The Pomona community has been engulfed in concern and outrage following a federal raid at a local Home Depot, resulting in the detainment of approximately 15-20 day laborers. The Tuesday morning incident saw Border Patrol agents, arriving in both marked and unmarked vehicles, surrounding the store's parking lot and subsequently arresting these individuals, as per KTLA's coverage.
With a backdrop of confusion and fear, videos emerged showing the workers sitting on the sidewalk, encircled by the agents. A witness, Carlos, described the emotional scene, recounting to KTLA, "I arrived here and when I started seeing the scene, I started crying. We’re here, we’re human beings, we’re only here to support ourselves and to maintain our families." In the wake of the surprising raid, numerous community members, alongside immigrant rights advocates, rallied against the targeting, rumored but yet unconfirmed by the Border Patrol as being behind the raid, of individuals who were merely seeking work to support their families.
While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has remained silent on the matter, refusing to comment according to NBC4, and claimed the agency was not a part of the operation, the impact on the community has been tangible. Lawyers like Jessica Bansal from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network have been quick to remind those detained and others at risk that they have rights, stating, "You have the right, everyone has the right – citizen or noncitizen – to remain silent. You don’t have to answer questions from immigration officers. Everyone has the right to speak to an attorney."
In response to community fears, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis ensured quick action and support for those affected. Demonstrating in the popular parking lot, she directed the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs to partner with the Pomona Day Labor Center to secure resources for the detained individuals. Solis was quoted in FOX 11 and other sources saying, "While this remains a developing situation, I want to reaffirm my unwavering commitment to ensuring that all residents, regardless of their immigration status, are aware of and can exercise their constitutional rights." Meanwhile, unaffected by the actions of law enforcement, the Pomona Police Department clarified on social media that they play no role in immigration enforcement and that they had no prior knowledge of the federal operation.
The exact reasons for the detentions remain unclear, as does the affiliation of the officers involved in the operation.
