More Than 250 Arrested in North Carolina Immigration Crackdown


A massive federal sweep, part of Trump’s nationwide crackdown, has rattled immigrant communities and pushed arrests to new highs.
Here’s what went down
Read this if you’re following immigration policy, DHS enforcement, or the human impact on local communities.
What Just Happened
• More than 250 people were arrested across North Carolina in a DHS sweep centered around Charlotte.
• This is part of Trump’s mass-deportation strategy, sending agents and military support into Democratic-run cities.
• DHS says the operation targets “dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” but specifics remain scarce.
• Raleigh experienced sudden expansion of enforcement, then the mayor said activity was “suspended.”
• DHS has not confirmed any suspension.
How the Crackdown Spread
• Operation “Charlotte’s Web” doubled the number of arrests announced earlier in the week.
• Agents showed up at laundromats, shopping centers, and Latino-heavy neighborhoods.
• School attendance dropped as families sheltered inside.
• Small businesses closed, fearing raids, even ones not directly targeted.
• Protesters confronted agents at a Charlotte Home Depot multiple times.
Local Impact
• Business owners report lost revenue and empty neighborhoods.
• Workers abandoned laundry, groceries, and errands mid-task when agents appeared.
• Advocacy groups say fear is spreading faster than official information.
• Communities say DHS is offering no details about who was taken or where operations will strike next.
• Immigrants, documented and undocumented, are avoiding public spaces altogether.
What’s Coming Next
• Border Patrol agents are preparing for another large-scale operation in New Orleans.
• Around 250 agents will deploy for a two-month crackdown starting Dec. 1.
• The same commander leading the NC operation will run the Louisiana sweep.
• State Republicans praise the operation as “keeping citizens safe.”
• Civil rights groups are mobilizing rapid-response teams and legal help.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t just a North Carolina story, it’s part of a national strategy accelerating across major cities.
Arrests are rising, communities are scared, and the next operation is already queued up.