With DHS operations in big blue cities netting thousands of arrests of criminal illegal immigrants in recent months, it was only a matter of time before an operation on par with those seen in places like Chicago got underway in Charlotte, North Carolina.
As RedState previously reported, that's exactly what happened beginning on Saturday, November 15th, with videos and news reports circulating on social media of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents seen in neighborhoods, shopping centers, at restaurants, construction sites, etc., targeting suspected illegals and taking them into custody as part of the "Charlotte's Web" operation.
Apps like Nextdoor were flooded with people offering to make grocery runs for neighbors who didn't want to leave their homes, perhaps without understanding that agents also target neighborhoods where there is a suspected presence of illegal immigrants. Some businesses along Central Avenue have temporarily closed, citing safety concerns for nearby illegal immigrant communities.
As of this writing, there have been 130 arrests made in the operation. Among the arrests made was one of a U.S. citizen after an incident that happened near a Home Depot in the University area of Charlotte, something DHS highlighted Sunday on X, complete with video showing what they say transpired:
This afternoon in Charlotte near University City, a United States citizen weaponized his vehicle, driving a large van at law enforcement while they were conducting an operation. He immediately fled the scene, starting a dangerous high-speed chase through a densely populated area. During the chase, he attempted to ram into law enforcement vehicles— posing a serious public safety threat. As agents were boxing him in— the driver proceeded to ram law enforcement vehicles in an attempt to escape. When the driver was arrested, a firearms was found in the vehicle.
One law enforcement officer was injured.
The perpetrator has prior arrests for resisting law enforcement, public disturbance and intoxication/ disruptive conduct.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER INJURED DURING ENFORCEMENT OPERATION.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 17, 2025
This afternoon in Charlotte near University City, a United States citizen weaponized his vehicle, driving a large van at law enforcement while they were conducting an operation. He immediately fled the scene, starting… pic.twitter.com/Iu2fm1p6Lh
This video appears to show the suspect being apprehended moments later, just up the street across from UNC-Charlotte:
They got the White Van! Bravo 🙌
— American Made 🦅 (@_FloridaPatriot) November 17, 2025
pic.twitter.com/pAoQkRAXfe
In an update to this story, 24-year-old Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez was the person taken into custody - and he now faces felony charges:
The indictment says agents tried to make contact with Martinez to warn him to stop following Border Patrol operations. Martinez then drove away “aggressively and at a high rate of speed,” and avoided officers by “swerving in and out of traffic, crossing medians and sidewalks, as well as driving into oncoming traffic down North Tryon Street.”
Authorities say in the indictment that at one point, Martinez drove the van into a SUV that had four federal officers inside and hit the SUV’s right-front fender.
Martinez was later caught after being boxed in by other vehicles, and he was taken into custody. Officers said they found a firearm in a bag in the vehicle.
Authorities said Martinez told agents “he was attempting to locate Border Patrol to confirm their locations and upload pictures into an invitation-only Instagram group chat.” Martinez said he took photos of Border Patrol officers at a U.S. Post Office on N. Tryon Street and then started following them to the parking lot. Martinez allegedly circled the parked vehicles twice and took pictures. One officer “grabbed the handle of Martinez’s van and attempted to open the door, [and] Martinez accelerated the van away while the Border Patrol Officer pounded on the sprinter van.”
Breaking- Feds are charging Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez with felony assault, resist and impede a federal officer https://t.co/PiopwBppS3
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) November 17, 2025
The University area is one of many parts of Charlotte with a lot of residential and business construction going on, so one would expect an elevated presence of illegal immigrants in the area.
To say that lives were put at risk during this stunt is an understatement. The stretch where this incident took place is a high-traffic area at nearly all times of the day, with shopping centers and apartment complexes lining both sides for miles, outside of the area where UNC-Charlotte is located. This could have been much worse. Thankfully, it wasn't.
Relatedly, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin went on Fox News Monday to share more on why Charlotte was chosen for an immigration sweep: It's got a human trafficking problem due in part to where it's located (very close to several major highways) and also a "massive gang problem":
"IT IS AN EPICENTER FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING" @TriciaOhio on ICE operations in Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/LPfjvdXaCI
— America Reports (@AmericaRpts) November 17, 2025
According to DHS, "Charlotte's Web" will conclude Friday of this week, with the next operation said to be in New Orleans.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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