CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With federal immigration agents set to launch an enforcement operation in Charlotte, community leaders and activists are gearing up to protest. They describe the incoming operation as an 'invasion' and are encouraging residents to record any federal actions from a distance to ensure safety and transparency. These are strange times, stated Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, expressing fears over a reality driven by fear and division. Local organizations, amid the uncertainty, are proactively training volunteers on how to peacefully protest and remain safe. They are also providing information on immigrant rights as concern grows about potential heavy-handed police tactics, similar to those seen in other Democratic cities like Chicago. Amid these swirling tensions, local officials and community leaders argue that Charlotte should not be a testing ground for fear-based immigration enforcement and remind citizens of the city's significant immigrant population.