What We Learned From the Charlotte Border Patrol Operation

A reader from North Carolina told me she kept hearing the same question: “Why is Border Patrol in Charlotte?” When a leaked document surfaced this week, it finally gave some clear answers — and raised new ones.

Let’s go through what really happened in simple terms.

The leak: fewer than one-third were classified as criminals

CBS News reviewed an internal Border Patrol document from a recent operation in Charlotte. The document said fewer than one-third of the people arrested were considered “criminal aliens.”

Source: CBS News reporting

This challenges earlier claims that the operation was focused mainly on serious offenders.

Why this matters

When people picture “criminal sweeps,” they imagine officers going after dangerous individuals. But this document shows a different picture. Many arrested people appear to have been regular community members, workers, and parents — not individuals with major criminal histories.

What kind of operation was this?

Border Patrol sometimes works with local law enforcement even far from the border. These “inland operations” often focus on:

• Checking traffic stops
• Following up on tips
• Visiting job sites
• Serving old removal orders

The Charlotte operation seems to fall into this category.

What the leaked document tells us

1. Public messaging didn’t match the arrest numbers

Officials had suggested the operation targeted criminals. The internal document didn’t support that.

2. Most arrests involved people with civil immigration issues

These are things like overdue court appearances or prior deportation orders — not violent crimes.

3. Community reaction will likely grow

When enforcement targets everyday workers and families, trust in local agencies often drops. This may affect reporting of crimes, school attendance, and even medical visits.

How this compares to past enforcement efforts

Under the Trump administration, interior enforcement has expanded. More operations now take place in inland cities, not just along the border.

To understand how arrests work, check our pages:

• Know Your Rights
• ICE Oversight

A quote from the reporting

“Fewer than one-third of individuals arrested … were classified as criminals.”

Where things go from here

Charlotte isn’t the only area seeing these operations. More are expected as federal priorities shift. If arrests continue to include mostly non-criminal cases, expect legal challenges and pushback from local groups.

Federal updates may appear at:

• CBP.gov
• DHS.gov