Charlotte business owner says customers are afraid to leave homes due to ICE

CHARLOTTE, NC — Our bread, our people, our community, that’s the mission statement nailed to the wall at Manolo’s Bakery in east Charlotte.

“Everything in this bakery is made by the hands of immigrants, but it’s made in America,” said Manolo Betancur.

What hasn’t been made at the bakery lately is money, ever since President Trump took office. Betancur’s books show his 27-year business has lost money every day since the inauguration.

“We were having a very good month. Everything was up, up, up. Very, very crazy, good month and after January 20th, the 21st, we started going red numbers going down,” explained Betancur.

He says since then, many of his customers are afraid of being picked up by ICE.

“There’s a lot of fear in our community,” explained Betancur.

That fear is keeping people home.

“This is worse than the pandemic,” Betancur said of the lack of customers.

According to ICE, 7,400 illegal immigrants were arrested by the end of January. Betancur says a decline in sales and pending tariff costs have forced him to lay off an employee.

“It’s not just this business, any small business owned by immigrants is having a hard time,” Betancur said.

Betancur wants people to know his community is hurting. He hopes those from the outside show their support in easing that pain.