Rheba Hamilton was sipping coffee on her porch Saturday morning as she watched the two workers she‘d hired begin draping her front yard tree with lights in a quiet Charlotte, North Carolina, neighborhood.
Suddenly, a gray minivan – doors already ajar – made a sharp stop at the corner. Two federal agents emerged and asked the landscapers for their papers. Hamilton joined the men on the lawn and started recording. Shortly after, the agents retreated.
The abruptness of the incident took Hamilton by surprise, mirroring the shock local officials and residents felt as Charlotte became the latest city caught up this year in a string of targeted immigration actions.
Video Ad Feedback Gardeners hanging Christmas lights approached by federal agents During an immigration control operation in Charlotte that resulted in more than a hundred arrests this weekend, agents approached and questioned two gardeners in Spanish while they were working. The homeowner came out to record the incident. The agents left without making any arrests. In an interview with CNN, she says the moment was terrifying. 2:06 • Source: CNN Gardeners hanging Christmas lights approached by federal agents 2:06
What began in Charlotte quickly spread to other cities in the state as the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown continues to expand nationally. Gregory Bovino, the top Border Patrol official charged with enforcement operations, is expected to head to New Orleans in coming weeks.
Here is where things stand:
Next city to be targeted may already be in enforcement crackdown’s sights
US Border Patrol official Greg Bovino looks on during an immigration raid on the streets of Charlotte, North C
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