Charlotte: Federal operation results in the arrest of at least 81 people within hours

Federal authorities launched an immigration enforcement operation Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina, arresting at least 81 people within hours, according to Reuters.

This latest operation is part of the broader migrant deportation policy supported by President Donald Trump, who has emphasized enforcement of immigration laws as a central element of his domestic agenda.

Border Patrol agents, usually assigned to land borders, were deployed to the Charlotte metropolitan area for this targeted operation. The raid lasted about five hours. On social media, Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official, asserted that many of those arrested had serious criminal records.

According to this commander, who previously led similar operations in Los Angeles and Chicago before being sent to Charlotte this week, many of the arrested migrants have “significant criminal and immigration histories.” Bovino did not provide detailed figures. He characterized these arrests as a public safety priority and justified federal intervention in this Southern city led by Democratic officials.

Neither Border Patrol nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responded to requests for comment Sunday, according to Reuters. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees both agencies, remained silent. This absence of official statement fuels concerns among immigrant rights advocates, who have long decried the lack of transparency surrounding such operations.

Since Donald Trump arrived at the White House, his administration’s strategy has been clear: multiply raids and deportations, including in major cities run by Democrats. The administration claims these cities are insufficiently cooperative with federal authorities. Operations also target conservative rural areas, allowing the executive to claim a “balanced” approach across the country.

These operations carry significant social and political costs. With each wave of arrests, thousands of people take to the streets to protest what they view as the systematic criminalization of immigrant communities. Where federal agents operate, residents organize, film interventions, and confront law enforcement to try to prevent arrests.

Concerns over arbitrary detention

Immigrant rights organizations accuse the Trump administration of going far beyond combating illegal immigration. They assert that raids result in the arrest of people with legal status or American citizens due to inadequate vetting on the ground. According to these groups, some individuals are held for hours or even days without a solid legal basis before being released. They denounce this as a policy of intimidation and fear targeting all immigrant communities, whether legally present or not.

The DHS justified Charlotte’s operation by citing local authorities’ persistent refusal to cooperate. On Saturday, department officials explained that the raids are a response to the city and Mecklenburg County’s refusal to honor approximately 1,400 “detainer” requests issued in the past year. These notices, issued by immigration authorities, ask local jails to hold individuals suspected of being deportable for up to 48 hours beyond their normal release date, specifically to allow federal authorities time to take them into custody.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, a Democrat, opposes this practice. She says it is incompatible with individual liberties and puts local police in the role of federal immigration auxiliaries. She also argues it undermines trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Along with county commissioners, she has urged residents to seek help from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), which does not participate in Border Patrol and ICE operations.

For the mayor and her supporters, the consistent refusal of “detainers” is intended to protect individual rights, especially for those arrested for minor offenses or who are eligible for release after completing their criminal proceedings. Local officials also express concerns that victims or witnesses of crimes may hesitate to seek police assistance due to possible immigration enforcement actions.

In Charlotte, as in several American cities, the disagreement between the Trump administration and local authorities over police cooperation remains unresolved. This weekend’s operation, resulting in the arrest of at least 81 people within hours, illustrates the federal government’s intent to continue its policy of conducting raids despite opposition from elected officials, organizations, and advocates of more robust immigrant rights protections.