In Los Fresnos, Texas, there’s a small bakery that almost everyone in town loves – Abby’s Bakery. People go there every morning to get sweet bread, drink coffee, and see their neighbors. Some people go before work, others after church. It’s just that kind of place — warm, friendly, and full of good smells.

Until the bakery was closed, and no one knew exactly why at first. Then word got around: the owners and some workers had been arrested. Government agents came early in the morning and took them away. People were shocked and sad. They didn’t expect something like that to happen in their small town. The owners, Mr. Báez and Ms. Avila-Guel, had green cards, which means they were allowed to live and work in the U.S. But some of their workers didn’t have the right papers to work. The government said the owners broke the law by hiring them.

Still, many people in town said the owners weren’t trying to do anything bad. They were just helping people who needed a job. “It wasn’t about breaking rules,” said one man who came to the bakery that day and found it closed. “They were kind. They gave people a chance.”

The bakery stayed closed for weeks. People missed it. Some even came just to stand outside and show support. One night, about 20 people held signs and said they wanted the bakery to come back. Father Briseño, a local priest, used to stop by before church every Sunday for his favorite pastry. He said a woman came running to him, crying, when her brother was taken away by the agents.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the bakery opened again a few weeks ago. It’s not exactly the same — some of the workers are gone, and people still talk about what happened. But the smell of fresh bread is back. The doors are open. The regulars are smiling again.

Abby’s Bakery is more than just a place to get food. It’s part of the town. It’s part of what makes Los Fresnos feel like home.