In California: How Home Depot Became a Target for ICE Raids and Immigration Detentions

In early June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) launched a series of raids in California that resulted in the arrests of more than 8,000 migrants . Many of these arrests occurred at The Home Depot , a gathering place for migrant day laborers.

Over the decades, the retail company has become a traditional meeting point for migrant day laborers, who often gather in the parking lots or in front of stores in search of employment.

After gathering in these spaces, the agency has coordinated raids on multiple Home Depot locations in the Golden State, representing a dispute over immigration enforcement.

“Home Depot, whether you like it or not, is the epicenter of raids,” said Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborers Network, a group representing hundreds of Los Angeles employees.

The latest wave of raids on the retailer began in early August, when a man driving a Penske moving truck in Westlake solicited day laborers .

Minutes later, Border Patrol agents jumped out of the back of the vehicle and began chasing the people. In total, 16 people were arrested.

"They don't just take day laborers. They also take Home Depot customers who look like day laborers and who speak Spanish," Alvarado explained.

Given the increase in arrests at Home Depot, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) pressured the company to establish a policy denying ICE agents entry to its parking lots unless they present a valid court order.

“ Home Depot benefits from the work and communities under attack today . They must decide whether they will be remembered as the ones who protected their customers and communities , or as the ones who remained silent while fear spread in their name,” said Roman Palomares , the organization’s national president.

The company notified CNBC at the end of June. who was not involved in any ICE operations. However, he advised employees to report any incidents related to the agency as soon as they occur, Fortune reported.

The latest report from the Bay Area Council's Economic Institute revealed that of the more than 10 million immigrants in California, approximately 2.28 million are undocumented.

These workers represent 8% of the state's total workforce and contribute nearly 5% of the state's gross domestic product (GDP) , a figure that rises to 9% when indirect economic effects are considered.

With this premise, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network ( NDLON ) maintains that day laborers perform an essential business and community function in the United States .