US Border Patrol agents conducted immigration raids in Charlotte, North Carolina, as DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin cited public safety concerns.

US Border Patrol agents were spotted making multiple arrests in Charlotte during an operation targeting “violent criminal illegal aliens” in the Democratic-run city, a move widely condemned by local officials.

The Trump administration is planning to dispatch Border Patrol agents to Charlotte and New Orleans to oversee immigration operations that could involve armored vehicles and special operations teams.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is the latest U.S. city preparing for a potential immigration crackdown by the Trump administration

Gregory Bovino, the top Border Patrol official leading the charge on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in cities, and his officers are heading to Charlotte, according to a source familiar with the planning.

According to Congress.gov, because Border Patrol is under Homeland Security, it operates under federal authority, not state or local.