Federal immigration agents are expected to arrive in the Charlotte area as soon as this weekend, according to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden.
McFadden confirmed on Thursday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials contacted him Wednesday night to notify him of their plans. He said agents with the agency’s Border Patrol division will begin operating in the Charlotte region by Saturday or early next week.
The sheriff emphasized that his office has not been asked to assist or participate in any immigration enforcement actions. “We have been made aware, but not included in any operational plans,” McFadden said in a statement.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) also clarified that it has no authority to enforce federal immigration laws and is not involved in the effort.
The confirmation comes just days after CBS News reported that federal officials were preparing to reduce their presence in Chicago and redirect Border Patrol personnel to other urban centers, including Charlotte. The shift signals a possible federal strategy to expand interior immigration operations beyond traditional border regions.
