The concentrated Border Patrol deployment led by Gregory Bovino has ended in Charlotte after an operation dubbed "Operation Charlotte’s Web," which federal officials say resulted in more than 250 arrests. The activity disrupted daily life — more than 30,000 students (about 20% of the district) were absent from school — and prompted business closures and widespread fear. Local leaders urged rebuilding trust while noting ICE will continue separate enforcement efforts.
Border Patrol Withdraws From Charlotte After ‘Operation Charlotte’s Web’; Community Reels from Impact
The concentrated Border Patrol deployment led by Gregory Bovino has ended in Charlotte after an operation dubbed "Operation Charlotte’s Web," which federal officials say resulted in more than 250 arrests. The activity disrupted daily life — more than 30,000 students (about 20% of the district) were absent from school — and prompted business closures and widespread fear. Local leaders urged rebuilding trust while noting ICE will continue separate enforcement efforts.
11:43 PM, 11/20/2025Society
A senior Border Patrol supervisor, Gregory Bovino, and several agents have left Charlotte, North Carolina, ending a concentrated federal deployment officials called "Operation Charlotte’s Web." The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the withdrawal after days of enforcement that the agency said resulted in more than 250 arrests.
The operation disrupted daily life across the city: businesses temporarily closed, many parents kept children home from school out of fear, and residents reported heightened anxiety in several neighborhoods. Local leaders stressed that other federal immigration efforts will continue even though the Border Patrol team has departed.
Local officials respond
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said federal officials informed him the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operation in Charlotte had concluded and that no CBP actions were scheduled that day. "We will continue to build relationships, mend bridges, and listen to the voices of everyone in our community," McFadden said. He added he will press for clarity, accountability and trust as enforcement activity persists.
McFadden also noted that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will continue separate enforcement actions in the area.
Schools, families and businesses affected
Teachers and school staff described a climate of fear and confusion. Charlotte teacher Jamie Roldan said students asked questions such as, "What is going to happen if I go home and my parents aren't there?" and "What does it mean if my parents get taken away?" On one recent day, Roldan said only nine students attended her class because many families were too frightened to send children to school.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reported more than 30,000 absences — roughly 20% of the district’s enrollment — on Monday, based on updated figures from earlier in the week. Mayor Pro Tem Danté Anderson said the absences denied students instructional time and social development, and forced many families to alter work schedules, creating economic strain driven by fear.
A local nonprofit that supports small businesses estimated about half of the mom-and-pop establishments it works with closed at some point during the enforcement activity. One family-run Colombian bakery, open for 28 years, closed last week for the first time in decades and its owners were uncertain when they would reopen.
What’s next
Federal and local law enforcement said immigration enforcement will continue in the region even after the Border Patrol team left — similar to patterns observed following recent operations in other cities. Officials also said Bovino and members of his team are expected to begin an operation in New Orleans after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Community leaders and local officials said they will continue to demand transparency and oversight as federal immigration activity continues in the area.