Immigration arrests empty shops and stall construction
Parts of east Charlotte shut like ‘the first week of Covid’
The following article appeared in the Nov. 19, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
As city’s Latinos stay home, construction sites are nearly empty, and restaurants and retailers in east Charlotte face sharp losses losses
Clockwise: The shops at the Darby Acres Shopping Center on Central Avenue in east Charlotte have been either closed or mostly empty this week; construction sites like Northwood Ravin’s work on a Midtown apartment tower have had few workers show up since the arrests began; many east Charlotte restaurants have posted anti-ICE notices and are closed temporarily. (Photos: Tony Mecia and Ashley Fahey/The Charlotte Ledger; A.M. Stewart/The Assembly)
by Tony Mecia, Lindsey Banks, Rachel Black and Ashley Fahey
At the construction site of a high-rise apartment tower in Midtown, just 10 workers showed up Monday — down from the usual 180.
In Pineville, an international grocery store is cutting back its hours. And in east Charlotte and along South Boulevard, dozens of restaurants and shops are closed. Those that are open sit mostly empty.
Businesses, especially ones that serve Charlotte’s Hispanic community throughout the city, are grappling with how — and whether — to remain open as Latino workers and customers stay home amid a sweeping federal immigration operation across Charlotte.
Since U.S. Border Patrol came to Charlotte on Saturday, agents have made more than 200 arrests — some of which have been captured on bystanders’ phones, with videos quickly shared to social media. The Border Patrol’s arrival, which has been criticized by most Charlotte politicians, has led to protests and confrontations with agents.
As the Charlotte surge enters its fifth day, ripple effects of the arrests are adding to the headaches for many of the city’s companies. Latinos account for 1 out of every 6 Charlotte residents and are a key part of Charlotte’s workforce — and their spending helps keep other businesses afloat.