Nearly 400 Arrested in Operation Charlotte's Web

Communities across Rutherford County and the broader western North Carolina region — including Charlotte — are grappling with heightened anxiety following a wave of recent federal immigration operations. Families from Forest City to Charlotte report keeping children home from school, avoiding workplaces and public spaces, and altering daily routines as fear spreads through immigrant neighborhoods.

The concerns mirror those voiced last week during a Charlotte City Council meeting, where members acknowledged the growing unease but also the limited power local governments hold under North Carolina law.

Charlotte’s city attorney reminded officials that municipalities can act only within powers specifically granted by the General Assembly. That message resonates in Rutherford County as well, where counties and towns operate under the same state framework.

North Carolina follows a strict version of Dillon’s Rule, meaning cities and counties cannot establish their own immigration policies or adopt so-called “sanctuary” measures. Unlike states that grant broad home-rule authority, local governments here must defer to state statute, even when community members demand more protective measures.

Scholars familiar with the issue say the dynamic leaves local leaders with few tools when federal raids cause disruptions. University of North Carolina law professor Rick Su, who studies municipal authority, said many local governments have more flexibility than they believe — but they still cannot craft immigration policy on their own.

In Charlotte, officials have moved to require judicial warrants before federal agents access nonpublic city buildings, tighten protections around confidential data and public records, and explore support for nonprofit groups that assist immigrant families. Police there are avoiding involvement in immigration arrests while continuing to verify federal agents’ identities and respond to any criminal activity related to the operations.

Advocacy groups say Western North Carolina communities could follow similar steps, including holding public meetings to document how raids affect families, issuing local resolutions supporting constitutional protections and workplace rights, and asking administrators to compile data on arrests and disruptions. Other cities in the state — including Durham, Chapel Hill and Greensboro — have already adopted such statements of support.

Su said that municipal governments can also exercise their routine regulatory authority, such as standard zoning reviews, building inspections and contract audits, over any agency operating within their jurisdictions, including federal entities. These measures do not restrict immigration enforcement directly, he said, but they fall squarely within local control.

Charlotte Enforcement Numbers Raise Questions

The regional tension grew after a recently obtained Department of Homeland Security document revealed that fewer than one-third of the people arrested during Border Patrol’s Charlotte-area crackdown, known as Operation Charlotte’s Web, were classified as criminal offenders. The campaign, which began Nov. 15, involved roughly 200 federal agents and resulted in nearly 400 arrests, 90 had criminal convictions or pending charges. Others had civil immigration orders, in violation of federal law.

While DHS publicly highlighted arrests involving individuals with serious charges — including assault-related offenses — the internal report did not clarify whether listed crimes were convictions or merely charges. Videos from the operation showed Border Patrol agents conducting sweeps at construction sites, parking lots and commercial areas across Charlotte.

Similar enforcement actions have generated alarm in neighboring counties, including those in the foothills and western region. Schools have reported spikes in absences, and business owners in several communities temporarily closed their doors. In some Charlotte-area schools, walkouts were staged to protest the arrests.

Border Patrol Responds

"Many immigration offenses are felonies and should be counted. Traffic offenses such as DWI sure as hell count," Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino said in response to criticism on social media. "Thousands of dead Americans...You know, the dead Americans you ignore while you're busy choosing illegal aliens over U.S. citizens."

Bovino said, "We're close to 400 apprehensions there, with (Operation) Charlotte's Web." He said he is concerned about crime that is leading to numerous accidents involving people driving without licenses, including driving trucks. Some have commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) but he questioned how they're getting them. Bovino said, "How are these truck driver's passing an exam...when they can't even speak English?" He said he's concerned non-English speaking drivers can't read road signs, which may lead to dangerous situations.

Impact Felt in Rutherford County

Though the most visible operations have unfolded in Charlotte, residents in Rutherford County say the ripple effects are being felt locally. Community advocates report families avoiding doctor’s appointments, public offices and even grocery stores. Local pastors and nonprofit leaders say they’ve been fielding calls from families worried that raids may expand into smaller towns.

Local government offices here face the same constraints as Charlotte, with no authority to intervene directly. But they can take smaller steps — such as public information efforts, community outreach, and formal inquiries into how federal activity affects schools, businesses and residents.

As WNC watches for what federal authorities may do next, concerns continue to mount. DHS officials have not confirmed reports that similar operations may soon be launched in other southeastern cities, but local leaders across the region say they are preparing for continued disruption. Federal law enforcement is authorized to go to any city, any time, to enforce the law.

WCAB News will continue tracking developments across Rutherford County and WNC.