Day laborers from Southern California gathered in Pasadena on Saturday to reflect on the impact of immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have targeted informal job sites over the past 18 months. The event, organized by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), marked the first large in-person convening of the community since the enforcement actions intensified last year.

Among the approximately 80 attendees was Carlos, a 68-year-old Guatemalan native who had sought work daily in Home Depot parking lots in Los Angeles for more than three decades. After evading immigration authorities multiple times, he was detained last June during one of the raids and spent over four months in ICE custody before his release in November. NDLON provided crucial legal and financial assistance in his case. Carlos described going out every day despite the risks, driven by the necessity to pay his rent.

The convention brought together day laborers from across Southern California, including regions such as San Diego and the Antelope Valley, alongside volunteers who support workers affected by immigration enforcement. Participants discussed challenges ranging from ongoing immigration sweeps to the fear and isolation that have accompanied these operations. Some attendees had just been released from ICE detention facilities, highlighting the direct, varied impacts of recent enforcement efforts.

A central issue at the meeting was the continued use of Home Depot parking lots as informal gathering sites for day laborers seeking temporary work. These locations have long been hubs for workers but have become focal points for ICE raids, prompting calls from organizers and workers for the company to take more action. NDLON is considering a boycott of Home Depot due to the company’s perceived inaction, though the organization has not taken an official stance.

Home Depot representatives said the company does not coordinate with immigration authorities and cannot legally impede federal enforcement within its premises. A spokesperson stated, “We aren’t notified that immigration enforcement activities are going to happen and we aren’t involved in the operations.”

The boycott idea sparked debate among attendees, reflecting the complexity of the situation. Many day laborers rely on the foot traffic at these locations to find work, and some worried that a boycott could reduce employment opportunities. Others stressed the need for a stronger response to enforcement raids, asking how they could be heard if no action was taken.

NDLON co-executive director Pablo Alvarado highlighted the importance of community solidarity, saying, “There’s power when people come together. When workers feel isolated, they don’t build community. The first step of fighting back is getting to know each other, getting to talk to each other.” He also noted that regional events similar to the Pasadena gathering are planned nationwide.

Legal advocates provided free consultations during the event, and food assistance was made available to participants. Many day laborers shared their personal experiences for the first time in a public forum, describing the trauma of witnessing friends and colleagues detained during immigration sweeps.

One participant, Jesus, a Mexican national detained in August while working at a car wash, credited NDLON’s legal support for his release in January. Since then, he has worked to connect others affected by the raids with advocacy resources. “Even if we don’t know each other, you become family. We’re all comrades in this,” he said.

As the day ended, conversations focused on charting a path forward for the day laborer community amid ongoing uncertainty and enforcement pressures. Organizers emphasized the need to include immigrants’ voices in discussions about their future and the broader sanctuary strategies affecting them.