"We're not hearing directly from Customs and Border Patrol. So we don't know for sure where they're going, how long they'll be here, where else they're going. We are like everyone else," said Gov. Josh Stein.
Monday night, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement to ABC11:
"Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations."
ABC11 reached back out to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson on Tuesday afternoon for specifics regarding the number of arrests and information surrounding individuals detained during operations in Wake County.
DHS noted it arrested more than 130 people in just two days as part of Operation Charlotte's Web. Of the group, a spokesperson noted 44 people had criminal records, which included aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, battery, driving under the influence, and hit-and-run. It is not clear what, if any, criminal records other individuals who were detained had.
"We don't know how many people they've detained. We don't know how many of them have criminal records. We don't know pretty much anything. They're operating in the shadows. They're driving around Charlotte in unmarked cars, wearing paramilitary garb, masks, stopping people on the street randomly based on the color of their skin," Stein said.
"We applaud our federal law enforcement actions in Charlotte. What we saw was, especially with (Mecklenburg County) Sheriff (Garry) McFadden, a refusal to work with federal law enforcement to respect detainers. And as such, he's also been enabled by his local elected officials," said NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons.
In a news release posted Saturday, DHS cited federal detainer requests which have not been honored as it announced its operations in Charlotte.
"They haven't sat down and explained to us why they're here, how long they're going to be here, what their purpose in being here is. The law has been changed in North Carolina. Sheriffs have to honor ICE detainers. So this is no longer a current problem," Stein countered.
In October, HB 318 went into effect. Sheriffs are now required to attempt to determine the immigration status of anyone charged with a felony or drunken driving. It also requires agencies to hold people with ICE detainers in jail for 48 hours past the point when they would otherwise be released. Stein had vetoed the bill in June, calling the requirement "unconstitutional", though lawmakers overrode the veto in July.
"Republicans in the General Assembly have made it a top priority to crack down on illegal immigration in our state and look forward to working with President Trump's administration to continue those efforts," Senate President Phil Berger wrote in a statement.
In a statement, Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch wrote in part:
"Over the past several days, families across North Carolina have been living in fear - afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or even drive to the grocery store. Yes, federal immigration officials have the authority to enforce immigration law. But they do not have the right to terrorize our communities, traumatize our children, or trample on the Constitution.
We support our local law enforcement officers, the people who know our communities, respect our neighbors, and uphold the law with integrity. We also support removing truly dangerous criminals from our communities. But that is not what is happening here."
Immigration was a key issue in the 2024 election, with Simmons saying that he believes it will once again draw conversation during the 2026 midterms.
"What President Trump has done is stop the flow across our southern border and now is in the process of ensuring public safety on our streets and cracking down again on human trafficking, sex trafficking, and drugs that are very rampant across our state," said Simmons.
A spokesperson for NC House Speaker Destin Hall also released a statement to ABC11, saying, "Federal law enforcement officers are removing dangerous criminals from our streets, and they deserve our full support. When Democrat elected officials attack ICE and Border Patrol for simply enforcing federal law, they make the job of law enforcement significantly harder."