Manager Adam Maaroufi had just started his Saturday shift at Nazo’s Mediterranean Bowls and Salads in Charlotte when he said he saw at least three agents in two black SUVs corner a man outside.

The agents appeared to ask the man about his immigration status, Maaroufi told a Charlotte Observer reporter at the restaurant in the 8300 block of Pineville-Matthews Road. Then he saw agents stop five or six other men walking in the nearby Walmart parking lot, he said.

At least one of the agents wore all-black clothing, he said.

Similar scenes played out in other parts of Charlotte, Pineville and Matthews on Saturday as masked federal agents detained and arrested people, sparking community outrage. Many businesses along Central Avenue in Charlotte closed for the day as a result.

The U.S. Border Patrol has not said how many agents arrived in the city from Chicago or how long they plan to stay. Their operation started in the morning. It was not clear exactly which federal agencies were involved.

Maaroufi said agents appeared to approach people at random in the Walmart parking lot.

“It looks like they just walked up to them and said, ‘Hey, you,’” Maaroufi said.

At one point, “I thought one of the guys was even approaching me, you know,” he said.

It all happened so quickly, Maaroufi said.

“They were out within five minutes,” he said. “Just very, very rough to watch.”

This story was originally publishedNovember 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM.

Joe Marusak

The Charlotte Observer

704-358-5067

Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news.Support my work with a digital subscription