More than 250 people have been arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of President Donald Trump's escalating crackdown on undocumented immigration, US officials say.
Charlotte is the latest US city to be targeted with federal troops, following similar actions in larger cities like Chicago and Los Angeles earlier this year. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that those arrested are criminals and gang members.
However, local lawmakers and residents have expressed strong opposition to these detainments, which the federal government has dubbed Operation Charlotte's Web. The state's Democratic governor has accused authorities of targeting individuals based on their race.
In a press release, a DHS spokesperson claimed that the operation has led to the apprehension of some of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens, including gang members. The arrests involved individuals convicted of a range of crimes, from assault on law enforcement to driving while intoxicated and tampering with government documents.
North Carolina's Democratic Governor Josh Stein, opposing Trump's operations, alleged that federal agents are racially profiling residents. We've seen masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars, targeting American citizens based on their skin color, Stein stated. This is not making us safer.
The city's mayor, also a Democrat, urged federal agents to respect the city's values and praised the community members who protested the actions taken by the Trump administration. I am deeply concerned with many of the videos I've seen, Mayor Vi Lyles remarked, emphasizing her support for residents feeling anxious or fearful.
DHS has not disclosed the duration of the raids, as the crackdown in Chicago continues. Residents in Charlotte report that many migrants are fearful of venturing out due to the presence of federal agents.
Stein indicated that he is monitoring reports suggesting that similar operations may extend to Raleigh. I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church, or putting up Christmas decorations, he asserted.
