DOJ award could 'open Pandora's box' for feds in Charlotte, city council says

Laura Horne, The Charlotte Observer on Aug 11, 2026

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte City Council on Monday pushed back against applying for a multimillion-dollar grant over concerns about federal involvement in the city.

Monday’s meeting offered a look at the Department of Justice’s Model Cities Initiative to “Make America Safe Again,” according to the department’s website. The funds come from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year and are part of a “cooperative agreement” which would distribute about $300 million between two and four cities. In cities receiving money, the DOJ would have “substantial involvement” in projects funded, according to the initiative’s text.

The language raised questions about Immigration and Customs Enforcement, policing technology and the expansion of artificial intelligence, especially after NPR and The Guardian reported that accepting this funding comes with ties to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Councilman JD Mazuera Arias also questioned the impact long-term federal involvement in Charlotte would have after the impact Operation Charlotte’s Web caused in just a few days in November.

The three-year award could go toward a variety of projects supporting policing, behavioral healthcare and reducing the number of people committing repeat offenses. Technology upgrades and data collection are also “critical” to this award, said Kellie High-Foster, who presented the initiative to council.

“I have some concerns as far as the expectations of the fact that we will be turning our local law enforcement over to federal agencies,” Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield said. “There will be a lot more scrutiny.”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson said CMPD would not accept money inconsistent with the city’s values. Still, council members were skeptical about how collaboration with the federal government and immigration enforcement could break trust with Charlotte communities.

To apply for the award, city officials and other partners must sign a document containing several statutes the city must comply with, said Jessica Battle, assistant city attorney for CMPD. Charlotte does not have to voluntarily share information with immigration enforcement entities to apply. If Charlotte is awarded the grant, Battle said the city will review documents to see what they say about cooperation with ICE.

Councilwoman Victoria Watlington and other council members denounced their support for the initiative at the meeting.

“It feels far more risky than what we know at this point just given the track record, frankly, of this administration, respectfully, it feels like we are opening Pandora’s box,” Watlington said.

Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera, who thought favorably of the initiative when it was presented to the Public Safety Committee earlier this month, reversed her support at Monday’s meeting. Following the committee meeting, she and other council members received calls from concerned community groups.

At least two of these organizations, Carolina Migrant Network and Action NC, attended Monday’s meeting bearing neon pink signs that opposed Charlotte’s application for Model Cities Initiative.

“We know that the federal government will do what it wants to do, regardless of what’s written into law,” said Stefanía Arteaga, co-executive director of the Carolina Migrant Network. “It’s ridiculous we’re even considering this as an option knowing the financial constraints this grant could have on the city … and the psychological toll our city just went through back in November.”

Potential financial burden

Ajmera raised concerns about whether Charlotte will have to reimburse the federal government for use of its resources during the three-year award period. The city and its partners would have to pay the federal government back for the cost of resources if Charlotte experienced a surge in violence, Battle said.

The city will not know the terms and conditions of the award until it receives it, High-Foster said. The city would review conditions before accepting the award.

Whether Charlotte can refuse to support immigration enforcement without losing funding or being required to repay it is also unclear at the moment, Patterson said.

Charlotte must apply for the grant by Sept. 1 if it wants to be considered.

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