Charlotte Raids: 130 Arrested in Major Immigration Sweep

Published: 18 November 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Federal agents have arrested 130 people over two days in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the latest city to experience President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown, according to a US official.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), told the BBC that a number of those arrested are criminals and gang members. However, local leaders argue the operation is causing more harm than good.

DHS also reported that a US citizen allegedly injured an officer by ramming a law enforcement vehicle with their car.

Charlotte, with a population roughly a quarter of Los Angeles and a third of Chicago, joins other notable cities targeted for immigration sweeps and deportations. Greg Bovino, a border official previously leading the Chicago immigration effort, stated that 81 arrests occurred in a five-hour period on Saturday alone. Bovino has been actively posting about “Operation Charlotte’s Web” on social media, referencing the famous children’s book in which a spider saves a pig.

In a statement, DHS said the operation had resulted in the arrest of two gang members, while others had convictions ranging from assault on law enforcement, driving while intoxicated, theft, and tampering with government documents.

The operation has sparked significant public backlash. Many Charlotte residents protested on Saturday against the Trump administration’s actions, citing fears over community safety. Mayor Vi Lyles, a Democrat, said in a statement that residents feel “threatened” and “destabilized.” She added, “I am deeply concerned with many of the videos I’ve seen. To everyone in Charlotte who is feeling anxious or fearful: you are not alone. Your city stands with you.”

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein also criticized the operation, stating, “We’ve seen masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars, targeting American citizens based on their skin colour, racially profiling and picking up random people in parking lots. This is not making us safer.”

Fear of immigration enforcement has led some migrants to stay home, mirroring trends seen in other cities during periods of intensified operations. DHS released a video showing a white van being pursued by police after the driver allegedly drove “at law enforcement while they were conducting an operation.” The agency said the driver collided with police vehicles while attempting to escape, but was later arrested.

DHS has not specified how long the raids will continue. Chicago’s crackdown, which began in September, remains ongoing. The federal immigration crackdown under Trump has affected many large US cities, extending into suburbs and smaller communities, and has coincided with a notable reduction in illegal entries at the US-Mexico border.

The news has been compiled from verified social media sources, international and UK-based news outlets, and cross-checked with detailed online data. The report is crafted with professionalism, impartiality, and a human-centred style, providing readers with an engaging, in-depth account of recent events in Charlotte.