Federal agents have arrested more than 250 people in a sweeping immigration crackdown centered on Charlotte, North Carolina, marking one of the most significant enforcement actions in the state’s recent memory, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The operation, which began over the weekend before November 20, 2025, is part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign targeting undocumented immigrants and those with alleged criminal records, with an emphasis on Democratic-run cities nationwide. The effects of this effort have rippled through communities, businesses, and political circles, sparking protests and fears that extend well beyond Charlotte’s city limits.
Dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Web” by federal officials, the crackdown quickly expanded from Charlotte to the surrounding areas, including Raleigh, the state’s capital. By midweek, the number of arrests reported around Charlotte had doubled from earlier DHS figures, underscoring the scale and intensity of the operation. Immigration officials have kept details close to the vest, providing little information about those taken into custody or the specific locations of future enforcement actions. This secrecy has left many communities on edge, unsure when or where agents might appear next.
Since January 2025, immigration enforcement has reached unprecedented levels, with detention counts nationwide exceeding 60,000, according to DHS. Large-scale sweeps have become increasingly common, with more than 560 arrests reported in Portland, Oregon, alone in October 2025. The Trump administration’s strategy has focused on Democratic-led cities, sending both military and immigration agents into urban centers from Chicago to Los Angeles. Smaller towns and suburbs, however, have not been spared, as federal officials seek to cast a wide net across the country.
The expansion of the crackdown into Raleigh and its suburbs on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, brought a palpable sense of fear to immigrant-heavy neighborhoods. In Cary, a sprawling suburb where nearly 20% of residents were born outside the U.S., the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Restaurants and shops closed their doors, and normally bustling areas grew eerily quiet. According to The Associated Press, videos surfaced showing Border Patrol agents detaining four workers at a local construction site, further fueling anxiety among residents and business owners.
Esmeralda Angel, whose family runs a restaurant and grocery store in Cary, described the difficult decision to close their restaurant to avoid confrontations between customers and federal agents. "Taco Tuesday is the busy day for all of these restaurants," Angel explained. "But I think everyone would rather close than operate." The family continued to serve their community by delivering groceries to customers who were too afraid to leave their homes. The financial impact, she noted, was significant but secondary to the safety and well-being of their neighbors.
Similar scenes played out in Charlotte, where school attendance dropped and small businesses shuttered in response to agents’ presence. David Rebolloso, owner of a laundromat in a Charlotte shopping center, recounted how customers abandoned their clothes in washers and dryers after learning that federal agents were nearby. "We’re only open because I’m an American citizen, so it doesn’t bother me," Rebolloso told the press. "But of course, business is down. I have no customers." The chilling effect on daily life has been unmistakable, with entire neighborhoods seemingly holding their breath as the crackdown unfolds.
The operation has not gone unchallenged. On Wednesday, November 20, 2025, about 100 people gathered outside a Home Depot in Charlotte, a location where federal agents had been spotted multiple times since the surge began. Protest organizers briefly entered the store, carrying signs that read, "ICE out of Home Depot, Protect our communities." The demonstrations reflect broader resistance to the administration’s tactics, as well as mounting frustration over the lack of transparency from federal officials.
Political leaders across the state have responded with a mix of condemnation and support, reflecting North Carolina’s complex political landscape. U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, a Democrat representing parts of Raleigh and its suburbs, called the deployment of federal immigration agents "a profound abuse of power, a violation of civil rights and a stain on our democracy." Meanwhile, Matt Mercer, spokesperson for the North Carolina Republican Party, argued that the arrival of agents in Raleigh would show that failures by "radical Democrats will finally be taken seriously." The state itself is politically divided: Charlotte and Raleigh have Democratic mayors, while the governor and both U.S. senators are Republicans, and Donald Trump has carried North Carolina in the last three presidential elections.
Local officials have also weighed in on the ground-level impact of the crackdown. Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell confirmed sightings of Border Patrol officers in Wake and Durham counties and urged residents to report any unsafe situations to local police while encouraging peaceful protest. On November 20, 2025, Cowell stated on social media that Border Patrol enforcement appeared to have been suspended in Raleigh, although DHS did not announce any changes to its presence and did not respond to requests for comment, as reported by Business Standard.
The crackdown has also drawn attention to longstanding debates over sanctuary policies and cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agents. While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security cited sanctuary policies as a reason for focusing on North Carolina, most county jails in the state have historically honored "detainers"—requests from federal officials to hold arrested immigrants for a limited time so agents can take custody. However, some noncooperation policies remain in cities like Raleigh and Charlotte, where police departments do not assist with immigration enforcement.
The region’s rapidly growing South Asian and broader immigrant communities have felt the brunt of the enforcement actions. Satish Garimella, mayor pro tempore of Morrisville—a town where nearly half of the 30,000 residents are Asian—advised people to carry identity documents at all times due to the uncertainty brought by the crackdown. "You just don’t know when you will be questioned and what things are needed," Garimella observed, highlighting the sense of panic gripping many families.
As Operation Charlotte’s Web continues, federal officials have announced that Border Patrol agents are preparing for the next major enforcement effort in southeast Louisiana, with about 250 agents set to descend on New Orleans for a two-month operation beginning December 1, 2025. Louisiana Republicans, including state party chair Derek Babcock, have voiced strong support, framing the crackdown as a commitment to public safety. In contrast, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana is compiling information to help immigrants understand their rights and coordinating with legal services to support affected communities. "We urge those with privilege and the opportunity to risk it to stand up for their neighbors and friends," said Alanah Odoms of the ACLU of Louisiana.
The ongoing operations in North Carolina and beyond have thrust local communities into the center of America’s heated debates over crime, immigration, and civil rights. For many residents, the uncertainty and fear are now part of daily life, while advocates and opponents alike brace for the next chapter in a story that shows no sign of slowing down.
