For the rest of this week, volunteers will welcome students at school and act as lookouts should immigration agents show up. Many parents are keeping their children home out of precaution.

The Department of Homeland Security says the number of people arrested in Charlotte since Saturday is now more than 250. Border Patrol agents started sweeping the city five days ago, looking for people present in the country illegally. The Border Patrol has not responded to WFAE’s questions about the identities of those arrested, what they’re charged with or where they’ve been taken.

U.S. Customs and Border patrol agents fanned out across the Triangle Tuesday, leading many businesses that serve or are run by immigrants to close or reduce staff.

The expansion of immigration enforcement in North Carolina worries some Latino residents in the Triad.

The latest estimates from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools show more than 30,000 students were absent Monday, the first school day since Border Patrol deployed in Charlotte.

As part of a sweeping immigration crackdown in Charlotte this week, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a Nicaraguan man who had been working as a car mechanic in east Charlotte. Records reviewed by WFAE didn't show any criminal history for the man — consistent with Border Patrol statistics that show a majority of those taken into custody did not.

Customs and Border Patrol agents arrived in Charlotte over the weekend. Democrats in the N.C. General Assembly blasted their actions during a Monday press conference.

As U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents continue an immigration enforcement operation across Charlotte, businesses along South Boulevard are seeing steep drops in customers.

After a surge in Border Patrol activity in North Carolina's largest city over the weekend, including dozens of arrests, Gov. Josh Stein said the effort is “stoking fear," not making Charlotte safer.

Federal officials have started a surge of immigration enforcement in Charlotte, North Carolina. Agents were seen making arrests on Saturday. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says the move aims to ensure public safety.