U.S. Border Patrol coming to Raleigh on Tuesday, mayor says, as NC crackdown continues
Nov 17, 2025 | 7:47 pm ET
Description
People detained earlier in the day are taken to a parking lot on the far north side of the city before being transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on October 31, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Gregory Bovino was part of the caravan of federal officers making the arrests amid President Donald Trump's administration's "Operation Midway Blitz," an ongoing immigration enforcement surge across the Chicago region. (Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis/Getty Images)
U.S. Border Patrol is sending immigration agents to Raleigh, Mayor Janet Cowell confirmed Monday evening, days after the agency launched an operation in Charlotte.
Cowell told NC Newsline she had spoken with the governor’s office, Raleigh police and the city manager, and it was “our understanding through other law enforcement partners that the Border Patrol is already in Raleigh.”
“They may be active tomorrow,” Cowell said.
Cowell said city officials “don’t have a lot of information” about the scale of the Raleigh operation or how long the agency plans to be there. She has not had any direct contact with Border Patrol as of Monday evening, she said.
“If there’s something that happens where you feel unsafe or you see something that you think is unlawful, you can call the police,” Cowell said. “We’ll be monitoring the situation and trying to keep everybody informed and safe as best we can.”
Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement Monday evening that his office was aware of reports that agents were coming to Raleigh.
“Once again, I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church or putting up Christmas decorations,” Stein said.
“Stop targeting people simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin, as you are doing in Charlotte. To the people of Raleigh: remain peaceful, and if you see something wrong, record it and report it to local law enforcement. Let’s keep each other safe.”
Border Patrol says it has arrested more than 130 people in recent days after arriving in Charlotte, the latest large-scale operation after a month-long campaign in Chicago.
The Trump administration has described its city-focused operations as aimed at organized crime, gang activity and repeat offenders who are undocumented. But in Chicago, hundreds of those arrested did not have serious criminal records, and those arrested included U.S. citizens.
It is not immediately clear how many of those arrested in Charlotte over recent days have criminal records or are undocumented. Border Patrol commander Dan Bovino, as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, have repeatedly posted on social media photos and statements during their North Carolina operation — dubbed “Charlotte’s Web.”
Border Patrol does “not discuss future or potential operations,” DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement provided to NC Newsline.
Updated 8:05 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17.
Raleigh, NC
