Protests have erupted in Charlotte, North Carolina, following a series of aggressive immigration arrests by federal agents that have seen at least 130 people detained, stoking fear and division within the community.
Governor Condemns 'Fear-Stoking' Tactics
North Carolina's Democratic Governor, Josh Stein, has strongly criticised the enforcement actions, warning they are simply "stoking fear" and causing severe disruption. In a video statement released late on Sunday, Stein described seeing "masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars" and accused them of targeting American citizens based on their skin colour.
"This is not making us safer. It's stoking fear and dividing our community," the Governor stated, urging residents to remain peaceful but to record and report any incidents they believe to be wrong to local law enforcement.
Weekend of Enforcement and Community Backlash
The Trump administration sent border patrol agents to Charlotte on Saturday to bolster operations by Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). While the White House argues the focus on the Democratic-run city of approximately 950,000 people is a crime-fighting effort, the move has been met with fierce local opposition, especially as city crime rates have been declining.
The operation sparked outrage over the weekend with numerous reports of encounters near churches, apartment complexes, and stores. Agents were described as chasing and arresting people, with some US citizens reportedly caught up in the sweeps.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed in a statement that Border Patrol officers had arrested "over 130 illegal aliens who have all broken" immigration laws. The agency claimed the records of those arrested included gang membership, aggravated assault, and shoplifting, though it provided no details on convictions or pending charges.
Economic and Social Fallout in Charlotte
The enforcement actions have had a tangible impact on daily life in the city. On Saturday, some normally bustling commercial districts were described as being at a standstill as shoppers stayed home to avoid possible encounters.
Manolo Betancur, owner of Manolo’s Bakery, a Latino-run establishment operating since 1997, made the decision to close his business temporarily. He stated that immigration enforcement officers were targeting his customers, making it impossible to operate.
The DHS has justified its focus on North Carolina by citing so-called sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local authorities and immigration agents. Mecklenburg county, which includes Charlotte, does not honour federal detainers requests, and the city's police department does not assist with immigration enforcement. The DHS alleges that about 1,400 detainers across North Carolina had not been honoured, a claim made despite US courts repeatedly upholding the legality of sanctuary laws.
Not all community leaders opposed the action. Mecklenburg county Republican party chairman, Kyle Kirby, said in a post that the county GOP "stands with the rule of law – and with every Charlottean’s safety first".
