(MENAFN) Federal agents arrested 130 people over two days in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, according to US officials. The operation, dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” targeted individuals with criminal records, including gang members, but local leaders say the sweeps are harming the community.

DHS officials reported that arrests included convictions for assault, DUI, theft, and tampering with government documents. A US citizen allegedly injured an officer by ramming a law enforcement vehicle. Eighty-one arrests occurred during a five-hour period on Saturday.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles expressed concern over the raids, saying residents feel “threatened” and “destabilized,” while North Carolina Governor Josh Stein criticized the operation as racially profiling residents and not improving public safety. Protest marches erupted over the weekend in response to the crackdown.

The operation mirrors previous enforcement actions in Los Angeles and Chicago, where Trump’s immigration strategy has extended into suburbs and smaller communities, significantly reducing illegal entries at the US-Mexico border. DHS has not confirmed how long the Charlotte raids will continue.

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