The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday that more than 400 illegal aliens have been arrested in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area as part of an ongoing federal operation targeting criminal offenders who were previously released under local “sanctuary” policies.
In a statement, a DHS spokesperson said the initiative, known as “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” continues to focus on “some of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens” in the region.
“This immigration enforcement surge in the Charlotte area has led to the arrest of over 425 illegal aliens since operations started,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Operation Launched After More Than 1,400 ICE Detainers Were Ignored
DHS announced in mid-November that federal agents would be deployed to Charlotte after local jurisdictions failed to honor more than 1,400 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers.
According to DHS, individuals accused of murder, rape, and other serious violent crimes were released from custody rather than transferred to ICE due to local sanctuary policies.
The department released photos and names of several individuals recently apprehended, emphasizing the public safety risks created when local agencies decline to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Local Officials Push Back Amid Ongoing Federal Action
Charlotte’s Democrat Mayor Vi Lyles has voiced opposition to the operation, saying last month she was hopeful the enforcement surge would end soon.
“I’m relieved for our community and the residents, businesses, and all those who were targeted and impacted by this intrusion,” Lyles said in a post on X.
She added that the city must “come together” following the heightened federal presence.
It appears that U.S. Border Patrol has ceased its operations in Charlotte. I’m relieved for our community and the residents, businesses, and all those who were targeted and impacted by this intrusion.
As we move forward, it is essential that we come together—not as separate…— Mayor Vi Lyles (@CLTMayor) November 20, 2025
However, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin contradicted reports that the operation was winding down.
She stated on X that Operation Charlotte’s Web is not ending, and described claims to the contrary as inaccurate.
Wrong. Operation Charlotte’s Web isn’t ending anytime soon. https://t.co/39guc2QdLt
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) November 20, 2025
Lyles has previously expressed “concern, fear, and uncertainty” about federal enforcement activities in the city, urging agencies to conduct operations with sensitivity to residents and local businesses.
Trump Administration Defends Enforcement Surge as Part of Broader National Strategy
President Donald Trump has argued that intensified immigration enforcement, including deploying military and federal agents into sanctuary jurisdictions such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C, is necessary to combat crime and restore public safety.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump made large-scale deportations a central pillar of his policy platform.
Administration officials say the removal of illegal immigrants will help lower consumer prices, stabilize housing costs, and strengthen community safety.
New Orleans Operation Underway: “Catahoula Crunch”
Homeland Security officials also confirmed this week that a separate operation, “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” has begun in New Orleans.
Like Charlotte’s operation, it targets illegal immigrants released from jail under sanctuary practices.
While DHS has not released updated arrest totals, a Thursday statement said multiple criminal offenders have already been taken into custody.
Louisiana Republican Party chair Derek Babcock praised the effort, saying it demonstrates a commitment from President Trump and GOP Gov. Jeff Landry to “keeping our citizens safe.”
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