Lead
Federal immigration personnel launched an enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced. The initiative, dubbed “Charlotte’s Web,” is part of an expanded Trump administration effort to target people living in the area without authorization. DHS described the operation as a surge of Border Patrol teams intended to remove public-safety threats. Local officials and community leaders said the action has raised fear and concern among residents.
Key Takeaways
- DHS announced the operation on Nov. 15, 2025, naming it “Charlotte’s Web” and confirming Border Patrol deployment to the Charlotte region.
- Internal government documents obtained by CBS News indicate scores of Border Patrol agents may participate, with possible armored vehicles and special operations teams involved.
- Commander Gregory Bovino, who led a prior enforcement operation in Chicago, is reported to be part of the Charlotte deployment.
- Videos circulating on social media on Saturday showed uniformed Border Patrol agents making arrests in the Charlotte area; the media outlet first reported planning for the deployment last week.
- Local leaders including Mayor Vi Lyles publicly criticized the operation, saying it generates fear and uncertainty among immigrant communities.
- DHS said it will shift focus after Charlotte to New Orleans, where plans reportedly call for up to 200 agents in an operation referred to internally as “Catahoula Crunch.”
Background
The operation in Charlotte is the latest in a sequence of interior-enforcement efforts announced by the Trump administration aimed at reducing undocumented immigration within U.S. cities. Administration officials have framed these deployments as measures to remove individuals accused of criminal activity and to protect public safety. In recent months, the Department of Homeland Security has shifted more Border Patrol resources from border zones to domestic locations at the administration’s direction.
Previous interior enforcement actions, including a controversial weeklong operation in the Chicago area led by Commander Gregory Bovino, drew criticism from local officials and immigrant-rights groups who argued such tactics spread fear and undercut community policing. Municipal leaders and many advocacy organizations contend that large-scale, visible enforcement can discourage cooperation with local law enforcement and public services. The Charlotte operation follows that contested pattern and has quickly become a focal point for debate over federal role in local immigration enforcement.
Main Event
On Nov. 15, 2025, DHS publicly confirmed teams had begun field operations around Charlotte under the internal name “Charlotte’s Web.” The department said the effort will involve a surge of DHS law-enforcement personnel, led in part by Border Patrol teams. CBS News reported last week that the administration was preparing to move teams to Charlotte, and internal documents obtained by the outlet detailed tactical elements of the plan.
Videos shared on social platforms on Saturday showed green-uniformed Border Patrol officers conducting arrests in residential neighborhoods near Charlotte. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said the deployment aims to “ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed,” citing victims of crimes committed by people living in the U.S. without authorization. Local leaders countered that the operation has sown alarm among immigrant families and could disrupt workers and students who have no criminal records.
Officials told CBS News that scores of agents are expected to participate and that armored vehicles and special operations units could be used where needed; the department did not publicly provide a full roster or exact agent count. After Charlotte, agency planning documents show attention shifting to New Orleans, where officials reportedly plan to assemble as many as 200 agents for an operation called “Catahoula Crunch.”
Analysis & Implications
This deployment represents an escalation in the administration’s willingness to use federal interior-enforcement assets in major U.S. cities. Strategically, moving Border Patrol teams inland changes traditional mission patterns and may require reassigning resources from border sectors. That reallocation could have downstream effects on border operations, depending on how long teams remain deployed domestically.
Politically, high-visibility operations in Democratic-led cities such as Charlotte are likely to intensify partisan debates ahead of future election cycles. Local officials have already condemned the operation, framing it as federal overreach that undermines community trust. Such clashes can produce legal and policy pushback, including local ordinances or lawsuits aimed at limiting cooperation with federal agents.
On the ground, public-safety outcomes depend on execution and oversight. DHS emphasizes removal of individuals with criminal records, but broad sweeps risk detaining non-criminal residents and straining local social services. Community fear can reduce reporting of crimes and public-health participation, which in turn may produce longer-term public-safety trade-offs even if some arrests remove dangerous individuals.
Internationally, expanding interior enforcement resonates with partners in Central and Latin America that track U.S. immigration policy as it affects migration flows. If similar operations become routine, they could alter migratory decisions and push responses from foreign governments, NGOs, and international human-rights bodies monitoring due process and detention conditions.
Comparison & Data
| Operation | Location | Reported Personnel | Noted Tactics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte’s Web | Charlotte, NC | Scores (undisclosed) | Border Patrol teams, possible armored vehicles, special ops |
| Catahoula Crunch (planned) | New Orleans, LA | Up to 200 (planned) | Large agent surge, interior enforcement |
The table summarizes reported elements from DHS announcements and media reporting. Exact personnel counts and operational timelines have not been fully disclosed by DHS; CBS News cited internal documents for tactical details. Historically, similar short-term interior operations have ranged from dozens to a few hundred agents depending on scope and objectives.
Reactions & Quotes
Federal and local officials offered sharply different framings of the action. DHS characterized the operation as a law-enforcement surge focused on public safety; elected local leaders described it as disruptive to communities.
“We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS spokeswoman (official statement)
Local leaders warned of community harm and fear as a result of the operation.
“This action is causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty among Charlotte residents.”
Vi Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte (city statement)
“Deploying Border Patrol teams inland changes the dynamic between federal agents and local communities and risks eroding trust.”
Immigration policy analyst (expert comment)
Unconfirmed
- Exact total number of agents participating in Charlotte’s Web beyond the general description of “scores” has not been publicly confirmed by DHS.
- The full list of neighborhoods or specific targets for arrests has not been released and remains unclear.
- Reports of the use of armored vehicles are based on internal documents and media reporting; DHS has not provided comprehensive public confirmation of all equipment types used.
Bottom Line
The DHS deployment to Charlotte on Nov. 15, 2025, marks a clear intensification of interior immigration enforcement, employing Border Patrol teams in a municipal setting. While the department frames the operation as necessary for public safety, local leaders and advocates warn of community disruption and chilling effects on cooperation with public institutions.
Going forward, key issues to watch include the transparency of DHS reporting on arrests and targets, any legal challenges from local governments, and whether reallocating Border Patrol assets inland affects border security elsewhere. The planned follow-up focus on New Orleans and the referenced “Catahoula Crunch” operation suggest the administration intends to continue similar actions in other cities.
Sources
- CBS News (news reporting, original coverage)
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (official government newsroom)
- City of Charlotte (local government statements)