What We Know About the Border Patrol Operation in Charlotte

This story is republished from the Charlotte Ledger.

Federal immigration agents made dozens of arrests in Charlotte over the weekend—with images of military-looking U.S. Border Patrol agents flooding social media and sparking protests.

Federal authorities have said little about the operation, which is being called “Operation Charlotte’s Web.” Let’s break down what we know and what we don’t know:

What We Know

• Arrests: Images shared with the media and on social media show officers detaining people in east Charlotte, Pineville and along South Boulevard. Arrests included a teenage employee of the Super G Mart in Pineville, a person at an unidentified church off Albemarle Road in east Charlotte, and a construction worker at a Lowe’s in Matthews, The Charlotte Observer reported. On Sunday morning, Customs and Border Protection Commander Greg Bovino said on X that agents arrested 81 people in Charlotte on Saturday.

• Protests: Protestors gathered in First Ward Park uptown on Saturday to express their solidarity with immigrants. On Sunday evening, dozens of protesters gathered outside a Homeland Security office on Tyvola Road, with some shouting at Federal Protection Service Police members blocking the entrance, The Observer reported.
• Politicians weigh in: Local Democratic politicians criticized the stepped-up enforcement, saying in a statement that the operations “are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community.” Republican officials largely praised the move, with a statement from Mecklenburg County’s Republican Party saying that “Democrat officials have abandoned their duty to uphold law and order.” Gov. Josh Stein said in a video statement on Sunday that actions this weekend in Charlotte by Border Patrol agents are “stoking fear and dividing our community.”
• Business closures: Several businesses along Central Avenue in east Charlotte, which is home to a large Latino population, closed temporarily over the weekend to avoid having large gathering places. Spanish-language publication La Noticia estimated that at least 30 businesses closed.

What We Don’t Know

• Who was arrested: We don’t know the backgrounds or legal status of those who have been detained. In announcing the operation on Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said it would “target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to the Tar Heel State because they knew sanctuary politicians would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets.” A Border Patrol commander posted photos and backgrounds of a handful of people who he said were arrested in Charlotte, which he said included people with drunk driving arrests and deportation orders, but it’s unclear if those are representative of everyone arrested. Since the operation started, there have also been reports that agents were stopping U.S. citizens and asking them to prove their citizenship.
• How long the surge will last: Officials have not said how long Border Patrol agents will be in Charlotte. They were in Chicago for more than a month. National media reported last week that after Charlotte, the Border Patrol will head to New Orleans.
• Where agents will target operations: So far, Border Patrol agents have fanned out across the Charlotte region—although many arrests have occurred in east Charlotte communities with have a large Hispanic population, they have not been exclusively there. Agents have also showed up to myriad types of places, including business parking lots, churches, and outside of homes. It’s unclear where else operations could take place for the duration of Border Patrol’s presence here. A Charlotte immigration attorney spoke with La Noticia about how employers can prepare for a potential workplace raid by immigration agents.

Tony Mecia is the executive editor of The Charlotte Ledger.

Ashley Fahey is the managing editor of The Charlotte Ledger.