Calls Grow for Oversight After Home Depot Immigration Raid in Los Angeles

(Federal agents arrested 16 undocumented people in an early morning raid at a Home Depot on August 6, 2025, sparking fast pushback from immigrant advocates and city leaders.) The operation, called “Operation Trojan Horse,” used a rented Penske truck to approach day laborers in the Westlake/MacArthur Park area.

Officials say Border Patrol agents posed as employers and then detained workers who gathered for jobs. The arrests targeted people from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The raid comes days after a federal appeals court kept in place limits on indiscriminate immigration stops in Southern California, setting up a high-stakes legal clash.

What happened at the store

• Agents arrived in a Penske rental truck, with backup in unmarked vans.
• The driver asked for workers; when people approached, agents jumped out and detained them.
• DHS confirmed 16 arrests. Advocacy groups say some detainees tried to show asylum papers but were taken anyway.
• Witnesses estimated 15 to 30 agents were on site.

Both companies named in the incident moved to distance themselves:

• Penske issued a public rebuke, saying it didn’t authorize use of its vehicles to carry people in cargo areas and would reinforce policies with DHS.
• Home Depot said it receives no advance notice of raids and sent new guidance to store teams to report immigration enforcement incidents immediately. Some locations are allowing affected workers to leave with pay.

Why legality is in dispute

A July 11 order by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, later upheld by the Ninth Circuit, restricts federal agents from using race, language, job, or location as a reason to stop people. Civil rights lawyers say the tactic seen outside Home Depot resembles a “roving patrol” and may violate that order and the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The federal government has filed an emergency appeal asking the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the limits. Two possible scenarios follow:

1. If the Court grants the request: agents could resume wider stops and undercover operations.
2. If the Court denies the request: enforcement in California would face stricter guardrails and require more individualized suspicion and warrants.

What officials and groups are saying

• U.S. Border Patrol (Sector Chief Greg Bovino): “We’re not leaving,” signaling continued enforcement.
• Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli: “The enforcement of federal law is not negotiable and there are no sanctuaries from the reach of the federal government.”
• Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass: The city is trying to confirm exactly what happened and noted the tactics appear similar to those the court restricted.
• Advocacy groups (Union del Barrio, Los Angeles Tenants Union): Condemned the operation, saying day laborers and street vendors were detained, including people with asylum claims.
• ACLU and Public Counsel: Argue the raid likely crossed legal lines and undermines trust with immigrant communities.

Key takeaway: The incident highlights tension between federal enforcement priorities and local civil-rights protections, especially in public hiring zones.

How this affects workers, families, and businesses

The raid revived fear among immigrant families who rely on day work in big-box store parking lots. People with legal status also feel shaken, worried about being stopped based on appearance or language. Contractors and homeowners who hire day laborers reported delays and confusion.

Businesses are changing policies. Home Depot’s updated guidance includes:

• Immediate reporting of immigration incidents to corporate security.
• Clear instructions for managers on how to respond without interfering.
• Support options for affected employees, including the option to leave with pay at some stores.

Lawyers advise employers to prepare simple, written response plans that:

• Identify a point person for any law enforcement contact.
• Ask agents to present a judicial warrant signed by a judge before entering non-public areas.
• Avoid collecting extra personal data from workers that could be used for removals.
• Offer paid time to leave if staff feel unsafe.

Legal background and what’s next

Since June 2025, Los Angeles has seen a surge in enforcement, including deployment of the National Guard and Marines for more than a month. The July court order, upheld by the Ninth Circuit, aims to stop racial profiling and roving patrols. The current administration has asked the Supreme Court to review and potentially loosen those limits.

Possible outcomes:

• Supreme Court lifts the ban: More aggressive raids, including undercover employer ruses, could return quickly.
• Ban stays in place: Agents would need individualized suspicion and warrants; expect more litigation over tactics.

Practical guidance for people at risk

• Carry copies of any lawful status or pending asylum documents, but know that papers don’t always prevent detention.
• You have the right to remain silent. Say: “I choose to remain silent,” and ask for a lawyer.
• Don’t sign forms you don’t understand; ask for help from a trusted legal aid group.
• If agents come to a home, ask them to slide a warrant under the door—a warrant signed by a judge is needed to enter a private home without consent.
• Families should prepare a simple safety plan: emergency contacts, childcare backups, and copies of key documents in a safe place.

For official policy information, see the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website, which explains enforcement priorities and agency contacts. Community groups tracking enforcement say transparency remains limited and urge reporting incidents to civil rights organizations.

Legal relief and next steps for detainees

Advocates remind people that some detained individuals may qualify for relief, including:

• Asylum
• Withholding of removal
• Protection under the Convention Against Torture
• Possible bond eligibility

Practical points:

• Anyone placed in removal proceedings will receive a Notice to Appear.
• Eligible people may later use forms like Form I-589 for asylum, but should seek legal advice before filing and obtain current forms from official government sites.

Why the tactic struck a nerve

Using a disguised truck outside a site known for day labor hiring raises sharp concerns. People gather near these stores because small contractors and homeowners hire on the spot. When enforcement uses employer ruses, it:

• Blurs lines between public safety and deception.
• Pushes workers into hidden, riskier spaces where exploitation can grow.
• Causes immediate economic harm (street vendors reported staying home the day after the raid, losing income used for rent and food).

Community response and oversight ideas

Local leaders and groups propose measures to balance enforcement and civil rights:

• Independent review of undercover operations in public hiring areas.
• Clear federal guidance to avoid racial profiling and indiscriminate sweeps.
• Retailer protocols that protect customers and employees while complying with lawful warrants.
• City funds for rapid legal aid and family support after raids.
• Data reporting on stops and arrests, broken down by location and basis for detention.

What we know in numbers

The bottom line

Operation Trojan Horse has become a test of where enforcement ends and civil rights begin. As the Supreme Court weighs emergency arguments, immigrants, employers, and city officials brace for the next move. For now:

• Families should plan;
• Businesses should train staff and create response plans;
• Everyone should document what they see and report incidents, because the coming hours and days may shape enforcement in California—and beyond.