A Carolina Migrant Network volunteer claims Border Patrol agents followed her home and believes it was done as an intimidation tactic.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ A Charlotte volunteer monitoring federal immigrationย enforcement operations says a Border Patrol agent followed her to her home and pointed at her house, an incident that advocacy groups say represents an escalation in tactics aimed at discouraging civilian oversight.
Abigail Pepper, a volunteer with the Carolina Migrant Network, said the incident occurred Tuesday after she spotted several unmarked black vehicles pulling into a Hispanic supermarket in east Charlotte. She followed one vehicle that separated from the group, maintaining what she described as a safe distance for approximately 30 minutes.
The vehicle eventually turned into her neighborhood and onto her street, parking briefly in front of her home before the driver turned around in a cul-de-sac. With his window open, the agent pointed at her house and told her, “It’s time to go home now,” before speeding away and running a red light, according to Abigail.
“They wanted to let us know that they know where we live and made that quite clear,” Pepper said in an interview with WCNC Charlotte. She believes agents ran her license plate after two other vehicles sandwiched her car during the pursuit.
When Pepper reported the incident to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, an officer told her the department had received multiple reports of similar incidents.
“It’s intimidation and it’s not lawful,” Abigail said. “If they’re supposed to be here to protect the community, I’m just so curious why they’re running solid red lights and why they’re driving erratically and don’t want to be recorded.”
Attorney Gary Mauney said while interfering with federal agents constitutes obstruction of justice under federal law, the First Amendment protects the right to record law enforcement in public spaces. “If you are 25 or 50 yards away and you are not interfering with the law enforcement activity, you have a right to videotape that,” Mauney said.
The incident comes as community tensions have intensified during Border Patrol operations in Charlotte. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has arrested over 130 people during the first days of enforcement actions, though federal authorities have not provided detailed information about the scope or duration of operations.
Pepper, who received verification training in February and began active monitoring this week, said agents have shown increasing hostility toward being observed. She described witnessing agents stopping people walking on sidewalks and requesting identification, with targets appearing to be selected based on skin color and work attire.
“You’re not seeing white people asked about if they’re a citizen of the United States,” Pepper said.
The Carolina Migrant Network trains volunteers to verify whether law enforcement activity involves federal immigration agents, document operations, and inform community members of their rights. Volunteers carry cards reminding people they have the right to remain silent, access an attorney, and refuse to sign documents without legal counsel present.
Mecklenburg County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday nightย condemning racial profiling and affirming constitutional protections for immigrant communities. The resolution also calls for transparency from federal authorities regarding enforcement actions, though local officials lack authority to intervene in federal operations.
“We don’t condone it, we don’t stand for it,” said Commissioner Mark Jerrell, the board chair.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the alleged intimidation incident.
