Ex-Border Patrol chief visits Manolo's unannounced
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Bovino arrived unannounced with a videographer at Manolo’s Bakery in east Charlotte Sunday. Photos: Courtesy of Manolo’s Bakery.
Charlotte immigrant rights advocate and entrepreneur Manolo Betancur is speaking out after a confrontation Sunday outside his east Charlotte bakery with former Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino.
Why it matters: Betancur owns Manolo's Bakery, which became a prominent gathering place for peaceful protests against ICE and Border Patrol's presence during Operation Charlotte's Web, last November's federal immigration crackdown led by Bovino.
Catch up quick: Bovino arrived unannounced at Manolo's Bakery on Sunday evening with a videographer and asked to enter. Betancur refused, telling Bovino he wasn't welcome inside the bakery, on its property or in Charlotte.
- During the several-minute exchange, which Betancur described as "tense," Bovino asked Betancur why he carries his U.S. passport.
- Betancur, a Colombian immigrant and U.S. citizen, said he carries it because he believes federal immigration enforcement has caused people to be viewed with suspicion based on the color of their skin.
Zoom in: Betancur also runs the neighboring cafe The Changebaker Place and his nonprofit By Immigrant Hands, which supports immigrant communities. He's also bringing two of his businesses, Artisen Gelato and Higher Grounds, to Eastland Yards, the Observer previously reported.
What they're saying: "This is bigger than Manolo's Bakery," Betancur said about the altercation in a statement shared with Axios. "Families are afraid, employees are afraid to go to work, customers are afraid to leave their homes, and small businesses are paying the price."
- Betancur says Manolo's Bakery lost roughly $54,000-$64,000 in revenue after he closed for a week during the operation out of concern for employees and customers, WBTV reports.
Between the lines: Bovino, who retired earlier this year, told the Charlotte Optimist that he visited the bakery to dispute Trump administration claims that deportations have increased since his departure.
- In a written response to the publication, Bovino said he wanted to show that mass deportations "are NOT being carried out in any form or fashion," adding that Charlotte businesses affected by the operation "appear" to be flourishing.
Zoom out: Operation Charlotte's Web launched Nov. 15, lasted more than two weeks and resulted in more than 1,300 reported arrests across North Carolina.
- The federal operation disrupted daily life in Charlotte, prompting business closures, economic losses and widespread school absences.
Editor's note: This story's headline has been changed to more accurately describe the circumstances of Bovino's visit.