On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the quiet city of Pomona, California, was thrust into the national spotlight following a series of immigration enforcement actions that ignited widespread controversy.
Among the incidents, the detention of 58-year-old Martin Majin-Leon, a beloved father and barbershop owner, outside his business by federal agents captured on surveillance video, became a focal point of outrage.
After a tense 48 hours, Majin-Leon was released from custody on Thursday, April 24, according to his family.
Today we’re diving into the details of the incident, its broader implications, and the community’s response, providing a comprehensive look at a story that has resonated far beyond Pomona.
The Incident: A Father Detained at Gunpoint
Martin Majin-Leon, a 58-year-old undocumented immigrant who has called Pomona home since 1987, was preparing to open his barbershop on Tuesday morning when federal agents descended.
Surveillance footage, widely shared by his son Miguel Majin on social media, shows two federal vehicles boxing in Majin-Leon’s car as he arrived at his business around 9 a.m.
Several agents, some armed, emerged from the vehicles, with at least one briefly pointing a weapon at Majin-Leon as he raised his hands in compliance.
The dramatic scene unfolded in front of the barbershop he has owned with his wife, Rosalba, for over two decades, where they raised their seven children.
The Majin family, unaware of their father’s whereabouts for over 24 hours, grew frantic.
Miguel, who works next door, noticed the shop remained closed past its usual 9 a.m. opening and was unable to reach his father by phone.
“I started knocking on the door,” Miguel told ABC7.
“When he didn’t answer, my concern turned into panic.”
The family’s fears were compounded by Martin’s health conditions—diabetes and high blood pressure—raising concerns about whether he was receiving necessary medication while detained.
It wasn’t until a call from the Mexican Consulate that the family learned Majin-Leon had been taken to a holding facility in Calexico, over 200 miles away.
The lack of communication from federal authorities, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), fueled the family’s distress and amplified community outrage.
A Coordinated Crackdown: The Home Depot Raid
Majin-Leon’s detention coincided with a separate ICE operation that same morning at a nearby Home Depot parking lot, where agents detained 15 to 20 day laborers.
According to CBP, the operation targeted an individual with an active arrest warrant, but nine additional undocumented immigrants were also taken into custody.
The agency noted that several of those apprehended had prior charges, including child abuse, assault with a deadly weapon, immigration violations, and DUI.
The sweep, described by witnesses as aggressive, involved both marked and unmarked vehicles, with agents rounding up workers who were seeking day labor jobs.
The Home Depot raid sparked immediate backlash from local residents and immigrant rights groups.
Alexis Teodoro, workers’ rights director at the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, called the operation “unjust” and “immoral,” emphasizing that the detained workers were “only asking for work.”
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network organized an emergency press conference and rally, condemning ICE’s tactics and urging undocumented individuals to know their rights.
A rapid response hotline (909-361-4588) was activated to support families affected by the raid.
Community Response: Fear, Anger, and Solidarity
The dual incidents in Pomona sent shockwaves through immigrant communities, reigniting fears of widespread deportations under the Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement.
Border Czar Tom Homan had warned in January 2025 that, while the administration prioritized deporting violent criminals, no undocumented immigrant could consider themselves exempt.
The detention of Majin-Leon, a long-time community member with no criminal record, underscored these fears.
Miguel Majin expressed frustration at what he saw as misplaced priorities.
“To criminals, to rapists, to people that really have a bad record, Donald Trump wants to deport those people.
But why my dad?
He is a working man,” he told ABC7.
The family suspects that federal authorities were tipped off after Majin-Leon attempted to renew his driver’s license, updating his address in the process.
“We are confident the DMV is working with Border Patrol,” Miguel said, a claim echoed by community advocates.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles told reporters it was preparing a statement but has not yet confirmed or denied involvement.
Local leaders and activists quickly mobilized.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis issued a statement expressing concern and directing the county’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to connect with the Pomona Day Labor Center to provide resources.
The Pomona Police Department, keen to distance itself from the federal operations, clarified on social media that it had no prior knowledge of the raids and does not conduct immigration enforcement.
At a rally outside the Home Depot, Lizbeth Abeln, deputy director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, declared, “Our people should not be living in fear.”
The sentiment was echoed by a day laborer who narrowly escaped the raid, telling CBS News in Spanish, “We’re here only to find work, to support our families, from wherever they’re from.”
Majin-Leon’s Release: A Temporary Victory
On Thursday, April 24, the Majin family announced that Martin had been released from custody, though details surrounding his release remain scarce.
The family held a press conference that afternoon to share the news and call for accountability. “We’re relieved he’s back with us, but this should never have happened,” Miguel said, according to sources.
The family expressed gratitude to the Mexican Consulate, community advocates, and supporters who amplified their story.
Majin-Leon’s release is a rare moment of relief in a climate of heightened immigration enforcement.
His case highlights the human toll of such operations, particularly for families like the Majins, who have deep roots in their communities.
Martin and Rosalba’s barbershop has been a Pomona fixture for 20 years, and their seven children were raised in the city.
Despite a deportation in 2009 after a green card denial, Majin-Leon returned in 2012 and lived quietly until this week’s events.
Broader Implications: Policy, Privacy, and Public Trust
The Pomona incidents raise critical questions about immigration enforcement, data privacy, and community trust.
The Majin family’s suspicion that the DMV shared information with federal authorities points to ongoing concerns about state agencies’ roles in immigration enforcement.
California’s sanctuary state policies, enacted under SB 54 in 2017, limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, but no such protections explicitly govern DMV data.
Advocates have long warned that driver’s license applications for undocumented immigrants, enabled by AB 60 in 2015, could be exploited by federal agencies.
The operations also underscore the challenges of balancing immigration enforcement with community cohesion.
Pomona, a diverse city of over 150,000, has a significant immigrant population, and raids like those on April 22 risk alienating residents and discouraging cooperation with local authorities.
The Pomona Police Department’s swift denial of involvement reflects an awareness of these tensions.
Nationally, the incidents fuel a polarized debate over immigration policy.
Supporters of strict enforcement argue that operations like those in Pomona are necessary to uphold the rule of law, pointing to CBP’s statement about apprehending individuals with criminal histories.
Critics, however, argue that targeting non-criminal immigrants like Majin-Leon undermines community safety and economic contributions.
A 2019 study by the Center for American Progress estimated that undocumented immigrants contribute a whopping $79.7 billion in taxes annually, including $27 billion in federal taxes and $52.7 billion in state and local taxes.
Looking Ahead: A Community on Edge
As Pomona grapples with the aftermath of Tuesday’s raids, the release of Martin Majin-Leon offers a glimmer of hope but does little to quell broader anxieties.
Immigrant rights groups are calling for increased protections, including stronger safeguards for DMV data and expanded legal support for those detained.
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice has urged residents to report raids to its hotline and is organizing know-your-rights workshops.
For the Majin family, the focus is on healing and advocacy.
Martin’s health remains a concern, and the emotional toll of his detention lingers.
“We knew this was going to happen,” Miguel said, reflecting on the ever-present fear of deportation.
Yet, the family’s resilience and the community’s solidarity have turned their story into a rallying cry.
The events in Pomona are a stark reminder of the human stakes in the immigration debate.
As federal policies evolve, the experiences of families like the Majins will continue to shape the conversation, challenging policymakers and communities to find a path that balances enforcement with compassion.
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