‘Operation Charlotte’s Web’ Nets 130+ ‘Criminal Illegal Alien’ Arrests In First Weekend

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents descended upon Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend, arresting more than 130 illegal immigrants with criminal records ranging from aggravated assault to felony larceny, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The arrests were part of the Trump administration’s “Charlotte’s Web” operation, which began on Saturday and aims to find and detain illegal immigrants who have found sanctuary in the Democrat-run city. The Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire, “Border Patrol arrested over 130 illegal aliens who have all broken the immigration laws of our country.”

“Criminal records of those arrested include known gang membership, aggravated assault, possession of a dangerous weapon, felony larceny, simple assault, hit and run, possession of stolen goods, shoplifting, DUI, DWI, and illegal re-entry after prior deportation, a felony,” a DHS spokesman said. “We will not stop enforcing the laws of our nation until every criminal illegal alien is arrested and removed from our country.”

Across North Carolina, authorities have ignored nearly 1,400 immigration detainers and released violent illegal immigrants back onto the streets, according to the DHS.

Border Patrol Commander Gregory K. Bovino posted photos of suspected illegal immigrants who have been taken “off the streets” of Charlotte over the weekend.

“Who’s at the same grocery store as you? This illegal alien from Honduras with a criminal history,” Bovino wrote in one post. “He has arrests for aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon & DUI. He has also been removed from the U.S. twice, so now that he’s here AGAIN, he committed a felony by re-entering the U.S.”

Who’s at the same grocery store as you? This illegal alien from Honduras with a criminal history. He has arrests for aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon & DUI. He has also been removed from the U.S. twice, so now that he’s here AGAIN, he committed a felony by… pic.twitter.com/Kx8BI4NJFi

— Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino (@CMDROpAtLargeCA) November 16, 2025

“This illegal alien from Mexico has 3 DUI/DWI convictions. We arrested him, taking him off the streets of Charlotte so he can’t continue to ignore our laws and drive intoxicated on the same roads you and your loved ones are on,” Bovino added in another post.

This illegal alien from Mexico has 3 DUI/DWI convictions. We arrested him, taking him off the streets of Charlotte so he can’t continue to ignore our laws and drive intoxicated on the same roads you and your loved ones are on.#DHS #CBP #USBP #CHARLOTTESWEB pic.twitter.com/4dv9HbbTVm

— Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino (@CMDROpAtLargeCA) November 16, 2025

DHS said that one law enforcement officer was injured during an operation over the weekend, when a U.S. citizen “weaponized his vehicle, driving a large van at law enforcement while they were conducting an operation.” The driver allegedly fled the scene, prompting a high-speed chase. The suspect, who has previous arrests for resisting law enforcement, public disturbance, and intoxication, was eventually taken into custody.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER INJURED DURING ENFORCEMENT OPERATION.

This afternoon in Charlotte near University City, a United States citizen weaponized his vehicle, driving a large van at law enforcement while they were conducting an operation. He immediately fled the scene, starting… pic.twitter.com/Iu2fm1p6Lh

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 17, 2025

As Border Patrol began arresting suspected illegal immigrants in Charlotte, residents took to the streets to protest, demanding that the federal agents leave the city. Hundreds of protesters gathered on Saturday, carrying signs that read “Immigrants Make Charlotte Great,” “Kidnapping Immigrants Won’t Make America Great,” and “Charlotte Demands ICE and Border Patrol Out Of Our City!”

North Carolina Democratic Governor Josh Stein blasted the federal operation in a video statement.

“We’ve seen masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars, targeting American citizens based on their skin color, racially profiling, and picking up random people in parking lots and off of our sidewalks,” Stein said.

Grant Baldwin/Getty Images

Charlotte is the latest big city targeted by President Donald Trump, who is surging federal law enforcement and immigration agents to cities across the country to address illegal immigration and violent crime. Charlotte gained national attention earlier this year when Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was brutally stabbed to death while riding the city’s light rail train. Decarlos Brown Jr., an American citizen, was charged with Zarutska’s murder after he had previously been arrested 14 times.

Federal agents have also arrested hundreds of suspected illegal immigrants and violent criminals in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, and Portland.