North Carolina officials respond to unverified reports of U.S. Border Patrol agents coming to Charlotte

Driving the news: On Nov. 10, CBS and others cited unnamed U.S. officials who reportedly said agents could be leaving their immigration crackdown duties in Chicago, and instead get dispatched to Charlotte and New Orleans. The New York Times reported the same, citing a "government document."

Yes, but: Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles told Axios the media may know more than she does. Gov. Josh Stein, asked by reporters Wednesday, said he's reached out to the White House about the reports and hasn't heard back.

• "If they come in and they are targeted in what they do, we will thank them," he said. "If they come in and wreak havoc and cause chaos and fear, we will be very concerned."
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office both said they have not been contacted by any Border Patrol representatives.
• CMPD "does not participate in ICE operations, nor are we involved in the planning of these federal activities," the department said in a statement. CMPD will become involved when there is criminal behavior or criminal warrants that fall under its jurisdiction, per the statement.
• The sheriff also requested that any Border Patrol activities planned for Mecklenburg County be communicated with the sheriff's office and local law enforcement to "help ensure the safety of all parties involved."

Zoom out: "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations," Assistant Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Axios.

What they're saying: Several locally elected Democrats, many of whom are immigrants or Latino, have issued a joint statement to the community.

• "We understand the fear and uncertainty that news like this can bring," it states. "We stand united in our commitment to ensuring accurate information is shared, keeping lines of communication open, and doing everything within our authority to protect the safety and dignity of all residents."
• Signatories are Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera, councilmember-elect JD Mazuera Arias, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education member Liz Monterrey Duvall, Mecklenburg County commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, Rep. Jordan Lopez, and State Sens. Caleb Theodros and Mujtaba Mohammed.

By the numbers: Approximately 425,000 immigrants in North Carolina in 2023 were undocumented, roughly 4% of the population, WUNC reported.

The big picture: The news of the U.S. Border Patrol's potential Charlotte operation comes as President Donald Trump's administration continues to push for federal intervention in Democratic-led cities across the U.S., WBTV's Michael Warrick and Cassidy Johncox write.

• The interventions are part of the administration's self-identified crackdown on immigration, homelessness, and crime. The Trump administration claims crime is rising in some of these populous, blue cities, despite officials and data saying otherwise.

Catch up quick: There has been concern that the National Guard could be sent to Charlotte in the wake of the deadly August light rail stabbing that killed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska.

• Three Republican state lawmakers last week asked Gov. Stein to deploy the National Guard to Charlotte, citing a rise in crime in the city. There has been an increase in murders in Uptown from 2024 to 2025, though crime across the city is down this year compared to last, according to Charlotte police.
• In response to the request, Stein indicated that there were no current plans to deploy the National Guard to Charlotte. In a Nov. 5 statement, the governor's office said that "local, well-trained law enforcement officers who live in and know their communities are best equipped to keep North Carolina neighborhoods safe, not military servicemembers."

This is a developing story and may be updated.