The vibrant city of Charlotte, North Carolina, was thrust into crisis over the weekend as federal Customs and Border Protection agents launched a major immigration operation, resulting in the arrest of at least 81 individuals and sending waves of fear through its diverse communities.
Dubbed Operation Charlotte's Web by the Department of Homeland Security, the deployment prompted immediate backlash, with protesters gathering at First Ward Park for the ‘No Border Patrol In Charlotte’ rally before marching through the city's uptown district.
Community and Business Life Grinds to a Halt
The human and economic impact of the raids was immediate and severe. Normally bustling immigrant neighbourhoods and business districts fell into a standstill. In a powerful symbol of solidarity and protest, the beloved Manolo’s Bakery closed its doors for the weekend for the first time in 28 years.
Charlotte city council member-elect JD Mazuera Arias described the stark transformation, stating, “Our city has gone from a thriving city to a standstill.” He joined others at the bakery to stand with a community living in anxiety.
Business owner David Rebolloso, a US citizen and military veteran, fought back tears during a phone interview from his east Charlotte laundromat. “I’m heartbroken, really,” he said, noting a sharp decline in customers. He expressed his own fear, asking, “should I be carrying my passport with me?” despite his citizenship and service.
Accounts of Aggressive Arrests and Citizen Response
Disturbing accounts and videos circulated on social media, depicting the methods used during the arrests. In one incident in a predominantly Latino area of east Charlotte, Honduran-born US citizen Willy Aceituno filmed border patrol agents smashing his car window. Bystanders recorded him being pulled from his truck, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed while he repeatedly shouted, “I am a citizen.” He was later released.
Advocacy group Siembra NC called Saturday the day when “the most immigrants were arrested in a single day in state history.” The arrests included reports of landscapers being accosted while putting up Christmas decorations and a teenage worker, believed to be no older than 16, being taken from the Super G Mart grocery store.
Store owner Peter Han condemned the agents' behaviour, saying, “The most appalling thing was: these guys still had the audacity to smile and wave at the camera after … coming and dragging a boy out.”
Local Officials Condemn Federal Overreach
Local law enforcement and elected officials pushed back strongly against the federal operation. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden, who ended the county's cooperation with ICE after his election in 2018, confirmed his office would not assist border patrol. “This is something I have seen, something I have been battling repeatedly,” he said, acknowledging that while some communities welcome the action, others are “living in fear and anxiety.”
State representative Aisha Dew questioned the very premise of the operation, stating at a press conference, “I’m not quite sure what border we’re patrolling here ... We don’t have borders here in North Carolina that need to be protected.”
Council member Mazuera Arias highlighted the unprecedented nature of the raid, emphasising it “feels different because we’ve never had to experience border patrol.” He called it a “gross violation” of the rights of both immigrants and US citizens.
In response, community organisations like Siembra NC and the Carolina Migrant Network have intensified their efforts, running hotlines and conducting daily rights verification trainings. An organic movement of community support has emerged, with patrols offering safe rides and allies learning how to assist their neighbours, creating a powerful counter-narrative to the administration's tactics of division.
