ICE Raids Home Depot in Phoenix as Company Faces Scrutiny Over Surveillance and Enforcement
ICE agents descended on a Home Depot parking lot in west Phoenix early Saturday morning, detaining several workers waiting for jobs. The operation, which sparked outrage among activists, is part of a growing trend of enforcement actions at Home Depot locations across the region.
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network's Erika Andiola stated that some workers had simply come to shop and were arrested as they exited the store. Activists claim that the tactics used in this operation are not new, with ICE Mobile Criminal Apprehension Teams conducting undercover operations at the same location using unmarked SUVs.
The company has maintained that it does not coordinate with ICE, but critics argue that Home Depot's surveillance data and automatic license plate readers may be shared with federal immigration authorities. The West Hollywood City Council has already taken action, voting to remove Home Depot from its cooperative purchasing vendor agreements due to ongoing concerns over ICE operations.
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is debating whether to launch a national boycott against Home Depot over parking lot enforcement, a move that could either protect workers or eliminate one of the few hiring spots left available to them.