Manolo Betancur, the owner of Manolo’s Bakery in Charlotte, North Carolina, stated on Sunday that he denied entry to Gregory Bovino, a former U.S. Border Patrol commander. Betancur reported that the interaction involved a discussion regarding immigration enforcement and the presence of federal officers in the city.
Bovino previously served as the U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large and oversaw operations in Minneapolis and Charlotte during the Trump administration. He later returned to his role as chief patrol agent in El Centro, California, before his retirement. During his tenure, Bovino was a prominent figure in immigration enforcement initiatives, including Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Betancur described the encounter as a "tense conversation" regarding why the bakery owner regularly carries a U.S. passport. Betancur stated he told Bovino he does so because people are being targeted based on their appearance rather than nationality. The bakery has historically served as a central location for the local immigrant community and received national recognition for charitable work in 2021.
The interaction occurred against the backdrop of Operation Charlotte’s Web, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiative that deployed additional enforcement officers to the city. Betancur previously closed his business temporarily during the operation, citing concerns for the safety of his staff and customers. In March, Queen City News reported that Manolo’s Bakery filed a lawsuit against the DHS seeking damages for business losses.
The scale of the impact includes a reported $100,000 debt for this specific small business following the 2025–2026 enforcement period. This situation highlights the broader legal and financial consequences for businesses that serve immigrant populations during periods of high-intensity federal activity. The incident also follows previous enforcement surges led by Bovino in other regions, such as Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota between December 2025 and February 2026, which resulted in at least two fatal shootings by federal agents.
What happens next depends on the progression of the bakery's lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. While Bovino has retired from his position, the precedent set by these enforcement operations continues to affect local commerce and community relations in North Carolina. Specific court dates for the lawsuit against the DHS were not reported, but the outcome could determine if government agencies are held liable for private business losses resulting from local immigration operations.