Federal agents arrest 81 criminal illegal immigrants in Charlotte crackdown

• Federal authorities detained individuals in Charlotte, NC, with histories of drunk driving, aggravated assault and repeated illegal re-entry, as part of a targeted enforcement operation.
• DHS deployed additional CBP agents to arrest offenders previously released despite ICE detainers, including one individual removed twice before committing felony re-entry.
• DHS officials blamed sanctuary city policies for allowing criminal illegal immigrants to evade deportation, citing nearly 1,400 ignored detainers in North Carolina.
• Democratic Rep. Alma Adams condemned the operation as intimidation, while ICE officials accused critics of conflating legal immigrants with criminal offenders.
• The operation reflects ongoing tensions between federal deportation efforts and sanctuary city resistance, signaling more conflicts ahead.

Federal immigration authorities arrested 81 criminal illegal immigrants in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the first day of a targeted enforcement operation, according to U.S. Border Patrol officials.

The arrests, part of “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” highlight the Trump administration’s ongoing push to deport dangerous offenders who have been released due to sanctuary policies. Among those detained were individuals with histories of drunk driving, aggravated assault and repeated illegal re-entry—raising concerns about public safety and the enforcement of immigration laws.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the operation on Nov. 16, deploying additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to Charlotte. Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol commander overseeing the operation, stated that those arrested included individuals who had previously been released despite detainers filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

One detainee had multiple drunk driving offenses, while another had been removed from the U.S. twice before allegedly committing felony re-entry. Bovino emphasized that these individuals posed a direct threat to public safety, saying, “We arrested him, taking him off the streets of Charlotte so he can’t continue to ignore our laws and drive intoxicated on the same roads you and your loved ones are on.”

Sanctuary policies under fire

DHS officials blamed sanctuary city policies for allowing criminal illegal immigrants to evade deportation. According to the agency, nearly 1,400 detainers in North Carolina have gone unenforced, releasing offenders back into communities. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the operation, stating, “Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families or their neighbors.”

As explained by BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, sanctuary cities’ illegal immigration policies shield criminal aliens from deportation, obstruct federal enforcement and endanger public safety by allowing repeat offenders and potential threats to evade justice.

The crackdown follows similar operations in Chicago and Los Angeles, where federal agents faced backlash from Democratic leaders. In Chicago, a fatal shooting during an immigration arrest sparked controversy, with critics accusing DHS of inflaming tensions.

Local pushback and political divide

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), whose district includes Charlotte, condemned the operation, calling it an intimidation tactic. “Charlotte’s immigrant community is a proud part of the Queen City, and I will not stand by and watch my constituents be intimidated or harassed,” she said.

Adams cited past incidents in Chicago and Los Angeles where federal agents allegedly used excessive force.

Bovino fired back, accusing Adams of conflating legal immigrants with criminal illegal aliens.

“Rep. Adams, perhaps you should learn the difference between an illegal alien and an immigrant,” he wrote on social media. “Illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities and should self-deport.”

The arrests underscore the deepening divide over immigration enforcement, with federal authorities prioritizing the deportation of criminal offenders while Democratic leaders argue that such operations sow fear in immigrant communities. As Operation Charlotte’s Web continues, the debate over sanctuary policies—and who bears responsibility for public safety—remains unresolved. With nearly 1,400 detainers ignored in North Carolina alone, the Trump administration’s aggressive stance signals more clashes ahead between federal and local authorities.

Watch the video below where the ICE director promises the largest deportation in American history.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

DHS.gov

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com