The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Saturday that it has begun immigration enforcement operations in Charlotte, N.C.
“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, The Associated Press reported. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”
Local officials, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles (D), criticized the federal government’s actions, saying in a joint statement that they “are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty.”
“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives,” the statement said, which was also signed by County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed.
The federal government hadn’t previously announced the immigration enforcement in Charlotte, but Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said on Thursday that he was notified by two federal officials who said U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel would be arriving in the Charlotte area either Saturday or early next week.
