Charlotte’s Small Businesses Pick Up Pieces After Recent Border Patrol Raids

Charlotte’s small business scene has had notable economic fallout from a series of immigration sweeps by the U.S. Border Patrol across the city last week, according to Charlotte Business Journal. 

The dayslong immigration crackdown, known as Operation Charlotte’s Web, interrupted local commerce and sparked anxiety across immigrant communities, with many shops catering to and run by immigrants shuttering their doors.

More than 370 people were arrested over four days of immigration sweeps in the city as of Nov. 19, according to Department of Homeland Security numbers reported by The New York Times.

On Nov. 20, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office claimed that the current operation in Charlotte was over, but the federal government contested this, saying all immigration enforcement operations are ongoing.

Local leaders are still assessing the damage. A number of businesses that closed their doors during the sweeps lost thousands of dollars in business. 

Manolo’s Bakery reopened on Monday after shuttering for the first time in more than two decades. Bakery owner Manolo Betancur estimates he lost $60K to $80K, CBJ reported. Tacos El Nevado, which has three Charlotte locations, also reopened on Monday with changed security measures in light of the raids.

Charlotte city officials announced they would release up to $100K in emergency funds to help residents who were economically impacted by the raids, Queen City News reports. The funds will be dispersed to help pay for rent and utilities.

There are more than 8,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in the area, according to estimates from the Latin American Chamber of Commerce Charlotte. Collectively, those businesses are responsible for an annual economic output of $12.9B.

Charlotte’s immigrant population has grown more than 126% over the past 25 years. Immigrants currently make up 16.5% of Charlotte’s residents, according to Reuters.

The Border Patrol stint in Charlotte comes after a September Supreme Court ruling that allows federal agents to check people’s immigration status based on factors such as race or language spoken. 

The Border Patrol is planning to conduct sweeps in New Orleans next, and immigrants already are staying home in anticipation of the raids, CNN reports.