Federal immigration enforcement agents have arrested more than 200 immigrants over the last three days in the Charlotte area, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The department said all of them were in the country illegally and at least 44 of them have criminal records.

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WRAL Investigates asked the department:

  • How long it expects the Raleigh enforcement operation to last
    • Who exactly they’re looking for in central North Carolina
      • How many arrests agents plan to make?
        • What are the crimes of the people who are wanted?

          The department provided a response but did not answer WRAL Investigates’ questions.

          In a statement, a DHS spokesperson wrote, of the arrests, “These are violent assailants, gang members, and repeat offenders who have zero regard for the rule of law in our country."

          The latest: Raleigh, Durham protests emerge against immigration operations in NC

          What we know about the Charlotte operation

          Of the more than 200 arrests in Charlotte, the Department of Homeland Security put out a news release with photos and information on 11 of them.

          Of those 11, eight are from Honduras, two from Mexico and one from El Salvador. 

          Their charges and the severity of those charges vary widely.

          • Authorities have previously deported Manuel Vasquez-Gavarrete. DHS said he is a "known 18th Street gang member."
            • Humberto Pozada-Rodguez is a "known MS-13 gang member" with several convictions. It includes assault on an officer and three counts of illegal entry.
              • Leonel De Jesus Chinchea-Galvan is charged with aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon and driving while intoxicated.
                • Karelia Estefania Torres-Izaguirre faces a felony larceny charge.
                  • Yonis Alexander Granado-Arevalo is charged with illegal entry.
                    • Luis Osorio-Hernandez was convicted of possession of stolen goods and illegal entry. He is charged with assault of a female and driving while intoxicated.
                      • Hector Maldonado-Garay was convicted of three counts of simple assault, one count of aggravated assault and shoplifting.
                        • Jose Midence Martinez-Mendez was convicted of tampering with government documents insurance and illegal reentry.
                          • Rony Anibal Alvarado-Gonzalez, was convicted of driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated. He is charged with obstruction of justice.
                            • Solmer Jose Rivas-Urbina was convicted of driving under the influence – hit-and-run and shoplifting.
                              • Pedro Osorio-Paredes was convicted of driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated – open container, and driving while intoxicated expired registration.

                                What a Durham city councilmember and lawyer say about federal immigration agents in the Triangle

                                WRAL Investigates spoke Tuesday with Durham-based immigration attorney Yesenia Polanco. She said she understands some people legally can be deported. She takes issue with how federal agents are conducting the operation.

                                “The issue I take with enforcement is the method, not enforcement outright,” Polanco said. “I'm an immigration lawyer. I'm not in the business of changing policy 

                                Durham city councilmember Javiera Caballero spoke Tuesday about the enforcement operations throughout the Triangle.

                                “The narrative, the story, is, ‘we are here to catch criminals,’” Caballero said of the federal efforts. “We have great local [police departments and] great sheriffs here in North Carolina. They can handle that.”