The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the launch of Operation Charlotte’s Web, an initiative aimed at targeting criminal non-citizens in Charlotte, North Carolina. According to DHS, the operation will focus on individuals who have been released into communities after local authorities did not honor federal immigration detainers.
DHS stated that nearly 1,400 detainers were not honored across North Carolina, resulting in the release of individuals described as criminal illegal aliens back into neighborhoods. The department attributed these releases to sanctuary policies adopted by some local jurisdictions.
"Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed. There have been too many victims of criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.”
The announcement highlighted several cases involving individuals from Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who were arrested for crimes such as murder, sexual offenses against minors, weapons violations, and property crimes. In each instance cited by DHS, the individuals were released after local authorities did not comply with ICE detainer requests.
Operation Charlotte’s Web represents a federal response intended to address concerns about public safety and cooperation between local jurisdictions and federal immigration enforcement agencies.
