Federal agents have descended on the city of Charlotte in North Carolina as part of US President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said.
Federal immigration authorities carried out nearly 100 arrests in the Charlotte area on Saturday, according to CBS, the BBC's American news partner.
Local officials, including Mayor of Charlotte Vi Lyles, released a joint statement criticizing the operation, saying it was causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in the community.
Since Trump's return to office, he has deployed troops to Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago to deliver on his promise of the largest deportation programme in US history.
The DHS announced Operation Charlotte's Web on Saturday, stating that criminal illegal aliens would be targeted in the Democratic-run city.
We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
Armoured vehicles and special operations teams could be involved in the North Charlotte crackdown, according to internal government documents seen by CBS News.
Several church members doing yard work at a church in east Charlotte fled into the woods when agents arrived and detained one man, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.
Officials have stated that there are numerous organizations ready to assist individuals seeking legal guidance on immigration matters.
The DHS stated that this operation was prompted by North Carolina's failure to honor nearly 1,400 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees who were released due to sanctuary policies.\
Charlotte, known for its ethnic diversity, is not a sanctuary city, but it is designated as a certified welcoming city committed to immigration inclusion.
President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won't, the DHS declared.
Charlotte's operation duration remains unspecified, but similar initiatives in cities like Chicago are still ongoing. US Representative Alma Adams has expressed serious concern regarding Border Patrol and ICE agents' actions in North Carolina.
The next targeted city for Trump's immigration enforcement efforts appears to be New Orleans, with reports indicating that up to 200 agents could soon be deployed there.
Past operations in urban areas such as Chicago and Los Angeles have faced criticism for allegations of excessive use of force.
