RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Federal agents have now arrested more than 250 people during a North Carolina immigration crackdown centered around Charlotte, the state’s largest city, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday.
The operation that began over the weekend is part of Republican President Donald Trump’s aggressive mass deportation efforts that have sent military and immigration agents into Democratic-run cities across the country.
The crackdown, dubbed “ Operation Charlotte’s Web ”, has expanded to areas around the state capital of Raleigh, creating fear in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods.
While officials reported around double the anticipated arrests, the operation primarily targets individuals living in the U.S. without legal permission and those with purported criminal backgrounds.
The federal agencies have withheld precise details regarding the arrested individuals or the breadth of the operation, leaving many in the community anxious about the potential future presence of federal agents.
Demonstrations have arisen in response to the crackdown, with around 100 protestors gathering outside a Home Depot in Charlotte. They chanted for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to withdraw from their communities.
The crackdown has triggered distress in immigrant neighborhoods, where school attendance has dwindled and local businesses have reported reduced traffic to avoid confrontation.
The fear also permeated Cary, a suburb of Raleigh, known for its diverse immigrant population. In local shopping centers, business appeared severely affected, with fewer customers spotted in ethnic restaurants and grocery stores.
Documents suggest that agents are expected to roll into New Orleans for another major operation after the crackdown in North Carolina, with around 250 federal agents set to descend by December 1.
In the meantime, the DHS has refused to comment on the timing of operations, echoing concerns over the strategies employed in this nationwide crackdown.
