Federal immigration authorities will increase their enforcement motion in North Carolina to Raleigh as quickly as Tuesday, the mayor of the state’s capital metropolis stated, whereas Customs and Border Safety brokers proceed working in Charlotte following a weekend that noticed arrests of greater than 130 folks in that metropolis, the state’s largest.
Mayor Janet Cowell stated Monday that she didn’t know the way giant the operation can be or how lengthy brokers can be current.
Cowell, a Democrat, identified in a press release that crime was decrease in Raleigh this 12 months in comparison with final and that public security was a precedence for her and the town council.
“I ask Raleigh to remember our values and maintain peace and respect through any upcoming challenges,” she stated.
Democratic North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein stated in a press release on social media Monday evening that his workplace “is conscious of stories that the Border Patrol is bringing its operation to Raleigh. As soon as once more, I name on federal brokers to focus on violent criminals, not neighbors strolling down the road, going to church, or placing up Christmas decorations. Cease focusing on folks merely going about their lives due to the colour of their pores and skin, as you’re doing in Charlotte.
“To the people of Raleigh: remain peaceful, and if you see something wrong, record it and report it to local law enforcement. Let’s keep each other safe.”
The Trump administration has made Charlotte, a Democratic metropolis of about 950,000 folks, its newest focus for an immigration enforcement surge it says will fight crime – regardless of native opposition and declining crime charges. Residents reported encounters with immigration brokers close to church buildings, condo complexes and shops.
U.S. Border Patrol brokers in Charlotte, N.C. on Nov. 17, 2025.
Matt Kelley / AP
Homeland Safety Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated in a press release that Border Patrol officers had arrested “over 130 illegal aliens who have all broken” immigration legal guidelines. The company stated the data of these arrested included gang membership, aggravated assault, shoplifting and different crimes, but it surely didn’t spell out what number of circumstances had resulted in convictions, how many individuals had been going through prices or every other particulars.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Faculties reported Monday that, “Unofficial attendance data from today indicates that approximately 20,935 students were absent from school today. This accounts for approximately 15% of students enrolled” in that district. There was no phrase on the share of scholars who’re absent on a typical day there.
The immigration crackdown set off fierce objections from leaders within the Charlotte space.
“We’ve seen masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars, targeting American citizens based on their skin color,” Stein stated in a video assertion late Sunday. “This is not making us safer. It’s stoking fear and dividing our community.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles stated Monday she was “deeply concerned” about movies she’s seen of the crackdown but in addition stated she appreciates protesters’ peacefulness.
“To everyone in Charlotte who is feeling anxious or fearful: You are not alone. Your city stands with you,” she stated in a press release.
Charlotte space’s place in immigration challenge
Charlotte and surrounding Mecklenburg County have each discovered themselves a part of America’s debates over crime and immigration, two of an important points to the White Home.
Probably the most distinguished was the deadly stabbing this summer season of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light-rail practice, an assault captured on video. Whereas the suspect was from the U.S., the Trump administration repeatedly highlighted that he’d been arrested greater than a dozen occasions.
Charlotte, which had a Republican mayor as just lately as 2009, is now a metropolis dominated by Democrats, with a rising inhabitants introduced by a booming financial system. The racially various metropolis contains greater than 150,000 foreign-born residents, officers say.
Whereas the DHS has stated it’s specializing in the state due to sanctuary insurance policies, North Carolina county jails have lengthy honored “detainers,” or requests from federal officers to carry an arrested immigrant for a restricted time so brokers can take custody of them. However, some widespread, noncooperation insurance policies have existed in a handful of locations, together with Charlotte, the place the police don’t assist with immigration enforcement.
In Mecklenburg County, the jail didn’t honor detainer requests for a number of years, till after state regulation successfully made it necessary beginning final 12 months.
DHS stated about 1,400 detainers throughout North Carolina had not been honored since October 2020, placing the general public in danger.
For years, Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden pushed again towards efforts by the Republican-controlled state legislature to drive him and a handful of sheriffs from different city counties to simply accept ICE detainers.
Republicans finally overrode a veto by then-Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper late final 12 months to enact the invoice into regulation.
Whereas McFadden has stated his workplace is complying with the regulation’s requirement, he continued a public feud with ICE leaders in early 2025 that led to a brand new state regulation toughening these guidelines. Stein vetoed that measure, however the veto was overridden.
Republican Home Speaker Destin Corridor stated in a Monday submit on X that immigration brokers are in Charlotte due to McFadden’s previous inaction: “They’re stepping in to clean up his mess and restore safety to the city.”
Final month, McFadden stated he’d had a productive assembly with an ICE consultant.
“I made it clear that I do not want to stop ICE from doing their job, but I do want them to do it safely, responsibly, and with proper coordination by notifying our agency ahead of time,” McFadden stated in a press release.
However such discuss doesn’t calm the political waters.
“Democrats at all levels are choosing to protect criminal illegals over North Carolina citizens,” state GOP Chairman Jason Simmons stated Monday.
