Charlotte, North Carolina, is the latest U.S. city preparing for a potential immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said Thursday that federal officials plan to deploy U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents as early as this weekend. Details of the operation remain undisclosed, and local authorities have not been asked to assist.

President Donald Trump has defended sending federal agents and the military into Democratic-run cities to combat crime and enforce deportation policies. Local activists and officials say they are preparing the immigrant community by sharing resources and trying to calm fears.

Local leaders held a news conference Friday to make it clear they didn't want the federal agents.

"We don't need Immigration and Custom Enforce coming into Charlotte, disrupting our city, creating fear in our city and workplace, trying to divide our community and to make Charlotte a less safe place," said Niecy Brown, of the North Carolina AFL-CIO.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez McDowell added, "Whatever occurs in the coming days, we must meet the moment peacefully, reduce panic, and remember that due process will be back."