Charlotte Sheriff Garry McFadden and Federal Agents Clash After CBP Sweep Arrests 350+

Garry McFadden, a former Charlotte homicide detective turned television personality and the elected sheriff of Mecklenburg County, has long resisted formal cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This month, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) carried out a sweep across Charlotte and neighboring areas that resulted in more than 350 arrests in an operation the administration called Operation Charlotte's Web. CBP agents reportedly operated without meeting McFadden or his command staff, a decision that has intensified an already heated local debate over immigration enforcement and public safety.

What happened

CBP concluded its operation after executing hundreds of arrests, but the decision to deploy federal agents into the county without coordinating with the sheriff drew public criticism from McFadden and others. The Department of Homeland Security said the arrests targeted people with alleged immigration violations and criminal histories, citing offenses including domestic violence, assault, breaking and entering, larceny and driving while intoxicated.

McFadden's response and background

McFadden said his repeated requests to meet with CBP leaders who oversaw the operation were not answered. "I don't think you can make someplace safer when you are in fear ... of deportation," he said in televised remarks, adding that his office would have preferred a conversation with Border Patrol while agents were working in the county.

McFadden rose through the ranks during 36 years with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, earning a reputation for a high homicide clearance rate and for founding community programs such as Cops and Barbers. He reached a wider audience after appearing on a reality show about homicide investigations and parlayed that visibility into a successful 2018 campaign for county sheriff.

Policy disputes with federal immigration agencies

As sheriff, McFadden moved quickly to end Mecklenburg County's participation in the federal 287(g) program, which delegates certain immigration tasks to local law enforcement. He also instructed deputies not to honor ICE detainers, which are requests to hold people beyond their scheduled release so federal authorities can take custody. Those policies drew public criticism from federal immigration officials in years past.

More recently, state laws have expanded mandates requiring local jails to check inmates' immigration status, honor detainers and notify federal authorities before releasing people held on detainers. McFadden has said his office will comply with state law but will not actively carry out enforcement duties on behalf of ICE.

Political and community fallout

Republican elected officials blamed McFadden's stance for prompting the federal deployment, while local immigrant advocates and community organizers suggested the sweep may reflect multiple factors, including Charlotte's growing immigrant population and the presence of a major ICE field office. One community leader described the operation as potentially retaliatory given McFadden's prior reductions in cooperation with ICE.

We are all law enforcement. At least respect me enough to come and have a conversation with me while you're operating in my county, McFadden said of federal agents' decision not to coordinate with his office.

The surge in federal agents prompted widespread fear and disruption: McFadden reported that many students from predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods stayed home during the operation, and the school district recorded roughly 30,000 absences in a single day, about 20 percent of enrollment across district schools. Business owners also reported employees missing work amid heightened enforcement activity.

Accusations and controversies surrounding the sheriff

McFadden's tenure has been marked by both national recognition and local controversies. He is a board member of a national sheriffs' organization and completed training for newly elected sheriffs, but his office has faced personnel disputes and criticism from former employees and local police representatives. A former business director filed a federal lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and retaliation; McFadden has denied those claims. Other former staffers have alleged mistreatment and criticized his leadership style, and the sheriff issued a public apology after a released recording showed him using inflammatory language.

Local police union leaders have described a strained relationship with McFadden, and some argued that calls for federal assistance may have helped focus attention on Charlotte. At the same time, congressional and state leaders on both sides of the aisle weighed in, reflecting the operation's national political resonance.

Looking ahead

With CBP's presence now reduced, questions remain about how local, state and federal agencies will coordinate in Mecklenburg County going forward, and how enforcement choices will affect public safety and community trust. McFadden and other local leaders say they want clearer communication and mutual respect among law enforcement partners as they navigate competing priorities around crime prevention and community confidence.