Federal Immigration Raids in Charlotte, North Carolina Trigger Fear and Political Backlash

Federal immigration officers have launched a large enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, prompting concern among city leaders and residents.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the effort on Saturday, describing it as a targeted initiative to remove “violent criminal illegal aliens”. She said additional Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel had been sent to the city, following similar deployments in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

Local officials criticised the decision, arguing that the operation is creating widespread fear. Mayor Vi Lyles, joined by county and school leaders, issued a joint statement expressing support for all Charlotte communities and urging residents to stay calm.

Charlotte, a city of more than 900,000 people, includes over 150,000 foreign-born residents. Crime has declined significantly this year, with data from AH Datalytics showing more than a 20 per cent drop in homicides, sexual assaults, robberies and vehicle thefts through August compared with the same period in 2024. 

Federal officials have nonetheless highlighted the August killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on a light-rail train by a suspect with an extensive criminal record, as justification for the operation. Residents have reported forceful tactics during the raids. 

Willy Aceituno, a Honduran-born US citizen, said he was stopped twice on Saturday by Border Patrol agents. During the second stop, officers broke his car window, forced him to the ground and detained him despite his repeated statements that he was a citizen. He was released after showing documentation and later filed a police report.

These accounts have intensified criticism of the operation. Governor Josh Stein noted that many individuals detained in similar actions elsewhere have no criminal convictions, and some were later confirmed to be US citizens. He encouraged residents to record any incidents of misconduct.

The presence of federal agents has disrupted daily life in several neighbourhoods. Community groups report temporary business closures in areas with large immigrant populations. Greg Asciutto of CharlotteEast described visible Border Patrol activity, while City Council member JD Mazuera Arias said local bakeries and other shops were struggling to remain open due to fear among customers and staff.

Opponents argue that deploying Customs and Border Protection in Charlotte is inappropriate because North Carolina is neither a border state nor a border region. Arias called the operation a “gross violation of constitutional rights” affecting immigrants and citizens alike.