Charlotte Immigration Raids Stoke Fear and Fuel Battle for Key North Carolina Senate Seat

By James Oliphant and Aleksandra Michalska

Federal immigration operations in Charlotte and other North Carolina cities this week have thrust the battleground state back into the national debate over enforcement, sharpening political stakes ahead of a competitive U.S. Senate race.

The raids

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, often masked and clad in camouflage, conducted operations in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods in Charlotte and other cities. The Department of Homeland Security reported more than 370 arrests. Video circulating on social media showed agents breaking a pickup truck window and removing a man, and local officials said the activity prompted protests and temporary business closures.

Local reaction

"People are terrified, they're angry, they're hiding," said Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, a Democratic county commissioner in Charlotte. "They're mad as hell that this happened in our community, and they want to know what the hell we are going to do about it."

Residents and community leaders described fear and outrage after the operations, while some business owners closed out of concern for customers and staff. Mecklenburg County officials said the local phase of the operation finished on Thursday, though federal officials indicated enforcement efforts could continue.

Political fallout

The raids arrived as North Carolina prepares for a high-profile Senate contest. Former two-term Democratic governor Roy Cooper is likely to be the Democratic nominee for the seat being vacated by Republican Thom Tillis; the Republican field may coalesce around Michael Whatley, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, or attorney Don Brown. Polling currently places Cooper ahead.

Republicans argue the operations are aimed at dangerous criminals and cast the issue as one of public safety. "The people that they're picking up off the streets aren't just the typical people that you would be wanting to have living next door to you or in the carpool line at your child's school," said Kyle Kirby, chair of the Republican Party in Charlotte. Democrats and many local leaders characterize the raids as overreach and warn they could intimidate immigrant communities and depress turnout.

Officials have not publicly verified the immigration status or criminal histories of those detained in the operations.

State context

This week's activity follows a contentious legislative fight in July, when the Republican-controlled state legislature passed a measure requiring county sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The state's Democratic governor vetoed the bill and the legislature voted to override that veto, framing the issue as a public-safety priority. Democrats, in turn, say the federal actions amount to an overreach and are preparing intensified messaging ahead of next year's elections.

Why it matters

North Carolina is a pivotal swing state and demographic changes have made immigration an increasingly salient political issue. Charlotte's metropolitan area has grown rapidly; since 2000 the foreign-born population in the city and surrounding region has risen sharply and now represents a significant share of residents and local business ownership. How voters react to the raids—whether they shift toward prioritizing border enforcement or mobilize opposition to federal tactics—could influence races up and down the ballot next year.

Observers are divided over the likely political effects. Some pollsters say heightened focus on border security can benefit Republican candidates who emphasize that issue; others warn the operations may energize Democrats and Hispanic voters alarmed by aggressive federal enforcement in their communities. Both parties have signaled they will step up efforts to shape the narrative in the months ahead.