Charlotte’s Web operation: DHS reports 370 arrests; mixed response

(CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) Federal immigration agents arrested more than 370 people in five days in and around Charlotte under Operation Charlotte’s Web, a large enforcement push that began November 15, 2025, and has already divided local leaders, businesses, and immigrant families. The operation, carried out under the Trump administration and led by federal enforcement agencies, focused on what the Department of Homeland Security described as “criminal illegal aliens” and the “worst of the worst,” while community groups say many ordinary workers and families were swept up in the crackdown.

Timeline and scope of the operation

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents arrived in Charlotte on November 15 and publicly announced Operation Charlotte’s Web the next day. Over the following days, enforcement teams fanned out from Charlotte into nearby parts of North Carolina, with Border Patrol agents later seen in Raleigh and Durham by mid‑week.

Federal figures released through the Department of Homeland Security reported 370 arrests as the operation unfolded, and officials said 44 of those arrested already had criminal records. DHS officials argued those numbers showed the operation was working as planned, while critics questioned who the other hundreds of arrested people were and what would happen to them and their families.

Key numbers at a glance

Local reaction and daily life disruptions

The rapid rollout and wide reach of Operation Charlotte’s Web left many residents in Mecklenburg County confused about when and where agents would appear. Some immigrant workers reported changing their daily routines, skipping jobs, or keeping children home from school because of fear of running into federal agents.

Business owners described a sharp drop in customers during the week of the operation, especially in areas known for immigrant‑owned shops and restaurants. Word spread that enforcement teams were active near worksites and parking lots, and VisaVerge.com reports several advocacy groups began documenting accounts from workers who said they saw federal vehicles near common day‑labor pick‑up spots and large retail stores.

Local and federal mixed messages

As public pressure grew, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden stepped forward on November 20 to say that U.S. Customs and Border Protection had finished its Charlotte‑specific work and that, as of that Thursday, there were no longer any border agents operating in the city. His statement seemed to signal some relief after nearly a week of uncertainty.

Only hours later, that sense of calm was shaken when a senior DHS official publicly challenged his description of events. Tricia McLaughlin, an Assistant Secretary at DHS, responded:

“The operation is not over and it is not ending anytime soon,”

pushing back directly on the sheriff’s announcement and suggesting that federal planning extended beyond what local officials understood.

A DHS spokesperson then stressed that Operation Charlotte’s Web continued to “target some of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens” as it moved forward. The mixed messages from local and federal leaders added another layer of tension in Charlotte.

Ongoing authority and community fears

While CBP’s visible presence in the city appeared to ease, residents remained aware that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not need to stop its own work in the county. ICE, which operates under federal law, still had full authority to detain, arrest, and take into custody people suspected of being in the country without legal status, separate from any CBP‑run operation.

For many families, this meant that even if the worst of the raids had passed, the fear of a knock on the door or an arrest on the way to work had not.

Political and civic responses

Charlotte’s Democratic mayor, Vi Lyles, was among the first city leaders to welcome word that frontline activity in the city had paused. Posting on social media, she wrote:

“I’m relieved for our community and the residents, businesses, and all those who were targeted and impacted by this intrusion.”

Her use of the word intrusion reflected how many local officials and residents saw the week‑long push: as a federal action that arrived with little warning and reshaped daily life, even for those who were never personally questioned or detained. Lyles also urged people in Charlotte to come together after such a tense week, calling for unity and support for those who felt singled out.

Protests and public demonstrations

On the streets, feelings about Operation Charlotte’s Web ran far beyond statements from elected officials. Protests formed in several spots where enforcement teams had been seen. One of the most visible demonstrations gathered roughly 100 people outside a Home Depot store that had become a focus of immigration raids.

• Protesters held signs, chanted, and tried to speak directly to shoppers and workers about what they had witnessed during the week.
• Some said they had seen people pulled aside in parking lots and asked for identification.
• Others spoke about friends who had not shown up to regular work shifts because they were afraid of being taken away in front of co‑workers.

Economic impact on immigrant‑owned businesses

For immigrant‑owned businesses, the operation had an economic as well as emotional cost. Shopkeepers reported closing early or shutting down completely on some days because customers stayed away and employees did not feel safe coming in.

In neighborhoods where small restaurants and service shops depend on foot traffic, the sight of federal vehicles—or even rumors that agents might be nearby—was enough to empty streets. Owners described losing income they could not easily replace, especially heading into the holiday season, and worried that some regular customers might not return quickly even after the visible raids stopped.

Reports of aggressive tactics and concerns

Reports of aggressive enforcement tactics added to the sense of alarm. Examples documented by local accounts include:

• Masked federal agents smashing a car window while trying to carry out an arrest. The person inside the car was released only after showing proof of U.S. citizenship, raising questions about how agents were deciding whom to stop and how quickly they checked documents.
• A man saying he suffered injuries after agents pulled him from a vehicle and pushed him to the ground during an arrest attempt.

These stories spread quickly through social networks, community centers, and local media, deepening distrust and leaving many people—citizens and non‑citizens alike—unsure about how safe they were from mistaken identity or rough treatment.

DHS messaging and critics’ concerns

Federal officials repeatedly framed Operation Charlotte’s Web as focused on “the most dangerous” people in the country without legal status. They emphasized that 44 of the 370 arrests involved people with prior criminal records and presented that figure as proof the operation was removing threats from local communities.

Critics noted that DHS had not provided a full breakdown of the other more than 300 arrests or explained how many of those people had no criminal history beyond immigration status. For families who saw a parent or sibling taken away, the label “worst of the worst” did not match the person they knew.

Local-federal dynamics and broader implications

The clash between DHS and local leaders in Charlotte highlighted a wider conflict over how immigration enforcement should look in cities far from the border. Sheriff McFadden, who has previously faced political heat over his approach to cooperation with federal immigration agencies, seemed eager to show that local law enforcement was not driving the large‑scale arrests.

Yet the sharp response from DHS made clear that the federal government intended to keep direct control over operations like this. That left local officials trying to balance public safety concerns with the reality that many city residents, including U.S. citizens with immigrant relatives, felt targeted simply because of where they lived or worked.

What’s next: “Swamp Sweep” and national ripple effects

Even as Charlotte tried to catch its breath, federal leaders were already pointing to the next phase of their strategy. DHS announced plans for a follow‑up effort called “Swamp Sweep,” aimed at Louisiana and Mississippi and scheduled to begin December 1.

While officials shared few details about how that operation would work, the name alone suggested another large‑scale push in regions far from the southern border. Immigrant advocates in those states began preparing for what they feared could mirror the arrests and community disruption seen in North Carolina, using Charlotte as an early warning of what might come next.

Aftermath and ongoing community needs

For now, residents in Charlotte and surrounding areas are left sorting through the aftermath of Operation Charlotte’s Web: the more than 370 arrests, the stories of smashed windows and injured suspects, the empty shops, and the ongoing worry that another unannounced wave of action could return.

• Families are seeking legal help for detained relatives.
• Workers are trying to decide whether it is safe to go back to their usual job sites.
• Local officials are pressing the Department of Homeland Security for clearer communication in future operations.

The city’s experience over those five days in November has turned Charlotte into a national example of how federal immigration crackdowns can reach deep into local life, far beyond the people federal officials say they are trying to find.