‘Missed opportunity': ICE's Charlotte operation sparks tension with sheriff over alleged lack of communication
At the center of the controversy is Sheriff Garry McFadden, who claims ICE is not only sidestepping his office but also misrepresenting the role of the MCSO in these arrests.
According to ICE, six of the 24 individuals detained had active 'detainers,' requests to hold them in custody beyond a judge's order.
But Sheriff McFadden, citing his duty to uphold the law, refutes this claim, saying that ICE is misleading the public by blaming MCSO for not taking action that would be illegal.
PREVIOUS: Meck County Sheriff responds to claims department failed to hold undocumented immigrants on detainers
'My duty is to uphold the law and the Constitution, not to act outside of my legal authority at the request of a federal agency that refuses to follow proper procedures,' McFadden said.
Despite attempts to communicate with ICE about these arrests, McFadden claims he has been met with a wall of silence. The sheriff went so far, on Tuesday, as to outline the timeline of his office's communication efforts with ICE.
On March 18, McFadden says he emailed the Atlantic Field Chief of Staff of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), requesting clarification on the agency's stance regarding House Bill 10 (HB-10). This bill allows local law enforcement to hold undocumented immigrants for an additional 48 hours for ICE, but the sheriff says he was looking for clearer guidance on how many people were being held under this provision and at what cost to taxpayers.
McFadden says he never received a response.
PREVIOUS: ICE, Norfolk Southern police arrest migrants along Charlotte railroad tracks
On March 19, McFadden's Public Information Officer, Sarah Mastouri, reportedly sent a follow-up email to the Media Operations Unit Chief for the Southeast region of ICE. After a brief exchange, the Chief declined to provide any information, citing privacy laws, and directed the Sheriff's office to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request instead. When Mastouri requested an update, she reportedly received the same response.
By March 20, McFadden says he made phone calls to both the Media Operations Unit and the ERO Atlanta Field Office Director. However, McFadden claims that the Media Operations Unit Chief refused to share the names of the detainees and failed to follow up on his promise to connect McFadden with someone who could. When McFadden called the Field Office Director, he left a voicemail and said he never heard back.
Of the 24 people recently arrested in Mecklenburg County, McFadden openly asked: How many of them have been federally charged or indicted?
'If these individuals are as dangerous as ICE suggests, why have no federal charges been filed?' McFadden asked, adding that Mecklenburg County has nearly 12,000 outstanding criminal warrants – many for violent offenses.
ICE continues to focus its efforts on civil immigration violations, McFadden argued, while failing to follow the legal procedures to bring these individuals into federal custody.
'There's nothing outstanding about these 24 undocumented immigrants. They have civil warrants, which are something law enforcement deals with every day,' McFadden said. 'If ICE believes they pose a serious threat, they should be filing the necessary federal charges to ensure they are prosecuted.'
The alleged lack of communication and transparency between ICE and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office continues. As McFadden sees it, the situation reflects a broader failure to prioritize public safety and follow proper legal channels.Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
21 minutes ago
- USA Today
Dean Cain defends new role with ICE, says he's being 'pilloried and attacked'
Dean Cain is hitting back at those criticizing his recent decision to join the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" star, in an appearance on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" on Aug. 11, said his decision to join the agency stemmed from wanting to support ICE officers. "I'm 59 years old and I've joined ICE," Cain said on the show. "Go ahead and denigrate my career. But what I'm doing is I'm standing up for the men and women of ICE. I'm a sworn deputy sheriff. I'm a reserve police officer. I have been for almost a decade now." Cain went on to defend ICE officers, saying they are being "vilified," "attacked" and "doxed" for "trying to their job" that the "American people hired them for" and the "Congress wrote laws for." "They're doing it very, very well," Cain said, appreciating ICE agents. Cain '100% proud' to stand with ICE agents The actor said the criticism started when he did a recruitment video for ICE, prompting some to think he had "actually joined" the agency. He then spoke with ICE officials and decided to officially join the agency and be sworn in. "I'm 100% proud to stand with our agents of ICE," Cain said on the show. "I love these people. They're wonderful men and women and husbands and fathers of every ethnicity, every race, every background." Cain also took a dig at John Oliver, who on a recent show had blasted the former's decision to join the federal immigration enforcement agency, which has come under scrutiny for aggressively deporting tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants in President Donald Trump's second term. "I'll happily take the jibes of John Oliver," Cain remarked. "I'm being pilloried and attacked for joining up with a law a federal law enforcement agency. (It) is insane. I did it to protect Americans and to protect our men and women of ICE." Untrained former actor? When political strategist Tim Miller, the show's other guest, asked Cain if he knows what rights an individual has if he shows up "at the door of someone's home as an ICE agent," Cain responded by saying he's "not an ICE agent yet" and is yet to undergo training. "So yeah, you're an untrained former actor," Miller said in response. "I'm a former actor," Cain said. "I'm a former professional football player, too. So, want to run down your resume? I mean, it's so stupid." "Denigrating somebody because they're doing this because of what they used to do or what they do or whether they're an actor or a writer or a newscaster is ridiculous. It's an ad hominem attack," Cain asserted, reminding viewers again of his law enforcement background. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
ICE Detains Man With 'Pending' Green Card Application After Car Crash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Oladipo Oyeneyin, a Nigerian-born man who has lived in the United States for more than 15 years and has a "pending" green card application, was arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a car crash, according to an online fundraiser. Newsweek has reached out to ICE via email and to the GoFundMe page for comment on Wednesday. Why It Matters Oyeneyin's detention comes amid an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, with the president having pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Immigrants residing in the country both illegally and legally, with valid documentation such as green cards and visas, as well as those with criminal histories, have been detained. The Trump administration has deported thousands of people to their countries of origin, as well as a smaller percentage to third countries with U.S. agreements. It has also encouraged individuals without proper documentation to self-deport. What To Know A GoFundMe created on Oyeneyin's behalf says he was in a car accident "but not as the person at fault," last week. The online fundraiser continued, "he was arrested and charged with hit-and-run and evading arrest." Oyeneyin, 48, was then held by ICE due to his immigration status, the online fundraiser says. Newsweek has confirmed in the ICE database tracker that he is held in the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. The center has a capacity of around 1,300 people and is run by the Geo Group. The GoFundMe notes that Oyeneyin has lived in the U.S. for over 15 years and that "his green card application has been pending for years." His next immigration court date is reportedly in January 2027. The fundraiser noted that Oyeneyin lost his job and was unable to pay his former immigration attorney, "which caused delays in completing necessary steps for his case — steps he was determined to finish before his hearing." In 2018, Oyeneyin was charged with assaulting a family member in Houston, according to court documents reviewed by Newsweek. The charge was a misdemeanor class A. The judge placed him on probation in 2022. Another Texas court report shows that in 2019, Oyeneyin was arrested by the Harris County Sheriff's office for driving while intoxicated. Inset: Oladipo Oyeneyin. Main: National Guard and other law enforcement stationed in Eagle Pass, Texas, on March 20, 2024. Inset: Oladipo Oyeneyin. Main: National Guard and other law enforcement stationed in Eagle Pass, Texas, on March 20, 2024. GoFundMe/Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP What People Are Saying Ikenna Ezeaju, who organized the GoFundMe for Oladipo Oyeneyin, wrote in the online fundraiser: "Oladipo Oyeneyin is a kind, hardworking person who simply wants the chance to clear his name, continue his life here, and contribute to the country he's called home for most of his adult life." Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement previously shared with Newsweek: "Under Secretary [Kristi] Noem, we are delivering on President Trump's and the American people's mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens to make America safe. Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst and carry out the largest deportation operation of criminal aliens in American history." What Happens Next U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released its September 2025 visa bulletin, providing key updates for applicants across family-based, employment-based, and diversity visa categories. USCIS currently has 11.3 million pending applications.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Vulnerable Democrats hammered with scathing ad handcuffing them to Mamdani, Jeffries
FIRST ON FOX: The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is rolling out a new ad tying the policies of "radical" Democrats, like New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, to the future outlook of the Democratic Party. The new message, targeting 25 vulnerable House Democrats across the country with a modest ad buy on digital platforms, hammers the party on "Project 2026" and outlines what the Republicans say Democrats will offer voters in the midterms. "Hakeem Jeffries' plan to remake America," the ad says. "Raise taxes on working families, impeach President Trump." The ad then plays a clip of Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying, "Donald Trump must be removed from office" and Dem. Rep. Dina Titus saying, "I'd like to impeach the bastard right now." The ad then claims Democrats want to "open the border" and "restart the invasion" of illegal immigrants that came into the country during the Biden administration, before quoting two Democrats, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gabe Vasquez, calling to abolish ICE and defund the police. "They riot, they loot," the ad continues before showing two clips of Mamdani saying "we are unapologetic about our socialism" and promoting the "abolition of private property." Jeffries then says in a clip, "Chip at it aggressively until we can unravel the whole system." The ad closes by claiming that Democrats want to "turn America into a socialist, crime-filled dystopia" before airing a clip from Jeffries saying, "We're gonna take back America and it starts today" The ad closes with, "Are you going to let them?" The list of vulnerable elected officials targeted by the ad includes Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Emilia Sykes of Ohio, Eugene Vindman of Virginia, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Frank Mrvan of Indiana and others. "This is the America Democrats want to build: Raising taxes for working families, baseless impeachments, wide open borders, abolishing ICE, defunding the police, and turning America into a socialist, crime-filled dystopia," NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital. "House Republicans are the only thing standing between you and the nightmare of 'Project 2026.'" The NRCC released a memo on Tuesday morning in which it knocked Jeffries for failing to meet a self-imposed deadline to roll out a new vision for America with a Democratic-controlled House. The Hill reported in April that Jeffries committed that "over these next 100 days, House Democrats are going to lay out a blueprint for a better America. And you will see a vision for this country's future that isn't about Donald Trump. It's all about you." With those 100 days having already elapsed, the NRCC published a satirical memo titled "Project 2026," in which they accused the Democrats of being out of step with the American people. In response, Viet Shelton, a spokesperson for the DCCC, fired back at the messaging from the NRCC. "House Republicans have done nothing to improve the lives of everyday Americans," Shelton said. "It's no wonder they're desperately attempting to distract from their disastrous record of higher costs for working families and ripping away health care from millions while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest few. Poll after poll shows voters across the country are fed up with their billionaire-first agenda and are going to reject them next year."
