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Federal immigration agents carried out a massive sweep in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend, arresting more than 130 people in an operation that prompted backlash from local leaders and immigrant advocates, per Newsweek.
“During the first two days of Operation Charlotte’s Web, Border Patrol arrested over 130 illegal aliens who have all broken the immigration laws of our country,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement.
According to DHS, those arrested included individuals with felony larceny, weapons charges, gang affiliations, assault, hit-and-run, DUI/DWI, and illegal reentry.
“We will not stop enforcing the laws of our nation until every criminal illegal alien is arrested and removed from our country,” the agency said.
The sweep, conducted by CBP, ICE, the FBI, DEA, and other federal agencies, is part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Officials said 81 people were arrested on Saturday (November 15) alone. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the surge was intended “to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”
However, local leaders accused agents of stoking fear in Charlotte communities. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said public safety “means fighting crime, not stoking fear or causing division.”
“If you see any inappropriate behavior, use your phones to record and notify local law enforcement,” Stein said.
Charlotte, where about 17.9 percent of its residents were born outside the U.S, saw crime fall 8 percent last year, including a 20 percent drop in violent crime. However, Trump has repeatedly cited the fatal train stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in calls for heightened ICE operations in Democratic-led cities.
The enforcement surge in Charlotte is led by El Centro Commander Gregory Bovino, a western North Carolina native whose units have faced scrutiny for heavy-handed tactics.
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