The granddaughter of E.B. White, the author of the beloved 1952 children’s book “Charlotte’s Web,” criticized the Trump administration on Monday for using the book’s title as an inspiration for its immigration raid in Charlotte, North Carolina, which officials are calling “Operation Charlotte’s Web.”
Martha White stated that her grandfather, who passed away in 1985, would not approve of the immigration sweeps in Charlotte and across the country, as she condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s reference to her grandfather’s cherished story.
“He believed in due process and the rule of law,” said Martha White, who is her grandfather’s literary executor. “He certainly did not believe in raiding people’s homes and workplaces with masked men in unmarked cars without summons or IDs.”
She highlighted that in “Charlotte’s Web,” the spider dedicated her life on the farm to saving a pig named Wilbur and ensuring his freedom.
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The administration and Republican leaders have employed various catchy phrases for immigration operations as they aim to implement President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, including by naming migrant holding facilities Speedway Slammer in Indiana, Alligator Alcatraz in Florida and Cornhusker Clink in Nebraska.
Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official currently heading the operation in Charlotte, previously led “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago and “Operation At Large” in Los Angeles earlier this year.
“‘Wherever the wind takes us. High, low. Near, far. East, west. North, south. We take to the breeze, we go as we please,'” Bovino quoted from “Charlotte’s Web” in a social media post on Sunday, soon after the immigration sweep in North Carolina’s largest city commenced.
“This time, the breeze hit Charlotte like a storm. From border towns to the Queen City, our agents go where the mission calls,” he added.
The immigration sweep began over the weekend, and DHS announced on Monday that over 130 migrants were arrested in two days. The agency also noted that nearly 1,400 detainers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not been honored by local authorities.
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Officials in Charlotte have pledged to resist the immigration sweeps and support the migrant community.
In a joint statement on Monday, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Chair Stephanie Sneed stated that the raids are “causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community as recent operations in other cities have resulted in violent protests being the result of unwarranted actions and people without criminal records being detained.”
“Our organizations believe that our diversity makes us stronger,” the statement reads. “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.”
“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives, contributing to our larger community,” it added. “Each of our organizations have made commitments to the people we serve to protect their rights and dignity. We are committed to following the law and to protecting the rights of all people who call Charlotte and Mecklenburg County home.”
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein also declared that the operation is “stoking fear and dividing our community.”
“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 in a video posted to X.
Trump has been targeting Democrat-run cities for migrant sweeps as part of his mass deportation plan. His administration earlier this year overturned a Biden administration rule that forbade raids in sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools and churches.
The Associated Press helped contribute to this report.
