(CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) North Carolina Governor Josh Stein on Monday sharply condemned recent Border Patrol operations in Charlotte, saying federal agents are “stoking fear” in immigrant neighborhoods and “not making us safer” after a weekend sweep that led to dozens of arrests and sparked alarm among local residents and officials.
Description of the weekend operation
In a detailed statement, Stein said teams from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal immigration agencies moved through parts of Charlotte over the weekend with “masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars.” Witnesses reported agents stopping people in parking lots, on sidewalks, and in front of businesses. Stein said this created an atmosphere of fear that went far beyond any focus on serious criminals.
He accused some agents of:
- Targeting American citizens based on their skin color and racially profiling people.
- Picking up what he described as random people in parking lots and off of our sidewalks.
- Approaching landscapers decorating a Christmas tree and entering churches and stores while searching for people to arrest.
Stein called these actions both heavy-handed and damaging to public trust.
“When people are scared to go to work, to church, or to the grocery store because they might be stopped or questioned based on how they look, that does not make any of us safer,” Stein said.
Stein’s broader concerns and policy stance
Stein emphasized support for arresting “serious criminals, no matter their immigration status,” saying violent or serious offenders should “face real consequences.” However, he argued that broad enforcement sweeps that capture people with no serious records or rely on racial profiling are counterproductive.
He warned that such tactics:
- Make witnesses and victims afraid to speak to police.
- Lead to underreporting of crimes and reduced public safety.
- Push immigrant families “deeper into the shadows,” harming community cohesion.
Stein urged residents, regardless of status, to:
- Remain peaceful during any contact with federal agents.
- Know their rights.
- Use their phones to record any conduct they believe to be wrong.
- Share recordings and complaints with local law enforcement and community advocates.
- Avoid physically interfering with enforcement activity to reduce the risk of harm or criminal charges.
Federal response and rationale
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the enforcement actions, pointing to what federal officials describe as non-cooperation by some local governments with federal immigration requests. DHS cited that about 1,400 immigration detainers issued for people in local custody were not honored in the state.
Key DHS points:
- Those detainers are requests for local jails to hold people for federal immigration action.
- When jails and sheriffs ignore detainers, people who might otherwise be transferred to Border Patrol or ICE can be released back to neighborhoods.
- Federal officials say that forces them into at‑large enforcement operations in places like parking lots and apartment complexes, producing higher-profile arrests and increased community fear.
An official DHS statement, posted on agency channels such as the main Department of Homeland Security website, said those who pose threats “must be prioritized” and blamed local sanctuary-style policies for forcing agents into the streets.
Local government position
Local leaders in Mecklenburg County have long resisted close cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Their stance includes:
- Arguing that holding people longer for immigration purposes can erode trust with communities already under pressure.
- Refusing to honor many federal detainers on the grounds that county jails must operate in line with state law and court orders, not as an arm of federal immigration agencies.
Stein’s criticism of the weekend operation aligns him with officials who fear that visible Border Patrol sweeps will chill community cooperation with police citywide.
Wider context and national debate
Analysis by VisaVerge.com shows similar tensions between local/state leaders and federal authorities across the country, as immigration enforcement increasingly plays out in city streets, workplaces, and schools.
Stein described the federal immigration framework as “broken”, urging Congress to act. He called for:
- Strong borders, and
- A fair approach that holds serious offenders accountable while also giving long‑time residents a path to legal status.
He noted that legislative solutions have repeatedly stalled amid deep partisan divides in Washington.
Community impact and reaction
Community members in Charlotte expressed fears that the weekend actions will spread. Reported concerns include:
- Parents worried about safely dropping children at school.
- Workers afraid to show up at regular job sites.
- U.S. citizens in mixed‑status families and long‑time green card holders feeling targeted by association.
Stein did not provide details on how many of the “dozens” arrested had serious criminal records. He reiterated that broad, public actions that appear to target people based on race or language risk “stoking fear” far beyond those directly approached by agents.
Stein warned: “These tactics are dividing our community.”
Contrasting perspectives (summary table)
| Party | Main argument |
|---|---|
| Governor Josh Stein / Mecklenburg officials | Enforcement sweeps based on racial profiling or broad tactics erode trust, reduce cooperation with police, and harm public safety. Support arresting serious criminals but oppose sweeping raids that target everyday community members. |
| Department of Homeland Security / Federal officials | Local refusal to honor ~1,400 immigration detainers forces federal agents to conduct at‑large operations. Prioritizing those who pose threats sometimes requires on-the-ground enforcement in communities. |
Key takeaways and implications
- The clash highlights differing views on how immigration enforcement should operate in growing, diverse Southern cities.
- Federal officials argue local non-cooperation leaves them no choice but to act in the streets; state and local leaders argue those actions undermine community trust and public safety.
- How this dispute is resolved in Charlotte may influence responses to future Border Patrol sweeps across North Carolina and beyond.
If you witnessed the operation or believe there was misconduct, follow Stein’s guidance: remain peaceful, know and assert your rights, record interactions, and report incidents to local law enforcement and community advocates.
This Article in a Nutshell
Governor Josh Stein denounced recent Border Patrol sweeps in Charlotte as heavy-handed, saying masked agents in unmarked cars stoked fear and harmed trust. He supports arresting serious criminals but opposes broad operations that rely on racial profiling and push immigrant families into hiding. DHS defended the sweeps, citing about 1,400 unhonored immigration detainers that force federal officers into public enforcement. Mecklenburg County resists detainer cooperation to preserve community trust. Stein urged peaceful responses, knowing rights, recording encounters, and called for congressional action on immigration reform.
