MONROVIA, CA – An immigration enforcement operation at a Home Depot in Monrovia ended in tragedy Thursday when a man, attempting to flee an ICE raid, was fatally struck on the 210 Freeway.
According to local authorities, a police officer witnessed the raid after receiving reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the area. In the middle of the operation, the victim ran toward the freeway and was hit by a vehicle. He died shortly after at the hospital.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied that the man was being chased by its agents and said they did not know his immigration status. However, community leaders described the raid as “violent and aggressive,” claiming at least 13 workers were detained.
State Assemblymember John Harabedian criticized the operation, stating, “Raids like this do not make our streets safer; they instill fear and put lives at risk.”
In recent months, ICE has intensified operations at Home Depot locations and other spots where day laborers gather, as part of a broader nationwide immigration enforcement strategy.
