The Trump administration plans to ‘surge’ North Carolina and Louisiana with Border Patrol agents and armored vehicles in its latest escalation against illegal immigration.
Internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents obtained by CBS News revealed that Border Patrol agents will be deployed to Charlotte before shifting to New Orleans to take a leading role in ICE operations across both cities.
The operations are reportedly referred to as Charlotte Web and Catahoula Crunch – titles officials chose to reference the children’s novel and Louisiana’s official state dog, according to the documents.
Armored vehicles – including BearCats – and special-operations agents were requested for both cities.
Several Border Patrol agents who were earlier sent to Chicago, among them outspoken commander Gregory Bovino, are now expected to join the operation, two US officials told CBS.
Bovino has took charge of operations in both Chicago and Los Angeles in recent months, where high-visibility and controversial federal arrests have fueled protests across the country.
‘The use of force that I’ve seen has been exemplary – the least amount of force necessary to accomplish the mission’ the commander told the outlet last month.
Two sources familiar with the plans told CBS that green-uniformed Border Patrol agents are expected in Charlotte in the coming days, where an operations hub is being established.
Internal DHS documents revealed that Border Patrol agents (pictured: commander Gregory Bovino) will be deployed to Charlotte before shifting to New Orleans to take a leading role in ICE operations across both cities
Armored vehicles – including BearCats – and special-operations agents were requested for both cities. DHS confirmed the Charlotte operation is underway, but didn’t comment on New Orleans (pictured: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem)
Border Patrol agents are reportedly expected in Charlotte (pictured) in the coming days, where an operations hub is being established
High-visibility and controversial federal arrests in cities like LA (pictured) and Chicago have fueled protests across the country
Sheriff Garry McFadden of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, said he had been contacted ‘by two separate federal officials confirming US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel will be arriving in the Charlotte area as early as this Saturday or the beginning of next week.’
On Saturday, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed to CBS that the Charlotte operation is underway, but she did not comment on potential plans for New Orleans.
‘We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed,’ McLaughlin said.
When asked about New Orleans, the assistant secretary for public affairs told the outlet that the department does ‘not discuss future or potential operations.’
‘Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country,’ McLaughlin added.
However, internal documents and sources suggest that up to 200 CBP agents could be deployed to New Orleans soon as part of the next phase of Trump’s nationwide crackdown.
In a joint statement with other local officials on Saturday, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles condemned the operation, saying it is only ‘causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty’ in the community.
She pointed to Chicago, where she said the operations have ‘resulted in people without criminal records being detained and violent protests being the result of unwarranted actions.’
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles (pictured) condemned the operation, saying it is only ‘causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty’ in the community
Sources suggested that up to 200 CBP agents could be deployed to New Orleans (pictured) soon as part of the next phase of Trump’s crackdown
Just yesterday, a peaceful protest outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, turned chaotic, resulting in 21 arrests (pictured)
Nearly 50 protesters broke through a concrete barrier separating their area from the processing center (pictured), prompting Illinois State Troopers to respond in riot gear
Just yesterday, a peaceful protest outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, turned chaotic, resulting in 21 arrests – the highest number in a state protest since the start of ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ in the Chicago area, according to News Nation Now.
During the weekly demonstration, nearly 50 protesters broke through a concrete barrier separating their area from the processing center, prompting Illinois State Troopers to respond in riot gear.
Four police officers were injured during the protest, with three taken to the hospital for treatment. Among those arrested were members of the faith community, all of whom now face charges of obstruction and disturbing the peace.
On Friday afternoon, DHS responded to the arrests with a post on X, referring to the protesters as ‘imbecilic morons.’
‘Womp womp, cry all you want. These criminal illegal aliens aren’t getting released,’ the department wrote on their official social media account.
‘Like clockwork, violent rioters have arrived at the Broadview ICE facility to demand the release of some of the worst human beings on planet earth,’ the statement added.
‘Get a job you imbecilic morons.’
Democratic North Carolina Governor Josh Stein urged residents ‘to remember our values,’ abide by the law and remain peaceful in a statement following news of the upcoming Charlotte operation.
Four police officers were injured during the protest (pictured), with three taken to the hospital for treatment
On Friday afternoon, DHS responded to the arrests with a post on X , referring to the protesters as ‘imbecilic morons’
‘Public safety is the top priority for all of us in government. That means fighting crime, not stoking fear or causing division,’ Stein said, according to CBS.
‘We should all focus on arresting violent criminals and drug traffickers. Unfortunately, that’s not always what we have seen with ICE and Border Patrol Agents in Chicago and elsewhere around the country,’ he added.
Like Mayor Lyles, Stein emphasized that most of those being detained nationwide have no criminal convictions.
‘If you see any inappropriate behavior, use your phones to record and notify local law enforcement,’ he added.
