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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Faith leaders and community advocates launched anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement rapid-response units on Monday night in Charlotte, calling attention to what they describe as aggressive federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Bishop William J. Barber II and a coalition of clergy, veterans and volunteer lawyers gathered at First Baptist Church–West on Monday to bless and deploy a fleet of "Liberty Vans," mobile command centers intended to monitor, document and respond in real time to ICE and U.S. Border Patrol actions.
Each van is staffed by volunteer attorneys, clergy, veterans and videographers who monitor ICE actions, document potential abuses, provide legal and pastoral support to affected families, and broadcast their findings to the wider public.
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"The ICE raids in North Carolina and nationwide illuminate the Trump administration's eagerness to use human beings—mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children—as pawns in his extreme crusade to gain and consolidate power," Barber told Newsweek.
He said of the president, "He's encouraged ICE to use every dirty tactic in the book—from fake court hearings to illegal abductions to gross displays of violence—to terrorize and destroy communities."
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment via email outside normal office hours.
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Last week, federal officials notified Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation known as "Charlotte's Web" had officially concluded, with no activity planned in Charlotte for November 20.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has since denied that the operation has concluded.
The North Carolina operation began on November 15 as part of a nationwide push on immigration enforcement to fulfill President Donald Trump's pledge of mass deportation. Federal officials have carried out similar operations in other Democratic-led cities, often citing high crime and homicide rates as justification, and in some cases, involving ICE and even the National Guard.
The Catholic Church has voiced strong opposition to the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda, framing it as a moral and humanitarian crisis. Church leaders argue that sweeping raids and aggressive immigration enforcement disproportionately target vulnerable families, separate children from parents and destabilize communities. Advocates emphasize that these actions conflict with the church's long-standing teachings on the dignity of human life, the protection of families and care for the marginalized. They call instead for policies rooted in justice, compassion and respect for human rights.
Amid mounting scrutiny of ICE and U.S. Border Patrol over allegations of misconduct, excessive use of force and racial profiling, community leaders are pursuing an alternative approach.
"We need to meet the moment—but not with the same extreme, authoritarian tactics of the Trump administration. Instead, we need to put power back in the hands of America's communities," Barber said.
"These teams will be on the ground during ICE actions to record and expose horrific abuses against our communities. These vans will also offer immediate legal and moral support—ensuring families are not abandoned, constitutional rights are upheld and any government overreach is made visible to the public," he added.
Monday night's launch represents what organizers call a "major escalation" in Operation Liberty.
On September 20, the Save America Movement launched Operation Liberty, a rapid-response initiative that seeks to document immigration enforcement operations.
"The vans function as both sanctuary and spotlight—physical proof that communities refuse to let fear, violence or secrecy go unchallenged," Barber said.
The coalition of faith leaders and immigrant rights advocates is calling on Congress and the White House to halt immigration enforcement operations.
Barber said the "commissioning of the Liberty Vans symbolizes a collective determination to stand with targeted communities, defend human dignity and confront abuses in real time."
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek: “The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting. DHS is taking reasonable and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers. ICE officers are facing a nearly 1000% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists and gang members.
"We remind members of the media to exercise caution as they cover these violent riots and remind journalists that covering unlawful activities in the field does come with risks — though our officers take every reasonable precaution to mitigate those dangers to those exercising protected First Amendment rights.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring law and order around the country. Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties will face consequences, which could include arrest.”
Immigration agents are set to deploy to New Orleans in December for a two-month operation dubbed "Swamp Sweep," with the goal of arresting about 5,000 people across Louisiana and Mississippi, according to the Associated Press.
Update, 11/27/25, 5:10 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional comment from DHS.
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