The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched ‘Operation Charlotte’s Web,’ a targeted immigration enforcement initiative in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration. The operation, announced on Saturday, aims to apprehend ‘criminal illegal aliens’ in the Democratic-led city. However, local officials, including Mayor Li Vyles, have condemned the operation, stating it has instilled ‘unnecessary fear and uncertainty’ among residents. Since Trump’s return to office, his administration has deployed federal agents to major cities like Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago, fulfilling his pledge to implement ‘the largest deportation programme’ in U.S. history. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary, emphasized the deployment of law enforcement to Charlotte to ‘ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.’ Internal government documents obtained by CBS News suggest that armored vehicles and special operations teams may be involved in the operation. Reports from The Charlotte Observer detail harrowing scenes, including church members fleeing into the woods as Border Patrol agents conducted arrests without proper identification or questioning. Inside the church, women and children wept, fearing their loved ones had been taken. A 15-year-old witness expressed disbelief, stating, ‘We thought church was safe and nothing gonna happen.’ Local bakery owner Manolo Betancur told NBC News that ‘a lot of children have lost their parents’ since the raids began. The DHS justified the operation by citing North Carolina’s failure to honor nearly 1,400 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees, attributing their release to ‘sanctuary policies.’ While Charlotte is not a sanctuary city, it holds a ‘certified welcoming city’ designation, reflecting its commitment to immigration inclusion. The DHS defended the operation, asserting that ‘President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.’ Charlotte, an ethnically diverse city with approximately 17% of its population born outside the U.S., faces ongoing uncertainty as the DHS has not disclosed the duration of the raids. Similar operations in Chicago and Los Angeles have drawn criticism for alleged excessive use of force. According to CBS, New Orleans is next on Trump’s list, with up to 200 agents potentially deployed to the city.