Nick DeLaCanal

Charlotte City Councilman-elect J.D.

Mazuera Arias, an immigrant from Columbia who did not always have legal status himself, says the government should be more transparent.

If there is an operation or presence in Charlotte, the public has the right to know what's happening and why it's happening.

Latino advocacy groups say the announcement has already sparked fear, with families staying home and immigration help hotlines lighting up.

For NPR News, I'm Nick Della Canale in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office says Border Patrol agents will arrive in Charlotte in the coming days.

But details are still vague, including how many federal agents and for how long.

Charlotte City Councilman-elect J.D.

Mazuera Arias, an immigrant from Colombia who did not always have legal status himself, says the government should be more transparent.

If there is an operation or presence in Charlotte, the public has the right to know what's happening and why it's happening.

Latino advocacy groups say the announcement has already sparked fear, with families staying home and immigration help hotlines lighting up.

For NPR News, I'm Nick Delacanel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

A line of cars wraps around the block at a food share in Charlotte for people who receive SNAP benefits.

Some here say they received partial payments on Friday, but it wasn't much.

One man said he received $16 when he usually receives about $100.

Others, like Michelle Sands, still have empty accounts.

The uncertainty comes as food banks are preparing for Thanksgiving, normally their busiest time of year.

And they say every day the shutdown continues makes their own holiday outlook more uncertain.

For NPR News, I'm Nick Della Canal in Charlotte.