A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Let's turn now to Mark Jerrell. He's the chair of the board of commissioners of Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte. Commissioner, to your - to the best of your understanding, why is this happening in Charlotte?
MARK JERRELL: Well, I think that's a great question. And good morning, everyone. We don't know why this is happening. We are getting reports the same way everyone else is, either going to the Homeland site or based on what's being reported. So we really don't know the why. And that's a great question to start with.
MARTÍNEZ: So it sounds like the Trump administration hasn't let Charlotte know much, then, if anything.
JERRELL: No. No, they haven't. And, you know, that's the sad part of this. There's been no collaboration, no level of coordination, communication. And so that's what's frustrating most of the residents. And so people right now are very fearful. Saturday was heartbreaking. What Nick just referenced was in my district. And so as I rode the same corridor he was on, part of it at one point in time, it's a usually thriving and bustling corridor on the weekends. And it was like a ghost town at one point, and it was very sad. So there's an economic impact to this. Also, you know, physical and mental toll that's being taken on our residents.
MARTÍNEZ: And just to be clear, you have been asking the Trump administration what's happening?
JERRELL: We've been asking everybody that we can connect with...
MARTÍNEZ: OK.
JERRELL: ...To try to figure out what is going on, what is the purpose? We know the governor has reached out. Our delegate - federal delegation. I spoke to our attorney general last night. There are just not any answers at any level.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, we heard Friday from your county sheriff, Garry McFadden, that his police force won't be taking part in arresting people. Let's hear that.
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GARRY MCFADDEN: We're not going to participate with any enforcement. It's just that we have to be mindful to protect our citizens and other people and even law enforcement at some entities if this becomes a violent confrontation.
MARTÍNEZ: Commissioner, do you agree with this?
JERRELL: Well, you know, I was with the sheriff last night, and he walked me through his process. And I'm very comfortable with where the sheriff has landed. He is a law enforcement professional, and so we have to make sure that we're taking that advice from those professionals. And we work collaboratively with our sheriff. And so, you know, he's someone that's engaged. He has been communicating with us. The information that he has, he's been sharing with us, and so certainly support what his advice is and what his lens is.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, top Border Patrol official Greg Bovino posted photos on social media of, quote, "criminal illegal aliens arrested in Charlotte." He had - he said some had previous arrests for assaults, DUIs, larceny. What do you think about that assumption?
JERRELL: Well, I mean, I don't think much about it at this point because, again, I would think that if that is the case, why not communicate with the local officials? Why not work with our local law enforcement to help us understand what your goals are, what is the strategy, what's the plan? How can we help? And so, you know, I don't know that to be true. I don't know it to be not true, but what I'm asking for is collaboration, cooperation and communication.
MARTÍNEZ: If you had one question that the Trump administration would absolutely answer, what question would that be?
JERRELL: Why. It would be why. It would be why Charlotte? Why Mecklenburg County? Is this a target on community? Is it the individuals that they say that are creating some level of criminal activity? But the question is why.
MARTÍNEZ: Mark Jerrell is Mecklenburg County commissioner. Thank you very much.
JERRELL: Thank you.
MARTÍNEZ: And we invited Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein for interviews on the program. They both declined.
(SOUNDBITE OF AARON PARKS' "KARMA") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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