CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – United States federal agents have conducted a series of large-scale immigration raids in Charlotte, North Carolina, arresting over 130 people and sparking alarm among residents and civil rights groups. The operation, codenamed "Operation Charlotte's Web," is notable for its location deep within the US interior, hundreds of miles from the nearest international border, signalling an expansion of an aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.

The crackdown, which began over the weekend of Saturday, 15 November 2025, has seen agents from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) making arrests near churches, apartment buildings, and stores. North Carolina's Governor, Josh Stein, sharply criticised the action, stating on Sunday, 16 November, that the deployment of "masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb" was "stoking fear and dividing our community," not improving public safety.

Expanded Powers and a Controversial Law

The legal foundation for the Border Patrol's presence far from the border rests on a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This statute grants federal agents the authority to conduct certain enforcement actions, including operating checkpoints and boarding vehicles without a warrant, within a "reasonable distance" from any US external boundary. Federal regulations define this zone as 100 miles (approximately 161 kilometres) from any land or coastal border.

This 100-mile zone covers areas where nearly two-thirds of the US population resides, including major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. While the authority has existed for decades, its application for large-scale interior enforcement operations has become more prominent under the administration of former President Donald Trump.

A Shift in Enforcement Tactics

The operation is being led by Gregory Bovino, a controversial Border Patrol chief who has overseen similar interior enforcement campaigns in Chicago and Los Angeles. Bovino has actively promoted the Charlotte raids on social media, stating, "From border towns to the Queen City, our agents go where the mission calls." His tactics in other cities have drawn criticism and legal challenges over allegations of excessive force and racial profiling.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended the operation, claiming it targets individuals with criminal records and is a response to local "sanctuary policies" that limit cooperation between local police and federal immigration agents. However, Governor Stein and other critics argue that the raids are sweeping up people indiscriminately, including some US citizens, based on their appearance.

Global Context and Diaspora Implications

This escalation of interior immigration enforcement in the United States mirrors a broader global trend of hardening border and migration policies in Western nations. For diaspora communities, including Kenyans living in the US, such developments create a climate of uncertainty and fear. While official data on the nationalities of those arrested in Charlotte has not been released, the tactics employed raise significant concerns for all immigrant populations.

Research indicates that Black immigrants in the US are disproportionately affected by the convergence of the criminal justice and immigration systems. Studies show that while Black migrants constitute a small percentage of the undocumented population, they represent a significantly larger share of those facing deportation on criminal grounds. This disparity is often attributed to higher rates of policing in Black communities, which can lead to minor offenses escalating into immigration cases. The aggressive, roving patrols seen in Charlotte could potentially exacerbate this trend, impacting African and Caribbean immigrants who reside far from the southern border.

The operation continues amid protests and calls from community leaders for residents to know their rights when encountering federal agents. The long-term impact on community trust and the broader implications for US immigration policy remain under intense scrutiny.