Members of a church in east Charlotte, North Carolina, fled to nearby woods on Saturday after masked federal agents arrived and detained one congregant, according to a report from The Charlotte Observer, amid the ongoing immigration crackdown taking place in the city.“We thought church was safe and nothing [was] gonna happen,” a 15-year-old witness told the newspaper. “But it did happen.”Newsweek contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) outside of regular working hours for comment on the operation in Charlotte.Why It MattersThe enforcement actions which began on Saturday, the latest in a series targeting Democrat-run cities, have sparked protests and pushback from local officials. The administration has defended both the Charlotte operation and those which occurred in Los Angeles, Chicago and others as necessary to address crime and uphold immigration laws, while accusing local officials of failing to detain individuals sought by federal immigration authorities.What To KnowAccording to witnesses who recounted the event to the Observer, around 15 to 20 congregants were doing yard work at the church off Albemarle Road, east Charlotte, when masked immigration enforcement agents stormed the area. A pastor who requested anonymity said the agents asked no questions and provided no identification before detaining one man and attempting to apprehend others.“I thought, ‘Wait, why am I running? I’m a citizen,’” said Miguel Vazquez, one of the individuals who fled into the nearby woods.Other reports of arrests and detentions, including of U.S. citizens, have emerged amid the federal enforcement activities in Charlotte....On Saturday the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed it would be “surging resources” for the operation, dubbed “Charlotte’s Web,” to target “criminal aliens” who had “flocked to the Tar Heel State because they knew sanctuary politicians would protect them.” The department said Charlotte had failed to honor nearly 1,400 ICE detainers, requests to hold a person in custody following their criminal release for immigration enforcement purposes.Elected officials from Mecklenburg County, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, released a joint statement on Saturday ahead of the operation commencing, warning that this was “causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community.”What People Are SayingDHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement: "Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors. We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed. There have been too many victims of criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.”North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams, A Democrat, posted to X: "I am extremely concerned about the deployment of U.S. Border Patrol and ICE agents to Charlotte. Charlotte's immigrant community is a proud part of the Queen City, and I will not stand by and watch my constituents be intimidated and harassed."Mayor Vi Lyles, in a joint statement with the chairs of Mecklenburg County’s Board of Commissioners and Board of Education, said: “Our organizations believe that our diversity makes us stronger. And with that belief we are unwavering in our commitment to a safe and welcoming community where everyone can grow and thrive. It is critical for all residents to feel secure in our community and know they can live their lives without being fearful while walking down the street, going to school, work or the grocery store.”What Happens NextVasquez told The Charlotte Observer the church would be suspending services until members feel safe to gather without fear over similar raids.DHS has not confirmed how long the operation in Charlotte will last. Similar actions in Los Angeles lasted for a number of days, while the deployment of federal forces in and around Chicago which began in September is ongoing.