- DHS insist the arrests targeted criminals and gang members
- Others arrested had prior convictions ranging from assault on law enforcement to drunk driving
- Many migrants in Charlotte are said to be staying indoors out of fear of encountering federal agents
A fresh wave of tension has gripped Charlotte, North Carolina, after more than 250 people were taken into custody during a sweeping immigration raid ordered under President Donald Trump’s intensified clampdown on undocumented migrants.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the city has now joined the growing list of US urban centres where the Trump administration has deployed federal forces, following similar operations earlier in Chicago and Los Angeles.
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Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) insist the arrests targeted criminals and gang members.
However, the development has sparked outrage among state leaders and locals who believe the operation, labelled “Operation Charlotte’s Web”, is discriminatory. North Carolina’s Democratic Governor, Josh Stein, accused federal agents of profiling residents based on race.
In a statement on Wednesday, DHS said its officers apprehended “some of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” including individuals linked to violent gangs.
The department added that others arrested had prior convictions ranging from assault on law enforcement to drunk driving, theft and document tampering.
Governor Stein, who has remained a vocal critic of the crackdown, condemned what he described as the shameful targeting of innocent people.
He alleged that masked operatives in military-style gear were patrolling neighbourhoods in unmarked vehicles and detaining people simply because of their skin colour.
“We’ve seen armed agents picking up random people in parking lots. This is not making us safer,” he warned.
Charlotte’s mayor, Vi Lyles, also expressed alarm and urged federal authorities to conduct their operations with respect for the city’s values. She praised thousands of residents who took to the streets on Saturday to protest the administration’s actions.
“I am deeply concerned with many of the videos I’ve seen,” she said. “To everyone in Charlotte who is feeling anxious or fearful, your city stands with you.”
DHS has not disclosed how long the raids will continue. Similar crackdowns in cities like Chicago, which began in September, remain ongoing. Many migrants in Charlotte are said to be staying indoors out of fear of encountering federal agents.
Governor Stein revealed he has received reports suggesting that Raleigh, another major city in the state, may be the next target of the operation.
“I again call on federal agents to focus on violent criminals, not neighbours walking down the street, attending church or putting up Christmas decorations,” he said.
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