Greater than 250 folks have been arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a part of President Donald Trump’s escalating crackdown on undocumented immigration, US officers say.
Charlotte is the newest US metropolis that Trump has focused with federal troops, following related measures in greater cities like Chicago and Los Angeles earlier this 12 months. Officers with the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) informed the BBC that these arrested are criminals and gang members.
However native lawmakers and residents have railed in opposition to the detainments, which the federal authorities has dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Internet”. The state’s Democratic governor has alleged persons are being focused due to their race.
In an announcement launched on Wednesday, a DHS spokesperson stated the operation has led to the arrest of “a number of the most harmful felony unlawful aliens”, together with gang members.
Others arrested had been convicted of a spread of crimes, together with assault on regulation enforcement, driving whereas intoxicated, theft and tampering with authorities paperwork, the division stated earlier.
North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Josh Stein, who has denounced Trump’s operations, accused brokers of racially profiling residents.
“We have seen masked, closely armed brokers in paramilitary garb driving unmarked automobiles, concentrating on Americans primarily based on their pores and skin color, racially profiling and choosing up random folks in parking tons,” Stein stated on Sunday. “This isn’t making us safer.”
The town’s mayor, additionally a Democrat, urged federal brokers to function with “respect” for the town’s values. She additionally recommended those that got here out in droves on Saturday to protest the Trump administration’s actions within the metropolis.
“I’m deeply involved with lots of the movies I’ve seen,” Mayor Vi Lyles stated. “To everybody in Charlotte who’s feeling anxious or fearful: you aren’t alone. Your metropolis stands with you.”
DHS has not stated how lengthy the raids will final. Chicago’s crackdown began in September and continues to be ongoing. Like different cities topic to immigration crackdowns, some migrants in Charlotte are staying house for concern of federal brokers within the metropolis, in response to native media studies.
Stein says he is monitoring reporters that the operation will come to Raleigh, one other North Carolina metropolis, subsequent.
“As soon as once more, I name on federal brokers to focus on violent criminals, not neighbors strolling down the road, going to church, or placing up Christmas decorations,” he wrote.
