Charlotte’s small business community is in turmoil after federal immigration agents launched a broad enforcement campaign that has left commercial corridors unusually quiet and many storefronts closed.
The high-profile initiative, dubbed Operation Charlotte’s Web, has drawn sharp criticism from local business owners and city leaders, who say the raids are disrupting day-to-day commerce and spreading fear throughout immigrant neighborhoods.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek on November 19 that by Tuesday evening, Border Patrol had arrested more than 250 people during the first four days of the operation.
According to city officials and business owners, the visible presence of U.S. Border Patrol has driven away both customers and employees, draining foot traffic and threatening what they describe as the economic heartbeat of Charlotte.
“It’s going to negatively impact our economy. Charlotte is an economically vibrant city. We have a robust small business community,” Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Danté Anderson told Newsweek.
Businesses Closed ‘Until Further Notice’
On the first day of the operation, some shops and restaurants posted “closed until further notice” signs out of concern for the safety of workers and patrons, Anderson said.
“Border Patrol is going into these businesses and asking anyone and everyone to identify themselves,” she added.
One of the most striking examples is Manolo’s, a longtime neighborhood bakery on the east side of Charlotte, which has temporarily shut its doors for the first time in 28 years. Owner Manolo Betancur told Newsweek that he decided to close because he did not want to put his customers in harm’s way.
“On Saturday, I was walking to the bakery. Many people were walking to the bakery, and within 10 minutes, I saw them jumping out of cars in green uniforms,” Manolo said in a statement emailed to Newsweek. “Anyone they caught on the sidewalk was thrown to the ground, handcuffed, put in a car, and disappeared. It was a terrifying moment, and some of those people were my customers.”
“I sell cakes, I sell happiness, I sell love. And the last thing I want is for a child to lose their father or mother because they came to the bakery to get a pastry,” he added.
Mass Deportations and Economic Fallout
The raids are part of a broader push by the administration to conduct mass deportations following President Donald Trump’s pledge to remove millions of migrants without legal status. The initiative has alarmed many business leaders, who fear deep and lasting economic damage.
Charlotte laundromat owner David Rebolloso said in a statement that the enforcement actions have already caused a steep drop in business.
“Foot traffic has dropped sharply—with Sunday revenue down about 50%, our most important day of the week. Streets that were once busy with working families and children are now nearly empty, especially in Latino-concentrated business areas,” Rebolloso said in a press release.
Former Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said in a news release that the impact is being felt across multiple sectors of the local economy. She noted that some immigrant workers—including U.S. citizens and legal residents—are staying home because they worry they could be wrongly targeted.
Financial Losses Mount
“We have heard reports of five different tire companies on South Boulevard being closed on Saturday due to workers not showing up. Construction companies have job sites that are idle. Restaurants are running shorter hours or closing for the week,” Roberts said.
The Secure Growth Initiative, a national coalition that represents more than 100,000 small businesses, has called on the federal government to accept responsibility for the economic fallout tied to the enforcement actions.
“All local small businesses are suffering. The federal government must be held accountable for these financial losses either with Congressional funding or legal action,” Frank Knapp Jr., managing director of the Secure Growth Initiative, said in a statement.
Immigrants’ Role in North Carolina’s Economy
North Carolina is home to a sizable immigrant population. About 9.3 percent of residents are foreign-born, and 5.3 percent of U.S.-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent, according to the American Immigration Council. Immigrants account for 12 percent of the state’s labor force and support the economy in numerous fields, making up 14.9 percent of entrepreneurs, 19 percent of STEM workers, and 27 percent of construction workers.
Undocumented immigrants also play a notable role in state and local tax revenue. A report from the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center estimated that undocumented immigrants contributed roughly $692 million in state and local taxes in 2022.
The same report found that for every 1 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., public services gain $8.9 billion in additional tax revenue—while deporting that number of people would reduce revenue by the same amount.
Separately, a policy brief from the Carolina Forward Research Team concluded that undocumented immigrants in North Carolina pay between $258 million and $360 million each year in combined sales, property, and state income taxes.
Concerns Over Enforcement Tactics
Critics say U.S. Border Patrol has used aggressive tactics during enforcement operations in states such as California and Illinois, including racial profiling and, in some cases, the use of tear gas.
“They’re not sharing any information as to why they’re here, where they’re targeting, or if they have a list of individuals. It literally appears as if they’re just pulling people off the street and asking them to identify themselves,” Anderson said.
