Home Depot Parking Lots Now Targeted by Immigration Enforcement

In the sprawling parking lots of Home Depot stores across Southern California, a familiar routine for undocumented day laborers—gathering at dawn in hopes of securing work—has turned into a high-stakes gamble.

Masked federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol have conducted multiple raids this summer, detaining workers and sparking widespread fear, protests, and even a fatal accident.

These operations, part of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown, are unfolding against a backdrop of economic strain from recent wildfires and tariff-induced rises in building material costs, which have already reduced job opportunities for these laborers.

As of August 24, 2025, reports indicate ongoing activity, with recent detentions at locations like North Hollywood and Alhambra, where activists and volunteers are mobilizing to warn workers and document encounters.

Critics argue these raids violate court orders against racial profiling and exacerbate trauma in immigrant communities, while supporters view them as necessary enforcement of immigration laws targeting non-violent individuals.

Federal agents have targeted Home Depot parking lots in areas including Van Nuys, Monrovia, Pasadena, Pomona, and North Hollywood, often using unmarked vehicles or rental trucks in tactics dubbed “Trojan Horse” operations.

On August 15, 2025, a woman was detained outside a Los Angeles Home Depot, highlighting the ongoing intensity of these efforts.

Earlier, on August 9, agents raided a Van Nuys location twice in one day, detaining multiple laborers despite a court order restricting such actions based on race.

In North Hollywood, about 20 day laborers were detained on August 11, with video footage capturing the scene.

More recently, on August 22, an ICE raid at the North Hollywood Home Depot on Sherman Way resulted in 4-8 arrests, as shared in social media videos.

Similar incidents occurred in Alhambra, where workers were reportedly slammed to the ground by masked agents.

These raids have deterred many laborers from showing up, emptying lots that once bustled with activity.

Home Depot, which has faced calls from groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to limit ICE presence on its properties, has remained largely silent, stating it is not notified in advance and must comply with federal laws.

Tragic Death Amid Fleeing Raid

The human cost of these operations came into sharp focus with the death of Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, a 52-year-old Guatemalan day laborer and father, on August 15, 2025.

Montoya fled from agents during a raid at a Monrovia Home Depot, running onto the nearby 210 Freeway where he was struck and killed by a vehicle.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that Montoya was not being pursued at the time of his death.

Family and advocates described him as a hardworking individual seeking a better life, not a criminal.

A vigil was held, with his niece, Mariela Mendez, emphasizing his aspirations.

Monrovia Mayor Becky Shevlin lamented the “tragic and unnecessary death,” calling for focus on violent criminals without endangering public safety.

Fellow laborers like Jose, who knew Montoya for five years, expressed heartbreak but continued returning to the site out of necessity.

Another worker, Felipe, recalled Montoya’s happiness just before the incident and noted dwindling job opportunities due to wildfires, tariffs, and enforcement fears.

Voices from the Ground

Day laborers, many speaking anonymously due to deportation fears, shared stories of desperation.

Arturo, a 25-year U.S. resident with two teenage children, regrets not pursuing citizenship earlier, citing costs up to $15,000 and long waits.

He works six days a week to support his family, viewing the risks as outweighed by survival needs: “All you can do is work to survive.

Immigration or no, people come out because they have to eat.”

The local economy’s recovery from January 2025 wildfires, which destroyed over 15,000 structures and killed at least 27, has been hampered by Trump’s tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, raising building material costs like lumber by 25-40% per house.

This has led to fewer construction jobs, with laborers like Felipe noting a shift from abundant opportunities to scarce hours.

Activists from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), like Nancy Meza, patrol lots to alert workers via group chats.

Protests have erupted, including rallies on August 6 in Pasadena and ongoing demonstrations against the raids.

Human Rights Watch has accused LA police of “deliberate brutality” in handling protesters.

Criticism for Enforcement

Critics, including immigrant rights groups, argue the raids terrorize communities, instill fear, and risk lives without enhancing safety.

They point to violations of court orders and excessive force, with one U.S. citizen, Job Garcia, detained for over 24 hours after filming a raid, leading to a $1 million lawsuit.

Senator Patty Murray has called for focusing on violent criminals, not “law-abiding, taxpaying immigrant workers.”

Community Resilience and Calls for Change

As raids continue, volunteers provide support, and communities rally.

NDLON urges Home Depot to defend workers, while broader economic pressures from tariffs—projected to cost California households $25 billion and 64,000 jobs—compound the challenges.

California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have sued over tariffs’ legality, arguing they harm recovery efforts.

For day laborers, the choice remains stark: risk arrest or forgo income in an unforgiving economy.

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