On April 25, 2025, a coordinated law enforcement raid targeting Moon Auto Collision, a family-owned auto body shop in Pomona, California, ignited a firestorm of controversy.
The operation, involving Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Special Response Team, was described as a narcotics-related search warrant execution.
However, the heavy-handed approach and its timing—following a series of immigration enforcement actions in the area—prompted swift backlash from immigration watchdog groups, local leaders, and the community.
The Raid: What Happened at Moon Auto Collision?
At approximately 6 a.m. on April 25, 2025, heavily armed law enforcement officers descended on Moon Auto Collision, located in the 200 block of Holt Avenue in Pomona.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, eukaryotes: The operation was led by the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau, with support from Homeland Security’s Special Response Team.
While officials stated the raid was to serve a “narcotics-related search warrant,” specific details about the investigation, including whether arrests were made or evidence was seized, remain undisclosed.
The owner of Moon Auto Collision, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation, described the raid as “terrifying” for their family-owned business.
“We’re being terrorized,” they told local media, emphasizing the shop’s longstanding presence in the community.
The operation’s scale—featuring tactical gear and drawn weapons—left employees and nearby residents shaken.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage provided to NBC Los Angeles showed a significant law enforcement presence, with officers surrounding the business in what some described as an intimidating display.
The lack of transparency from authorities about the raid’s outcomes has fueled speculation and distrust among Pomona residents.
Community Reaction: Fear, Anger, and Mobilization
The raid on Moon Auto Collision did not occur in isolation.
It followed a series of high-profile immigration enforcement actions in Pomona, including the detention of a 58-year-old barbershop owner, Martin Majin-Leon, and the arrest of 15–20 day laborers at a nearby Home Depot parking lot just days earlier on April 22, 2025.
These incidents, attributed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have heightened fears in Pomona’s immigrant-heavy communities.
Immigration watchdog groups, including the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, quickly mobilized. Within hours of the auto shop raid, activists organized protests outside Moon Auto Collision, condemning what they called “indiscriminate targeting” of hardworking immigrants. “This is about tearing families apart, not public safety,” said Lizbeth Abeln, deputy director of the Inland Coalition.
Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval was on the scene, promising to seek answers from law enforcement. “We need transparency,” Sandoval stated in a live-streamed video by MDMEDIA18. “The community deserves to know why this happened.” His presence underscored the political sensitivity of the issue in a city with a significant Latino population.
Contextualizing the Raid: A Pattern of Enforcement
The Moon Auto Collision raid is part of a broader escalation of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has vowed to execute “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”
Since January 2025, federal agencies have ramped up operations nationwide, with 956 arrests reported in a single week in January, including some in nearby San Diego.
In Pomona, the April 22 Home Depot raid targeted day laborers, many of whom were undocumented but had no criminal records.
Witnesses described Border Patrol agents using marked and unmarked vehicles to round up workers, prompting accusations of racial profiling.
Similarly, Martin Majin-Leon, a father of seven who had owned his barbershop for over 20 years, was detained at gunpoint for an immigration violation from two decades prior.
He was released after 30 hours, but his family’s ordeal galvanized local advocacy efforts.
These actions have drawn sharp criticism from California officials.
Senator Alex Padilla condemned the operations as “denying due process” and targeting “immigrants who contribute to our economy.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis allocated $5.5 million to RepresentLA, a program providing legal aid to immigrants, and directed the county’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to support those affected in Pomona.
Sheriff’s Department Response: Denying Immigration Involvement
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has sought to distance itself from immigration enforcement narratives.
Sheriff Chad Bianco, in a February 2025 statement, insisted that his agency “does not engage in immigration enforcement,” calling such reports “simply not true.”
He emphasized cooperation with ICE only for removing undocumented individuals with criminal records from jails, while criticizing California’s sanctuary laws as “dangerous.”
However, the involvement of Homeland Security’s Special Response Team in the Moon Auto Collision raid has muddied the waters.
Critics argue that the line between narcotics investigations and immigration enforcement is increasingly blurred, especially when federal agencies are involved.
The lack of clarity about the raid’s outcomes has only deepened community skepticism.
Economic and Social Impacts on Pomona
Pomona, a working-class city in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley, relies heavily on its immigrant workforce, including day laborers and small business owners like those at Moon Auto Collision.
The recent enforcement actions threaten to disrupt local economies and fray community trust.
Day laborers, many of whom returned to the Home Depot parking lot days after the April 22 raid, expressed defiance mixed with fear.
“We come to work, not to cause trouble,” said Juan Carlos, a 20-year-old laborer.
“But at any moment, we could be taken.”
The Pomona Economic Opportunity Center has urged laborers to know their rights and contact their hotline (909-361-4588) if detained.
Business owners, meanwhile, fear reputational damage and financial losses. Moon Auto Collision’s owner highlighted the shop’s contributions to the community, noting, “This is our livelihood.
We’re not criminals.”
The raid’s fallout could deter customers and employees, compounding economic strain in a city already grappling with post-pandemic recovery.
National Context: Immigration Policy and Public Opinion
The Pomona raids reflect a national debate over immigration policy.
A recent Associated Press survey found that 46% of Americans approve of President Trump’s handling of immigration, though his overall approval rating lags behind.
Immigration remains a polarizing issue, with supporters of strict enforcement citing public safety and economic concerns, while opponents highlight the human cost and contributions of undocumented immigrants.
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance, including a declared national emergency at the southern border, has emboldened federal agencies.
Yet, incidents like the Pomona raids risk alienating moderate voters and galvanizing immigrant rights movements, particularly in liberal strongholds like California, home to an estimated 2 million undocumented immigrants.
What’s Next for Pomona?
As Pomona grapples with the aftermath, several developments are anticipated:
- Investigations and Accountability: Mayor Sandoval and Senator Padilla have vowed to press for answers from federal and county authorities. Community groups are demanding body camera footage and detailed reports on the raid’s justification and outcomes.
- Legal Support: Programs like RepresentLA are expanding to provide free legal representation to those detained, while advocacy groups are educating residents on their constitutional rights.
- Community Organizing: The Inland Coalition and other groups are planning further rallies and know-your-rights workshops to empower residents and counter fear.
- Policy Debates: The raids are likely to intensify calls for immigration reform, with California lawmakers pushing back against federal overreach.
How to Stay Informed and Get Involved
For those concerned about the situation in Pomona, here are actionable steps:
- Contact Advocacy Groups: Reach out to the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice or the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (909-361-4588) for updates or to report raids.
- Support Legal Aid: Donate to or volunteer with RepresentLA to help fund legal representation for immigrants.
- Engage Locally: Attend city council meetings or rallies to voice concerns and demand transparency from officials.
- Stay Updated: Follow trusted local outlets like ABC7 Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Times for breaking news.
Why this matters
The raid on Moon Auto Collision has exposed deep tensions in Pomona, a city caught between federal enforcement priorities and its commitment to its diverse residents.
While law enforcement defends the operation as a narcotics investigation, the lack of transparency and its timing amid immigration sweeps have fueled accusations of overreach and intimidation.
As the community rallies, the incident underscores the urgent need for clarity, compassion, and reform in how immigration and law enforcement intersect.
Pomona’s story is not just local—it’s a microcosm of a nation wrestling with its identity and values.
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