Charlotte bakery owner denies entry to Trump’s former Border Patrol commander

Charlotte bakery owner denies entry to Trump’s former Border Patrol commander Manolo Betancur said he had a “tense conversation” about immigration enforcement in the city with Greg Bovino during the encounter - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A bakery owner in North Carolina says he denied entry to President Trump’s former Border Patrol commander during an encounter on Sunday. Manolo Betancur, the owner of Manolo’s Bakery in Charlotte, says he told Gregory Bovino he was not welcome on his property. Bovino was previously one of the faces of Trump’s immigration crackdown, overseeing operations in Minneapolis and Charlotte. In a statement posted on Instagram, Betancur said he engaged in a “tense conversation” about immigration enforcement in the city and that Bovino asked why the bakery owner regularly carries his U.S. passport. “Because people are being pursued because of the color of their skin, not because of their nationality,” Betancur responded. The bakery’s statement also addressed Operation Charlotte’s Web, which saw the U.S. Department of Homeland Security flooding immigration enforcement officers into Charlotte. “This is bigger than Manolo’s Bakery,” the statement said. “Families are afraid, employees are afraid to go to work, customers are afraid to leave their homes, and small businesses are paying the price.” The bakery has long been a hub for Charlotte’s immigrant community. In 2021, Manalo was named Overall Winner in the U.S. Bread Hero at the Tiptree World Bread Awards for his charitable work supporting local people. Betancur told WCNC he closed his business temporarily during Operation Charlotte’s Web in order to not put customers or employees at risk. “Last year has been hard, but this year has been harder,” he told the outlet, adding his current debt was nearing $100,000. In March, Queen City News reported that Manolo’s business had sued the DHS over its alleged losses. Bovino became a high profile figure in the Trump administration during the chaotic Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. The operation ran from December 2025 until February 2026 with much of it focusing on the Twin Cities. It was during that period that mom-of-three Renee Nicole Good was shot dead by an ICE agent, and Alex Pretti was shot dead by two Customs and Border Protection officers. Bovino was eventually sent to El Centro, California, to return to his position as chief patrol agent and was replaced in Minneapolis by border czar Tom Homan. In March, as he prepared for retirement, Bovino shared his regrets about his time in the role with The New York Times, though not in a way his critics might have hoped for. “I wish I’d caught even more illegal aliens,” he told the publication. “I mean, we went as hard as we could, but there’s always a creative and innovative solution to catching even more.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments