NC governor: Border Patrol agents in Charlotte racially profile and stoke fear

Mary Ramsey, The Charlotte Observer on Nov 16, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Gov. Josh Stein posted a video to social media Sunday evening criticizing Border Patrol’s weekend actions in Charlotte.

“To the CBP: If you know that we have violent criminals in Charlotte who are undocumented, we want them out too,” Stein said. “But the actions of too many federal agents are doing the exact opposite in Charlotte.”

The Democratic governor’s comments came on a second consecutive day of masked federal Border Patrol agents in the Charlotte area Sunday.

That led to more arrests and community concern around the region, with no indication when the government activity will end.

“We’ve seen masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars, targeting American citizens based on their skin color, racially profiling and picking up random people in parking lots and off of our sidewalks,” Stein said. “Going after landscapers simply decorating a Christmas tree in someone’s front yard. And entering churches and stores to grab people.”

He said such actions are not making the community safer. “It’s stoking fear and dividing our community.”

The Democrat thanked protesters for remaining peaceful and encouraged Charlotte residents to keep documenting Border Patrol’s behavior when safe to do so. “That’s what we can do for our neighbors to keep each other safe,” he said, adding that “public safety is our top priority.”

_______

(Charlotte Observer editor Adam Bell contributed to this report.)