Major Immigration Operation Launched in Southern Cities
The Trump administration is deploying a significant force of Border Patrol agents and armoured vehicles to North Carolina and Louisiana in what represents the latest escalation of its campaign against illegal immigration. Internal documents from the Department of Homeland Security obtained by CBS News reveal plans for operations codenamed Charlotte Web and Catahoula Crunch.
According to the internal DHS documents, Border Patrol agents will first be deployed to Charlotte before shifting to New Orleans to take leading roles in ICE operations across both metropolitan areas. The operation names reference the children's novel Charlotte's Web and Louisiana's official state dog, the Catahoula leopard dog.
Heavy Equipment and Special Forces Deployed
The documents confirm that armoured vehicles including BearCats have been requested for both cities, alongside special-operations agents. Several Border Patrol agents previously sent to Chicago, including outspoken commander Gregory Bovino, are expected to join the new operations according to two US officials who spoke with CBS News.
Commander Bovino, who recently oversaw operations in both Chicago and Los Angeles where high-visibility federal arrests sparked nationwide protests, defended the tactics used in previous operations. "The use of force that I've seen has been exemplary - the least amount of force necessary to accomplish the mission," Bovino told reporters last month.
Sources familiar with the plans indicated that green-uniformed Border Patrol agents are expected in Charlotte within days, where an operations hub is currently being established. Sheriff Garry McFadden of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina confirmed he had been contacted by two separate federal officials confirming that US Customs and Border Protection personnel would arrive in the Charlotte area as early as this Saturday or beginning next week.
Official Confirmation and Local Backlash
On Saturday, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed to CBS that the Charlotte operation is underway but declined to comment on potential plans for New Orleans. "We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed," McLaughlin stated.
When questioned about New Orleans, the assistant secretary for public affairs told the outlet that the department does "not discuss future or potential operations." She added that "every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country."
However, internal documents and sources suggest that up to 200 CBP agents could be deployed to New Orleans soon as part of the next phase of President Trump's nationwide immigration crackdown.
The operation has already faced significant local opposition. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles joined other local officials in condemning the operation, stating it is only "causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty" in the community. She pointed to Chicago where similar operations have "resulted in people without criminal records being detained and violent protests being the result of unwarranted actions."
Growing Protests and Political Fallout
The deployment comes amid escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement operations across the United States. Just yesterday, a peaceful protest outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois turned chaotic, resulting in 21 arrests - the highest number in a state protest since the start of 'Operation Midway Blitz' in the Chicago area according to News Nation Now.
During the weekly demonstration, nearly 50 protesters broke through a concrete barrier separating their area from the processing centre, prompting Illinois State Troopers to respond in riot gear. Four police officers were injured during the protest, with three requiring hospital treatment. Among those arrested were members of the faith community, all now facing charges of obstruction and disturbing the peace.
The DHS response to the arrests sparked further controversy when the department posted on X (formerly Twitter), referring to protesters as "imbecilic morons" and stating "Womp womp, cry all you want. These criminal illegal aliens aren't getting released."
Democratic North Carolina Governor Josh Stein urged residents "to remember our values," abide by the law and remain peaceful following news of the upcoming Charlotte operation. "Public safety is the top priority for all of us in government. That means fighting crime, not stoking fear or causing division," Stein stated.
Like Mayor Lyles, Governor Stein emphasized that most of those being detained nationwide have no criminal convictions. "We should all focus on arresting violent criminals and drug traffickers. Unfortunately, that's not always what we have seen with ICE and Border Patrol Agents in Chicago and elsewhere around the country," he added.
The governor advised concerned citizens: "If you see any inappropriate behaviour, use your phones to record and notify local law enforcement." The developments signal a significant intensification of federal immigration enforcement operations in urban centres beyond traditional border regions.
