Home Depot in Spotlight as ICE Raids Rise, Sparks Boycott Calls

(CYPRESS PARK, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) A Home Depot parking lot in Cypress Park became the latest flashpoint in a series of ICE raids on November 5, when agents arrested a U.S. citizen father while his one-year-old daughter sat alone in the back seat of his car. Federal officers also detained five immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala during the same operation, citing prior offenses that included DUI, driving without a license, and a previous removal.

The Department of Homeland Security said the father exited his vehicle “wielding a hammer and threw rocks at law enforcement while he had a child in his car.” His family disputes that account.

Family account and legal review

The man’s mother, Maria, described the agents as “masked men, scared, heavily armed,” and said her son was handcuffed outside his vehicle while a bystander recorded part of the encounter on a cell phone.

“My son was taken by masked men, scared, heavily armed ICE agents while my granddaughter remained strapped in her car seat in the back of the vehicle… It just was an awful feeling,” she said.

• As of November 10, the father remains in custody while his legal team reviews possible rights violations during the arrest.
• The case has rapidly become a rallying point for advocates warning of growing enforcement in public-facing retail spaces.

Pattern of operations near Home Depot stores

The Cypress Park incident caps months of stepped-up operations at or near Home Depot locations:

• Riverdale, Georgia (June 2): Masked federal agents arrested at least six day laborers outside a store and loaded them into an unmarked van, according to video shared by reporter Mario Guevara.
• Chicago (Belmont Cragin neighborhood): Activists and elected officials protested outside a Home Depot over the summer, accusing the retailer of failing to protect day laborers who gather near store entrances and parking lots to find work.

Day laborers — many of them immigrants — are frequent targets in these operations, organizers and observers say. While ICE rarely releases full arrest counts tied to specific locations, the Cypress Park raid resulted in the detention of five immigrants in addition to the U.S. citizen father, and the Riverdale tally reached at least six.

The lack of consistent data from authorities has left families, workers, and local officials to piece together the scope of the operations through:

• eyewitness accounts
• legal filings
• community hotlines

Home Depot’s position and critics’ response

Home Depot’s statements after several incidents have been consistent:

• The company says it is not notified about immigration enforcement and is not involved in operations on its properties.
• It states it is “required to follow all federal and local rules and regulations in every market where we operate.”

Critics argue that Home Depot’s silence is no longer neutral. They contend:

• The retailer’s public-facing parking lots have become predictable pickup points for workers.
• The company could use its control over private property to restrict enforcement actions or at least take a visible stand for customer and worker safety.

Pressure from city leaders and community groups

City leaders and community organizations have ramped up public pressure:

• Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes told a crowd in Belmont Cragin: “You need to continue to hold these corporate head folks that benefit and profit out of the hands of immigrants that won’t say a damn thing to protect people that put money in their pockets.”
• Los Angeles advocacy groups have organized vigils and outreach at stores in Cypress Park and Huntington Park, saying armed agents in shopping areas create fear far beyond those arrested.

Effects described by advocates:

• Families shopping for tools and supplies feel intimidated.
• Workers seeking jobs near store entrances face heightened fear and risk.

Legal debate: private property rights vs. federal authority

Immigration attorney Richard T. Herman explained that businesses on private property can refuse entry to federal officers who lack a judicial warrant, yet few corporations assert that power.

Key legal points raised:

• Stores could require officers to present a judge-signed warrant (rather than an administrative document) before entering non-public areas or using private space for enforcement.
• Few corporations, including Home Depot, reportedly make use of that option.

Federal officials say their operations focus on people with prior removals or criminal records and are conducted lawfully.

Organized boycott and advocacy tactics

A nationwide boycott launched in July, led by The People’s Union and president John Schwartz, seeks to pressure Home Depot economically.

Boycott tactics include:

1. Cancel Home Depot credit cards.
2. Close Home Depot accounts.
3. Call customer service at 1-800-466-3337 to explain the decision.

One statement from organizers read: “Home Depot must help keep our immigrant communities and workers SAFE. Until then, we will use the power we know best and that corporations listen to – our collective wallets.”

• Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests boycott campaigns gain momentum when companies remain silent and can push retailers to adopt new policies without new federal rules.

Broader enforcement context and community response

The Trump administration’s interior enforcement push forms the backdrop for these incidents.

• Supporters of tougher enforcement argue that public spaces, including large retail parking lots, are appropriate grounds for arresting people with outstanding orders or criminal histories.
• Opponents warn turning everyday shopping centers into enforcement zones spreads fear and risks detaining U.S. citizens and lawful residents.

In Cypress Park, the clash over the father’s arrest highlights that tension:

• Family members allege racial targeting and escalation by officers.
• Federal officials emphasize their account of threatened force and note that five additional arrests involved people with past offenses.

While the administration has not released formal policy documents naming Home Depot locations, the pattern of ICE raids at the retailer’s stores has continued across several cities this year. The agency says enforcement is part of routine fieldwork by Enforcement and Removal Operations. More information about the program is posted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which describes its focus on arrests, detention, and removals.

Advocates counter that the on-the-ground reality appears less routine: masked agents, unmarked vans, and arrests in view of families and shoppers.

Local outreach and legal follow-up

Back in Los Angeles, community groups are actively responding:

• Visiting Cypress Park and nearby stores to inform workers of their rights.
• Sharing contacts for legal clinics.
• Recording encounters with officials.

Attorneys reviewing the November 5 arrest are examining:

• Whether officers had proper authority to detain and question a U.S. citizen in a retail lot.
• Whether the child’s safety was put at risk during the operation.

The family reports they are still waiting for answers about where the father is being held and what charges, if any, he may face.

What’s at stake for Home Depot and communities

For Home Depot, public debate around these incidents has intensified. Activists argue the company’s brand and role in construction give it extra responsibility to protect day laborers who gather on its property. The retailer maintains it follows the law and is not part of federal operations.

With raids, protests, and calls for a boycott all unfolding in the same parking lots, the central questions remain:

• Will public pressure, legal challenges, or another high-profile arrest force Home Depot to change its approach?
• Or will the status quo hold, even as the holiday shopping season begins?

Important takeaway: The tension between private property rights and federal enforcement, combined with community safety concerns, makes these incidents a focal point for legal, political, and social debate — with consequences for families, workers, and retailers alike.