Immigration ‘surge’ begins in Charlotte; Guard pulls back in two cities

The Washington Post ^ | 11/14/2025 5:38 PM EST | Gaya Gupta and Peter Whoriskey

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Federal law enforcement officials were sent to North Carolina’s largest city, while many National Guard members deployed to Chicago and Portland are being sent home.

The Department of Homeland Security has begun law enforcement operations in Charlotte, federal officials said Saturday, the latest Democratic-run city to brace for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

“We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed,” Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said in an email. “There have been too many victims of criminal illegal aliens, and President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.”

Garry McFadden, sheriff of Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located, said earlier this week that federal officials had confirmed a plan for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin operations as early as Saturday. McFadden said his office had not been asked by federal authorities to assist.

Charlotte, led by Mayor Vi Lyles (D), was thrust into the national spotlight in August when a young woman riding a public train was fatally stabbed, allegedly by a 34-year-old homeless man with a history of severe mental illness. President Donald Trump and other Republican officials used the attack to argue that Democrats needed to tighten the grip on their cities, saying that the suspect would have been in prison if not for the city’s left-leaning policies.

Lyles, who was reelected earlier this month, said in a statement Saturday morning that recent DHS operations involving Border Patrol agents were causing “unnecessary fear and uncertainty” in the community and also encouraged the city to remain peaceful.

“Let us all — no matter our political allegiance — stand together for all hard working and law-abiding families,” she and other city and county leaders wrote...

[MMusson]

There were no protests in Charlotte when that poor girl was slaughtered on the light rail.

[frank ballenger]

a young woman riding a public train was fatally stabbed

Named Iryna Zaretska. Rest in Peace.

[dfwgator]

Say her name!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“many National Guard members deployed to Chicago and Portland are being sent home.”

Chicago and Portland are pacified?

[Jane Long]

Charlotte, led by Mayor Vi Lyles (D), was thrust into the national spotlight in August when a young woman riding a public train was fatally stabbed, allegedly by a 34-year-old homeless man with a history of severe mental illness.

---

ALLEGEDLY STABBED by this monster????? Allegedly????

D@m @$$ lying media/reporter.

[TigersEye]

McFadden said his office had not been asked by federal authorities to assist.

I can guess why. DHS already researched this guy and concluded it would be a waste of time to ask him for assistance.

[FLT-bird]

Here in Charlotte we call her Vile Lies. I’m glad ICE is coming here. We have plenty of illegals around for them to round up.

We’ve got nearly as many H1B Indians I’ll be happy to see gone in the next 3 years.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

The only place worth visiting in Charlotte is the Billy Graham farm/library.

[MacNaughton]

Charlotte, led by Mayor Vi Lyles (D), was thrust into the national spotlight in August when a young woman riding a public train was fatally stabbed, allegedly by a 34-year-old homeless man with a history of severe mental illness. President Donald Trump and other Republican officials used the attack to argue that Democrats needed to tighten the grip on their cities, saying that the suspect would have been in prison if not for the city’s left-leaning policies. Lyles, who was reelected earlier this month, said in a statement Saturday morning that recent DHS operations involving Border Patrol agents were causing “unnecessary fear and uncertainty” in the community and also encouraged the city to remain peaceful.

[ducttape45]

Doubtful, but I was wondering the same thing. Most likely, those antifa hotbeds and the corrupt government in those locations were successful in getting the National Guard and ICE removed. Basically, the criminals most likely won.

[MinorityRepublican]

Tactical retreat from Chicago and Portland. I’m sure President Trump will go back there when the time is right.

[metmom]

Lyles, who was reelected earlier this month, said in a statement Saturday morning that recent DHS operations involving Border Patrol agents were causing “unnecessary fear and uncertainty” in the community and also encouraged the city to remain peaceful.

Meanwhile, nothing gives one a sense of peace and certainty like evil, violent offenders roaming the streets slitting the throats of young girls who are minding their own business.

Bleeding heart, defend the criminals, leftists disgust me. I'm so sick of hearing them whine about the feelings of those doing others harm.

[Organic Panic]

It has been shown that many of the antifa democrat part terrorists are shuttled from place to lace around the country. Maybe there is some strategic intelligence in moving the ‘hot zone’ and tracking who goes.

[csn vinnie]

Sounds like we need to crack down on home-grown thugs more than immigrants in Charlotte.

[Does so]

While traveling north, I stopped at a Charlotte fast food restaurant for a burger. While dining, about 20 Mexicans in work clothes and boots walked in, and stared upwards at the menu displayed behind the counter.

It was clear they’d never been in a “Burger King” before.

...and that was 15 years ago!

==8-O

[Singermom]

I keep saying take away their welfare benefits. It is a contract and can be terminated.

[Drew68]

Tactical retreat from Chicago and Portland. I’m sure President Trump will go back there when the time is right.

He's thrown all of Portland Antifa in prison for decades, right? He did declare them a domestic terrorist organization, if I recall.

DESIGNATING ANTIFA AS A DOMESTIC TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

Yet best I can tell, Antifa is still protesting in front of ICE facilities in Portland as of last night.

Oh well. As you said, I'm sure he'll go back there when the time is right.

[Vaduz]

Immigration ‘surge’ begins in Charlotte

Charlotte, led by Mayor Vi Lyles (D)

The voters didn’t see that coming?.