As immigration enforcement expands in North Carolina, New Orleans may be next. Here’s what we know

CNN 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 urged the landscapers for their papers Hamilton joined the men on the lawn and started recording Shortly after the agents retreated The abruptness of the event took Hamilton by surprise mirroring the shock local agents and residents felt as Charlotte became the latest city caught up this year in a string of targeted immigration actions What began in Charlotte rapidly spread to other cities in the state as the Trump administration s aggressive immigration crackdown continues to expand nationally Gregory Bovino the top Frontier 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 While the spotlight has been focused on North Carolina s the greater part populated city immigration enforcement action has started to spread to other areas of the state and is expected to reach New Orleans within weeks Bovino who for multiple has become the face of the crackdown is expected to arrive in New Orleans where he once served as chief patrol agent the first week of December according to two sources familiar with the planning The Department of Homeland Measure is expected to deploy agents in Louisiana roughly in line with the number of agents sent to other cities to assist Bovino the sources explained President Donald Trump has previously floated New Orleans as a destination for his federal crackdown saying in an Oval Office meeting this year his administration was making a determination As immigration enforcement is expected to spread further throughout the South Customs and Perimeter Protection agents were seen Tuesday in North Carolina s Wake and Durham counties Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell mentioned during a City Council meeting The counties are home to Raleigh and Durham two of the state s other major cities and part of the Research Triangle with Chapel Hill We are just encouraging everyone if you feel unsafe or you see something that you think is illegal to please call the Raleigh Police Department or your local jurisdiction and to stay safe Cowell commented Residents of Cary North Carolina west of Raleigh have also released seeing federal agents at hospitals restaurants and construction sites Mayor Harold Weinbrecht stated CNN Protesters gathered at Moore Square in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday night holding American flags and signs printed with slogans like No fear no hate no ICE in our state and Respect due process aerial footage from CNN affiliate WRAL shows DHS arrests more than people in Charlotte Over people have been arrested in immigration raids in Charlotte over the last three days the DHS aid in an update Tuesday On Monday people of the over people the agency arrested had criminal record s it announced It was not clear if those records were for charges or convictions CNN has reached out to the department for updated numbers Criminal records of those arrested include known gang membership aggravated assault possession of a dangerous weapon felony larceny simple assault hit and run possession of stolen goods shoplifting DUI DWI and illegal re-entry after prior deportation a felony a Tuesday DHS report commented DHS Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned Tuesday the Charlotte operation was based on previous investigative work specifically citing a high number of child abuse trafficking neglect type of instances that we had identified over our work there Two men were also federally charged in Charlotte for allegedly using their vehicles in separate incidents to assault federal officers who were conducting immigration enforcement the US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina informed Tuesday The charges don t stem from protests in the area the US attorney noted Charlotte population takes a few tips from Chicago While the targeted immigration raids were unexpected to a multitude of of those in the Charlotte region they were ready to meet the moment People throughout Charlotte were seen Monday using various of the tactics employed in Chicago including watching for raids blowing warning whistles and carrying signs advising people of their rights Their vigilance comes as several businesses across the city have closed their doors fearing their customers will be a target About half the mom-and-pop businesses the area advancement organization CharlotteEast works with have closed their doors at several point despite all of them being owned by US citizens Executive Director Greg Asciutto announced Tuesday From strictly an economic standpoint it s pretty catastrophic right now Asciutto stated comparing current closures to the first week of the coronavirus pandemic in the area A Colombian bakery open for years closed its doors Saturday after men in tactical gear chased and tackled people outside the shop A plan for immigrant and refugee children was also suspended until further notice Monday after Limit Patrol was advancing at their site A local laundromat is taking a different approach with the owner locking their doors while customers are inside in an attempt to keep them safe People are just here peacefully trying to do their laundry trying to do their chores and daily exercises commented owner David Rebolloso I know these folks as my customers and I m familiar with their stories and I know them and I m pretty certain they re not criminals They re only here to make a living and try to get by About of students absent from Charlotte-area schools Monday More than students were absent from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Monday about of the district s enrollment CNN has reached out to the district to see how attendance was affected Tuesday The district issued a message Sunday night that no immigration activity had happened on their campuses and that leaders hadn t been informed of impending action There were no reports of immigration enforcement on their campuses on Monday or Tuesday CMS follows all federal and state laws protecting students right to a constituents learning The U S Supreme Court guarantees that all children regardless of immigration status have the right to attend masses school CMS Assistant Communications Officer Tom Miner declared in a comment to school district families High school students in the district staged a walkout Tuesday morning to protest immigration enforcement in the city Several hundred students gathered around the edge of a football field at East Mecklenburg High School numerous wearing black and holding flags an aerial Getty photo of the demonstration exhibited North Carolina governor and local leaders denounce the raids A multitude of Democratic leaders across North Carolina have denounced the raids We ve reached out to the White House North Carolina Gov Josh Stein reported Tuesday We haven t gotten any word We re not hearing directly from Customs and Territory line Patrol so we don t know for sure where they re going how long they ll be here where else they re going Stein went on to criticize the tactics used by federal agents saying they are not promoting safety in our communities In the county where Charlotte is located the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday to affirm constitutional protections and express backing for the immigrant society This is not an issue of initiative This is an issue of morality Chair Mark Jerrell announced It s immoral to profile to tear families apart It s not right to have people living in fear This board declared tonight that we don t condone it We won t stand for it While the governor and local leaders vocally oppose the federal action North Carolina s Republican Party praised the immigration enforcement operation saying the need is real Though chosen people are overwhelmed with the intensity of the moment Councilmember LaWana Mayfield commented during a City Council committee meeting Monday that this moment is an opportunity to show up for each other Get to know your neighbors get their phone numbers go to their back door bring them over to your house so the children can feel safe let the kids play together because they don t need to be going through all of this Mayfield disclosed