Mass Immigration Crackdown in North Carolina: 250 Arrests and Community Reactions

Wed Nov 19 2025 21:05:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A major immigration enforcement operation has led to over 250 arrests around Charlotte, North Carolina, creating fear and protests in immigrant communities.

Federal agents have executed a large-scale immigration crackdown in North Carolina, arresting over 250 individuals, mostly undocumented and some with criminal records. The operation is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to enforce immigration laws more aggressively in Democratic-run cities. This crackdown has sparked protests and a chilling effect in local immigrant communities, leading to reduced school attendance and closed businesses. The fear and unrest will likely extend further as similar operations are planned in areas like New Orleans.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Federal agents have arrested over 250 individuals in an immigration crackdown in Charlotte, North Carolina. This enforcement operation, named 'Operation Charlotte's Web', is part of a strategy by the Trump administration to target undocumented immigrants, particularly in Democratic-leaning cities.

The crackdown has instilled fear in immigrant communities, with reports of dropped school attendance and local businesses closing to avoid confrontations with authorities. In Cary, a suburb of Raleigh, the significant immigrant population has felt the chilling effects of the crackdown.

Protests have erupted in response, with organizers expressing resistance to the presence of ICE agents in their communities. Demonstrators gathered outside a local Home Depot, advocating for immigrant rights.

Meanwhile, federal operations are expected to extend to New Orleans soon, continuing the pattern of heightened enforcement seen in North Carolina.

Local officials have expressed their concerns regarding the impact on immigrant populations and the fear these operations create in trickling down to everyday life.