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Immigration activists representing workers in the days detained during the federal attack in Pomona have made a statement claiming that workers have been denied their legitimate procedures.
Activists and community members held a press conference outside Pomona City Hall on Tuesday, demanding answers and transparency after a court hearing was held against three detained workers.
On April 22, workers for at least 10 days were taken into custody by US Customs and Border Protection Agents as they waited outside the Home Depostore looking for work.
The attack sparked concern as immigrant rights advocates protested targets of people they described as innocent civilians.
Video of the attack showed Border Patrol vehicles surrounding the store’s parking lot as workers were taken to a private location.
Activists said three of these undocumented workers were later transferred to U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and were detained in a Calexico detention facility.
From left: Edwin Juarez, Johnny Garcia and Jesus Domingo Ross can be seen in photos provided by their families. Community activists, immigration rights advocates and community members held a rally and press conference outside Pomona City Hall on May 6, 2025, with three undocumented day workers detained by fair bond hearing and due process (KTLA) Pomona Economic Opportunity Centre, Director of Workers’ Rights, spoke at a rally and press conference held outside Pomona City Hall on May 6, 2025. Fair bond hearing and due process. (KTLA) Home Depostore in Pomona, California. (KTLA) Community activists, immigration rights advocates and community members held a rally and press conference outside Pomona City Hall on May 6, 2025, demanding that workers on three undocumented days who were detained in the federal attacks were given fair bond hearings and legitimate procedures. (KTLA)
A bond hearing for three workers was scheduled for Tuesday morning for Jesus Domingo Ross, Edwin Juarez and Johnny Garcia.
“I remind the public that immigration judges only consider two factors that issue bond hearings. Is this detainee flying risk? Is this detainee a national security threat or a public safety risk?” said Alexis Theodoro, director of workers’ rights at the Pomona Centre for Economic Opportunity.
However, during Tuesday’s hearing, Teodoro argued that ICE officials lacked jurisdiction as local immigration judges lived in the United States for less than a year, making them unqualified for bond hearings and instead were subject to rapid removal.
Not only did those claims be false, but no one poses a threat to public safety, and bond hearings are within the scope of fundamental rights.
“All three men have lived in the United States for over two years,” Teodoro said. “Ice is trying to push for a swift deportation by lying to the courts and denying the most fundamental rights, like the right to listen to these men. Looking for work is not a crime. Waiting for work outside of Home Depot is not a threat to anyone.”
Arturo Bulga, an immigration lawyer based in the Inland Empire, sheds more light on the case.
“If you don’t have evidence that you’ve been in the country for more than two years, you could be at risk of quick removal, which is very fast,” Bulga said.
If there is evidence to support the lack of timelines found, Bulga said their legitimate process is limited. But if they actually lived in the US for over a year, they would have more options.
“They will have the opportunity to protect themselves from deportation by immigrant judges, but the process is not quick,” Bulga said.
In a previous statement on Home Depot Raid, a CBP official said, “The agent performed surgery in Pomona, targeting illegal aliens with an aggressive arrest warrant. During the operation, nine additional illegal aliens were encountered and detained.
Immigration rights advocates and community members held a demonstration outside the Home Depost Store in Pomona on April 22, 2025, protesting the attack, including the arrest of a group of day workers at the location. (KTLA) Mobile phone video from eyewitnesses showed several unmarked vehicles and vans reportedly belonging to US Customs and Border Protection as agents surrounded the Home Depostore in Pomona and arrested a group of day workers on April 22, 2025. 2025. Surveillance video showed Miguel Mazin’s father being held at gunpoint by immigrant staff outside the Barber shop in Pomona on April 22, 2025. And community members held a demonstration outside the Home Depost Store in Pomona on April 22, 2025, protesting the attack, including the arrest of a group of day workers at the location. (KTLA) Immigration rights advocates and community members held a demonstration outside the Home Depost Store in Pomona on April 22, 2025, protesting the attack, including the arrest of a group of day workers at the location. (KTLA) Home Depostore in Pomona, California. (KTLA)
However, Theodoro argued that many of the workers detained had no criminal history. As for the three workers they represent, they intend to prove that the men have lived and worked in the United States for more than a year, and that they should be released and deserve a fair hearing before a judge.
“We demand that their due process rights be respected and at least given the opportunity to post bonds,” Teodoro said.
A follow-up court hearing is scheduled for May 9th.
KTLA has contacted the US Customs and Border Protection and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for a statement and is waiting for a response.
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