ICE agents detain man near East Charlotte school

CHARLOTTE, NC – Immigration Customs Enforcement agents detained a man while he was on the way to drop off his student at Charlotte East Language Academy Tuesday morning.

A parent snapped a picture showing ICE agents before they detained the man close to the drop off line for the school. In a message to families, the principal confirmed ICE had been near the school. Some parents believe the arrest was a distracting and potentially dangerous incident for children.

“There’s a right and a wrong way to do things, you know?,” Eric McCray, Parent said. “Especially in these days and times because of other things that happen at schools, you want to make sure that people are made aware of what’s going on ahead of time.”

Some parents believe the ICE activity near the school could become the focus of the school day instead of academics.

“They have standardized testing this week,” Manny Gomez, parent said. “So instead of being focused on tests, they’re focused on what’s going on in the community with the immigration reform.”

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education sent WCCB a statement saying in part, “We recognize that this is unsettling for our school community, the district is providing additional counseling support for both students and staff.” The statement went on to read, “To date, federal immigration agents have not attempted enforcement on CMS property. Federal agents are not permitted in our schools unless they have a court order or a warrant issued and signed by a judge.”

WCCB spoke to several parents at CELA who said they’d like to see a policy that keeps ICE activity away from schools.

“[Kids are] scared. I’m sure they don’t want their parents to get picked up and who wants to go to school if they notice something like that?,” Yolanda Meises, parent said.

WCCB requested a statement from ICE before publishing the story on May 13th. An ICE spokesperson sent this statement on May 14th.

“On May 12, 2025, ICE Officers in Charlotte arrested Adrian Ojeda-Calvillo, a criminal alien from Mexico unlawfully present in the U.S. during an enforcement operation. Ojeda-Calvillo was encountered on a public sidewalk near his residence and taken into custody without incident. This enforcement action did not happen at a school, nor did the arrest have any connection to a nearby school as erroneously reported by activists and local media. ICE urges the public to avoid spreading rumors or misinformation that causes unnecessary panic in the immigrant community. Fear-based narratives only disrupt communities and hinder our efforts to maintain safety.

Ojeda-Calvillo has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for domestic violence, assault on a female, robbery, kidnapping, and breaking and entering.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is focused on public safety and national security threats first and foremost; however, any individual illegally present in the United States who is encountered by an immigration enforcement officer or agent may be taken into custody and processed for removal as stated by law.

Illegal aliens who remain in the U.S. without lawful immigration status may be subject to arrest and removal. For these individuals, the safest and most efficient option is self-deportation. The CBP Home app can support the self-deportation process, which is free and can be used on most mobile devices.”