Home Depots Across L.A. Turned Battleground in New ICE Raid Phase

(LOS ANGELES) Federal immigration agents staged a high-profile raid at a Home Depot in the Westlake neighborhood on August 6, 2025, detaining workers outside the store with a rented Penske truck in an operation officials called “Operation Trojan Horse.” Sixteen people from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua were arrested, according to statements from federal authorities and legal groups.

The action quickly set off legal alarms because it came days after a federal appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order (TRO) that restricts broad immigration stops and bans discriminatory tactics across seven Southern California counties, including Los Angeles.

Federal and corporate responses

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the Westlake operation was lawful and “targeted,” but U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) declined further comment beyond the DHS statement. Penske, whose rental truck was used by agents, said it had no role in the operation and reiterated its policy barring the transport of people in a cargo box.

Local officials reacted quickly. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the raid “looks like the exact same thing that we were seeing” before the TRO and said the city is considering “all legal options” to enforce the court’s order.

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California and the United Farm Workers, both plaintiffs in the class action that led to the TRO, are investigating whether the Home Depot operation violated the court’s restrictions. The TRO, issued in July and upheld by a federal appeals court on August 1, 2025, prohibits racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement and was crafted to limit broader stops that often hit day laborer sites like big-box store parking lots. Legal teams say they have “serious concerns” about the tactics used at Westlake.

Legal limits collide with street-level tactics

The clash between court orders and federal field operations is now front and center.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized the federal position:

“The enforcement of federal law is not negotiable, and there are no sanctuaries from the reach of the federal government.”

Immigration advocates counter that the TRO sets clear limits and that anything resembling sweep-style detentions—especially at Home Depot sites where day laborers seek work—could trigger further court action. VisaVerge.com reports that disputes often turn on whether agents targeted specific individuals based on admissible information or relied on broad assumptions tied to race or perceived nationality.

Potential legal consequences

• If investigators find TRO violations at the Westlake Home Depot, attorneys could seek sanctions or additional court orders.
• Analysts predict more litigation if similar operations continue across Los Angeles County and the six neighboring counties covered by the TRO.
• DHS has not signaled any pullback, suggesting continued tension between federal agencies and local governments that view these tactics as harmful to public trust.

Safety and public-health concerns

The raid also sharpened safety concerns. Community groups have documented people running from enforcement scenes; in one case, a man fleeing an ICE raid at a Home Depot was struck and killed on the 210 Freeway. Advocates say these operations can trigger panic that puts workers, bystanders, and drivers at risk.

City officials have asked federal agencies to coordinate in ways that avoid chaos and to obey the court’s rules against discriminatory stops.

Protests, boycotts, and on-the-ground effects

Within days, hundreds of protesters rallied at MacArthur Park and other sites, calling for a boycott of Home Depot and accusing the company of allowing its parking lots to become enforcement staging grounds. A “Boycott Home Depot Coalition” of about 50 organizations led marches and demanded stronger safeguards for day laborers.

Home Depot has not been publicly accused of helping federal agents, but the company faces mounting pressure to take visible steps to protect customers and workers who gather near its stores for jobs.

Immediate impacts on day laborers

• Many are skipping public hiring spots, losing daily income, or seeking work through texts and private networks.
• Legal hotlines are busy; some families are weighing self-deportation.
• Fear is shaping routine choices—where to shop, which bus line to take, whether to send a child to an activity—especially in neighborhoods where enforcement vehicles have appeared without warning.

Community organizations and legal groups are urging anyone affected by enforcement actions to document encounters and seek help. The City of Los Angeles Office of Immigrant Affairs is directing residents to legal aid, while the ACLU Foundation of Southern California and United Farm Workers are collecting reports to assess compliance with the TRO.

Federal agencies, for their part, emphasize their authority and point to internal guidance on targeted arrests.

Typical sequence of these raids

Officials and legal practitioners say the current cycle of raids often unfolds in predictable steps:

1. Agents arrive—sometimes in unmarked vehicles or rental trucks—at Home Depot locations where day laborers gather.
2. Officers conduct “targeted” detentions of people they suspect are undocumented.
3. Detainees are processed on-site or taken to federal facilities for immigration proceedings.
4. Legal observers and community groups document events, check for possible violations of the court order, and connect affected individuals with counsel.

The Westlake operation follows a long history of enforcement at big-box parking lots, which have served as informal job centers for years. Advocates note that under President Trump, tactics at these sites grew more aggressive. The new TRO reflects an effort by courts to set guardrails on how and where agents can conduct stops. Whether those guardrails hold in the field will likely be tested in the coming weeks.

What comes next

As investigations proceed, the city may ask a judge for stronger protections at public gathering points, including Home Depot lots. Federal agencies have indicated no plans to scale back efforts, leaving workers in a bind:

• Avoid known hiring hubs and lose income, or
• Show up and risk detention.

Legal counsel warns that panic can make bad situations worse—running can lead to injuries or traffic deaths, as Los Angeles already witnessed.

For now, the most practical guidance shared by community advocates is:

• Stay informed about the TRO’s protections.
• Seek legal advice quickly if a loved one is detained.
• Report enforcement encounters to trusted organizations.

Official statements and policy updates from DHS are available at **https://www.dhs.gov**, which also links to agency contacts and public notices. City-based immigrant affairs offices and nonprofit legal clinics remain key points of support.

What happens next could shape enforcement patterns well beyond Los Angeles. If courts find that Operation Trojan Horse strayed outside the TRO’s boundaries, the result could be tighter rules for future actions at retail parking lots. If the raid is deemed compliant, federal agencies may feel emboldened to repeat similar tactics at other Home Depot locations across Southern California.

Either way, the most affected are those who stand on sidewalks each morning hoping for a day’s pay—and now weighing every step they take.