Manuel “Manolo” Betancur closed his Charlotte bakery for the first time in 28 years Saturday afternoon at the city’s arrival of U.S. Border Patrol agents, and he doesn’t know when he’ll reopen.
“The amount of fear that we have right now is no good,” Betancur told CharlotteFive outside Manolo’s Bakery in the 4400 block of Central Avenue, in the heart of Charlotte’s immigrant community.
“It’s not worth it to take that risk,” he said. “We need to protect our families and family separation.”
He said he saw federal agents randomly stop people and throw them to the ground. “That’s what I saw this morning,” he said.
Border Patrol in Charlotte
Similar scenes played out in other parts of Charlotte, Pineville and Matthews, as masked federal agents detained and arrested people, sparking community outrage. Many other businesses along Central Avenue also closed, at least for the day, as a result.
The U.S. Border Patrol has not said how many agents arrived in the city from Chicago or how long they plan to stay. Their operation started in the morning. It was not clear exactly which federal agencies were involved.
‘Made in Charlotte by Immigrant Hands’
Betancur’s shirt read, “Made in Charlotte by Immigrant Hands.”
“Easy they have taken maybe around 20 people today around in Charlotte,” he said. “They have been in our parking lots several times today.”
He said “of course” his business has been hurt.
“I am going to close the doors, and I don’t know when I am going to open back up,” he said.
“Thank you, thank you to the community and all the people that have supported me,” he said. “But I need to protect my customers. I need to protect my community and myself, because they are just jumping in and throwing people to the floor.”
Border Patrol is ‘chasing anyone who looks, speaks like me’
“They’re lying, man,” Betancur said. “They’re not chasing criminals. They’re chasing anyone who looks, speaks like me, who has an accent like me, who looks like me.”
Manolo Betancur closed his Charlotte bakery for the first time in 28 years Saturday, and he doesn’t know when he’ll reopen. “It’s not worth it to take that risk,” he said. “We need to protect our families and family separation.” Alex Cason CharlotteFive
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM.
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
As masked federal agents appeared to detain people in Charlotte neighborhoods, Mayor Vi Lyles and other top local elected officials on Saturday told Charlotte’s immigrant community they have their backing.
“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives contributing to our larger community,” Lyles said in a joint statement with Mecklenburg County commissioners’ chair Mark Jerrell and Stephanie Sneed, chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.
“Our region has thrived and grown because our strength lies in our diversity and our collective commitment to each other and to this community,” the elected officials said. “Let us all — no matter our political allegiance — stand together for all hard working and law-abiding families.”
The arrival of federal agents has caused “unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community,” according to the statement.
In the heart of the city’s immigrant community, a photograph posted on social media around 9:30 a.m. Saturday by Immigration Alerts CLT appeared to show two federal agents behind a man with his hands behind his back at Rosehaven Drive and Central Avenue.
“STAY AWAY FROM CENTRAL AVENUE,” Immigration Alerts CLT said on social media.
In the heart of Charlotte’s immigrant community, a photograph posted on social media at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, by Immigration Alerts CLT appeared to show two federal agents behind a man with his hands behind his back at Rosehaven Drive and Central Avenue. Immigration Alerts CLT
Border Patrol operations in other cities have led to people without criminal records being detained, according to the Charlotte elected officials’ statement.
The statement told people to protest peacefully.
Organizations are available to offer legal guidance on immigration matters and to answer questions about a person’s immigration status and rights, the elected officials said.
“If you need the police, don’t hesitate to call 911,” according to the statement. “Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department does not participate in Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations and is not involved in the planning or execution of any federal immigration enforcement activities.”
His troops shield their identities by covering their faces, something federal police had generally not done until this year.
He responded to criticism from state leaders.
“Immigrants rest assured, we have your back like we did in Chicago and Los Angeles,” Greg Bovino wrote on social media site X. “Rep. Adams, perhaps you & Gov. STEIN should learn the difference between an illegal alien & an immigrant. Illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities and should self deport via CBP Home.”
Friday morning, local and state leaders gathered outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center to demand transparency from U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Elected officials said they were blindsided by the news reported by national news outlets this week and confirmed by Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden Thursday. Leaders at the conference organized by N.C. House Democrats said they received no explanation for why Charlotte was chosen, what the federal mission is and how long agents might remain in the city.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers “are not authorized to assist with ICE administrative warrants, which are civil in nature and not criminal,” according to a CMPD statement on X Friday.
“The CMPD does not participate in ICE or CBP operations, nor are we involved in the planning or execution of any federal immigration enforcement activities,” according to the statement.
CMPD officers may participate “only when there is criminal behavior or a criminal warrant that falls under our jurisdiction,” officials said.
Most recently, U.S. Border Patrol stationed at least 200 agents in Chicago. The agency helps lead the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Since September, border patrol agents have arrested 1,500 people, according to CBS News.
According to news reports, federal agents roamed the city and suburbs questioning people and using tear gas on residents and local police.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 10:33 AM.
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Thursday released a statement to families about “the safety, well-being, and education of every student” amid federal Border Patrol agents coming to Charlotte.
Two federal officials told Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden that U.S. border patrol agents could arrive in the city as early as Saturday, according to a Thursday news release. The agents will come to the city following a monthslong stay in Chicago, though McFadden said he does not know details of a planned operation here.
In its statement to all families Thursday, CMS said it has not received any official notice of plans to conduct immigration enforcement on any of its campuses.
“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will continue to follow all federal and state laws that protect students’ rights to a public education,” it stated, later citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe. That ruling guaranteed all children have the right to attend public school for free, regardless of immigration status.
Border Patrol agents are expected to conduct an operation in Charlotte after spending time in Chicago. In this file photo, federal agents arrive at the Dirksen Federal Building to pick up US Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino after his hearing at federal court in Chicago on October 28. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI AFP via Getty Images
The message also said CMS does not ask for a student’s immigration status upon enrollment, no district personnel are permitted to share student information unless required by law and that immigration officers cannot gain access to any personnel, students or private areas of the school without a verified warrant or subpoena.
“We want every family to feel confident that CMS is a place where students are supported and protected,” the message stated.
No immigration enforcement activities have taken place on a CMS campus, but the issue rose to public prominence when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained a parent near a drop-off line for Charlotte East Language Academy in May. At the time, the parent was not technically on school property.
While CMS laid out protocols for staff in the event agents come to campus, it has not clarified whether it will notify families of ICE or U.S. Border Patrol activity near its campuses.
Charlotte leaders also released a statement of support Wednesday for Charlotte’s immigrant communities.
“Our message is simple: Mecklenburg County and Charlotte are communities of belonging. We will stand together, look out for one another, and ensure that fear never divides the city we all home,” it stated. CMS Board Member Liz Monterrey Duvall was one of the local leaders who signed the letter.
Rebecca Noel reports on education for The Charlotte Observer. She’s a native of Houston, Texas, and graduated from Rice University. She later received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. When she’s not reporting, she enjoys reading, running and frequenting coffee shops around Charlotte.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Thursday released a statement to families about “the safety, well-being, and education of every student” amid federal Border Patrol agents coming to Charlotte.
Two federal officials told Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden that U.S. border patrol agents could arrive in the city as early as Saturday, according to a Thursday news release. The agents will come to the city following a monthslong stay in Chicago, though McFadden said he does not know details of a planned operation here.
In its statement to all families Thursday, CMS said it has not received any official notice of plans to conduct immigration enforcement on any of its campuses.
“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will continue to follow all federal and state laws that protect students’ rights to a public education,” it stated, later citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe. That ruling guaranteed all children have the right to attend public school for free, regardless of immigration status.
Border Patrol agents are expected to conduct an operation in Charlotte after spending time in Chicago. In this file photo, federal agents arrive at the Dirksen Federal Building to pick up US Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino after his hearing at federal court in Chicago on October 28. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI AFP via Getty Images
The message also said CMS does not ask for a student’s immigration status upon enrollment, no district personnel are permitted to share student information unless required by law and that immigration officers cannot gain access to any personnel, students or private areas of the school without a verified warrant or subpoena.
“We want every family to feel confident that CMS is a place where students are supported and protected,” the message stated.
No immigration enforcement activities have taken place on a CMS campus, but the issue rose to public prominence when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained a parent near a drop-off line for Charlotte East Language Academy in May. At the time, the parent was not technically on school property.
While CMS laid out protocols for staff in the event agents come to campus, it has not clarified whether it will notify families of ICE or U.S. Border Patrol activity near its campuses.
Charlotte leaders also released a statement of support Wednesday for Charlotte’s immigrant communities.
“Our message is simple: Mecklenburg County and Charlotte are communities of belonging. We will stand together, look out for one another, and ensure that fear never divides the city we all home,” it stated. CMS Board Member Liz Monterrey Duvall was one of the local leaders who signed the letter.
Rebecca Noel reports on education for The Charlotte Observer. She’s a native of Houston, Texas, and graduated from Rice University. She later received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. When she’s not reporting, she enjoys reading, running and frequenting coffee shops around Charlotte.
