11/20/2025
To the Citizens of Monroe:
While I’m away representing Monroe at the National League of Cities Annual Conference, I was made aware of recent messaging from Mayor Burns regarding alleged US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activity in our city.
I want to be transparent with you all—I was frustrated and deeply concerned by how this information was shared and the panic it has caused in our community.
Leadership requires clarity, coordination, and truth, especially on sensitive matters like federal law enforcement involvement.
That’s why I immediately reached out to my Council colleagues, our City Manager, and Monroe Police leadership to express my concerns and request that we approach this issue together, thoughtfully and responsibly.
Below is the message I sent this morning. I share it openly because our residents deserve calm, factual leadership—not fear, confusion, or political theater.
Monroe is stronger when we lead with unity and discipline, especially in moments like this.
[Council Colleagues, City Manager, and Monroe Police Leadership:
Good morning,
I am writing today deeply disappointed in the recent interview and public messaging broadcast by the Mayor regarding alleged CBP activity in Monroe. His comments have created unnecessary fear, confusion, and damaging rumors—despite the fact that, to my knowledge, we have had no issues involving CBP in our city.
The Charlotte Observer article notes that “surrounding counties report no Border Patrol presence today.”
https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article312968885.html
Yet the Mayor’s statements suggested otherwise, and further implied that he would support CBP engaging in Monroe. This type of language—spoken without verified information or a collective decision—creates panic rather than clarity.
To be clear:
If CBP assistance were ever truly needed in Monroe, I would support that decision.
However, such a step must be calculated, justified, and executed responsibly—and only after a coordinated discussion and agreement among Council, the City Manager, and MPD leadership. That is how responsible governance works, and anything else bypasses the structure and safeguards we are elected to uphold.
My concerns include:
• Undermining the collective decision-making process:
The Mayor’s messaging gave the impression that unilateral support for CBP operations is acceptable. It is not. These decisions should be deliberate, informed, and made as a unified leadership body.
• Causing unnecessary fear in the community:
Implying active CBP involvement—when surrounding jurisdictions have reported none—has triggered confusion among residents and businesses.
• Political theater instead of responsible leadership:
With the serious issues neighboring cities are facing, Monroe does not need dramatic or speculative statements that distract from real priorities.
• Eroding public trust:
Messaging that lacks verification damages confidence in our leadership and spreads rumors we then have to correct after the fact.
As leaders, we must remain grounded in facts and avoid becoming the source of panic. We should be the calm in the storm—not the cause of it!
Given the impact of the recent messaging, I respectfully ask that we consider the following:
1. Release a unified public clarification stating that, to our knowledge, there is no active CBP operation in Monroe and that any future involvement would follow proper coordination.
2. Reaffirm our established process that decisions involving federal agencies must be discussed collectively by Council, the City Manager, and MPD leadership.
3. Review how the recent interview statements were formed and communicated, ensuring future messaging is fact-based and reflective of our entire leadership team.
4. Refocus our city’s public communications on real local issues rather than speculative scenarios that create unnecessary anxiety.
I remain committed to working alongside each of you to provide steady, responsible leadership for our residents. My frustration is rooted in wanting the City of Monroe to present clear, factual, dependable information—especially on matters as sensitive as federal involvement in local policing.
Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to moving forward together in a unified and responsible manner.
Respectfully,
CM McGee]
“I would not stop them,” Mayor Robert Burns said. “I would welcome them if there happened to be any violent illegal aliens here.”
