Local officials say immigration enforcement surge in Charlotte, North Carolina, ending after more than 250 arrests
Federal agents are now expected to move to New Orleans.
A federal immigration crackdown dubbed Charlotte's Web has concluded in North Carolina's largest city after netting more than 250 arrests, local officials said on Thursday.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said in a statement that federal officials confirmed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have wrapped up their immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte.
The statement added that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "will continue to operate in Mecklenburg County as they always have."
“We will continue to build relationships, mend bridges, and listen to the voices of everyone in our community," McFadden said in the statement. "As we move forward, I want the city of Charlotte to know, I will keep fighting for clarity, accountability, and trust. I will continue to protect this city and every single one of its citizens."
However, in a post on social media on Thursday containing a link to news coverage about the operation ending, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin, said: "Wrong. Operation Charlotte's Web isn't ending anytime soon."
Earlier Thursday, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles also issued a statement suggesting and end to the operation.
"It appears that U.S. Border Patrol has ceased its operations in Charlotte. I’m relieved for our community and the residents, businesses, and all those who were targeted and impacted by this intrusion," the mayor's statement said, in part.
Federal officials said those arrested in the immigration crackdown in Charlotte that began on Saturday were allegedly in the country illegally, and that many had previously been charged with crimes while in the county.
"This immigration enforcement surge in the Charlotte area has led to the arrest of over 250 illegal aliens as of the evening of 11/18," a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Wednesday.
Federal agents are expected to move to New Orleans next to continue the nationwide immigration crackdown ordered by the Trump administration. More than 200 agents are expected to be redeployed to New Orleans in the coming days to begin immigration sweeps in New Orleans, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
The announcement of the arrest tally in Charlotte came a day after Greg Bovino, the commander-at-large of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), blamed North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein for what he said was an increase in violent rhetoric that federal agents are facing in their immigration enforcement blitz in the state.
Bovino took to social media on Tuesday to slam Stein, a Democrat who released a statement over the weekend asking residents of the Tar Heel State to report any "inappropriate behavior" they witness from federal agents.
"If you see any inappropriate behavior, use your phones to record and notify local law enforcement, who will continue to keep our communities safe after these federal agents leave," Stein said.
In a social media post, Bovino told Stein, "You need to check yourself," and cited an online video of a woman threatening to use a screwdriver to stab U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents if they pull her over.
"Governor Stein, you caused this," Bovino said in the post. "Let me say that again, Governor. When you spout lies about a lawful law enforcement operation, you spark something in weaker-minded people like this who may act upon your direction."
Bovino did not specifically say what statements from Stein prompted his social media response.
On Sunday, Stein issued a statement, saying, "We've seen masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars, targeting American citizens based on their skin color, racially profiling, and picking up random people in parking lots and off of our sidewalks."
Bovino's warning to Stein came after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited two incidents this week in Charlotte in which people allegedly rammed the vehicles of federal agents or drove directly at the agents.
In one case, the DHS alleged that a U.S. citizen allegedly drove a "large van" at agents as they were conducting an immigration operation dubbed Charlotte's Web.
"He immediately fled the scene, starting a dangerous high-speed chase through a densely populated area," according to a DHS statement posted on X. "During the chase, he attempted to ram into law enforcement vehicles -- posing a serious public safety threat. As agents were boxing him in -- the driver proceeded to ram law enforcement vehicles in an attempt to escape."
One federal agent was injured in the incident, according to the DHS.
The DHS statement said that after the suspect, whose name was not released, was arrested, a firearm was allegedly found in his van. The DHS said the man "has prior arrests for resisting law enforcement, public disturbance and intoxication/disruptive conduct."
The DHS said another driver arrested in Charlotte on Monday jumped a curb, drove into a parking lot and sped toward agents.
"The driver was warned to stop and back up," the DHS said in a statement. "The driver then drove the vehicle toward the exit of the parking lot and waited to try and box in Border Patrol. As agents went to confront the driver, the car rammed a law enforcement vehicle and fled the scene."
In a statement on Tuesday, the DHS said CBP and ICE agents have faced nearly 100 vehicular attacks this year, nearly double the number from 2024.
Charlotte is the latest city targeted by the Trump administration to enforce immigration laws in a nationwide effort that has included Los Angeles and Chicago, which are so-called "sanctuary" cities and states that limit actions their local authorities take to aid the work of immigration agents.
Immigration advocates, elected leaders and lawyers representing people arrested elsewhere in the country on charges of ramming the vehicles of federal agents denied the charges have criticized how masked federal agents have stoked fear
DHS, in announcing its action in North Carolina, said the state also has "sanctuary" politicians.
Elsewhere in the country where ICE and CBP sweeps have occurred, immigration advocates, elected leaders, and residents have criticized the federal operations, saying they were not requested and that they are stoking fear in their communities. Lawyers representing people arrested elsewhere in the country on charges of ramming the vehicles of federal agents have denied the charges.
On Thursday, the Department of Justice moved to dismiss charges against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ruiz, who were involved in a collision with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Chicago on Oct. 4.
The 30-year-old Martinez, who was shot in Chicago in October by a CBP agent, and Ruiz were accused of ramming a CBP vehicle.
Martinez's lawyer claimed in court that he viewed a body-camera video from one of the agents that proves his client did nothing wrong.
Martinez's lawyer, Christopher Parente, said during an Oct. 6 court hearing that the federal agents appeared to swerve into Martinez's car after one of them was heard in the footage saying, "Do something, bitch."
"When I watched the video after this agent says, 'Do something, bitch,' I see the driver of this vehicle turn the wheel to the left. Which would be consistent with him running into Ms. Martinez’s vehicle, okay," Parente said. “And then seconds later, he jumps out and just starts shooting."
ABC News' Jessica Gorman contributed to this report.
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