Officials in the North Carolina counties adjacent to Mecklenburg say they have no confirmed federal activity in their communities despite U.S. Customs and Border Patrol becoming a visible presence in Charlotte since Saturday.

Even so, some leaders support the agency expanding out from Charlotte, a point of sharp contrast with Mecklenburg leaders who do not want the operation in the city. Border Patrol agents already expanded to Raleigh and the Triangle on Tuesday.

Despite some social media posts claiming agents were in Monroe, Mayor Robert Burns said he has not been contacted by federal authorities and is “not aware of any Border Patrol currently” in the city. He said one video online mistook a Monroe police chase for Border Patrol agents.

But he would welcome them into Monroe.

“I would not stop them. I would welcome them if there happened to be any violent illegal aliens here in the city of Monroe, absolutely,” Burns said. “I think it would be something that is our job as the government to make sure our people, our citizens, are safe and secure.”

Burns said the Border Patrol’s mission is to detain violent, undocumented immigrants, not people who are in the country legally, but reports in Charlotte show agents at times arresting or stopping citizens. In Chicago, where agents were stationed before their move into the city, a Department of Justice document showed 97% of people detained by Border Patrol had no criminal record.

When asked if he thinks Monroe has a problem with violence by undocumented immigrants, Burns said he would leave that decision up to law enforcement.

He added that Monroe police do not enforce federal regulations but regularly work alongside federal partners and maintain a close relationship with the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

UCSO said it has not had any communication with Border Patrol and is “unaware of any operations taking place in the county.” But Lieutenant Matthew Winfrey said the agency would assist if asked.

In Union County Public Schools, spokesperson Tahira Stalberte said the district heard “rumors” circulating over the weekend about agents being spotted in Monroe, but said the district is unaware of any Border Patrol efforts in the county.

School operations were normal Monday, she said, and attendance data showed no unusual drop. On Monday, the district had nearly 90% attendance, compared to 93% the previous Monday and 92% two weeks prior.

Elsewhere across the region, officials said they have no evidence that Border Patrol’s activity in Charlotte has extended into neighboring counties.

In Gaston County, officials said they have had no contact with Border Patrol and have not communicated anything to residents because they have no confirmed information about activity.

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said Border Patrol has not been active in Iredell County and his office has received no guidance tied to Charlotte’s operations. He said the sheriff’s office would assist if agents called for help in emergency situations, but said there have been no such requests.

In Cabarrus County, Sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Klinglesmith said the office has not been contacted and is unaware of any Border Patrol activity locally. Unlike Union County’s sheriff, Klinglesmith said his agency would not assist the federal operation.

“It is not within our jurisdiction,” he said. “They are enforcing federal law, not local.”

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