Charlotte, North Carolina, is bracing for a possible federal immigration crackdown after Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said Thursday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents could arrive as early as this weekend.
According to The Associated Press, McFadden said two federal officials confirmed an upcoming enforcement operation in the city. He did not identify the officials and noted that his office had not been asked to assist. No operational details were provided.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to offer clarity. “Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
President Donald Trump has defended sending federal agents into Democratic-led cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. He argues the deployments are necessary to combat crime and advance his mass deportation plans. Charlotte, a Democratic stronghold with more than 150,000 foreign-born residents, now appears next in line.
The administration has pointed to the fatal light-rail stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska as evidence that the city is not protecting residents. A man with a long criminal history has been charged with murder.
Local officials and activists are moving quickly to prepare residents. Nearly 500 people joined a community call on Wednesday night, organized by CharlotteEAST, aimed at sharing resources and calming fears.
“The purpose of this call was to create a mutual aid network,” said City Councilmember-Elect JD Mazuera Arias. CharlotteEAST director Greg Asciutto urged people to stay connected with support groups.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police emphasized they “have no authority to enforce federal immigration laws” and are not involved in any federal plans.
Still, Mazuera Arias and others say they have already received unconfirmed reports of plainclothes officers in neighborhoods and on transit. “This is some of the chaos that we also saw in Chicago,” said state Sen. Caleb Theodros.
The Chicago sweep — part of the administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” — expanded rapidly after launching in early September. It led to more than 3,200 arrests and included hundreds of CBP agents. DHS has released a few details about the people detained.
In Charlotte, activists are preparing residents for potential encounters. Indivisible Charlotte and the Carolina Migrant Network will train volunteers on Friday on spotting federal agents and understanding their rights.
“They’re not always wearing vests that say ‘ICE,’” said Tony Siracusa of Indivisible Charlotte. He said the groups may also coordinate “pop-up protests,” though they are not encouraging anyone to risk arrest.
The fear is already having an impact. Daniela Andrade of the Carolina Migrant Network said organizers canceled a Hispanic heritage festival this year due to concerns about enforcement.
“It’s the concern of family separation, of being removed from a community where many people have lived here for years,” she said.
