Charlotte Becomes Latest City Targeted by Trump Administration Immigration Crackdown

After weeks of immigration raids in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, Charlotte, North Carolina, became the latest to join the list targeted by the Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration.

Federal officials did not provide specific details regarding their operations.

Following the announcement by law enforcement, Mayor Vi Lyles acknowledged the news, noting that her office has not been updated on where agents will be operating or the scope of their actions.

"I understand this news will create uncertainty and anxiety for many people in our community," she wrote in a post on X. "Everyone in our community deserves to feel secure, and I am committed to doing all that I can to inform our community, help make sure everyone feels safe, and understands their rights."

As reported by The Associated Press, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin declined to comment on any details regarding the deployment, saying, "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations."

Amid the expected arrival of federal immigration officials, activists, faith leaders, and local and state officials are mobilizing to prepare the immigrant community, informing residents about resources available to them.

According to The Associated Press, local groups Indivisible Charlotte, a grassroots organization that advocates for immigrant rights, and the Carolina Migrant Network, a nonprofit that supports immigrant communities with resources and legal guidance, will train volunteers Friday on their rights when interacting with immigration authorities and how to recognize federal agents.

"They're not always wearing vests that say 'ICE,'" said Tony Siracusa, spokesperson for Indivisible Charlotte.

The groups will also review potential "pop-up protests," though Siracusa emphasized that volunteers are not being encouraged to engage in actions that could lead to arrest.

"This is some of the chaos that we also saw in Chicago," state Sen. Caleb Theodros, who represents Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, said Thursday.

Charlotte, a city with strong Democratic support, could soon face federal immigration enforcement. Officials from the city and state highlighted that more than 150,000 residents were born outside the United States. The city's population is diverse, with about 40% identifying as White, 33% as Black, 16% as Hispanic, and 7% as Asian.