A tragic incident occurred on the 210 Freeway on Thursday, resulting in the death of a man who was attempting to flee from federal agents conducting a raid at a Home Depot in Monrovia. The unfortunate event was confirmed by Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik later that afternoon. The California Highway Patrol is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this fatal accident.
Reports indicated that Monrovia police received notifications around 9:43 a.m. regarding the presence of immigration agents near the Home Depot. Feik noted that an officer observed what appeared to be agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the location. In a statement released via email to The Times, the Department of Homeland Security clarified that they were not pursuing the individual involved in the freeway incident and were unaware of the situation until hours after the operation concluded.
A local day laborer, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, shared his experience of the chaotic scene. He mentioned that he visits the Monrovia Home Depot daily around 8 a.m. in search of work. On that particular morning, he heard shouts of “La migra, corre” (“Immigration, run!”) and began recording the unfolding situation. Although he managed to avoid detention, he expressed feelings of helplessness for his friends caught in the raid, stating, “It feels horrible — I couldn’t do anything for them other than record what was happening.”
As workers fled the store, one individual attempted to escape by jumping a concrete wall and entering the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway. Just minutes later, Monrovia Fire & Rescue received a call regarding a collision involving a pedestrian. Motorist Vincent Enriquez witnessed the aftermath and reported that the man he saw was still alive shortly after being struck. “By the time I was passing by ... he must’ve been struck no more than a few minutes prior,” he remarked, noting that the man was still moving.
Despite being transported to a hospital, the individual succumbed to his injuries. UCLA professor Robert Chao Romero, a Monrovia resident, expressed his sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the inhumane nature of the situation. “These horrible, unjust ICE policies led to someone dying,” he lamented.
Another Monrovia resident, Karen Suarez, rushed to the Home Depot after hearing about the raid and met the daughter of the man who was struck by a vehicle. “She was visibly very upset, and she was going to go to the hospital and try to find out about her dad,” Suarez recounted. “I feel so bad for her. These are people trying to escape whatever horrible atrocities they came from for a better life.”
In the evening, a crowd of approximately 50 individuals gathered in front of the Home Depot, waving Mexican flags and holding signs that read “ICE out of L.A.” and chanting, “When Trump says get back, we say fight back.” As a memorial for the deceased, a bouquet of flowers and two prayer candles were placed near the freeway. The California Highway Patrol is currently seeking surveillance footage from local businesses to aid in their investigation.
Feik stated that the city had not received any communication or information from ICE regarding the raid. Palmira Figueroa, communications director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, reported that 13 individuals were detained during the operation. Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the network, noted that another day laborer was injured by what he believed was an immigration agent's vehicle. “His leg is very swollen, and he doesn’t want to go to the doctor because he’s afraid of going to the hospital right now,” Alvarado added.
When asked whether any immigration agents identified themselves or presented warrants during the raid, Alvarado stated that it was unclear. He further criticized the tactics used, alleging that Home Depot has become a target for raids as agents attempt to meet their quotas imposed by the administration.
Romero pointed out that the operation at Home Depot could violate a recent federal court order that prohibits indiscriminate immigration arrests based on race, language, vocation, or location. Last month, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against such actions, highlighting the ongoing tension surrounding immigration enforcement.
Advocates for immigrant rights expressed their outrage following the fatal incident. Ron Gochez, a member of Unión del Barrio, emphasized the accountability of the Trump administration, DHS, and Home Depot for the man's death. “This is a painful reminder for us that we must continue to boycott the Home Depot due to their complicity in ICE raids at their stores,” he stated, asserting that both the Home Depot and the agents involved bear responsibility for the tragedy.
This incident is not isolated; similar events have raised concerns among advocates. In July, Jaime Alanís Garcia, 57, was killed during a raid at a farm in Ventura County, highlighting the dangers associated with these enforcement operations. The ongoing debate around immigration policies and their implications continues to resonate within communities, as residents grapple with the consequences of heightened enforcement actions.
