DHS announces surge of immigration raids in North Carolina News
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DHS announces surge of immigration raids in North Carolina

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Saturday announced that a surge of immigration enforcement has begun in Charlotte, North Carolina, targeting “criminal illegal aliens” protected by “sanctuary politicians.”

DHS noted in its statement that North Carolina authorities did not honor around 1,400 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “detainers,” which are requests to hold individuals past their scheduled jail release. Local authorities released individuals without allowing federal authorities to take custody for immigration enforcement.

Additionally, DHS accused local authorities of failing to protect Americans’ lives and safety. The agency claimed sanctuary policies led to the release of some of the “worst criminal illegal aliens” onto North Carolina streets.

ICE has been conducting large-scale immigration controls in Charlotte, targeting everyday locations such as churches, worksites and residential neighborhoods. Additionally, federal agents have increased traffic stops and the check of people’s identification documents, detaining individuals suspected of being undocumented.

For years, North Carolina has been a center of tensions between local officials and federal authorities. Sheriffs in several counties, and notably in Mecklenburg, where Charlotte is located, have repeatedly declined ICE administrative requests to hold detainees beyond their scheduled release.

In 2024, North Carolina legislators passed House Bill 10, obligating local law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities before releasing requested individuals and hold them for up to 48 hours if a detainer is issued by ICE.

In January of 2017, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13768, which aimed to penalize “sanctuary jurisdictions” that refuse to share immigration information or comply with federal authorities. The order directed agencies to limit certain federal funds to local government authorities that limited their cooperation with ICE.

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