Federal immigration authorities may extend their enforcement activities to another city in North Carolina, following similar operations in cities sanctioned by the Trump administration that are now facing legal challenges or have been deprioritized.
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell revealed that Customs and Border Protection is planning to visit Raleigh, urging residents to uphold values of peace and respect during any potential difficulties.
Previously, the Trump administration had targeted Charlotte, a city with a population of approximately 950,000, for an intensified immigration crackdown to combat crime, despite objections from locals and a decrease in crime rates.
In Charlotte, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reported the arrest of over 130 individuals for violating immigration laws over the weekend, with some detainees having records of gang involvement, aggravated assault, and shoplifting, among other offenses.
The administration’s enforcement actions in North Carolina follow similar crackdowns in different cities earlier this year, involving the deployment of National Guard troops in some instances, including Los Angeles where U.S. Marines were also involved.
While the administration cited rising crime rates to justify the crackdowns, statistics show a decline in violent crime over the past couple of years as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.
The National Guard in North Carolina, while lacking arrest powers, has been assigned to safeguard federal facilities, particularly those managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as part of the administration’s broad deportation agenda.
Critics have questioned the administration’s approach, pointing out that a significant portion of ICE detainees lack criminal convictions, contrary to the president’s promises to target violent offenders.
Democratic officials in North Carolina, including the governor and mayors of Charlotte and Raleigh, have expressed strong opposition to the deployment of troops in the state, citing concerns over sanctuary policies and potential violations of state sovereignty.
In other cities where Democratic leaders have resisted military involvement by the Trump administration, legal challenges have been filed, arguing that the president has not met the legal criteria for deploying troops and that such actions infringe on state rights.
Efforts to challenge the administration’s deployment of troops have seen mixed results, with some judges issuing injunctions against troop deployments, while others have allowed appeals to proceed.
In Tennessee, a judge temporarily blocked the National Guard’s deployment in Memphis, pending further legal proceedings, after the mayor expressed no request for their presence in the city.
Overall, the deployment of National Guard troops in various cities as part of immigration enforcement and crime reduction efforts has sparked controversy and legal battles, highlighting the ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities.