Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, requesting clarification on the conduct of recent interior immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The inquiry comes ahead of Secretary Noem’s scheduled appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3.
Tillis expressed concerns about the effectiveness and adherence to legal standards in these operations. “The Trump Administration has made measurable progress in restoring order at the southern border. Under the leadership of Border Czar Tom Homan, conditions no longer resemble the instability of the previous administration. That same level of successful and seamless execution has not always been achieved in the Department of Homeland Security’s recent interior immigration enforcement operations. Interior enforcement carried out by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must be effective, disciplined, and fully compliant with constitutional and statutory limits. While these agencies have historically met that standard, recent operations raise serious questions that require direct oversight,” Tillis wrote.
He specifically referenced Operation Charlotte’s Web, which took place in North Carolina on November 15, 2025. According to Tillis, “The operation resulted in the apprehension of several criminal illegal aliens with extensive criminal records, an outcome I applaud. At the same time, multiple public reports allege that U.S. citizens were detained, subject to force, and experienced damage to personal property. I seek clarification as to whether these reports are merely disingenuous accounts from partisans who do not share our commitment to a secure border, or if they reflect substantiated incidents.”
Tillis also mentioned similar issues reported in Minneapolis, Minnesota: “Similar concerns have since emerged in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where DHS enforcement actions reportedly involved U.S. citizens, use of force, reliance on administrative warrants, and unclear predication for initial engagements. Taken together, these events point to a broader transparency and accountability gap in DHS interior enforcement operations that this Committee has a responsibility to address.”
The full text of Senator Tillis’ letter and his list of questions for Secretary Noem are available online.
Senator Tillis previously won election victories against Cal Cunningham in 2020 with 48.7% of the vote compared to Cunningham’s 46.9%, as well as against Kay Hagan in 2014 with 48.8% over Hagan’s 47.3%.
