ICE Detains Day Laborers in Pomona Home Depot Raid
Immigrant rights groups respond to federal enforcement action
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted an operation at a Home Depot parking lot in Pomona, California, detaining between 15 to 20 day laborers, according to witnesses. The enforcement action occurred around 8 a.m. on Tuesday when agents in both marked and unmarked vehicles reportedly rounded up workers who had gathered seeking employment. The federal operation has drawn attention from community organizations who have mobilized in response to the detentions.
Immigrant advocacy groups including the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the National Day Labor Organizing Network quickly organized an emergency press conference following the incident. Representatives urged undocumented community members to know their legal rights, including the right to remain silent and request an attorney when detained. The organizations also established a contact number for families of those detained to seek assistance with their cases.
KEY POINTS
- •ICE detains 15-20 day laborers
- •Advocacy groups mobilize in response
- •Home Depot denies involvement in raid
Witnesses described the emotional impact of the enforcement action on the day laborer community. One worker who avoided detention expressed distress at seeing fellow laborers taken into custody, stating through an interpreter that they were simply seeking work to support their families. Advocates characterized the operation as targeting individuals pursuing legitimate employment opportunities at a known day labor gathering location.
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