Protests erupted across Charlotte and Raleigh as the Trump administration launched a sweeping immigration crackdown in North Carolina, sending masked ICE and Border Patrol agents into busy neighbourhoods and commercial areas. The sudden surge left businesses shuttered, streets emptied, and residents reporting aggressive stops, including a widely circulated video showing agents smashing a vehicle window during an arrest. Local officials, who say they received little warning, condemned the operation for causing fear in immigrant communities. Federal authorities defended the raids as a public-safety measure targeting criminals. With no timeline for when the operation will end, uncertainty continues to grip North Carolina's largest city.
