By Ryan Morgan
U.S. immigration authorities have surged enforcement operations to Charlotte, North Carolina, and agents were seen making multiple arrests across the city on Nov. 15.
“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 press statement on Saturday. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”
The surge of federal immigration enforcement efforts in North Carolina’s largest city was not surprising for its residents. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden preempted the operations in a statement to the press on Nov. 13. CharlotteEAST, an immigrant advocacy organization, also held a conference call with around 500 other organizations this week, to prepare the community for impending immigration enforcement operations.
City and county officials have criticized the enhanced federal immigration enforcement operations.
“The expected … operations are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community as recent operations in other cities have resulted in people without criminal records being detained and violent protests being the result of unwarranted actions,” read a Saturday statement prepared by Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell, and Charlotte-Mecklenberg Education Board Chair Stephanie Sneed.
Lyles, Jerrell, and Sneed went on to state that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department doesn’t assist with federal immigration enforcement operations.
The local officials also advised those seeking legal guidance on immigration matters that several organizations are prepared to assist.
Lastly, the city and county officials called on those considering protesting to remain peaceful.
“We do not want to see violence like many witnessed in other cities. We can stand up for what we believe in without resorting to violence,” the statement reads.
Federal immigration operations in other major U.S. cities have sparked tense confrontations this year, with demonstrators attempting to impede the enforcement operations.
Demonstrators clashed with police and even attempted to break into a federal building in Los Angeles in June, after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted immigration sweeps in the area and carried out multiple arrests. President Donald Trump, in turn, deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to the city to guard federal property.
In September, the Department of Homeland Security launched another major effort in Chicago dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, which was also met with resistance from local demonstrators.
Jill McLaughlin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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