A Bakery's Pause: Facing Fear in the Immigration Crackdown

Cristina Rojas, a new U. S. citizen, has hit pause on her bakery in Charlotte. The Batchmaker is temporarily closed, not because of a lack of customers, but because of fear. Rojas became a citizen just this year, but that hasn't stopped her from feeling the chill of the current immigration climate. Rojas isn't just worried about her business. She's worried about her community. The Department of Homeland Security has been on a roll, arresting over 200 people in what they call "Operation Charlotte's Web. " The raids have spread to Raleigh too, with DHS saying they're targeting the "worst of the worst. " But to Rojas, it feels different. She sees herself in the people being detained, in those too scared to go to work or school. "I see myself through the people that are being terrorized, " she said. Being a citizen doesn't make her feel safe. It doesn't change who she is or where she comes from. She's Hispanic. She's an immigrant. And she's not alone in feeling this way. Students in Charlotte have been walking out of class to protest the raids. On Monday, over 30, 000 students were absent, about 22% of the entire district. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has criticized the tactics, saying they're not about public safety. "They're just sweeping sidewalks, they're sweeping parking lots, " he said. "This is causing widespread fear. " Rojas is taking it day by day, only doing pick-ups for regular customers. She knows there's a price to pay for closing her bakery, but she's not willing to risk her family's safety. "I don't think there's a price I am willing to pay to risk it, " she said. It's a tough choice, but for Rojas, it's the only one she can make.