In a recent development that has captured the attention of Charlotte residents, federal immigration agents have been actively conducting arrests throughout North Carolina’s largest city. This operation, led by a top Border Patrol commander, has sparked conversations and reports of encounters near local churches and apartment complexes.

The move comes as part of the Trump administration’s heightened focus on immigration enforcement in Charlotte, a city with a population nearing 950,000 and known for its Democratic leadership. The administration argues that this surge is a necessary measure to combat crime, despite local officials’ objections and data indicating a decline in crime rates.

Gregory Bovino, who has previously spearheaded similar operations in cities like Chicago, has been vocal about the progress of the Charlotte initiative. Taking to social media, Bovino shared updates on over 80 arrests made during the operation. His posts highlighted individuals referred to by the administration as “criminal illegal aliens,” emphasizing those living in the U.S. without legal documentation and with alleged criminal pasts, including a man with multiple drunk driving convictions.

In one of his posts, Bovino stated, “We arrested him, taking him off the streets of Charlotte so he can’t continue to ignore our laws and drive intoxicated on the same roads you and your loved ones are on,” adding a personal touch to the broader enforcement narrative.

This initiative, referred to as “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” cleverly nods to the famous children’s book, albeit unrelated to North Carolina. However, the operation’s intensity has raised numerous questions regarding the logistics of detainee processing, the expected duration of the operation, and the controversial tactics employed by agents, which have faced criticism in other regions.

Bovino’s previous operations in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles have not been without controversy. They have sparked a series of lawsuits and investigations, particularly concerning the use of force and the deployment of chemical agents. In both cities, Democratic leaders have criticized the presence of federal agents, arguing that their actions have escalated community tensions and led to violent incidents, such as a fatal shooting in the Chicago suburbs during an attempted traffic stop.

Bovino and other Trump administration officials have called the use of force appropriate for growing threats on agents’ lives.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, did not respond to inquiries about the Charlotte arrests. Bovino’s spokesman did not return a request for comment Sunday.

Elsewhere, DHS has not offered many details about who it is arresting. For instance in Chicago, the agency only provided names and details on a handful of its more than 3,000 arrests in the metro region from September to last week. In several instances U.S. citizens were handcuffed and detained during operations and dozens of demonstrators were also charged, often in community clashes over arrests or protests.

By Sunday, reports of CBP activity were “overwhelming” and difficult to quantify, Greg Asciutto, executive director of the community development group CharlotteEast, said in an email.

“The past two hours we’ve received countless reports of CBP activity at churches, apartment complexes and a hardware store,” he said.

City council member-elect JD Mazuera Arias said federal agents appeared to be focused on churches and apartment complexes.

“Houses of worship. I mean, that’s just awful,” he said. “These are sanctuaries for people who are looking for hope and faith in dark times like these and who no longer can feel safe because of the gross violation of people’s right to worship.”

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Tareen and Dale reported from Chicago. Witte reported from Annapolis, Maryland.