Manolo Bentancur, owner of a well-known bakery in east Charlotte, is speaking out about a tense encounter with Greg Bovino, the former acting chief of U.S. Border Patrol, who showed up at his business on Sunday afternoon. Bentancur said he told Bovino to leave, citing the fear and anxiety his presence triggers in the community.
According to Bentancur, when he spotted Bovino and a cameraman in the bakery's parking lot, he approached them. “He said, ‘Well, I can be wherever I want; it’s free,’” Bentancur recounted. “I said, ‘This is private property; you are not allowed on this property. There’s a lot of fear of you, a lot of fear of ICE, and a lot of fear over what is going on in our nation.’”
The confrontation occurred as Bentancur arrived to pick up his wife from work. The bakery has been a focal point for immigration enforcement in the area, particularly after Bovino led a major federal operation last November.
That operation, known as Operation Charlotte’s Web, resulted in more than 1,300 arrests, with many of the initial enforcement actions unfolding in the parking lot of Manolo’s bakery. The raid drew national attention and intensified local debates over immigration policy and the role of federal agencies in Charlotte.
Bovino, who has been a vocal advocate for stricter border enforcement, has not publicly commented on the incident. His presence at the bakery, just months after the high-profile sweep, has reignited concerns among immigrant advocacy groups about continued surveillance and intimidation.
Bentancur, who has operated the bakery for years, said he felt compelled to draw a line. “This is a place of business, a place where families come to feel safe,” he said. “Having someone like that here, someone who led a raid that tore apart so many lives, is unacceptable.”
The incident comes amid broader national scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. In a related development, a recent fatal encounter with ICE in Houston has sparked protests and raised questions about the agency's use of force. Meanwhile, lawmakers have also been critical of federal transparency measures, highlighting a pattern of accountability concerns across agencies.
Local officials have yet to respond to the bakery confrontation. However, community leaders are calling for a dialogue about the impact of federal enforcement on small businesses and neighborhoods.
Bentancur said he hopes his stand sends a message. “We are not afraid to say no. We are not afraid to protect our community,” he said. “This is our home.”
