Charlotte light rail stabbing: suspect twice deported, Trump reacts
Oscar Solarzano, an undocumented immigrant whom DHS says has been removed from the U.S. twice, was arrested after a stabbing aboard a Charlotte light rail that officials say arose from an altercation between two individuals rather than a random attack, and a magistrate ordered him to remain jailed. President Trump posted on Truth Social blaming Democrats over the incident, while Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles highlighted the city's public-safety investments and said immigration enforcement is outside city jurisdiction; CBS-cited DHS documents show fewer than one-third of Border Patrol arrests in Charlotte’s recent crackdown were classified as criminal.
📌 Key Facts
- Oscar Solarzano is undocumented and had been previously deported; DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed he had been removed from the U.S. twice, and a magistrate at his release hearing noted his immigration status and ordered him to remain jailed.
- A transit spokesperson said the stabbing on a Charlotte light rail train stemmed from an altercation between two individuals, not a random attack.
- President Trump posted on Truth Social blaming Democrats and highlighting the Charlotte stabbing.
- Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles issued a statement noting the city’s public-safety investments and saying immigration enforcement is outside city jurisdiction.
- CBS cited an internal DHS document indicating fewer than one-third of Border Patrol arrests in Charlotte’s recent crackdown were classified as criminals.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, there were an estimated 450,000 unauthorized immigrants in North Carolina, representing individuals who entered without authorization, visa overstayers, and those with liminal statuses like DACA or TPS.
Profile of the Unauthorized Population - NC — Migration Policy Institute
In Texas from 2012 to 2018, the violent crime arrest rate was 96.2 per 100,000 for undocumented immigrants compared to 213 per 100,000 for U.S.-born citizens.
Undocumented Immigrant Offending Rate Lower Than U.S.-Born Citizen Rate in Texas — U.S. House of Representatives
In Fiscal Year 2024 year-to-date, U.S. Border Patrol arrested 17,048 criminal noncitizens, including those with 1,084 convictions for assault, battery, or domestic violence, and 10,935 convictions for illegal entry or re-entry.
Criminal Alien Statistics Fiscal Year 2024 — U.S. Customs and Border Protection
A 2024 study found no significant association between the percentage of unauthorized immigrants in U.S. Census tracts and per capita rates of violent crimes in 2019, after controlling for social determinants like poverty and unemployment.
Research into Immigration and Crime — Office of Justice Programs
📰 Sources (2)
- DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Oscar Solarzano had been removed from the U.S. twice.
- President Trump posted a Truth Social message blaming Democrats and highlighting the Charlotte stabbing.
- Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles issued a statement noting city public-safety investments and that immigration enforcement is outside city jurisdiction.
- Transit spokesperson said the stabbing stemmed from an altercation between two individuals, not a random attack.
- CBS cites an internal DHS document indicating fewer than one-third of Border Patrol arrests in Charlotte’s recent crackdown were classified as criminals.
- A magistrate noted at Solarzano’s release hearing that he is undocumented and had been previously deported; he was ordered to remain jailed.