People swept up while waiting for day work in Los Angeles, CA
Stories describe ICE and Border Patrol agents detaining day laborers waiting for work outside Los Angeles-area Home Depot stores, along with related arrests at a Metro stop and a Concord parking lot. Reports describe masked agents, use of force, tear gas, a brandished handgun, and people—including U.S. citizens—injured, bloodied, or held without medical care. This pattern was first documented in June 2025, became recurring that same month, peaked in June 2025, and has since made up a smaller share of reported cases.
Recurring since Jun 2025. Shrinking as a share of recent stories.
Share of each month's well-documented stories, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Volume is not shown: coverage grew over the record, shares did not have to.
10 stories in 1 state. What accompanies this practice →
California
Day laborers detained by ICE at Concord Home Depot, whereabouts unknownUp to five day laborers waiting for work were detained by agents in an early-morning raid on a Concord Home Depot parking lot; their names and whereabouts remain unknown.Los Angeles, CA · Sep 23, 2026 · NBC San Diego, NBC Los Angeles, KQED
Over 500 day laborers detained by ICE at Los Angeles Home DepotsMore than 500 day laborers seeking work outside Los Angeles Home Depot stores have been detained since 2025, as raids expanded to construction sites, traffic lights and coffee shops.Los Angeles, CA · Aug 15, 2026 · El País, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press +2
Erwin: Guatemalan day laborer faces homelessness, ICE raids at Los Angeles Home DepotErwin, 31, a Guatemalan tractor driver and father of two, lost his job and apartment and now sleeps in an abandoned wagon while seeking day labor despite constant fear of arrest.Los Angeles, CA · Aug 15, 2026 · El País
Day laborer chased into Home Depot by ICE, taken away bloodiedA day laborer was chased into a Home Depot by ICE agents and led away bloodied and handcuffed, a community organizer who witnessed the arrest said.Los Angeles, CA · Jun 12, 2026 · The Guardian
U.S. citizen father detained in Home Depot raid, agents take 1-year-old daughterA 32-year-old U.S. citizen was detained during a Home Depot raid in Los Angeles while agents drove off in his car with his 1-year-old daughter inside, who returned with a bruised cheek.Los Angeles, California · Nov 5, 2025 · The LA Local, Associated Press, TIME +5
16 arrested at LA Home Depot by Border Patrol despite court orderSixteen people from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua were arrested outside a Los Angeles Home Depot by masked agents using an unmarked Penske truck, despite a court order barring such raids in the region.Los Angeles, CA · Aug 6, 2025 · The Independent, The Guardian, San Francisco Chronicle +2
Job G.: PhD student and US citizen tackled, detained 24 hours while filming ICE raid at Home DepotJob Garcia, 37, a PhD student and U.S. citizen, was tackled and his phone smashed while filming an ICE raid at a Hollywood Home Depot. He was held over 24 hours and is now seeking $1 million in damages.Los Angeles, CA · Jul 3, 2025 · The Guardian, NBC News, The Undercoverist +1
Selena H.R.: Salvadoran taco vendor detained by masked ICE agents in Los AngelesSelena Vanessa Hernández Ramírez, 25, a Salvadoran taco vendor, was detained by masked, unidentified ICE agents outside a Ladera Heights Home Depot on June 23, with agents using tear gas on bystanders who intervened.Los Angeles, CA · Jun 27, 2025 · La República, La Nación, El Tiempo- Diabetic construction worker arrested at Metro stop, held six days without carePedro Vasquez Perdomo, 54, a day laborer managing diabetes in Pasadena for decades, was handcuffed at a Metro stop by masked armed agents and held without medical care for his condition for six days.Los Angeles, CA · Jun 18, 2025 · CourtListener
Two detained at Los Angeles Home Depot as federal agent aims handgunTwo day laborers were detained at a Los Angeles Home Depot where a masked agent aimed a handgun and another used a chemical spray, as an unmarked SUV rolled forward after agents forgot to park it.Los Angeles, CA · June 2025 · ACLU, The Intercept