ICE Operation in Charlotte Sees Bloodied Migrant Arrested
Federal immigration agents arrested a visibly distressed and bloodied migrant in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, as part of a continuing crackdown in the swing state. The unnamed man was seen being escorted from a restaurant that appeared to be under construction by officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The migrant, dressed in grey jeans and a grey zip-up hoodie, had blood dripping from his face during the arrest. He was later seen handcuffed, with a chain around his waist and a white cloth placed across his face.
Operation Charlotte's Web Targets 'Criminal Illegal Aliens'
This arrest forms part of Operation Charlotte's Web, an initiative described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as targeting 'criminal illegal aliens who flocked to the Tar Heel State'. The DHS claimed that illegal migrants have been drawn to the state 'because they knew sanctuary politicians would protect them'.
According to reports, 250 migrants have been arrested in the city under this operation. In a related development, 30,000 students were absent from school on Monday, as reported by CNN.
Public and Official Reactions to the Crackdown
The operation has sparked significant public response. Soon after the arrest, ICE agents moved to a local Home Depot car park, where they were met by a group of anti-ICE protesters. Activists held signs reading 'ICE out of Home Depot protect our communities', while one male activist was filmed shouting at and recording Border Patrol agents.
Former Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts was among the demonstrators, holding a sign that stated 'We stand with migrants'. The city's current mayor, Vi Lyles, expressed deep concern on social media, stating: 'First and foremost, the rights and constitutional protections of every person in Charlotte—regardless of immigration status—must be upheld.'
Democratic North Carolina Governor Josh Stein echoed these sentiments, warning residents of Raleigh about a potential ICE presence and criticising the tactics. He posted on X: 'Stop targeting people simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin, as you are doing in Charlotte.' Governor Stein further stated that the majority of those detained have no criminal convictions.
The federal operation is set to expand, with internal DHS documents revealing plans to deploy Border Patrol agents and armored vehicles to New Orleans in a similar escalation named 'Catahoula Crunch'.
