,” Miner added. He also said the district does not ask about immigration or citizenship status during enrollment, does not share student information except when required by law, and that immigration officials cannot access staff, students, or private areas without a valid warrant or subpoena.

PEOPLE cited local station WBTV for the attendance figures and noted the district had not provided immediate confirmation of the specific numbers. CMS and the Department of Homeland Security were contacted for additional comment.

Local Officials Respond

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles publicly criticized the raids during a Monday press conference and addressed the federal government directly, urging greater care and respect for Charlotte residents. “The city of Charlotte is one where we believe in fairness and dignity,” she said, and urged residents to take sensible precautions.

Officials in Raleigh said local police were not participating in the immigration enforcement actions; state and municipal leaders across North Carolina also expressed concern. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein condemned the raids on X, calling on federal agents to focus on violent criminals rather than people “going to church, or putting up Christmas decorations,” and urging residents to remain peaceful and to document and report any troubling incidents to local law enforcement.

The situation underscores how immigration enforcement operations can ripple through communities, affecting school attendance, local businesses and public sentiment. Journalists and officials continue to seek more details and independent confirmation of the full scope and impact of the operation.