In a statement released on Friday, McFadden said he and his staff met in person with ICE representatives from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia on October 17.
It was the first meeting between the sheriff’s office and the regional ICE team, McFadden said.
“The goal of the meeting was clear: to establish a better working relationship, improve communication, and create a safe and organized process for all enforcement operations within Mecklenburg County,” McFadden said in a released statement.
The sheriff said he provided ICE with documents outlining the county’s procedures for handling detainers and courthouse arrests, as well as contact information. McFadden said that he does not want to prevent ICE from carrying out its duties, but wants to ensure operations are done “safely, responsibly, and with proper coordination.”
According to McFadden, ICE reached out to his office days after the October meeting to coordinate an operation at the courthouse. On October 21, an ICE officer reportedly contacted the courthouse major ahead of two planned arrests, allowing the sheriff’s staff to assist with directions and access. One person was taken into custody, while the other never showed up.
McFadden said the arrest went “smoothly and incident-free,” calling the operation an example of the collaboration his office has sought “for years.”
According to the sheriff’s office and Mecklenburg County court records, the person taken into custody by ICE has been identified as Marco Flores-Escobar, 26, who was facing an ‘injury to personal property’ charge in connection with a shooting incident back in April.
That charge was dismissed on October 22, 2025, court records indicate.
“This is the kind of partnership we want to continue moving forward,” McFadden said in a released statement. “Because at the end of the day, the safety and security of our staff, law enforcement partners, and the people of Mecklenburg County will always remain our top priority.”
Friday’s message contrasts sharply with tensions from earlier this year. In April, four people were arrested by ICE agents outside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse without advance notice to the sheriff’s office, a move that drew McFadden’s criticism. At the time, he said he learned of the operation only after a bystander had alerted him.
ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams defended the agency’s actions then, explaining that the individuals were targeted arrests of people “in the country illegally” who had just left court or probation appointments. “They knew that these aliens had court appointments, so they waited outside to not disturb the court proceedings,” Williams said in April.
The sheriff’s office said those arrested in that incident were not booked into the county jail and that ICE had not shared details about the charges or detainers.
Since then, both agencies appear to be moving toward a more coordinated approach. Queen City News has reached out to ICE for further details on the courthouse arrest.
This is a Developing Story. Check back for updates
Mecklenburg County
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