California Bill Aims to Track Immigration Raids at Retail Stores

A stalemate between immigration enforcement officials and Home Depot over raids on day laborers at its stores has led to a compromise bill in California. In August 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shifted tactics to target places where migrants congregate, including Home Depot parking lots.

The change in tactics resulted in several violent incidents, including the death of Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, who was struck by a vehicle while fleeing immigration enforcement in Los Angeles. Advocates for the day laborers had hoped to work with Home Depot to address the fear and intimidation caused by these raids.

However, a September 2025 meeting between Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, National Day Laborer Organizing Network representatives, and Home Depot executives ended in stalemate, as the company refused to acknowledge immigration enforcement actions at its stores or provide information about locations where raids occurred. The NDLON general counsel, Chris Newman, expressed frustration that the company's silence was a 'political calculation'.

Nearly a year later, state Sen. Sasha Pérez introduced SB 1103, a bill requiring large retail stores to preserve and provide documentation of immigration enforcement activity when requested by California authorities. The initial version of the bill placed a significant burden on retailers, but after months of negotiation, lawmakers eliminated daily reporting requirements and shifted responsibility for tracking enforcement activity to local and state agencies.

The amended bill has been praised by Pérez as a 'first in the nation' effort to better track immigration raids. However, the California Retailers Association remains opposed to the bill, citing concerns about potential misuse of records requests. Home Depot declined to comment on its position regarding the legislation.