On Tuesday morning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP agents conducted a raid at a Home Depot parking lot in Pomona, California, detaining between 10 and 20 day laborers gathered outside the store. The operation, which began around 8:30 a.m., involved both marked and unmarked vehicles and has ignited widespread concern among immigrant communities and advocates.
Witnesses reported that agents swiftly approached the workers, many of whom were seeking day jobs, and began making arrests without prior warning. While initial reports attributed the raid to Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE, the agency later clarified that it was not involved, directing inquiries to the U.S. Border Patrol. A Department of Homeland Security official confirmed that 10 individuals were arrested during the enforcement action, though advocates had estimated up to 25 detentions.
The timing of the raid has raised additional concerns, as it comes amid ongoing recovery efforts following the devastating January firestorms in Los Angeles County. Many of the detained workers were believed to be contributing to rebuilding projects, and their sudden removal could hinder progress in affected areas.
In a related incident, surveillance footage revealed that Martin MajinLeon, a longtime Pomona resident and business owner, was detained by federal agents outside his barber shop on the same day as the Home Depot raid. MajinLeon, who has lived in the U.S. since 1987 and previously faced deportation in 2009, had returned to the country and established a stable life with his family. His sudden detention has left his family distressed and seeking answers from authorities.
The Pomona raid is part of a broader pattern of increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has prioritized crackdowns on undocumented workers. Similar operations have occurred in other cities, including a recent raid at Ocean Seafood Depot in Newark, New Jersey, where multiple individuals, including U.S. citizens and a military veteran, were detained without warrants.
These actions have sparked criticism from local officials and advocacy groups, who argue that such raids violate constitutional rights and sow fear within immigrant communities. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the warrantless detentions as egregious and a violation of the Fourth Amendment, emphasizing the need to protect civil liberties.
As the debate over immigration enforcement intensifies, the Pomona incident underscores the human impact of these policies, particularly on communities striving to recover from natural disasters and economic challenges. Advocates continue to call for transparency, accountability, and a reevaluation of enforcement strategies that prioritize community wellbeing and constitutional protections.