The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal authorities have launched ‘Operation Charlotte’ in Charlotte, North Carolina in a bid to curb illegal immigration.
The operation, initiated is part of a broader Trump administration strategy to enforce immigration laws more aggressively across various US regions.
Charlotte, being North Carolina’s largest city and a hub with a significant immigrant community, was selected for this enforcement action. The initiative’s objective is to disrupt illegal immigration networks and remove individuals deemed to have violated US immigration laws.
81 arrests made on day 1
On the first day of Operation Charlotte’s Web, federal agents arrested 81 people suspected of living in the US without proper documentation. The arrests occurred at various locations throughout the city and targeted individuals with different immigration violations, including visa overstays and unlawful entries.
Some of those detained had minor criminal records, making them higher priorities for removal according to DHS policy.
Operation Web sparks protests
The operation has led to increased protests and outcry from local immigrant rights groups and community advocates who criticised what they described as an ‘overly aggressive and disruptive approach’.
“We’re seeing that Trump is using ICE and border patrol to kind of go into communities and punish them punitively when they’re not toeing his line, and we’re saying the people are gonna stand up just like in Chicago and just like in LA for their immigrant communities,” Evan Branan, the organiser of a protest called ‘ICE Out’ told WLOS News.
“The people who are all into capturing immigrants and disappearing them have to know that we won’t accept it,” said Leslie Boyd, a participant in the demonstration.
Man tries to ram car on law enforcement official
During one of the protests, a man allegedly attempted to use a vehicle against federal agents, injuring one of the officials, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
The driver operated a large van and drove toward law enforcement personnel at the scene before fleeing, sparking a high-speed pursuit through a densely populated area on Sunday, November 16, DHS said in a post on X.
The driver was later arrested, and a firearm was recovered from the vehicle, DHS said.
