In a surprising turn of events on Tuesday morning, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a roundup of day laborers seeking work outside a Home Depot in Pomona, California. Reports indicate that between 15 and 20 individuals were apprehended during the incident, which occurred around 8:30 a.m.

Response from Community Leaders

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis responded to the incident by directing her office to collaborate with the Pomona Day Labor Center. “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,” Solis stated.

Impact on Day Laborers

One day laborer, who managed to evade detention, described the emotional toll of the raid in an interview with ABC7 News. “I arrived here, and when I started seeing the scene, I started crying. The tears started leaving,” he expressed in Spanish. “We are here. We are human beings. We’re only here to support ourselves and maintain our families.”

Community Reaction and Support Initiatives

Immigrant rights organizations were swift to criticize the operation, emphasizing that seeking employment is not a crime. The Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, a nonprofit group assisting day laborers, released a statement urging community members to report ICE activities. They encouraged vigilance and solidarity by stating, “Please stay vigilant and spread power, not fear.”

Official Statements

ICE has not provided specific comments regarding the operation, citing the nature of its work and the volume of inquiries it receives. The Pomona Police Department confirmed that a federal immigration action took place but clarified that they had no prior knowledge of the ICE operation and do not engage in immigration enforcement affairs.

“Pomona PD was not involved in the detainment of individuals near Home Depot today and did not collaborate with any federal agencies on their operation,” the department noted in a statement.

Context of Increased Immigration Enforcement

President Donald Trump has voiced intentions to increase immigration enforcement across the country. With an estimated 11 million to 15 million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S. and over 2 million in California alone, many are left wondering whether Southern California could see more large-scale ICE operations in the future.

Recent Trends and Prior Actions

Recent ICE activities have included several high-profile operations in cities like Chicago and New York. The agency has also conducted targeted raids in the Los Angeles area earlier this year, raising concerns about the potential for escalated enforcement in local communities.